What reef tank inventions would you like to see?

[ScubaSteve]

The other day it hit me how many people on here are welders, engineers, designers, programmers, machinists, biologists, etc and pretty much everyone here can DIY the crud out of anything they want and I started ask myself "why aren't we more progressive in terms of equipment design and methods?".

Part of the problem is that whenever you think "Man, I really wish I had a _______" or "I wish my _______ did this or did this better" it just comes as a passing thought and you don't write it down, or you assume it's outside of your capabilities. So I thought let's create a thread where we can keep a repository of cool ideas and designs that we can either crowd source for ideas or have one member who's a particular pro at one idea weigh in and help solve a design problem.

Let's also keep a list of what capabilities different members have as well. The other day Skimmer King was looking for someone to build a bigger skimmer cup for him but no one seemed able to help him. Imisky and I both do plastics but are busy, it'd be awesome to see who else could help out. Or, if you wanted to learn how to do something, easily find a member who can help you out.

So let's hear all those cool/crazy ideas you've been thinking about and share the talent!

[kien]

Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner.

[ScubaSteve]

I'll kick it off.

-I've always wanted an activated sludge nitrate/phosphate removal system that could fit under a tank. Bye bye biopellets and GFO!

- a cheaper alternative to those uber-sexy Vortech powerheads

- cheap tank automation

Things I can offer to other members (if I have time :razz:):

Chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering. Specialize in water treatment, UV disinfection, LEDs, semiconductors, fluid dynamics, automation and control.

Product design and prototyping. I have CNC mill capabilities at home for small parts smaller than 8"x 6" x 6" (particularly acrylic and aluminum) and have access to bigger mills if necessary. Can 3D print PLA and ABS parts and can injection mold silicon and urethane.

3D modeling.

Let me know how I can help!

[ScubaSteve]

Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner.

Don't we all :razz:

[Myka]

I really wish I had a waterchange robot.

[subman]

A water testing robot....that changes water too :wink:

[ScubaSteve]

I really wish I had a waterchange robot.

I imagine it would look like this...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2831962519_910e1991b0.jpg

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

A water testing robot....that changes water too :wink:

Raising my own, organic version., My daughter Felicia is only 4 and has been helping hold the hose for Daddy's water changes for a couple of years now. She actually gets disappointed if I do water changes without her cause she loves being helpful, especially for the fishie stuff.

[ScubaSteve]

Raising my own, organic version., My daughter Felicia is only 4 and has been helping hold the hose for Daddy's water changes for a couple of years now. She actually gets disappointed if I do water changes without her cause she loves being helpful, especially for the fishie stuff.

You can bring her over here to do mine if she wants some extra practice

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Product design and prototype your own buddy :Banane59:

[cale262]

I'd like to see a low iron glass that doesn't scratch...

[MarkoD]

something that'll kill aiptasia and majanos instantly and never let them come back

[subman]

Product design and prototype your own buddy :Banane59:

Ohhh I have 3! no more for me :mrgreen: As big a help as they are Id prefer a robot do it so we have more time to enjoy the fishes

[subman]

something that'll kill aiptasia and majanos instantly and never let them come back

+1 and make it like the laser ones so I can enjoy killing them too!

[gregzz4]

Alk, Ca and Mag probes would be nice :wink:
No more testing Yaaayyyy

[wayner]

[QUOTE][/Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner
QUOTE]

Now that's Funny

[wayner]

Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner


Now that's Funny

[reefgirl189]

A one time tester for all parameters. Drop a cup of aquarium water in a computer and have the readout give your all your parameters with great accuracy. I find the test kits vary too much from brand to brand and I'd like to have a machine that I can calibrate to a primary standard on a bi-yearly basis.

