Puppycam Meet Fishcam

So not sure if anyone else gets this feeling, but when I'm away from home for a few days I feel stressed because 'I'm not sure how the fish tank is doing (Or just at work for that matter lol).

Well I kind of solved that problem. Now I know I could have invested in some reef keeper equipment but that stuff is really expensive and I'm waiting till I have enough to buy the full version.

In the mean time, I bought an IP webcam, and mounted it to the wall next to my tank. I can login from anywhere, even my droid! So it's pretty cool to wonder how the fish are doing and then able to look at your phone and see. The webcam I bought was a little over 100 bucks and has pan/tilt and even infrared to see at night (though not sure if that annoys the fish so I don't use it).

The only downside is it exposes your IP address, but only that port if you know how to lock things down properly. If anyone is interested in this idea I can provide more details. Definitely a peace of mind thing for me haha.

 

smackrock

I can relate to this
I recently had to do a 10 day business trip
my Calc and Alk are automated, but I needed my good lady to take care of top ups, feeding and adding 1ml of Vodka on a daily basis

we spoke often during the 10 days, by phone call and text

I did not ask "how is my reef tank" once. I wanted to naturally, but refrained and focused on family related topics

and each phone call I hoped she would just say "Your tank is fine by the way" but she didn't

a remote hook up via web cam would have been appreciated

Steve

 

Lots of people are doing this nowadays. Not sure how I'm gonna handle being gone for a week in July LOL. I think my boyfriend wants our neighbor to take care of the tank, but I'd rather have my coworker who used to install & own tanks do it!

 

as much automation as possible is ideal
if you have dosing pumps and containers that last at least the time you are away, plus ATO, so that visits are mainly to check everything is as it should be and occasional feeding, then it will be fine IME

Steve

 

The feeding is my main concern. We have one fish that can't go a day without being fed right now. I'm sure he'll probably still be that way by July.

 

i have an xbox camera that i do this with when i go outta town for thanksgiving and christmas and spring break

 

feeding wise, I trust both my wife and son, when I am away
I would also trust a neighbour, providing I took some simple measures, such as portioning out the food, or leaving instructions on the freezer for the amount of frozen to be added and the way of processing it

I have even measured out pinches of flake foods or pellets and left them in tiny polythene bags , inside the carton they came in again with instructions such as 1 bag of this every other day )

Steve

 

Well, I'd trust the neighbor to feed, he says he follows instructions well LOL. However, if anything were to happen, having a former tank installer/owner would certainly make me feel like if anything needed to be done it would be! He gave up his tanks when they had the kid (couldn't afford both), so he said he'd gladly live vicariously through me for a week heheheh. I won an auto feeder at one of our local meetings, but sadly the 2 gobies won't eat flakes or pellets, so that would be out unless I manage to convert them both by then. Definitely will NOT be setting up a cam...I can't imagine spending a week in Mexico on the beach watching my fish tank!!!

 

i have never been able to get any fish to eat flakes..why dont fish like flakes..and every pet store says yeah they eat flakes..me nor any of my friends have ever had success feeding flakes..i guess you gotta starve them to wear they have no choice..just a random thought while reading this, i know its off subject, sawwy..

 

theres a LFS here that has cam of their display tank on their website
Wonderfish Aquarium - WonderCam
seems like an awesome idea, but i couldnt use it to identify a single fish they have in there lol