Small tanks benefit from Hydros?

[wrz0170]

Hi everyone. I’m considering a controller of some type and Hydros seems to have a lot going for it. However, I also wonder if a controller would be overkill or too much for a small tank. I have a Biocube 32 with actual 25 g and a small sump area. With a small space, even wondering if I decide to auto dose, could I implement And have Hydros take care of it? I do like the idea of some of the sensors and the like. As I understand it, a salinity probe is in R&D.

The second part is existing equipment I have. Not sure what is supported and I can migrate, future planned support or no way we’re not touching it.
‘Kessil A360x
Tunze 3155 Osmalator ATO. Also, my space is such I can only do manual WC. No AWC For me.
2 Nero 3 Powerheads (i know these are not supported and I would probably look at supported brands)
Inkbird 306a with plug in 100w BRS titanium heater.
Kasa WiFi smart strip

Can something like a controller help small tank owners breathe a little easier? Push me off the fence!

Thanks,

William

 

[Danny]

I have a 42 gallon hex tank and have 8 Hydros control units in a collective. Most of them are in the garage with the three 20 gallon storage tanks and the pumps used for dosing, ATO and AWC. There is not a lot of room at the tank for those things. The tubing is ran through the wall and ceiling to the garage. SoI guess it depends on what you want to do As to what your needs will be. If you want pH you will need at least 1 Control 4. If you get the starter kit It comes with the controller a temp probe and a pH probe. A power supply and one wifi power strip. That should get you going. You can always expand it as your needs expand by adding other control units or a wave engine.

 

[Shred5]

I just set up a AIO reef Aquarium for my wife that is 20 gallons with a Control 2.
I use it to control temps. Heater plugged into a heat controller on one outlet of Wifi power strip with a temp probe on a sense port.

I use it for ATO and I use the hydros kit ATO. So pump hooked up to a drive port and a water level sensor to the other senseport.

Lighting is controlled via another outlet on the WiFi strip.

Flow pump hooked up to another outlet on the WiFi strip.

Main pump is hooked up to a outlet on the WiFi Strip.

Now I can just use my phone to control everything on it.

Need to do a water change which will happen more on this tank because no skimmer I just open my phone app and shut off main pump and ATO.

Need to feed open up the app on my phone and shut off main pump.

Need a alert for my temperature if my heater fails I get that.

Control 2 is great for little aquariums and you can not go wrong for the price.


As for the Kessil on and off is all you get with a Control 2, Control 4 is required for 0-10v. My Kessil have 0-10v but not sure the newer models do.
I would keep your ink bird temp control because it is great to use even with any Aquarium Controller.
Nero 3 would only get on and off with any Controller they have proprietary control.

 

[Jonddk]

I have a control 4 on my JBJ 45. I love it and it makes things so much easier IMO. Turn off certain pumps during water changes or feedings in one click. I have a water sensor in my hang-on refugium so I know if the pump dies it will turn off the outlets for the refugium pump and lights. I am using the Hydros ATO and being able to monitor temp and PH is great.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

I went from a 29g to a 75g. I put the hydros on the 75g and it spiraled from there. I thought I was going to control and monitor a couple things, but now the tank is pretty much fully automated. the only time I put my hands in the tank is to clean sand or add frags to it.
I wish I would have known more back when I had the 29g, cause I would have put a controller on it. it makes the tank safer, more stable, and that adds up to a better experience.

I currently have a 20L that I built into an AIO for a frag tank, and its getting a control 2 on it so everything can run on the collective.

Trust me. you won't be disappointed putting a controller on your tank, no matter what size it is!

Thanks,

Barnabie

 

[wrz0170]

Thank you! It looks like it’s just a matter of a 2 or 4. As far as the Kessil, it appears I will just have to use their App for control. For lighting, once you get a schedule you like, it’s pretty much on cruise control unless you need to turn the lights off.

The Nero 3s, I would eventually switch them out to a supported powerhead.

I currently use a Kasa WiFi strip with Alexa. But it would be REAL nice not have to switch between 4 different apps to control the tank. I like a consolidated format. Less clutter with hardware and apps.

Will keep the Inkbird based on the recommendation.

Any control for my Tunze 3155 ATO? Or is just a plug in the WiFi outlet that will switch it on and off?