[riceboy]

Alk, Ca and Mag probes would be nice :wink:
No more testing Yaaayyyy

Plus one on this and add phosphate and nitrate probe as well. Heck even if they can get a digital nitrate checker that would be great, I hate comparing the color lol

[kien]

.... and nitrate probe.... digital nitrate checker

----> http://goo.gl/zn9K9

----> http://goo.gl/Q0kde

[mike31154]

How 'bout a remote control/auto mini submarine? That would solve a few issues already listed here. A lttle like a roomba, goes around harvesting unwanted algae & stuff, then parks itself when done. Option for remote control so you can drive it around to do other stuff. Maybe it could even have probes on it too, with a wireless xmitter to send paramaters to your notebook or smart phone.

As far as skillsets, I have an electrical/electronics background and am fairly handy with some other stuff too.

[sphelps]

Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner.
Almost anything electrical can be solar powered so if you really wish it your dreams can come true.
http://reefbuilders.com/2011/04/14/robosnail/

I really wish I had a waterchange robot.
Let's face it, you'd never trust that robot to change your water :lol:
Automating water changes is a simple process, trusting it is not so simple, I think some might benefit more from a robot that just constantly reassures you things are OK.


As far as skills go I'm a professional stress engineer and I use to do a lot of machine design. So basically anything mechanical. I can also build a decent amount of things from acrylic but my hourly rate is probably excessive for this kind of work :mrgreen:

[riceboy]

----> http://goo.gl/zn9K9

----> http://goo.gl/Q0kde

Interesting I might have to get me one of those nitrate testers lol

[RuGlu6]

How 'bout a remote control/auto mini submarine? That would solve a few issues already listed here. A lttle like a roomba, goes around harvesting unwanted algae & stuff, then parks itself when done. Option for remote control so you can drive it around to do other stuff. Maybe it could even have probes on it too, with a wireless xmitter to send paramaters to your notebook or smart phone.

As far as skillsets, I have an electrical/electronics background and am fairly handy with some other stuff too.

Love that idea ! But lets make it a "Micro Sub" or optional Nano Sub, Plus the little sub can have a high power laser to kill Giant Eunicid (bobbit ) worms. Or better yet an arm that will grab the worm and wont let go, so the giant worm can be transfered to another tank.

Here is a video about ways to enjoy your worm! (http://www.youtube.com/user/vat19com?v=7RXmNRr8x7I)

[mike31154]

Love that idea ! But lets make it a "Micro Sub" or optional Nano Sub, Plus the little sub can have a high power laser to kill Giant Eunicid (bobbit ) worms. Or better yet an arm that will grab the worm and wont let go, so the giant worm can be transfered to another tank.

Here is a video about ways to enjoy your worm! (http://www.youtube.com/user/vat19com?v=7RXmNRr8x7I)

Great video, I like Gummi Bears though. Wonder if they make giant versions of those?

As far as the submarine, technology for that is out there, but development would require some pretty serious robotics & programming skills, neither of which I have.

Here's a vid on some scary nano quadrotors....

http://youtu.be/YQIMGV5vtd4

[Tom R]

I would like to see the development of a Robot that can learn my day to day routines so that when I go on holidays or just neglect my tank it would know exactly what to do.

It will have to know how to do water changes, water tests, tweak the system, clean skimmers, clean the glass, scrape the algae, feed the tank and go to the FS to replace whatever dies.

Tom R

[RuGlu6]

[QUOTE=mike31154;758990] Great video, I like Gummi Bears though. Wonder if they make giant versions of those? [QUOTE]

26-Pound Gummy Party Bear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_35886&feature=iv&src_vid=7RXmNRr8x7I&v=kRcCWIuvDis)

[Proteus]

How bout a monitoring system that knows tank inhabitants and watches there activity and health. It would alert immediately if a coral or fish gets sick telling you what's wrong and how to remedy based on each speices in tank

[subman]

the Aquascum 2003!
http://pixar.wikia.com/AquaScum_2003

[subman]

Almost anything electrical can be solar powered so if you really wish it your dreams can come true.
http://reefbuilders.com/2011/04/14/robosnail/


I want one but....$300!! I think they priced themselves out of the acceptable range.
http://robosnail.com/index.html

[HaZRaTTy]

I want one but....$300!! I think they priced themselves out of the acceptable range.
http://robosnail.com/index.html

I am starting to get into the Arduino micro controllers I bet you could someone how rig one of those with a transmitter and make one yourself for way cheaper. Have fun writing the C++ coding though that will take hours upon hours!

