tank maintenance app

[Lynnmw1208]

Hey everyone! I have seen a couple of apps for the phone that require the use of a controller and everything, but I will not have a controller for some time and want an app that doesn't need one. So my husband is going to be working on making one himself.

On that note what kind of features would everyone like to see in an application? Some of the thoughts I had were water change reminders and recording pH, temp and other water params along with graphs that show progress. Give me your ideas and I'll let my husband know!

 

[rengnath]

Something where I could record when I changed carbon in the filter last or the light bulb in the uv-sterilizer would be helpful, as after a while I cant remember just how long its been.

 

[Alunai]

Oooh! I look forward to more from this thread!!!

 

[aleonn]

A log sheet where we can input certain water parameters (such as Alk, Ca, Mg, NO3, Sg, etc.), and a graphing function.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

all very good ideas! I'll let him know! I forgot about the bulb thing, probably want a feature for the regular light bulbs as well to remember when to change as well as UV.

Anything else you'd like to see?:reading:

 

[dja1980]

Will this be Android & iPhone?

Being able to log multiple tanks would be nice. I like to log tank parameters, bulb changes, GFO, Carbon, RO/DI filters, Pump Cleanings, etc...

There is an Android App called aCar that is nice to log car maintenance... I suppose you could use a design similar to this, but change the content to reef related items in the drop-downs.

 

[aculross]

This might be a little more than he wanted to do, but if you had the ability to monitor parameters (pH and temp for example) and text/email me a couple times a day that would be a nice feature.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

all great ideas. so far he's working on the windows phone versions and will be doing iphone and android as well. as for texting or emailing, that would require a controller to keep track of that and there's already and app for that. i was looking for one that doesn't require a controller. he may be able to add those features later on when i can afford to buy a controller. I think that would be a nice feature as well, but I don't want the app to HAVE to use the controller if you don't want it to. u can't do anything with the other app without a controller so it's useless for people who don't have/want one.

any other suggestions?:spin1:

 

[Luckless]

I would explore different ways to backup all the data in the app to a standard computer. Especially if you're likely to be using this while working around your tank, I can see phones dieing nice and easy and taking all their data with them.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I would explore different ways to backup all the data in the app to a standard computer. Especially if you're likely to be using this while working around your tank, I can see phones dieing nice and easy and taking all their data with them.

Good idea, we'll look into this as well.

any other thoughts?

 

[evoracer]

There are a few good iPhone apps already: Tanksamples and Reefdoser.

 

[scubasteve06]

I like the log sheet Idea for all major testable water params. I just started a log book about a week ago when I started Carbon dosing and it is so nice to have all of my water params written down and on record so I can remember how much I put in of what, and what my tank params were on which date so I know what my livestock likes best.

One thing that would be really cool, and this isn't possible for what I am doing, but if I had an app on my phone for this then being able to take a picture of the tank and its inhabitants to go along with the water params in the log book so you can see how well or bad your livestock (mainly corals) looked under which parameters so you can easily go back and keep track of more delicate corals and fish and be able to see what made them the happiest than trying to remember ok my monti looked best under what light period, alk, ca, k etc. etc.

 

[byrdman81]

looking forward to seeing this progress!

 

[scubasteve06]

^Is that Kanye in the ocean in your avatar?

 

[MO3N]

Im not sure if this was said but maybe a dosing calculator attached to it. Something like on bulk reef supply, or something were you input calcium levels for each day during a month and then have it tell you how much you need to dose each day to create a constant level of.....lets say calcium or something like that. Just my thoughts but I think that would be helpful.

 

[OneReef]

Seachem has a dosing app called "Dose"

 

[GiZmo88]

Deffinatly a very cool idea!

 

[dja1980]

There are a few good iPhone apps already: Tanksamples and Reefdoser.

I also found an Android app called Aquarium Log - Saltwater... $0.99.

"Saltwater Aquarium Log. This is a very handy app for the aquarium enthusiast. It supports multiple fish tanks.

You Can Log:
pH, Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites, Alkalinity, Salinity, Temperature, Calcium, Magnesium, water change data, Additives, Filter info, and custom notes.

Backup & restore feature."

 

[MJinMN]

Now we need an app to actually DO the maintenance! Just a few quick double-taps....