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

leo12345 · Jul 1, 2024

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.

darrick001 · Jul 4, 2024

I would agree they are over priced for the components that they contain. Your not only paying for the components. The components are a small portion of the manufacturing cost. Programming , testing , design, building the interface to connect with other products, and building the machines to build the product. These all cost more than the parts themselves. I would not have a tank without one. They have saved me so many time over the years. Yes components fail but do you replace the components or just wait for them to fail. The components ware over time and if you don't replace them they will fail. I don't know what the life cycle is on each component. I replace the temp sensor, heaters and dosing heads every 2 years. They are the equipment most likely to fail. I keep spare parts on hand. Power supplies, pumps, power heads , impeller ect. There is nothing worse than having your return pump fail christmas eve or while your on vacation. I've had both happen and would not have known if I didn't have a controller. My old setup was completely automated except for the things that can't be. I still had to remove cheato , clean the overflows, glass, pumps, fill triton regents , replace DI resin, and send in icp tests. I'm still automating my new setup. It should be fully automated by the end of summer.

jonelder68 · Jul 4, 2024

n2585722 said:
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.

Very nice. I’ve been curious about trying hydros out. As far as my heater this was like 15 years or so ago…long time ago. Luckily the equipment has advanced a lot sense then.

BillFish Coral Lover · Jul 5, 2024

bakbay said:
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.

I may have to reevaluate and consider your method.

rhitee93 · Jul 23, 2024

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

I've seriously been considering this lately. I wouldn't use AB since their hardware and software are so costly for an individual to get into, but I've used a number of the Click series from automation direct over the years. The PLCs are relatively inexpensive and the dev software is free.

I cut my teeth in my career doing turn-key automation systems and instrumentation. (30 years ago

) The cost of the niche reef specific hardware rubs me the wrong way when I see the problems that people report. A PLC system wouldn't be less expensive, but it would be incredibly robust if designed right.

There would be a lot of work to do it well. Might be a fun group project.

BrunoL · Aug 1, 2024

Been looking at automating some stuff as well and more specifically, using an Apex. Then I saw the EU prices, the pro costs the equivalent of 1250 USD ... Why does it has to cost 350 more in the EU than in the US? The alternative here in the EU would be to get Reef Factory equipment, but it just doesn't have the same level of customization through programming and the Fusion like overview like the Apex.

Dburr1014 · Aug 1, 2024

BrunoL said:
Been looking at automating some stuff as well and more specifically, using an Apex. Then I saw the EU prices, the pro costs the equivalent of 1250 USD ... Why does it has to cost 350 more in the EU than in the US? The alternative here in the EU would be to get Reef Factory equipment, but it just doesn't have the same level of customization through programming and the Fusion like overview like the Apex.

Guessing.... Import taxes?