Automated or Overrated? Is your reef automated?

[LPS Bum]

Some automation, but not a ton.

On my reef I have an ATO, a dosing pump, an Inkbird temp controller, lights and wave makers through an app and a fleece roller. On my old school FOWLR it’s an ATO and lights on a timer.

That’s it. Still do manual water changes and manual testing. Works pretty well for me.

 

[PotatoPig]

I’m going to go with “low”

My lights have internal timers (noops) and I have an Inkbird temperature controller.

My ATO:

My “doser” - the knot slows the siphon through the air tube so it takes about 3-4 hours to drip 500ml into the filter sock as water enters the sump:

 

[PharmrJohn]

As my tank ain't up yet, I can only speak to planning. Prior to retirement (a few short years away), I'll do most things manually. I'll have an ATO, as I can't lift much anymore, but that's about it. Oh!!! Allso, I'll MacGyver something to handle a water change without any lifting. When I retire, it'll be a different story. Then, I'll fully automate, as I want to travel and don't want to worry about the tank. Got places to go, man!!!!

 

[ScottF]

My little tank, just ATO and lights. My 250gal, everything. ATO, auto water changes, trident controlled dosing, Apex controlled everything, ozone, co2 scrubber, complex lighting and powerhead schedules...

 

[ScottF]

While in no way essential, automation has definitely taken some of the guess work out of maintaining my tank. Not the cheapest option, but the Trident has resolved one of my biggest issues... being a colour-blind reefer.

Same. The Hanna checkers help too, but I've probably spent as much on Hanna checkers as I did on my Trident.

 

[trini2debone]

Automation is great I think. The old school way is fun. As we all know, coral growth is very much dependant on stability. I'm sure we can't manually keep things as stable as automation. (our pets deserve the best we can afford)... You know what was also fun? Horse drawn carriage, but it's not how I would want to get around day in and day out... On the side of cost; Jebao is really good, and most importantly cheap. I love their app. the doser is reliable and easy to calibrate.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

ATO, one dosing pump for all for reef and a plug in timer for the T5.

 

[Rach77]

The only things automated are my AI light and wavemaker. All feeding and everything else is me ..so I know it's done.

 

[trini2debone]

I wish there was an automated glass cleaner, there are times I don't get to clean every day.

 

[1979fishgeek]

A little automation on some equipment…yes.

Im Probably in the minority, but I really hate how the hobby is going so ‘wifi’.

I don’t mind a little automation like with my lights turning on/off/ramping and my doser. But I hate when equipment can only be controlled with a app…. I’ve got so much perfectly good equipment that can’t be used as it no longer connects or sensors are giving wrong information because they had to work in wet salty corrosive environments and degrade. Or how about you just wanna switch your return pump off quick without logging into a app?

I prefer a good old on/off switch and not relying on the equipments app or sensor failing. I think being too reliant on automation is just pushing up costs and making people complacent.

 

[BryanM]

I don't think I'd survive w/o it. I bought the tank used, it had an apex and two dosers, I added the ReefLED's with their scheduling, etc.

It just makes it easier to enjoy the tank. But it is dang pricey.

 

[Scottiemac]

I use Hydros for as much as possible. If I wanted to, the only reason I'd have to visit my tank would be for feeding and adjusting salinity. Plus maintenance, such as cleaning the skimmer or scrubber and cleaning pumps. I do manual checks every day, of course, such as checking the sump water level or the cleanliness of the skimmer.

Some old school people are against it. I used to be the same way, but automatic transmissions are here to stay. Thermostats aren't going anywhere. The Internet isn't just a fad. Alarm clocks don't have to be fed rooster food every day.

 

[Paul B]

I wouldn't know what to automate. I don't test or really dose anything and the pumps and skimmer are always on. The lights are on a cheap timer and the heaters take care of themselves so what would I automate?