I'm working on a project, could use your input...

[rrasco]

I am currently working on a top secret project, which is not so top secret now that I am talking about it here, but I think I can trust you guys...and if anybody tries to steal my idea, well, I'll just do it better than you :bigsmile:

I am a web developer and an avid aquarist, combining my two passions has been inevitable. I am building a site which will basically offer services in the form of documenting your tanks. You will be able to create a profile for each of your tanks and enter details regarding them such as attaching pictures, enter water parameters, livestock, and expenses. I plan to use this data to generate expense logs and cost analysis, historical charting of water parameters, livestock reports, etc.

For the most part, the freshwater and saltwater parameters accepted will be very similar, but I am sure there are some things you saltwater people might like to track in addition to pH, nitrates, gH, kH, and temperature. Now is the time to form a wish list of things that can be documented. I can always add later, but would like to have the framework for everything in place early on.

I have lots of neat stuff planned for this site but if you have any ideas you'd like to be a part of my new venture, feel free to chime in, I love user feedback.

Thanks!

[Europhyllia]

you better make that cost analysis optional. I am all for tracking pH etc but yikes I have no desire to add all of the expenses up... ;)

[tebstan]

I also like to track calcium, magnesium, iodine, and of course specific gravity.

I keep notes on livestock including any treatments/dips, and where I purchased it as well as expense. I've found that remembering where something came from can be helpful.

[rrasco]

Can you expand on the treatments/dips? Is that for your livestock or for tank treatments? You gave me an idea to add a dosing section to track trace element and medication dosage dates/amounts.

For livestock, I plan to, at a minimum, include: purchase date (born date), price, purchased from, and unfortunately the inevitable RIP date.

[Kristy]

Expense logs?!? Shhhh! (Now I see why this is top secret!!) I even keep that secret from myself, happily in denial. :D

[tebstan]

Mostly I try to track if I dip any corals, and when. If I don't dip when I first get it, I make note of that too. I've had to dip for suspected pox, but have also dipped for nuisance algae, and "just in case." I wouldn't medicate the display tank since it's a reef, but for FOWLR tanks that may be something to include.

Ah, yes, supplements. Can't forget those. There's daily, weekly, monthly. I don't have dosing pumps, so I try to keep a regular schedule with that stuff.

There's tank maintenance: water changes, pump maintenance, skimmer cleaning, reactor cleaning. I clean my rocks too, more regularly than anything else. (Blast them with a turkey baster.)


I don't like to frag things, since I suck at it. But fragging mother colonies would be a neat thing to track also.

[rrasco]

There is a plan to have a task manager or some kind of scheduler that will remind you to perform tasks, like water changes or dosing...this site will be for freshwater tanks too, so medicating is certainly applicable there and to FOWLR tanks. As with any option for tank profiles, it will not be required. Track as much or as little as you want and I'll attempt to provide you with useful data based on what you put into the system.

I'm still new to reef tanks, so dipping is a new concept to me, but thanks for the insight!

What would you suggest tracking about fragging? Just dates?

[tebstan]

Date, size, dip, recovery time, lighting requirements. I know those are things I like to know when I receive a frag. Since I don't actually frag things might want to get some more input on that one.

[rrasco]

Correct me if I am wrong, but that sounds more like livestock information to me. I could include care requirements in the livestock section based on what type of livestock it is (fish, coral) and different options would be available for each. Do you think that would be adequate?

[tebstan]

Since corals are livestock, that would be the appropriate category. Bur fragging info would be a little different than regular care, so I guess a subcategory?

In FW, breeding stock and offspring would have a similar need

[rrasco]

Hmm...I'll have to think about how to implement that portion. Might fall under a different category all together for livestock produced in your tank.

[phippsj]

We should get together for lunch... I am doing something very similiar / complementary.

[rrasco]

I see....you want my ideas, eh?!?! :wink_smile:

[Mr Cob]

Cool.

There are a few already out there. Not sure if you knew or not.

Bean Pets which is a sponsor on ARC creates Aquarium tracker apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. http://www.beanpets.com/

Nyagua: http://freshmeat.net/projects/nyagua

My Aquarium Logger: https://market.android.com/details?id=myaquarium.logger&feature=related_apps


Those are the ones I have seen and are pretty cool...a google search brings up many more.

Not sure there is an industry leader (perhaps Bean Pets) so you may be onto something if you do it well.

Good luck.

We are also working on apps for our store but nothing related to aquarium trackers.

[rrasco]

I've done a little market research, never found anything that excited me though. I had not looked for mobile apps, but I do plan to release iOS and Android apps to interface with mine. The biggest difference I see with those is that mine will be web-based, not solely for your phone. And best of all, free, to an extent anyways. There may be limitations based on number of tanks, pictures, etc, that can be upgraded, for a fee. That is really only due to server and bandwidth limitations though. Thanks for the tips!

As with most of my web projects, they are often aimed at benefiting me, where I also see an opportunity to help others by letting them use what I have created. In my experience, this works best, because I have a vested interest in the software, not just looking to make money.

[Mr Cob]

It sounds like you are off to a great start. I'll be sure to follow your progress.

You might also consider sponsoring a few reef sites such as MAAST and keep up to date progress threads coupled with some social media accounts. Reef forums are pretty bad tooshy for indexing. Could prove to be of a great benefit over the long stretch. It pays big to have a large following before you even release the booger.

[rrasco]

Indeed. If all works out, I do plan to sponsor a few places. I'm hoping the software is useful enough that word-of-mouth will be my biggest source of advertising. I've leveraged the aquarist community to learn all the wonderful things I have over the past several years, I now feel it is my opportunity to give back.

[phippsj]

I see....you want my ideas, eh?!?! :wink_smile:

You might want mine too :)

[rrasco]

Touché

[rrasco]

Most of my database now has structure, meaning I know how I'll put things together! If anyone has suggestions, now would be the optimal time to let me know. It can be a real hassle to modify a db once it's working.

[ramsey]

Just wanted to say that this is a great idea! I've wanted something like this for a while. I was tracking stuff in a spreadsheet but I HATE spreadsheets and having something web based would be much better. If you end up needing a place to host it, let me know.

[rrasco]

Thanks for the offer, but I have two hosts and resell hosting as well.

[kkiel02]

Just to be sure-So this is for manually entering the data online to keep track or will a controller send the data to the website as well?

[rrasco]

If possible, I will be allowing imports of controller data.

[kkiel02]

Well I can't wait to see what you come up with then.

[Mr Cob]

If possible, I will be allowing imports of controller data.

now that will be cool!

[d3rryc]

So how do we sign up to be beta testers once you have something to work with?

[rrasco]

I'll post here when I start taking testers. Still working on the site framework.

[rrasco]

This project still has a little ways to go, but I have a page setup to start taking addresses for launch notifications. I will more than likely be offering beta testing and possibly additional perks for people on the notification list before we launch.

http://www.aqualogs.com/