Many years ago, I made a decision that would change my life forever. As an avid freshwater aquarist, I admired the skill and dedication of my saltwater tank colleagues. For years, I sat in amazement as the gentle sound of flowing water propelled me into the beautiful aquascape of tropical fish and otherworldly coral designs.
Like millions of others, I set out into the salty world of reef aquariums with excitement and a willingness to learn. However, as any reefer will tell you, this mesmerizing realm doesn’t hand you the beauty of nature on a silver platter.
Establishing a vibrant reef tank demands far more than water changes and correct water parameters. Of course, these are essential, but achieving the look we all desire is a multifaceted process.
Imagine reef tank health as a bridge. Every component, while independent, works together. The same is true for reef aquariums. Understand this, and you’re one giant step closer to the tank of your dreams.
Much like bridges, creating a vibrant reef tank requires constant maintenance and monitoring. However, most of us don’t have the time to manually oversee our tanks. As millions of aquarists have experienced, our inability to continuously monitor tank parameters results in collapse.
So, without pure luck, how can you establish a thriving reef aquarium? The answer: technology.
Author:
As a lifelong aquarist, Yuliya has an endless curiosity about our underwater universe. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering, she transformed her passion into a successful career. While working at the Institute of Environmental Protection in Moscow, her passion for saltwater and reef aquariums only increased. Moving to the United States in 2013, Yuliya embarked on another impactful journey by sharing her unprecedented experience for all aquarium hobbyists ... Read More.
Intelligent Monitoring, Unexpected Accuracy - Seneye Reef.
Before digging into the features and capabilities of this monitoring device, I want to clarify exactly what the Seneye Reef is designed to do.
First, and foremost, this isn’t an aquarium controller. Its interaction with your tank is purely passive. Essentially, the Seneye Reef is a combination device. Part surveillance system designed to gather and visualize tank data, and part PAR meter. Is a dedicated monitoring device absolutely necessary? No, countless tanks thrive for years without this type of assistance.
However, Seneye Reef isn’t just a monitoring tool. In fact, out of its feature list, water parameter surveillance is its least impressive function. While monitoring the health of your tank offers a unique peace of mind, it’s the PAR metering component that truly separates this device from similar products.
With a powerful infrastructure designed for precise lighting measurements and 24/7 monitoring, I feel more connected to my tank.
Okay, I know that comes across as a little dramatic, but trust me. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. After installing this surprisingly affordable system, you’ll join me in a chorus of praise.
Get ready, because we’re about to dive into the deep end of innovative technology.
Combining Science, Technology and Convenience - Seneye Reef Specs.
Normally, the more advanced a product is, the more frustrating its operation. Thankfully, Seneye Reef isn’t a normal device. Even though I flocked to this monitoring system for its PAR meter, which we’ll discuss in a moment, its other features are equally as impressive.
Let’s start at the foundation: its technical specifications.
Designed specifically for PC operating systems, the Seneye Reef device connects to your computer via a USB 1.0 port. Essentially, setup is a breeze. Simply connect the device to your computer, register your account with Seneye and enjoy a beautifully designed dashboard displays a variety of stats.
But, what if you don’t have a PC? For a while, MAC owners were out of luck. However, the need for connection versatility led to the development of the Seneye Reef Web Server & WiFi Module. Basically, this powerful module uploads data via WiFi or LAN.
I found this additional product perfect for my needs. Since I’m constantly on-the-go, I now have access to my reef tank stats wherever I am. Data is stored on the Seneye Cloud, which means your entire dashboard is available, in realtime, from any computer (PC or MAC) or from a smartphone or tablet.
As a bonus, the Seneye Reef customer service is exceptional. When I first installed this device, the SWS connection wasn’t working. After a quick call with their tech team, my issue was resolved in a matter of minutes.
Okay, now we’ve covered the basics, let’s dig a little deeper into its features.
Monitor Tank Health Like a Pro - Ecosystem Management.
Recently, a colleague asked why I would put so much energy into a device that’s “simply” a monitoring tool.
His question is completely legitimate. However, Seneye Reef does more than monitor water parameters. But, as I mentioned earlier, knowledge is power, and Seneye Reef delivers tank ecosystem insights quickly and efficiently. For someone like me, who lives a busy life, automating even the easiest tasks makes a difference.
If you’ve ever witnessed a tank crash, you know how devastating it is watching all your hard work and money crumble away. Essentially, Seneye Reef safeguards your emotional and financial investment. With its intelligent early warning system, you’re notified of a potential disastrous situation. That within itself makes this system worth every penny.
Along with its eerily accurate predictive management algorithm, the system can send automatic alerts regarding water levels, ammonia concentration, pH balance and other essential tank health parameters to your phone or email.
Combined with its historical graphing dashboard, Seneye Reef creates a real connection between you and your underwater universe.
Seneye Reef monitors the following tank parameters:
Water Temperature.
A fellow hobbyist had a weekend work trip. Believing his tank was well-prepared for his absence, off he went. Unfortunately, his heater failed almost as soon as his plane departed. Without a heater, his reef tank dropped to dangerously low temperatures.