 

[reefiniteasy]

I used a Control 4 and XS on my 16 gallon BioCube. Size doesn’t matter, hahahaha! Seriously though. I used the Hydros ato and ph probe. I had a temp sensor in the back and one in the display. I also had one in my ato reservoir. I also had a leak detector. I had my flow and return pump plugged into the hydros power bar. I also used a Kessil light and had it plugged into an outlet. There is no such thing as too much.

 

[wrz0170]

I used a Control 4 and XS on my 16 gallon BioCube. Size doesn’t matter, hahahaha! Seriously though. I used the Hydros ato and ph probe. I had a temp sensor in the back and one in the display. I also had one in my ato reservoir. I also had a leak detector. I had my flow and return pump plugged into the hydros power bar. I also used a Kessil light and had it plugged into an outlet. There is no such thing as too much.
View attachment 1271

I just read your review thread on R2R. Very informative And very well documented!

To take full advantage of the Hydros, I would have to consider relinquishing the Tunze ATO where I like the two sensor safety net of optical and a float and moving to the Hydros. I may have missed it, is there any other fail safes to implement other than the one sensor? Can another sensor be added for back up? The other advantage is no head controller with all kinds of wires like the Tunze. Less clutter which I like. Hard to believe the Hydros ATO is like $80 compared to the Tunze 3155

The other is migrating to a different Powerhead from the Nero 3s.

 

[Danny]

The outputs have max on times, minimum on times, minimum off times and maximum off times you can set. The maximum on time and maximum off time can send a alert if either is exceeded.

 

[wrz0170]

The outputs have max on times, minimum on times, minimum off times and maximum off times you can set. The maximum on time and maximum off time can send a alert if either is exceeded.

Thanks. Makes sense. If the Tunze was on for more than 10 seconds, I would be surprised. So I could set a Max On time of say 30 seconds and if that threshold is exceeded, Hydros could power down the ATO and send me an alarm?

 

[Danny]

Yes, it depends on the pump used as to the actual times. I use a dosing pump for ATO on a drive port. My max on time currently is set for 5 minutes. The pump runs a 70ml per minute.

 

[wrz0170]

Yes, it depends on the pump used as to the actual times. I use a dosing pump for ATO on a drive port. My max on time currently is set for 5 minutes. The pump runs a 70ml per minute.

I would switch over to the Hydros ATO and use the pump it comes with.

 

[Danny]

I would switch over to the Hydros ATO and use the pump it comes with.

The only reason I don't is my DI storage is in the garage which is over 35ft from the tank. The tubing for ATO and AWC runs up through the attic and down the wall to the tank. The Hydros pump will not do that height. Below is a photo of the RODI solenoids and the ATO,AWC and dosing pumps for the tank in the garage. At the moment only three pumps are in use, the bottom right one is the ATO pump. I have another tank that is not setup so there is space for pumps for that tank.

 

[wrz0170]

The only reason I don't is my DI storage is in the garage which is over 35ft from the tank. The tubing for ATO and AWC runs up through the attic and down the wall to the tank. The Hydros pump will not do that height. Below is a photo of the RODI solenoids and the ATO,AWC and dosing pumps for the tank in the garage. At the moment only three pumps are in use, the bottom right one is the ATO pump. I have another tank that is not setup so there is space for pumps for that tank.

View attachment 1272

Awesome setup. Neat, clean and uncluttered. I like it!!!!! My need for the Hydros pump would be very simple. 4’ and change for height with my ATO reservoir next to the stand.

 

[discog1013]

I'm in the same boat (or should I say tank?) as @wrz0170

This thread has really helped me make sense of how to approach my first controller on a smaller tank.

In the midst of upgrading to an Innovative Marine 25G Lagoon AIO and am trying to get everything on the same platform. pH, Heater, ATO, Kessil light, alarms are good to go with a Control 4. WaveEngine can take care of a powerhead/wavemaker, but the stock variable speed MightyJet 326gph return pump is still left on it's own controller for speed control.

Using the wifi powerstrip helps for on/off of the return pump, but is there a <500gph DC pump that can be variably controlled with the WaveEngine or Control4? Possible with Hydros on this size tank...any thoughts?