[MMAX]

Hanna magnesium checker would be nice.

[fishoholic]

I want one but....$300!! I think they priced themselves out of the acceptable range.
http://robosnail.com/index.html

Doug told me about them, I did really want one but I don't know if I'd trust it. If it picks up some sand and still goes around cleaning it could scratch the glass badly.

[Oilers]

Doug told me about them, I did really want one but I don't know if I'd trust it. If it picks up some sand and still goes around cleaning it could scratch the glass badly.

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/robosnail-fish-tank-cleaner/
I don't like it that much. Too many limitations!

[Enigma]

I want one but....$300!! I think they priced themselves out of the acceptable range.
http://robosnail.com/index.html

If it could travel around all sides of the tank I would buy one right now. It only does one pane, though. Why pay $300 when only 1/4 of the sides would be cleaned without intervention? :mmph:

Edit: As far as my skills go . . . I can build you a map to where you need to go to get someone else to build you something useful. ;)

[Oilers]

If it could travel around all sides of the tank I would buy one right now. It only does one pane, though. Why pay $300 when only 1/4 of the sides would be cleaned without intervention? :mmph:

Edit: As far as my skills go . . . I can build you a map to where you need to go to get someone else to build you something useful. ;)

You can buy 4 of them. They can become a show on their own beside the fishes and corals. Something else to brag about with friends :wink:

[ScubaSteve]

Hanna magnesium checker would be nice.

You just gave me an awesome idea.

We can make a spectrometer that plugs into your smart phone which can do all of your tests (like each of Hanna's units combined into one) for about $35. No need to buy each individual checker, just need to get the reagents.

And the phone would have an app that would automatically log all of your measurements and plot them.

[kien]

... plugs into your smart phone

Plugging in is so 2011. Wireless, please and thank you.

[ScubaSteve]

Plugging in is so 2011. Wireless, please and thank you.

Ha. If I can, I will. I was planning on using the camera from the smartphone to save cost.

[spit.fire]

I've been contemplating building a micro submarine for my 300g using parts from one of these micro RC helicopters but I'm not yet sure how to work a tiny wireless camera and claw into it tho. I'd build it so it resembles a tang so I could chase all my tangs around with it

I'm a welder /fabricator with a bit of manual machining / cnc plasma background

[Enigma]

I've been contemplating building a micro submarine for my 300g using parts from one of these micro RC helicopters but I'm not yet sure how to work a tiny wireless camera and claw into it tho. I'd build it so it resembles a tang so I could chase all my tangs around with it

I'm a welder /fabricator with a bit of manual machining / cnc plasma background

Hubby did something similar with his N-Scale coffee table train. He purchased a tiny wireless camera which he strapped onto one of the flat cars. The camera communicates with a notebook computer. As the train whips around the track what the camera views is visible on the notebook screen. It is pretty slick. It was a very popular part of his build at the Supertrain show two years ago. :)

[spit.fire]

Hubby did something similar with his N-Scale coffee table train. He purchased a tiny wireless camera which he strapped onto one of the flat cars. The camera communicates with a notebook computer. As the train whips around the track what the camera views is visible on the notebook screen. It is pretty slick. It was a very popular part of his build at the Supertrain show two years ago. :)

I've been watching cameras on eBay for a bit now but I'm picky and want something with a bit higher resolution than I can find, I wanted to use the camera out of a smartphone but I have no idea how to wire it to a transmitter

[Enigma]

I've been watching cameras on eBay for a bit now but I'm picky and want something with a bit higher resolution than I can find, I wanted to use the camera out of a smartphone but I have no idea how to wire it to a transmitter

I think Hubby's camera is bluetooth. I'll try to remember to ask him.

