Best, favourite, most ridiculous or geeky aquarium gadget?

Not sure how but yesterday I found myself, for no apparent reason, looking through Amazon at aquarium thermometers and came across one which links to a phone app. Inkbird IBS-TH1 Wireless Bluetooth Aquarium Thermometer Temperature Humidity Sensor for Fish Tank Tortoise: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools. This made me wonder what other aquarium related geeky stuff is out there. What gadgety goodness do you guys use or have seen or wish existed? Fancy thermometers, aquarium cameras, unusual or strange ornaments, bubble walls, etc.

 

I saw a thing on etsy called the "shrimp shelf". It is a platform with a suction cup on it that attaches to the side of your aquarium. You can put the shrimps food on it so it's easier to clean up, and the shrimp know where to go each time. I thiught this was really smart, but I haven't bought one for myself yet haha

 

One of the best accessories I ever found was SMART Power Strip. It is WiFI controlled, and each power port can be set on a different timer. Absolutely phenomenal.

The accessories that I wish existed was:

1. Automatic monitoring for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, CO2, KH, GH, etc. In this gadget, can also set preferences to remind what fertilizer to dose if it gets to low.
2. Aquarium lights that is able to sync/follow the light spectrum in locally or a specific region
3. Something that just kills Black Beard Algae
4. An automatic feeder that intakes water to soak the pellets or freeze dried food for 5 minutes prior to feeding
5. A 5-in-1 Canister Filter that does the following: Heat, UV light, CO2 reactor chamber, removable/modular side pockets for chemical filtering for things like Purigen and automatic priming

All this, I think will bring great benefits to the hobby.

 

I saw a thing on etsy called the "shrimp shelf". It is a platform with a suction cup on it that attaches to the side of your aquarium. You can put the shrimps food on it so it's easier to clean up, and the shrimp know where to go each time. I thiught this was really smart, but I haven't bought one for myself yet haha

That sounds like something a shrimp keeper has thought of him/herself and decided to market it. Always the best ideas that way.

One of the best accessories I ever found was SMART Power Strip. It is WiFI controlled, and each power port can be set on a different timer. Absolutely phenomenal.

The accessories that I wish existed was:

1. Automatic monitoring for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, CO2, KH, GH, etc. In this gadget, can also set preferences to remind what fertilizer to dose if it gets to low.
2. Aquarium lights that is able to sync/follow the light spectrum in locally or a specific region
3. Something that just kills Black Beard Algae
4. An automatic feeder that intakes water to soak the pellets or freeze dried food for 5 minutes prior to feeding
5. A 5-in-1 Canister Filter that does the following: Heat, UV light, CO2 reactor chamber, removable/modular side pockets for chemical filtering for things like Purigen and automatic priming

All this, I think will bring great benefits to the hobby.

I like #1 a lot. The others are great, too but the 5-1 canister filter would probably require a second mortgage to buy.

 

One of the best accessories I ever found was SMART Power Strip. It is WiFI controlled, and each power port can be set on a different timer. Absolutely phenomenal.

The accessories that I wish existed was:

1. Automatic monitoring for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, CO2, KH, GH, etc. In this gadget, can also set preferences to remind what fertilizer to dose if it gets to low.
2. Aquarium lights that is able to sync/follow the light spectrum in locally or a specific region
3. Something that just kills Black Beard Algae
4. An automatic feeder that intakes water to soak the pellets or freeze dried food for 5 minutes prior to feeding
5. A 5-in-1 Canister Filter that does the following: Heat, UV light, CO2 reactor chamber, removable/modular side pockets for chemical filtering for things like Purigen and automatic priming

All this, I think will bring great benefits to the hobby.

#1 is actually partially possible, but extremely expensive. My dad lately talked about a sensor meter that can sense pH, TDS, conductivity and O2 levels. Costs more than a grand.

Just looked some stuff like that up, found this. They don't even give a price and seem to only rent those out.
https://in-situ.com/us/aqua-troll-500-multiparameter-sonde

and at least for nitrates and nitrites there's this:
%product-title% kaufen!!

Quick translation: It measures silica, pH, phosphates, nitrites, nitrate, copper, chlorine and flourite. According to the instructions ammonium as well. It comes with a standard fluid measuring kit included. It's a photometer, so it measures the colour of the test tubes, meaning light conditions, colourblindness and human insecurity are ruled out. That's it. So it's not a sensor for all those parameters in itself like the other one.

