Aquarium controllers, PH controllers, dosing systems etc

[Aquajack]

For 95% of people in this hobby, running an aquarium appears to be guess work, casual observations and not a lot of data driven applications.
That's where scapecrunch is amazing and so many like minded people here.

I love the tech side of it too which I'm only just starting to get into to help me progress the hobby further.
I was thinking about this as I was in our big box hardware store today just to pick up a minor plumbing item and ended up walking out the door with 90% of the material required for a Yugang reactor lol. Don't ask me how that happened! That will be another thread in the future I'm sure.

For now, my point is that when I get around to implementing the reactor, I don't want to rely only on CO2 kits to let me know what is happening.
I've seen some of you showing the PH charts which I think would be super helpful. Atleast to me as that is how my brain works best.

Which brings me to the equipment discussion. I was thinking about a PH probe (but not really as much to control CO2, just as a fail safe for that). More to log the PH data. Most stand alone PH controllers like Milwaukee do not log the data far as I can see.

Also, will be looking at fert dosing. For this I was considering something like the chihiros system.

I have a decent regulator to start with. Well I think it is lol. Also a flow meter (which i still haven't tested yet) so that side should be ok.

I also don't want to spend a fortune on an aquarium computer if I don't really need it. Most are starting at around $1,500 AUD here.

Do I just find a stand alone PH probe that will do what I want and the doser and call it a day?

What monitoring/automation systems do you use?

 

[Capraquaria]

If you don't want or need a full pH controller, as one element of getting my CO2 dialed in with the Yugang (I am using the large ARC Stainless on a 150U), I am using the Apera pH60-Z pH probe. Once it is calibrated, you can mount it on the tank (I am using a Small-Rig arm and clamp), and it's been sitting on my tank for the last week, running non-stop. It logs the data via the ZenTest app, stores the data in the cloud, and you can export CSV files of that data if needed. Right now I have an old Android tablet that is pretty much dedicated to running this tank, as everything seems to be so app-heavy these days, but this Apera model been working well so far, and really helps me see when/if I am hitting equilibrium before the photoperiod, and any fluctuations in pH during the photoperiod. It has been handy several times for catching the flowmeter drifting downward, and needing to be adjusted.


I just have it sitting in the back corner of the tank:

You can set the recording frequency for the data points, too. From continuous, to every x minutes or hours. Here I had it set to record a data point every five minutes.

 

[Koan]

Here's a discussion on that from @JacksonL just a couple weeks ago

Hypothesis Thread 'In line pH probe - genius or terrible idea?'

Apr 24, 2026

As I rethink the plumbing in my tank, I am planning to remove as much equipment from the tank as possible.
Being a relatively smaller tank (130L, 80cm) there are less places to hide all the tech.
On other tanks, I have used cable glands, meant for electrical installs, to install standard in tank heaters in line. I have had these running for about 8 years and they have never leaked a drop. So I am comfortable that they are waterproof.
I am looking to use one to install my pH probe between the filter outlet and my CO2 reactor.
I have made a prototype setup which is pictured below. Before I...

• JacksonL
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Equipment Discussions

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