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Felix smart aquarium controller, exciting prospect...

The problem with diming lighting is that each brand uses a different way of doing . In the beginning they all used 0-10 dc signal not each brand tries to lock you into their brand so they all do something that requires their own tech for it to work.
 
Ed Wiser said:
The problem with diming lighting is that each brand uses a different way of doing . In the beginning they all used 0-10 dc signal not each brand tries to lock you into their brand so they all do something that requires their own tech for it to work.
Click to expand...

I know that was rather something for dimming tube light dimmable ballast.. With the todays new LED controller abilities i also do not realy see it happen that somebody is going to build in a schedulable automated AC Variac.. :) But never say never. The variacs are also getting smaller day by day... I'll keep an eye on it..
 
Really like the sound of this in theory but it's all about how much they will have developed it and not just left it down to 'open source potential'.

It still needs the same Seneye slides but unsure if it's £20 for 3 months like the Seneye and hopefully it won't lock down and not give readings after the 1 slide per month rule or they will seriously shoot themselves in the foot with this. Working live from an app instead of having to plug into a PC or run it offline would be a big benefit over the standard Seneye if it does this

Felix control box and Seneye (rebranded) module?
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interesting to see how the easily the control box works with just plug and play sensors like this, could be good for more accurate readings and alerts

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Its a mater of choices to make.. :) My personal problem with any all in one device i always had.. If one particular feature fails and needs to be repaired!?
Than you have to say goodby to all it's features for the time beeing it is in service. Than what? Dig up all old stuff out of the shed? What if you do not have any other backup? Leave the aqaurium completely uncontrolled for as long as the device is in service?

I feel disaster risk involved if you don't buy 2 at the time and keep one as backup. Lives depends on it. Or if you are a starter fancy this controller. Make sure you have backups just incase. The more bells and wissles it has the more chances one fails on you at some point.

My personal choice, with all respect it's a wonderfull idea and a nifty device.. But than i rather stick to independed single components each doing its own job.
 
Couldn't agree more and I don't see the need for everything to be run through something like this when we already have easy solutions and setups as it is, lighting can be run from a simple TC421/S2-Pro, CO2 can be run on a plug in timer, filter just runs as is etc....

But for me it's the things like pH measurements and possibly being able to set up alerts for an imbalance such as ammonia, and a PAR meter is always a nice to have as well to get an idea. Monitoring nutrients is obviously not needed with the EI way of thinking as it will always have enough of everything but would interesting. Auto dosing would be another that could be good

The health monitor and camera side of it looks like a gimmick which i'd happily be proven wrong with but i can't see it having the clarity to detect constantly moving fish and somehow monitor their health
 
I also agree with that.. And if your budget allows you to invest in this it's a wonderfull thing to have and play with. Just think of the risk involved and the need for a backup, which is a possible extra investment on top.. Especialy important in the teething periode of a newly developd design product.

Software goes a long way.. I can tell as former IT specialist.. All works fine, till you install or auto update an app with a conflicting driver. It can take you weeks to find the culprit.. A software designer can't be prepared on any possible conficting driver an other 3th party can write..
 
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Yeh it's exactly that, a toy to try and better understand certain elements of the hobby and give you a bit more information to get the best out of things. Not something to fully depend the well being of your tank and inhabitants on

Interesting though and hopefully they sort out the restrictive issues that the Seneye has and also add a whole lot more useful additions to it
 
Hmmmm. Are you sure your link is correct ?

That points to a water parameter monitor for $995 AND $35 a month subscription. That buys rather a lot of lab grade test kits for that price.
 
ian_m said:
Hmmmm. Are you sure your link is correct ?

That points to a water parameter monitor for $995 AND $35 a month subscription. That buys rather a lot of lab grade test kits for that price.
Click to expand...

Right this is a 24/7 testing info water parameters. It has already saved several aquariums from equipment failures to the constant testing of the parameters.
Doubt people test their water every hour. or even once a week. It graphs the parameters so you catch issues before it shows up just looking at your aquarium.
 
Ed Wiser said:
Doubt people test their water every hour.
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or even once a week
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Except for pH and then temp occasionally, I havent tested my water ever, Tank over 2years old, Just reset every week except for hols OFC.

Ed Wiser said:
It has already saved several aquariums from equipment failures to the constant testing of the parameters.
Click to expand...

Think thats sales talk IMO, think we would of noticed a pump or light not working or CO2 issue via the DC:rolleyes:
 
it's the fitbit of the aquarium world, cool wee gadget that you'll look at for the first week or 2 then barely use again and sell after 6 months

PAR meter and PH will be handy and nice to have (but not essential) when setting up a new tank or when you have new equipment (light or co2) but that's about it for me
 
Hi all,
Ed Wiser said:
Right this is a 24/7 testing info water parameters. It has already saved several aquariums from equipment failures to the constant testing of the parameters.
Doubt people test their water every hour.
emoji3.png
or even once a week.
Click to expand...
ian_m said:
That points to a water parameter monitor for $995 AND $35 a month subscription. That buys rather a lot of lab grade test kits for that price.
Click to expand...
Kalum said:
it's the fitbit of the aquarium world, cool wee gadget that you'll look at for the first week or 2 then barely use again and sell after 6 months
Click to expand...
I'm sure they will sell some subscriptions to marine aquarists, but I'd have to say I'm beyond sceptical as well.

Personally, if I was going to spend that sort of money, I'd approach the whole area from the opposite direction.

My approach would be to find all the <"single points of failure">, and then try to address them in terms of spare capacity and <"negative feedback loops">.

Actively growing plants are just the gift that keeps giving, and after that obvious single points of failure are time switches, heaters and canister filters, so they would be the first thing I'd look at.

If I was evaluating a new product I'd be looking at complexity: How complex a process is this? Does everything have to work perfectly for this process to work?
What are the consequences if something goes wrong?

I'm not going to know all the answers, but we have all sorts of expertise on this forum and before I bought any electrical control gear I'd ask @ian_m etc.

cheers Darrel
 
dw1305 said:
Actively growing plants are just the gift that keeps giving, and after that obvious single points of failure are time switches, heaters and canister filters, so they would be the first thing I'd look at.
Click to expand...
Timer failure has always been my main point of failure. All OK if an air pump or light that jams on (or fails to come on) but I killed plants and fish when a timer failed to turn off my liquid carbon dosing pump and emptied rather a lot into the tank. This is why I designed/built my PLC tank controller. Never had a failure with that, years later.
 
I am a PLC programmer so tech is very comfortable to me. Been doing it since they came out. Automatic testing is finally coming to the hobby there are several other types coming. I use a auto KH test system to keep the kh constant on my tank for 3 years now. There ION probes coming to the market to track phosphate an nitrate use. As the tech comes out the price will come down. To where it can be more affordable.
There are devices like the Reefbot that will automate the testing using standard test kits. As the human factor is one of the main failure points in manual testing.
https://www.reefkinetics.com/
 
Just saw an Instagram post from Felix re the app being live on app stores for people to view.

Did anyone here sign up for the early release? If so did you receive the hardware and what did it to? Worth it?
 
Sorry to drag an old thread up.
Anyone heard any more about these ?
Are they available ?
Any reviews ?
If all is yes, I will get back under my rock...
 
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