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Tadashi

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Does anyone have recommendations for a controller? I would like something to measure ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, orp, phosphates, calcium, iodine, etc without having to constantly use the minichemistry lab. I was hope there was something that could stay in the tank for real time tracking versus the spot testing of the pinpoint monitors.
 
If you find something that measures all of those accurately. Please let us know :)

To my knowledge, there is nothing that measures all of those
 
Certainly not all at once or the same meter... There are several different things for each of them and if you have a couple grand or so sitting around:D
 
i just want ones for calcium, alk, and mag. but i want them to able to be used all the time. not like the pinpoint ones. anyone know where i could get them?
 
Pretty sure there is no alkalinity monitor, or magnesium for that matter.


The most you are going to get out of a controller is PH, Calcium, ORP, Conductivity, Temperature, Lux. (Pretty sure the Biotopus can do Lux readings for your lights as well....$1,900 just for the head unit, ph & temp probes)
 
You can ask in the Chemistry forum, but if monitors for most of those exist, they're probably very expensive, and not necessarily made for the hobby. It seems like an alkalinity monitor would certainly be feasible, but I've never heard of one. I'd imagine Randy or bertoni in the chemistry forum would know for sure, though.

As for ammonia, have you looked into the Seachem Ammonia Alert Badges? They're not very expensive, and although they're not super precise, they work pretty well. Truthfully, though, in an established tank, you should never have to worry about ammonia, unless something big dies, which hopefully you'd notice.

Here's my theory on nitrites and nitrates. After a tank is cycled, I don't think there's much need to check for nitrites. Like ammonia, it gets converted so quickly, you should never see it. As for nitrates, you should eventually get to a point where you don't have to test for that either. I haven't owned a nitrate test kit in over two years, but I'm perfectly confident that you couldn't detect nitrates in my tank with an aquarium grade test kit. Also, I think this is one of those things you can test by exception in a well established tank. In other words, only test when you think there may be a problem. If your tank hasn't been set up for at least a couple years, though, it's probably something that's good to at least occasionally test.
 
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plus ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are like a bicycle, once they go down they're basically always under control unless there's something seriously wacky with your setup. I literally havent owned nitrite or ammonia tests since I was twelve.
 
Oh well it was a thought and I was tired of using test kits. I always test when I first setup a tank or move it. This is the first time I can remember not having a cycle.

I still need to get a UPS for power failures so would rather put the money towards that. I was hoping a simple controller would be at most a couple hundred. And I am still toying around with a calc reactor for the nano. :D Although I am not sure what I am going to keep yet.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15525527#post15525527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tadashi
Oh well it was a thought and I was tired of using test kits. I always test when I first setup a tank or move it. This is the first time I can remember not having a cycle.

I still need to get a UPS for power failures so would rather put the money towards that. I was hoping a simple controller would be at most a couple hundred. And I am still toying around with a calc reactor for the nano. :D Although I am not sure what I am going to keep yet.

Good to see you around:D You ever moving back to Missouri??
 
Hey Nanook!!!! :D wow someone I recognize still. LOL there are probably others but my memory is going to pot.

hahaha will probably not move back to old Ft. Lost in the woods. I miss the fly fishing there.

That is what totally makes me hook up UPS to my systems. Too used to squirrels hitting the transformers and knocking out the power to my tank for a couple hours. Old habits die hard. :D
 
that would be nice to get all these that monitor your tank but it will cost so much. Look for lab instruments but most of these are just reading the parameter but not monitor continously. Please post if you happen to find one.
 
Those look like ruggidized pinpoint moinitors to me. Based on the brochure it does not look like it is designed for continuous monitoring.
 
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