The biggest challenge for him was to get the batteries to fit on the car properly. The batteries were a lot bigger than the camera.

[kien]

I wish someone would invent one of these specifically for reefing.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNic8ljEdoqCPxwqd1wCDCrVpRYXOSC u7l8K95EhnqbqCQisRe

[11purewater]

I need a tap that says Hot / Cold /Natural sea water:biggrin:

[themastr]

Would like to have someone engineer salt that is in liquid form. That way I can use dosers and other types of controllers to automate my salt mixing. Way easier than a hopper system I think.

Not sure if it's around but I hate mixing powder. Imagine 2 litres (concentrated salt) of this and 4 gallons of that and voila perfect salinity and parameters. LOL.

Also something that can hide new tank additions before wife finds out you bought more corals. maybe like invisibility jar ??? cloth mesh or whatever prevents me from sleeping on the couch. LOL but seriously <----important invention right here !!!

[11purewater]

If the tank's close to the couch it's not so bad:mrgreen:

[Proteus]

How bout a silicone baffle that could be cut to size to fit in sump. Then one could add to exsistant sump to make more chambers and such.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I need a tap that says Hot / Cold /Natural sea water:biggrin:

Me too please. We'll beta test it for you. :lever:

[Salt2Death]

A underwater assault cyborg designed to eradicate all assigned tank pests!
( Ich as of my situation, algae, flat worms, aptasia...... I'm sure everyone has there own list)http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/01/zehyjyte.jpg


Sent Via The Pirate Ship...

[Money pit]

John Guest type fittings for overflow plumbing.

[Coralgurl]

Maybe this has been said already but I would appreciate 1 device to tell me what is wrong with my corals and or fish and how to fix it. Like some kind of laser beam that scans everything in the tank every say 6 hours and if something is off, sends a report saying "brain coral being attacked by sailfin - remove one or the other from tank", "frogspawn melting - sign of brown jelly" - frag damaged area. Suicidal fish risk - was out of water for 2 seconds 6 times today - cover tank". "Blue tang bullying trigger - not serious but be cautious". "Tank had a great day, relax and enjoy".

Sounds dumb, I know for some this is part of the challenge of reefkeeping, sometimes its just too late to make a difference if there's a problem.

[ScubaSteve]

How bout a silicone baffle that could be cut to size to fit in sump. Then one could add to exsistant sump to make more chambers and such.

You can do this with glass or acrylic sheets and foam weather stripping. Cut the material to the size of the baffle, but shink the sides by 1/8". Take adhesive foam weather stripping and put it on the sides. Stick it in your sump on and angle, then turn it into place. It will pressure fit into place. Uber easy.

[Proteus]

Great idea.

[don.ald]

I would like an adjustable hanger in my sump for my float linked to ATO.
Would like to move it up and down like the sensor on the tunze.
R.

[Reef Pilot]

I would like an adjustable hanger in my sump for my float linked to ATO.
Would like to move it up and down like the sensor on the tunze.
R.
Do you mean something like this?
http://autotopoff.com/products/

I have a double float switch and a solenoid from them to top off my sump directly from my RO/DI line. Cheap and fail safe.

[ScubaSteve]

I would like an adjustable hanger in my sump for my float linked to ATO.
Would like to move it up and down like the sensor on the tunze.
R.

If those hangers don't work for you, make me a sketch of what you want and I can make something for you.

[don.ald]

Do you mean something like this?
http://autotopoff.com/products/

I have a double float switch and a solenoid from them to top off my sump directly from my RO/DI line. Cheap and fail safe.

If those hangers don't work for you, make me a sketch of what you want and I can make something for you.

What I want is a gravity fed float that is adjustable up and down to adjust the level in the sump.

[Proteus]

Eshops make one that's adjustable.

[don.ald]

Eshops make one that's adjustable.

