Starting an interactive reef - 265g reef tank w/ live web camera

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904146#post11904146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danskim
I think that might be the 100 or 150 gallon?
The 300 gallon stock tank is 63x69x25.
Click to expand...

Good catch. I checked it out and it is not a Rubbermaid tank but a Freeland Industries tank. It's a lot longer than a rubbermaid 300g tank, about 82" long, so that's why it is narrower.

This tank works out a LOT better for me with the longer dimensions since it fits snuggly in the sump room. (a rounder tank would just not work)

--Ed
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11862873#post11862873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rEd86
I'd love to see them. Send me any links to them you might have, I am making a list to include on my site when I get everything up. I did some initial searches but only found static cameras. (which I am including as well)

--Ed
Click to expand...

I'm one of those with a Panasonic camera on my system. I would love to see your camera in operation as I would really like to upgrade mine to something with better resolution and optical zoom.

http://brads-aquarium.viewnetcam.com:50000
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916797#post11916797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12
I'm one of those with a Panasonic camera on my system. I would love to see your camera in operation as I would really like to upgrade mine to something with better resolution and optical zoom.

http://brads-aquarium.viewnetcam.com:50000
Click to expand...

Excellent! I look forward to comparing notes and helping each other out. I am not familiar with the Panasonic PTZ cameras - I will be checking them out.

Anyone else out there with a PTZ camera on their tank? Speak up and be heard/seen! :)

--Ed
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11866282#post11866282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bax
Ed

Nice plans, I'll be watching your progress.

I have a 120 reef in my office. I also have a 220 that's not set up yet that I am hoping to connect into the system and would really like to do a web cam on our web page we are developing. I have envisioned an informative write up on preserving drinking water resources and reefs with lots of links and live web cams.

Show me the way!
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Sounds great Bax. I want to not only showcase our tank at the office, but other tanks out there that are online. I too think it can not only be entertaining, but educational as well.

Hear's to finding the way together!

--Ed
 
I have been using the Orbit PTZ camera with XP software. It works well for a few hours, then I cant get to my camera remotely. Not sure if its my install on Vista or what. . I had it working fine on Windows XP a couple months ago. I was able to post it on my BLOG, but only I could see it once i logged in.

Another idea I had was to place a camera in the water as if it was underwater. I scrapped that idea since it would require some additional modifications to the current tank. Maybe you can try this? ;)
 
OK, I was able to get in the office earlier today and paint the sump room. I got one coat of the bilge paint on and it looked like I got good coverage. I will go in tomorrow and see if I should put another coat on it. I've got just enough for a second coat in the "high-spill areas" so I'll probably do it just to be safe.

(sorry, no pictures - it was just a white wall!) :)

Then it's on to installing the overflow box and starting the plumbing. I also want to redo the water lines by the utility sink. The plumber the landlord used didn't do a very clean job. There are pipes sticking out which forces the sink to be 3"-4" away from the side wall. Maybe I'm just picky but I am sure that 'lost space' is going to come back and bite me at some point. I am also going to tile a baseboard so when we do have spills it doesn't seep under the cracks at the base of the walls. I want to contain any spills in the sump room so the drain actually gets used.

--Ed
 
how's that paint smell there Ed?? :rolleyes:

On the base board, that rubber stuff is great but kind of tough to work with. Take your time to get it right. What I found helpful in getting a good seal was to run a thick bead around the base of the wall where the "crack is, and then apply the base board as directed. This fills that little kick out at the bottom of the baseboard molding.

Then I ran a bead along the top and bottom edges.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927999#post11927999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
how's that paint smell there Ed?? :rolleyes:
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I was wearing a heavy duty respirator so I didn't really notice. I felt like Darth Vader walking around the office getting things done. Luke, I am your father!
vader.gif


--Ed
 
I did not use one the first time in and it nearly sent me to the hospital...although I wouldn't have cared. :eek:
 
OK, I finally got the initial plumbing done and I am in the process of filling the tank with RO water. Pretty boring to look at so I didn't take any pictures yet. I will add some sand and rock tomorrow and get some pictures up then.

Hopefully things will start moving now and I'll have lots of updates.

--Ed
 
Well, I've got 300lbs of sand coming in today, but we've also got some bad weather arriving as well. (8-10" of snow) That puts a damper on my plans to get things knocked out this weekend. Tank is about 40% full of RO water but I am going to shut it off when I leave today. I am fearful that I might not be able to make it back in with the icy roads to shut things off. (I don't have the auto top-off set up yet)

I guess I'll take the time to work on my home system as well as play with the kids in what will hopefully be the last snow of the season.

--Ed
 
If I wanted to set up a remote camera for my system is there a recommended part list (camera, software etc.)? I would love to do this myself and enjoy my reef away from home :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11919521#post11919521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rEd86
Excellent! I look forward to comparing notes and helping each other out. I am not familiar with the Panasonic PTZ cameras - I will be checking them out.

Anyone else out there with a PTZ camera on their tank? Speak up and be heard/seen! :)

--Ed
Click to expand...

I have one...it works well for routine viewing, but resolution when zoomed in is pretty poor... The nice thing is that it's wi-fi with its own web URL address.

http://lightsluvraq.viewnetcam.com:50000/

You will be asked to allow download of an ActiveX file which enables the pan/zoom ability. Click yes or accept.

You should then get an opening screen. Click on "single" (upper tab bar)

PM me for a username and password

LL
 
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Lightsluvr,

Glad to see your tanks! You're the second Panasonic network camera that has responded here. I like it!

I should have my camera set up in the next 2-3 weeks so we'll be able to compare them.

I'm mixed about whether I am going to expose the cameras default controller interface (similar to yours) or have my own front end. By doing my own, I can scale the number of viewers and also enhance the interface with my own stuff. I’ll have to dust off the code we wrote several years ago and see if it will still meet our needs. I think we’ll need to upgrade it to a Web2.0 type of interface instead of using frames.

Thanks for dropping by.

--Ed
 
Good luck Ed

Good luck Ed

I am in the midst of a 180G upgrade from my current 95G Wave Tank, so I really enjoy reading these threads...



LL
 
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