Thanks, excuse me for crashing the thread!

 

[Danny]

That is what the Hydros ATO is for. Someone that has their DI storage at the tank. Since I will eventually have two tanks setup and they are not even in the same room of the house. I decided to put the controllers and pumps in the garage behind my work bench. The three storage tanks are under the workbench. This works for me. The white metal panel is the media center for the house. I built around it. Luckily it has CAT 5 cables running to most of the rooms in the house. I use the one running to the room with the tank as a data only cable between the controllers at the tank and the ones here. The three dosing pumps and tow of the solenoids are driven by drive ports. I have added the forth solenoid since the photo and that took the remaining drive port. I kept the painting scheme at the tank here. The black area is for electronics and the white are is for devices that deal directly with water. At the tank the inside the stand where the sump is, inside the canopy were it is exposed to open water and inside the back cover is all painted white. Inside the cabinets with the electronics are it is painted black. Water should never get into those areas. The second photo is of the stand during the build. The area in the front is for control modules. It is painted black. The area where the sump will be is the area painted white. The doors are not on at this time. The stand is designed to hide the area where the sand or gravel would be against the glass on the bottom sides. The canopy also hides the top of the tank.

 

[Danny]

I'm in the same boat (or should I say tank?) as @wrz0170

This thread has really helped me make sense of how to approach my first controller on a smaller tank.

In the midst of upgrading to an Innovative Marine 25G Lagoon AIO and am trying to get everything on the same platform. pH, Heater, ATO, Kessil light, alarms are good to go with a Control 4. WaveEngine can take care of a powerhead/wavemaker, but the stock variable speed MightyJet 326gph return pump is still left on it's own controller for speed control.

Using the wifi powerstrip helps for on/off of the return pump, but is there a <500gph DC pump that can be variably controlled with the WaveEngine or Control4? Possible with Hydros on this size tank...any thoughts?

Thanks, excuse me for crashing the thread!

No problem. If you have the room at the tank for the top off storage, dosing container and the pumps that would be the way to go. Since I was setting up a Hex tank it didn't leave much room for those things. Since I have two tanks I decided to put the support stuff in the garage. At the moment it takes up more space than the tank itself. Once I get the other tank up and running it will be about the same for support as the tanks since it is a 110 gallon. It will be awhile since I have to make some cabinets for the kitchen before I do the stand for it.

 

[wrz0170]

I'm in the same boat (or should I say tank?) as @wrz0170

This thread has really helped me make sense of how to approach my first controller on a smaller tank.

In the midst of upgrading to an Innovative Marine 25G Lagoon AIO and am trying to get everything on the same platform. pH, Heater, ATO, Kessil light, alarms are good to go with a Control 4. WaveEngine can take care of a powerhead/wavemaker, but the stock variable speed MightyJet 326gph return pump is still left on it's own controller for speed control.

Using the wifi powerstrip helps for on/off of the return pump, but is there a <500gph DC pump that can be variably controlled with the WaveEngine or Control4? Possible with Hydros on this size tank...any thoughts?

Thanks, excuse me for crashing the thread!

By all means crash the thread @discog1013 ! Good stuff here and nice that the little tanks can benefit as much as the big guys. Scale up or down as needed it seems.

My variable Sicce 1.5 return pump will just be on the WiFi strip. Matter of fact, it’s currently on the Kasa WiFi smart strip that I have. I can ask Alexa to turn it on and off. While it’s a manual control; I figure once dialed in it’s a set and forget thing. The hydros can take care of on/off during feedings maintenance etc. I would miss the Alexa part…..

 

[discog1013]

The Alexa part does sound cool....but I have a hard time getting her to play the right music!

The IM 25g Lagoon has 2 returns, and I've been toying with the idea of putting a variable speed DC pump on each return instead of using the Y connector to a single pump. Then controlling the flow to each pump to alter the flow in the tank. Easy to do with much larger pumps, but nothing that is small enough size or flow wise.

Perhaps a Jebao pump may work, but I honestly can't figure out if the models that would fit my tank would be compatible.

Hopefully a solution will appear in the future, but I'm still having tons of fun

 

[discog1013]

forgot to mention I bet I could then remove the wavemaker and have a super clean look, 2 controllable return pumps should be super cool in this tank