Best Smart monitors?

akaps

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Looking for a monitor to track salinity, pH, Temp, ammonia, etc. Something somewhat affordable, not trying to spend a fortune. Just want to track the necessities.

What have you all had the best luck using?
 

Rolliad

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Looking for a monitor to track salinity, pH, Temp, ammonia, etc. Something somewhat affordable, not trying to spend a fortune. Just want to track the necessities.

What have you all had the best luck using?
So I use Hydros. It's easily expandable, etc. Look at the Hydros Launch. It should do basically everything you want there.

I don't know of any controllers off hand that track ammonia. I have a Hannah tester for that and haven't even tested that since my tank cycled.
 

Pod_01

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FWIW, I find tracking temperature and pH most useful.
Salinity probes are nice, but the ones that are affordable tend to drift and require constant maintenance/ calibration etc… I am referring to salinity probes that are constantly submerged.

I have 2 tanks and I use GHL, on one I use Profilux4 and Profilux Mini on the other tank. The Mini monitors temp and pH and is the affordable option.

Hydros Control X3 is similar, ment for monitoring etc…

Once you get into monitoring of kh, PO4, NO3 etc… you are looking at small fortune regardless who you pick…

Good luck,
 

Rolliad

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FWIW, I find tracking temperature and pH most useful.
Salinity probes are nice, but the ones that are affordable tend to drift and require constant maintenance/ calibration etc… I am referring to salinity probes that are constantly submerged.

I have 2 tanks and I use GHL, on one I use Profilux4 and Profilux Mini on the other tank. The Mini monitors temp and pH and is the affordable option.

Hydros Control X3 is similar, ment for monitoring etc…

Once you get into monitoring of kh, PO4, NO3 etc… you are looking at small fortune regardless who you pick…

Good luck,
The Hydros salinity probe is pretty solid after the 3-4 week "break-in period" that Hydros has. I haven't calibrated mine in 6 months and it's still right in line with my Milwaukee.
 
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akaps

akaps

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FWIW, I find tracking temperature and pH most useful.
Salinity probes are nice, but the ones that are affordable tend to drift and require constant maintenance/ calibration etc… I am referring to salinity probes that are constantly submerged.

I have 2 tanks and I use GHL, on one I use Profilux4 and Profilux Mini on the other tank. The Mini monitors temp and pH and is the affordable option.

Hydros Control X3 is similar, ment for monitoring etc…

Once you get into monitoring of kh, PO4, NO3 etc… you are looking at small fortune regardless who you pick…

Good luck,
What are benefits of monitoring kh, PO4, NO3 and so on?
 

Rolliad

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Do any of you that monitor salinity ever see a need to make adjustments? I'm just curious because I very rarely test salinity in my displays but the few times I have it was fine.
I make small adjustments all the time, though I usually do the adjustment with my weekly water change. My new saltwater going into the tank is either higher or lower depending on my level in the tank. Typically it's usually a bit higher due to skimmate having been removed during the week.

And I don't add a lot extra, it's like 10-20g of salt extra.
 

Rolliad

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What are benefits of monitoring kh, PO4, NO3 and so on?
You want to keep these all in line for the health of your livestock and coral. I monitor dKH most, with 2 daily tests. Salinity gets measured the same, but that's simply because its part of my alk tester.

Everything else I test weekly unless I'm actively troubleshooting/treating a problem.
 

exnisstech

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I make small adjustments all the time, though I usually do the adjustment with my weekly water change. My new saltwater going into the tank is either higher or lower depending on my level in the tank. Typically it's usually a bit higher due to skimmate having been removed during the week.

And I don't add a lot extra, it's like 10-20g of salt extra.
Thanks, that makes sense. I forgot about skimmers removing a bit of saltwater . I don't normally run skimmers.
 

Pod_01

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The Hydros salinity probe is pretty solid after the 3-4 week "break-in period" that Hydros has. I haven't calibrated mine in 6 months and it's still right in line with my Milwaukee.
Interesting, so do you at least clean it once a month?

I find that mine starts to drift after few weeks just from biofilm growing on the electrode. They are all measuring conductivity and biofilm tends to impacts that reading.

I have to confess, I am lazy so I rarely calibrate mine (4 times in last 5 years), I just keep it for trends. I would never make any changes based on it, for that I use this:
1735254766702.jpeg
 

Rolliad

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Interesting, so do you at least clean it once a month?

I find that mine starts to drift after few weeks just from biofilm growing on the electrode. They are all measuring conductivity and biofilm tends to impacts that reading.

I have to confess, I am lazy so I rarely calibrate mine (4 times in last 5 years), I just keep it for trends. I would never make any changes based on it, for that I use this:
1735254766702.jpeg
nope. It sits in the IV and I dont touch it. The pH probe though, that I have to calibrate monthly.
 

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