What reef tank inventions would you like to see?
 

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!

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

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!

Don't we all :razz:

I really wish I had a waterchange robot.

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

I imagine it would look like this...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/...910e1991b0.jpg

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

Product design and prototype your own buddy :Banane59:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now that's Funny

Now that's Funny

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.

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

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

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

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.

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/

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:

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

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!

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

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

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

26-Pound Gummy Party Bear

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

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

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!

Hanna magnesium checker would be nice.

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/robo...-tank-cleaner/
I don't like it that much. Too many limitations!

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:

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.

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.

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