How much would it cost to fully automate a reef tank?

[leo12345]

Im Just curious what’s the cheapest it would cost to fully automate your system? Im talking like automated dosing, water changes, water testing, feeding and things like that.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I'm thinking about throwing an Allen Bradley PLC on my next tank.

 

[danreef55]

It will be about two months from the time I place the tank order. I will definitely take a look at them. Thanks Danny for taking so much time helping me.

 

[n2585722]

It will be about two months from the time I place the tank order. I will definitely take a look at them. Thanks Danny for taking so much time helping me.

No problem glad to help.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

I've got a bathroom slowly turning into a storage closet for tank equipment. My wife eventually brought down a storage container, stuck it on our counter, and started putting most of what we had in it to free space up.

I thought you were going to say it was to put the tank stuff in, and I was thinking, oh, no! That would be too big a problem to test and clean! Your wife is awesome! Mine would take a slightly different approach.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

I think that it was a very loaded question. In my mind, it depends on your system size and various methods. This is what I’ve automated:
1. Water changes: none, I don’t do WCs
2. Dosing: calcium reactor. I still have to change the media & CO2 every 11-12 months though
3. Water testing: Trident. Still need to replace reagents and empty the waste container
4. Filter socks: use filter floss, toss out every week (or two)
5. Skimmer: need to clean the collection cup. I don’t have a head cleaner (yet)
6. Monitoring and control: Apex — gotta have observability & remote control, esp on vacation!

In the end, you’ll still need to perform some manual tasks but less frequent. Cost? Again, it depends; but if you insist on a number, it’s between $2-3k on the initial investment + ongoing supplies. I don’t think you can “fully automate” yet but you can start with something you hate doing. For me — water changes, dosing, and testing!

Toss the floss? Not exactly ocean friendly.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

$0

I automatically have to do all it myself. Sigh.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

What do you consider automated? I think everyone's definition of this is different. I've automated the hell out of mine....

Auto testers (3) - mastertronic, trident, reefbot lab
Auto skimmer neck cleaner + skimmer drain
Auto skimmate empty + overflow protection
Auto alarms -- parameters + leaks
Auto fleece roller
Auto water changes
Auto manual water change setup
Auto light roller
Auto rodi
Auto top off
Auto dosing of- kalk, carx, vodka, trace elements (about 8 of them)
Auto power backup (backup batteries + whole home generator)
Auto feeders (2) - AFS + af4

(and huge sigh, this used to be tidy and organized, but then, #fishtank)

Ask me anything

I sure hope you have an amazing display. Really, I do.

 

[darrick001]

I'm thinking about throwing an Allen Bradley PLC on my next tank.

I thought about that. I had an old rs500 setup. Took a bit of work to get the coms working on a desk top without the communication module. The software is so expensive now it's just not a resonable option.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I thought about that. I had an old rs500 setup. Took a bit of work to get the coms working on a desk top without the communication module. The software is so expensive now it's just not a resonable option.

Agree entirely. The software has been my hang up. The PLC is easy.

 

[Formulator]

lol! Fully automated lol! These controllers are over priced under reliable junk if you’re expecting full automation! Sure it’s a good tool to have but never would I trust one to be fully automated! The quality of them is trash! For the same price I can buy a aftermarket car ecu/computer and control it to do wayyyyy more than what these fish controllers do for same price or less. It’s mind blowing how far behind in technology they are and still can’t get it sub par.

Tell us how you really feel!! Sheesh. I agree they are overpriced for what they amount to, but Apex and Hydros are very capable and far from “trash”. Also, I think the daisy chain plug and play technology of the apex system is quite elegant.

My time is valuable. I’d rather buy something that works than fiddle with a computer for hours on end to make it do something it wasn’t intended to do. So you can keep your jerry-rigged car ecu…

 

[bakbay]

Toss the floss? Not exactly ocean friendly.

I’m not env-friendly doing RODI either, unfortunately. I’ve tried those washerable/reuseable filter floss but they didn’t last long. What do you use/recommend?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I just started my journey for my 25 gallon nano automation. Will eventually switch it all over to a larger tank in the future.

Hydros maven- $1200
Hydros launch- $550
Hydros LE Engine- $200
Hydros ATO- $80
Hydros skimmer sensor- $40
Hydros dosing pump x2- $120
Hydros power 4 WiFi- $40
Salinity probe- $110

Its by no means cheap…

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

I’m not env-friendly doing RODI either, unfortunately. I’ve tried those washerable/reuseable filter floss but they didn’t last long. What do you use/recommend?

Socks! Hate ‘em. Planning on a filter roller for the new tank I’m working on. Not the most environmentally friendly, but it’s a step. I just read some people wash and respool rolls to make it better, and I’m thinking that sounds like a lot of work, but I might try it.

 

[bakbay]

Socks! Hate ‘em. Planning on a filter roller for the new tank I’m working on. Not the most environmentally friendly, but it’s a step. I just read some people wash and respool rolls to make it better, and I’m thinking that sounds like a lot of work, but I might try it.

Socks? No — did that before and not gojng back! Too messy and I’m not putting that filth in the washing machine, shared by the whole fam. I’m very far away from being a tree hugger. That said, I do recycle, reuse my RODI waste to feed the garden, gone EV (questionable on carbon footprint), getting solar installed, etc. However, throwing filter floss away is the most economical and convenient for me. Your filter roll isn’t that better in terms waste and might cost you $20-30/mo depending on tank size & bioload.

 

[jonelder68]

Tell us how you really feel!! Sheesh. I agree they are overpriced for what they amount to, but Apex and Hydros are very capable and far from “trash”. Also, I think the daisy chain plug and play technology of the apex system is quite elegant.