Ha, thanks, looked it up. Exactly what I want.
Now to find one:biggrin:
R.
Edit: Go reef has it listed.
http://www.goreef.com/Eshopps-Float-Valve-Auto-Top-Off.html

[ocean diver]

What I want is an automatic programmable frozen food feeder!!!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

What I want is an automatic programmable frozen food feeder!!!


I'll take three of those please.

[Samw]

I'd like to see an invention to keep calcium at a desired level without the need to use reactors.

Something that you can just plug in and let it do its thing and refill it once in a while without too much effort. Maybe it will be in the form of a HOB container with 2 compartments where each side will store each of the 2 chemicals from the 2-part bionic calcium buffer. Then a monitor will monitor the calcium level of the tank and slowly drip each of the liquids into the tank until the optimal/desired calcium level has been reached. There will be a failsafe so that it doesn't dump too much in within a short period of time.

[The Guy]

I would really like a robotic reef tank fish catcher, that would be very cool. I hate having to tear the tank apart to catch fish! :silly:

[Reef Pilot]

What I would like to see is some kind of device that you could place in your sump room that would cancel out all the sounds from the pumps. I have noise cancelling headsets for my airplane, and they work great (cancels out the engine and prop noise). So can't see why such a device couldn't work with pumps.

With computers and software capabilities that we have today, it should be easy to analyze the sound wavelengths from pumps (very steady rhythm) and produce wavelengths that would cancel out those sounds. They have been doing this with headsets for a long time now.

[biggerstretch]

less expensive all inclusive automation.... plug in your laptop to a controller interface and just keep the chimical buckets full ... dial in your lighting times and intensities as well as all desired parameters ... i know it exists in one form or another however I don't have the 200 grand to spend ... has to be a way of getting something going for an affordable price .... and the fish feeder option would need to be in it also ...

[Samw]

Has anyone come up with a MH/high-output-LED dual fixture? That would give the best of both worlds. I know there are dual MH with lower powered LED fixtures.

[somewherebeyondthesea]

A one time tester for all parameters. Drop a cup of aquarium water in a computer and have the readout give your all your parameters with great accuracy. I find the test kits vary too much from brand to brand and I'd like to have a machine that I can calibrate to a primary standard on a bi-yearly basis.

They have those, it's called a mass spectrophotometer...only they cost approx $500,000 for a cheap one :biggrin:

[somewherebeyondthesea]

Man, I really wish I had a solar powered automatic glass cleaner.


I like this idea! I immediately thought of a solar powered roomba that resembled a large turbo snail :mrgreen:!

[Samw]

Has anyone come up with a MH/high-output-LED dual fixture? That would give the best of both worlds. I know there are dual MH with lower powered LED fixtures.

I guess something like this except I would like to see more LEDS. Interesting that it uses GU10 style screw in LEDs.

http://www.finnex.net/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=315&category_id=37&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=61&vmcchk=1&Itemid=61

http://www.finnex.net/images/stories/epson042-550.jpg

[chris121277]

- a cheaper alternative to those uber-sexy Vortech powerheads




+1000!!! I'd kill to have one....but I'd have to sleep on the couch for a month if I spent $500 on a power head

[Reef Pilot]

+1000!!! I'd kill to have one....but I'd have to sleep on the couch for a month if I spent $500 on a power head
I've had one of these for over a year now, and just bought another set for my new downstairs tank. They work great and less than a 1/4 cost of the vortechs.
http://www.bigalspets.com/dc-5800-variable-speed-wavemaker-kit.html

[Jakegr]

I'd really like to see a aquarium computer with a much more user friendly/advanced interface. Even the nicest aquarium computers have really terrible interfaces, which I think is ridiculous given the options out there nowadays (Android).

Also, the fit and finish of aquarium computers can be lacking. For example, my expensive $300 touch screen for my Profilux looks stone age compared to a $200 Kindle Fire. The Profilux touch screen is about an inch thick and frankly the software running it can't even be compared to the far more user friendly Android .

Hopefully the Vertex computer, if it ever is released, will set a much higher standard for the industry.