Tank Monitors

[funkyparott]

I am currently looking at whether to purchase a computer monitor for my tank (IKS/Aquatronica/Neptune etc).

Has anyone *actually released* a calcium / nitrite / nitrate probe yet? If so, how accurate is this?

Does anyone have any experience in connecting the monitor to a PC for stats monitoring? Do the units have their own memory, which I can download from say weekly to keep track on levels etc?

What about connectivity. Ideally, I would like to connect by network (my PC is upstairs and I already have a network point downstairs).

What is the benefit in terms of tank parametre stability with PH probes and solenoids controlling the CO2 to a Ca reactor? Do you need two PH probes; one for inside the reactor and one for the tank ?

Many thanks

FP

[james141]

I have an Aquatronica and it is great, it does have its own memory that you can download to your PC, how long it keeps it for depends on what setting you have it on, If you have it taking a reading every 30mins, it can only keep 24 hours worth but if you have it taking a reading every hour I think it keeps the for a week.

I believe they have some of those probes in development at the moment :)

With the BH if you wanted to monitor both yes you would need 2 probes.

I love my Aquatronica and wouldnt be without it now :D

[~Tony~]

IKS don't have Calcium or Nitrate probes and are unlikely to add them. It can log probe readings every 15 minutes for up to 30 days, and you can download them to your PC. The PC connection is unreliable though and can affect the IKS. The Timo software from www.matuta.com (http://www.matuta.com) can link your IKS to the internet, though I haven't tried it for that.

Aquatronica has announced new probes available later this year. I think it was Calcium and Nitrate, but their website is down at the moment. It has a limited logging memory, able to log at 3 hour intervals for 7 days. (or more often for a day, or less often for a month). It has a good PC interface which can download data and plot graphs, as well as export the data to a file on your disk. They also announced an internet interface, again available later this year.

Sid8ball's OceanView, which is under development, is promising excellent logging, connectivity, and Calcium and Nitrate probes. OceanView thread (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=185364). It promises to be very good.

Tony