ScapeCrunch family,
As many of you know, I am a big fan of aquarium automation to function as a tool helping you with aquarium husbandry. This not only makes your life easier but also helps to maintain consistency when we get lazy or busy and can even save the day in case of an emergency. This is why I long ago invested in the Neptune Apex system.
The problem has been that it there is a large upfront cost to get started with automation and the leading companies have decided to use the closed-ecosystem model that requires you to purchase their products rather than allowing you to use whatever products you may choose. While I appreciate that this gives the company more controller of how products interact with the controller, it also means you are at their mercy when things go wrong. It would be better for a company to focus on doing one thing well (i.e., controllers) and let other companies do what they do best (i.e., lighting, pumps, dosers, etc.). Now we have an automation option that does just that.
I'm happy to let you know about Robo-Tank, a new controller for our aquariums.
Robo-Tank is the brainchild of Rob Fowler (@robsworld78) who happens to also be a planted aquarium hobbyist. Robo-Tank is a modular and customizable aquarium controller that has been evolving for nearly a decade. Rob's journey with Robo-Tank began when he got his first aquarium and, like many of you, found the high price of controllers out of reach. Inspired by others in the Reef2Reef community, he decided to build his own using Arduino, and when fellow hobbyists saw it, they wanted one too. That’s what sparked the idea to start selling Robo-Tank controllers, and it’s been growing ever since! Today, Robo-Tank is powered by a Raspberry Pi, offering even more power and flexibility for both beginner and advanced users.
Robo-Tank is all about flexibility. It works with non-proprietary equipment and sensors, so you’re free to choose the gear that suits your needs without being tied to a specific brand. Over the years, Rob has sold more than 1,200 aquarium controllers, with 700 in just the last few years, and the system has been thoroughly tested in real-world aquarium setups. You can read real experiences and feedback from Robo-Tank users here.
The hardware has been refined to ensure reliability, and the affordable pricing, with aquarium controllers starting at just $100, gives incredible value for money. It even includes a highly accurate pH circuit, and for those who love to tinker, Robo-Tank offers the freedom to create custom circuits and, most excitingly, to modify the web app to fit your needs exactly how you see fit. The web app is continuously being developed and provides real-time control and automation for your aquarium, making it incredibly powerful and flexible. You can dive into all the details of the web app here to see how it can transform your aquarium management.
I’m excited to announce that the next version of Robo-Tank is launching soon on Kickstarter! This updated version is tailored to fit the needs of even more users based on feedback and offers the same flexibility and ease of use you’ve come to expect. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to launch!
Make sure to follow the Kickstarter pre-launch page for updates and be part of this exciting journey.
Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page
I reached out to Rob and found out he is a freshwater guy but has been working with the reefing community given they are very much ahead of us with this type of equipment. Of course, I asked Rob to join us here so that we can also help him continue to evolve the Robo-Tank to be a useful tool for planted aquariums as well.
Please, please take some time to think about how this can assist you and your aquarium husbandry. We need to encourage and support this type of innovation and it's wonderful that a freshwater planted aquarium hobbyist like Rob is doing it. Feel free to ask questions here.
I've asked Rob to keep us updated on progress. Let's think about how this tool can specifically help us in planted aquarium management.
#robotank
As many of you know, I am a big fan of aquarium automation to function as a tool helping you with aquarium husbandry. This not only makes your life easier but also helps to maintain consistency when we get lazy or busy and can even save the day in case of an emergency. This is why I long ago invested in the Neptune Apex system.
The problem has been that it there is a large upfront cost to get started with automation and the leading companies have decided to use the closed-ecosystem model that requires you to purchase their products rather than allowing you to use whatever products you may choose. While I appreciate that this gives the company more controller of how products interact with the controller, it also means you are at their mercy when things go wrong. It would be better for a company to focus on doing one thing well (i.e., controllers) and let other companies do what they do best (i.e., lighting, pumps, dosers, etc.). Now we have an automation option that does just that.
I'm happy to let you know about Robo-Tank, a new controller for our aquariums.
Robo-Tank is the brainchild of Rob Fowler (@robsworld78) who happens to also be a planted aquarium hobbyist. Robo-Tank is a modular and customizable aquarium controller that has been evolving for nearly a decade. Rob's journey with Robo-Tank began when he got his first aquarium and, like many of you, found the high price of controllers out of reach. Inspired by others in the Reef2Reef community, he decided to build his own using Arduino, and when fellow hobbyists saw it, they wanted one too. That’s what sparked the idea to start selling Robo-Tank controllers, and it’s been growing ever since! Today, Robo-Tank is powered by a Raspberry Pi, offering even more power and flexibility for both beginner and advanced users.
Robo-Tank is all about flexibility. It works with non-proprietary equipment and sensors, so you’re free to choose the gear that suits your needs without being tied to a specific brand. Over the years, Rob has sold more than 1,200 aquarium controllers, with 700 in just the last few years, and the system has been thoroughly tested in real-world aquarium setups. You can read real experiences and feedback from Robo-Tank users here.
The hardware has been refined to ensure reliability, and the affordable pricing, with aquarium controllers starting at just $100, gives incredible value for money. It even includes a highly accurate pH circuit, and for those who love to tinker, Robo-Tank offers the freedom to create custom circuits and, most excitingly, to modify the web app to fit your needs exactly how you see fit. The web app is continuously being developed and provides real-time control and automation for your aquarium, making it incredibly powerful and flexible. You can dive into all the details of the web app here to see how it can transform your aquarium management.
I’m excited to announce that the next version of Robo-Tank is launching soon on Kickstarter! This updated version is tailored to fit the needs of even more users based on feedback and offers the same flexibility and ease of use you’ve come to expect. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to launch!
Make sure to follow the Kickstarter pre-launch page for updates and be part of this exciting journey.
Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page
I reached out to Rob and found out he is a freshwater guy but has been working with the reefing community given they are very much ahead of us with this type of equipment. Of course, I asked Rob to join us here so that we can also help him continue to evolve the Robo-Tank to be a useful tool for planted aquariums as well.
Please, please take some time to think about how this can assist you and your aquarium husbandry. We need to encourage and support this type of innovation and it's wonderful that a freshwater planted aquarium hobbyist like Rob is doing it. Feel free to ask questions here.
I've asked Rob to keep us updated on progress. Let's think about how this tool can specifically help us in planted aquarium management.
#robotank