The new Aquapro aquarium monitor is the latest in a string of new devices aiming to simplify the experience of keeping a healthy aquarium at home. In addition to monitoring basic parameters like pH, temperature and salinity, the Aquapro is unique in being the first to offer a built-in water pump which is also controllable.
AT only $150, the Aquapro is definitely the cheapest new offering in this product category. The inclusion of the controllable, small propeller pump is a curious one, it probably won’t create that much water movement in the tank, but its placement right beneath the sensors might actually generate current to provide more accurate readings.
There’s been a spate of these new aquarium monitoring devices, some like the Fishbit and MindStream have been in the oven for quite some time. Others like the Zissou have not yet seen a full release. On the flipside the Seneye has been around for over five years but still hasn’t made the kind of lasting impression on aquarium culture that you might expect.
On the one hand, there’s a reason that none of these devices have really made waves in the aquarium hobby, and for the most part it’s that the user experience has been mediocre. But on the other hand, a flurry of new activity in this monitoring space leads us to believe that the electronics are getting cheaper, and the barrier to entry is getting lower, so that many new companies can explore the development of these aquarium devices.
$150 is not too much to pay for this kind of kit, especially if you care about monitoring basics like pH, temperature and salinity – all very important parameters for having a good foundation of chemistry. However, for the price you might as well stick with trusted aquarium companies like Neptune Systems and GHL who already have trusted affordable devices which can do all these things and then some, and already have more experience and expertise building devices specifically for the aquarium market. [Indigogo]