But combined... it's theoretically/indirectly already possible.

 

I like #1 a lot. The others are great, too but the 5-1 canister filter would probably require a second mortgage to buy.

Thank you! I do see some Canister filters having a heating, UV and CO2 reactor built-in for a price around $400. So many canister filters are built primarily the same just with minor tweaks. I think it is long overdue for some major overhaul in this area. People will always pay a premium as long as those premium features are in working order and of high quality.

#1 is actually partially possible, but extremely expensive. My dad lately talked about a sensor meter that can sense pH, TDS, conductivity and O2 levels. Costs more than a grand.

Just looked some stuff like that up, found this. They don't even give a price and seem to only rent those out.
Aqua TROLL 500 Multiparameter Sonde - In-Situ

and at least for nitrates and nitrites there's this:
%product-title% kaufen!!

Quick translation: It measures silica, pH, phosphates, nitrites, nitrate, copper, chlorine and flourite. According to the instructions ammonium as well. It comes with a standard fluid measuring kit included. It's a photometer, so it measures the colour of the test tubes, meaning light conditions, colourblindness and human insecurity are ruled out. That's it. So it's not a sensor for all those parameters in itself like the other one.

But combined... it's theoretically/indirectly already possible.

I know some already exist such as the Neptune system for the Saltwater hobby. It is expensive, but look how many people go after it because it is life-changing for the Saltwater hobby. Some Saltwater hobbies spend hundreds on just lights strong enough to grow corals, so even if that system equalivant to the Neptune system existed for the Freshwater hobby, then it is a premium feature that many hobbyists will strive to obtain in the future.

 

#1 is actually partially possible, but extremely expensive. My dad lately talked about a sensor meter that can sense pH, TDS, conductivity and O2 levels. Costs more than a grand.

Just looked some stuff like that up, found this. They don't even give a price and seem to only rent those out.
https://in-situ.com/us/aqua-troll-500-multiparameter-sonde

and at least for nitrates and nitrites there's this:
%product-title% kaufen!!

Quick translation: It measures silica, pH, phosphates, nitrites, nitrate, copper, chlorine and flourite. According to the instructions ammonium as well. It comes with a standard fluid measuring kit included. It's a photometer, so it measures the colour of the test tubes, meaning light conditions, colourblindness and human insecurity are ruled out. That's it. So it's not a sensor for all those parameters in itself like the other one.

But combined... it's theoretically/indirectly already possible.

That's some really good techie stuff right there, Mac. I especially like the 'Aqua-check, although some of the parameters it covers would be better swapped for some others to be more suited to aquariums. Quite pricey, though.

 

I always thought the Betta Buddy toy made by Marina was incredibly silly. It's literally a cardboard cutout of a fake betta, and it's supposed to stand-in as a friend for the real betta. At least that's what the package says.

Here's a great opportunity for a Wilson joke.

 

Haha! I just googled it and found this vid of one. I'm with you on this. Pretty sure that's not going to convince the genuine article.

 

He gives me an idea that it would make a good prop for a decorative non-fuctional betta bowl.

 

#1 is actually partially possible, but extremely expensive. My dad lately talked about a sensor meter that can sense pH, TDS, conductivity and O2 levels. Costs more than a grand.

Just looked some stuff like that up, found this. They don't even give a price and seem to only rent those out.
Aqua TROLL 500 Multiparameter Sonde - In-Situ

and at least for nitrates and nitrites there's this:
%product-title% kaufen!!

Quick translation: It measures silica, pH, phosphates, nitrites, nitrate, copper, chlorine and flourite. According to the instructions ammonium as well. It comes with a standard fluid measuring kit included. It's a photometer, so it measures the colour of the test tubes, meaning light conditions, colourblindness and human insecurity are ruled out. That's it. So it's not a sensor for all those parameters in itself like the other one.

But combined... it's theoretically/indirectly already possible.

The hand held tester we had at were I used to work was 6 grand just for monitor. All the probes were sold seperatly as was the equipment to zero it out.

 

The hand held tester we had at were I used to work was 6 grand just for monitor. All the probes were sold seperatly as was the equipment to zero it out.

OUCH!