Upon his return, he was horrified at what he uncovered. Most of his prized corals succumbed to the drop in temperature. While he rectified the problem, it took a long time for his tank to rebound.
However, if he had the Seneye Reef monitoring device, an alert would have notified him of water temperature changes, which he then could have asked a friend or family member to replace the heater or make the necessary adjustments.
When heaters or chillers fail, restoring temperature stability as quickly as possible is critical. With Seneye Reef, water temp is continuously monitored and displayed on your dashboard.
Free Ammonia
Sure, ammonia monitoring in an established tank isn’t imperative. Why, you may ask? In the established tanks, ammonia is efficiently converted. However, in my opinion, ammonia monitoring is important for both new and established tanks.
What happens if a large fish dies, or your auto feeder fails, and you don’t immediately notice? These situations, while rare, can cause even established tanks to experience an ammonia spike. Essentially, it may not be a parameter you worry about all the time, but in critical situations, you’ll be happy to have it.
pH Levels and Water Level
These monitoring parameters are essential for a happy, healthy tank. Seneye Reef continuously monitors pH and water levels to ensure both remain in an acceptable range. Personally, I adore this feature. It’s reassuring to open my phone, because I use the Seneye Reef WiFi Server, and have instant access to this vital information.
Side Note:
In order to utilize the ammonia and pH monitoring features, Seneye Reef requires controller slides. The slide inserts into the device and continuously monitors these two parameters. Thankfully, they’re cheap and each slide lasts for about a month. You can easily find these slides in a pack of three for $30, which breaks down to $10 per month, see here.
Of course, you don’t have to use the slides if you aren’t concerned with the pH and ammonia monitoring. However, I find its low monthly cost is absolutely worth the peace-of-mind they provide.
Illuminating the Vibrant World of Corals - Seneye Reef PAR Meter.
When reviewing the Seneye Reef, it wasn’t hard to pinpoint its most noteworthy feature. While it features a myriad of really cool features, its PAR metering technology takes the cake.
In case you don’t know, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) levels, is as important to coral growth as oxygen is for human life. Essentially, PAR determines light availability corals need for photosynthesis. However, without an effective metering system, it’s almost impossible to accurately adjust lighting.
One of the biggest mistakes almost all aquarists make is adjusting light based on their visual observation. Necessary light exposure isn’t just about quantity, or brightness, but also quality. Oftentimes, light quality and quantity in aquariums isn’t suitable for optimum photosynthetic processes.
Without getting too technical, inadequate lighting means the cellular reactions, known as chloroplast, aren’t activated. Ultimately, this results in stunted growth and lackluster color development.
This is where PAR meters come into play.
Because human eyesight can see and compare side-by-side colors, we’re unable to differentiate between slight color variations. Moreover, it’s almost impossible to determine light intensity and color output when lamps are close together. Therefore, the only way to ensure corals receive necessary light exposure is with a PAR meter.
Utilizing light sensor technology, Seneye Reef PAR meters deliver three primary readouts:
- PAR - Seneye Reef monitors PAR and Spectrum both are very critical for healthy coral growth.
- LUX - Measures light intensity to ensure corals receive ample illumination for growth without reaching dangerously high exposure levels.
- Kelvin - Monitors color temperature, or hue, at different areas throughout your aquarium to ensure color temperature is ideal for specific corals and overall tank health.
So, what do you do with all this data? You use it to your advantage! PAR meter readings are stored in the software dashboard. I really appreciate this feature as it offers a thorough historical record of lighting. This is useful when troubleshooting specific situations.
For example, after adding several new acroporas to my tank their coloration dulled. Using the Seneye Reef PAR meter, the readouts were far too low. After adjusting lights to the appropriate levels, their color returned after four to five weeks. Without this information, it’s likely these beautiful coral would have been lost for good.
The best part? The PAR meter is extremely easy to use. For the most accurate readings, direct the lens directly at your light source. Make sure to take multiple readings at various spots throughout your tank. In each spot, rotate the meter along its horizontal axis (spin it around 180-degrees). This action ensures you get the most accurate reading.
Since adjusting PAR with Seneye Reef, my coral blossomed. Keeping my PAR readings around 300-400 seems to be best for my precious SPS coral, which seem to grow everyday.
The End of Reef Tank Surprises? Seneye Reef Final Thoughts.
Perhaps the most notable way to comprehend the power of Seneye Reef is to compare it against one of the leading PAR meters. Apogee PAR readers are universally respected as a powerful and accurate device. However, it’s also incredibly expensive. Costing between $375 and $500, you’d think it’d outperform the Seneye Reef? Well, you’d be wrong.
Seneye Reef delivers multiple readouts (LUX, Kelvin, CIE Matrix, PUR Approximation), which offers exceptional understanding and control over tank lighting. Compared to Apogee, which only delivers two readouts, Seneye Reef not only delivers more data, but its data can be more accurate than Apogee. The BulkReefSupply team finds the Seneye Reef is closer to the performance off the exceptionally costly LI-COR system.
My favorite part? The entire Seneye Reef system costs $199. Ultimately, for roughly half the price of the leading competitor, you get a more complex PAR meter and dynamic monitoring capabilities.
What’s your experience with the Seneye Reef?
by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.