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MindStream Monitor: Who is getting one?


lnevo

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http://blog.aquanerd.com/2013/11/mindstream-aquarium-monitoring-system.html

 

It's like too good to be true...continuous monitoring of:

 

Ph, temp,conductivity, o2, the usual things you can get probes for

 

The unusual though...

 

Cal, alk, mag, potassium, nitrite, nitrate, co2, ammonia, ammonium, salinity/tds

 

Its not out yet but keeping my eyes open..if its as good as promised, wow!!!

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Thats awesome. I had thought about trying to use xray fluorescence in situ to monitor stiff, but didnt want to put high voltage into the salt water, heh. I wonder what wavelengths they are using and if they are doing some kind of near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy or something.

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I wonder if this is how the thrive aquatic stations work? Alan since you seen to understand the concept :) what do you think of the potential accuracy of this kind of device. I would love to integrate the data feed with my reef angel so like if alk or cal go to high stop the dosing program...

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I wonder if this is how the thrive aquatic stations work? Alan since you seen to understand the concept :) what do you think of the potential accuracy of this kind of device. I would love to integrate the data feed with my reef angel so like if alk or cal go to high stop the dosing program...

Im dubious. Seems like an april fools product, frankly. I dont see how you measure conductivity or CO2 content using fluorescence.

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I'll pay up to $500 for one if it does what it says and lasts for more than a year.

I would as well. I think its total vaporware, though. If it alleged to measure one or two things insitu, I could see that, but this seems to run the spectrum of different things, and some of the ions it alleges to measure normally require a chelation and titration process to get a color change to measure, not just shining a light through saltwater.

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I would as well. I think its total vaporware, though. If it alleged to measure one or two things insitu, I could see that, but this seems to run the spectrum of different things, and some of the ions it alleges to measure normally require a chelation and titration process to get a color change to measure, not just shining a light through saltwater.

can i copy this scientific speak and post it up in their facebook page where they seem to readily answer questions? or better yet, you mind posting it up on their fbook page? curiosity has me going and i'm interested to see their reply to something other than "shut up and take my money."

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I am skeptical as well.

 

The science is there. Oceanographers use these assays (tests). But as Alan said it is more complicated than just shining light through water. There are reagents involved. So it's like running a hobby grade nitrate test, but instead of trying to match colors to get a value, the device just gives you the concentration as a number. Also there is no titration. You just mix everything together and the brighter the glow, the more stuff in the water. Which is sweet. But each test requires its own reaction. I do think this is how Thrive does it, btw.

 

So how can there be continuous monitoring without an ion selective electrode and if dyes/ reactants are needed?

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you sciency-smart people need to post up on their fbook response for answers to those queries. help figure out what heck they are doing and how they are doing it. maybe they are still in provisional patent status and aren't trying to give too much away before finalizing on their utility.

Edited by monkiboy
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you sciency-smart people need to post up on their fbook response for answers to those queries. help figure out what heck they are doing and how they are doing it. maybe they are still in provisional patent status and aren't trying to give too much away before finalizing on their utility.

+1 you guys are ruining my dreams here...but really would like to know if its hocus pocus, complete vaporware or if they are on to something...

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more information from comments. maybe this makes sense to you science-y folks...

 

"...what you see is a rotating disk with 11 positions. Each position holds a patch for a different parameter. As the disk rotates, a UV light pulses, the patch fluoresces and the parameter is calculated and sent to a graph"

 

"The disk rotates automatically and takes a reading every fifteen minutes. Our "power puck" is on the outside of the tank and uses inductance through the glass to power the monitor. No wires in the tank!"

 

i saw a reply from alan on fbook and am pushing for answers, too, but i'm just a nobody on their page like everyone else, haha. patience is going to be required on this one to see how things pan out.

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Man just think what this could do for the hobby if suddenly all these tanks get monitored for all these params on a constant basis....its pricey for sure but if its close accurate..man worth every cent...even if its a dream...let me dream :)

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Especially at an estimated $600 each

Right, for that price they better offer up some units to reputable names for testing and reviews before selling them, because you can be sure that the first few early adopters will be vocal about problems and they wont sell more than a few if they dont work.

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I would pay 600 just for a continuous, accurate alkalinity monitor alone.  That has been a holy grail of reeftank water testing for many years.  How they distinguish carbonate alkalinity from total alkalinity and measure that with fluorescence has got to be patent worthy.  Everything else is unnecessary IMO, but the Mg & K would be interesting to know.  If this works as advertised, the Thrive device is going to have a hard time coming to market.  I saw it (not) run at Macna this year, and while it looks impressive, it is a major investment for any LFS once the bugs get worked out.  At least there is innovation going on in the water testing market space!

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