My time is valuable. I’d rather buy something that works than fiddle with a computer for hours on end to make it do something it wasn’t intended to do. So you can keep your jerry-rigged car ecu…

Hmmm….i have an Apex. My comment was to the title of fully automated. If you think your Apex or hydros is going to successfully run a tank with no interaction on your part there is nothing farther from the truth. Just like I said they’re great tools to have but nothing more than an extra tool/redundancy. Also that they’re far from 100% reliability or having 100% trust in them.

As far as my “Jerry-rigged” car ecu? Companies like Motec, Haltech, Holley all make computers made for the automotive world. Made to control whatever you want and can set it up to do fantastic custom stuff. It’s light years ahead of these fish controllers! These are all ran in Formula one, nascar, and every other racing organization across the world. So not real sure multi-million dollar race teams would be using “Jerry-rigged” components. The fact is fish controllers are nothing different than these car ecu’s using I/O (input & outputs) through can-bus communication and a processor. If a car company
built these fish controllers at the capacity there capable of right now it would sell for probably a 1/4 of the price. I also think if they did the reliability would be wayyyy better as well.

 

[Formulator]

Hmmm….i have an Apex. My comment was to the title of fully automated. If you think your Apex or hydros is going to successfully run a tank with no interaction on your part there is nothing farther from the truth. Just like I said they’re great tools to have but nothing more than an extra tool/redundancy. Also that they’re far from 100% reliability or having 100% trust in them.

As far as my “Jerry-rigged” car ecu? Companies like Motec, Haltech, Holley all make computers made for the automotive world. Made to control whatever you want and can set it up to do fantastic custom stuff. It’s light years ahead of these fish controllers! These are all ran in Formula one, nascar, and every other racing organization across the world. So not real sure multi-million dollar race teams would be using “Jerry-rigged” components. The fact is fish controllers are nothing different than these car ecu’s using I/O (input & outputs) through can-bus communication and a processor. If a car company
built these fish controllers at the capacity there capable of right now it would sell for probably a 1/4 of the price. I also think if they did the reliability would be wayyyy better as well.

I suppose I can get on board after this explanation. I was responding to your statements here that I think are a bit inflated.

over priced under reliable junk

The quality of them is trash!

 

[danreef55]

Can you give us an explanation of how to go about programming them?

 

[jonelder68]

I suppose I can get on board after this explanation. I was responding to your statements here that I think are a bit inflated.

Fair enough. In the grand scheme of it all they are very cheaply made with cheapo parts. My problem with them is the price they demand for very little. I’ve run an early generation apex after it broke and had issues throughout I did not replace it. It was actually responsible for nuking my tank with the heater. Now days there is more redundancy thankfully. Current tank build I won an Apex through BRS so I will run it. When it fails or causes problems I won’t replace it. I have no experience with hydros or any other so can’t contest the quality or etc on them. My wish is there was more competition in this sector of equipment. One would hope it would cause price competition and higher quality standards. As well as push for better features that are already out there and capabilities. But as anything in this hobby i highly doubt prices would be fairly priced. Most can’t relate but comparing the same technology of these controllers to something like automotive ecu’s is Apple to oranges. But to each their own. It’s just my opinion on the subject.

 

[Jeremy_d]

I haven't tested my water in three years, and I haven't encountered any issues with fish health, coral growth, or nuisance algae. I believe visual observation is more important than tracking the tiniest changes in water chemistry. If the tank looks healthy and the inhabitants are thriving, it's a good indicator that everything is balanced.

 

[n2585722]

Fair enough. In the grand scheme of it all they are very cheaply made with cheapo parts. My problem with them is the price they demand for very little. I’ve run an early generation apex after it broke and had issues throughout I did not replace it. It was actually responsible for nuking my tank with the heater. Now days there is more redundancy thankfully. Current tank build I won an Apex through BRS so I will run it. When it fails or causes problems I won’t replace it. I have no experience with hydros or any other so can’t contest the quality or etc on them. My wish is there was more competition in this sector of equipment. One would hope it would cause price competition and higher quality standards. As well as push for better features that are already out there and capabilities. But as anything in this hobby i highly doubt prices would be fairly priced. Most can’t relate but comparing the same technology of these controllers to something like automotive ecu’s is Apple to oranges. But to each their own. It’s just my opinion on the subject.

I have not used an Apex but have used Digital Aquatics controllers and the Hydros controllers. I currently have 15 Hydros controllers in my collective. So far I have had no issues with any of the Hydros items I have purchased. As far as heaters I always have a backup off. Either the heater itself has a thermostat that I use as backup off or use a heater controller and use the main controller as a backup off. My controller also auto fills my reservoirs. They have a float valve, maximum on time and
leak detectors as backups to the full sensor on the tanks. All the systems have backups on them for the most par just incase. I have several things as an example that will turn off my skimmer output. It has 3 inputs sump high, leak 42g, skimmer full. All three of the inputs have to be in their active state before the output will turn on since I am using combiner mode AND. I don't sue a internal schedule with it but you could if you want to do that. It is set if any of the inputs become unavailable or at an unknown stat the output will be off. It is also set for a minimum off time of minutes so if the output turns off it will stay off for at least 10 minutes from the time it goes off with one exception which I will go over next. The depends on setting is set to the return pump output. The dependency mode is off if off. So if the return output goes off the skimmer output will also go off. I this case the minimum off time count will not start until the depends on is not active. So it wait for 10 to turn on the skimmer after the return output comes back on. It has a power safe range on the output the skimmer is on so that could be set to send an alert if the output is out of the power range set when the output is on. My ATO output has a little more control since it has 5 inputs controlling it along with maximum on and off times as well as minimum on and off times setup in it.