I’ve been playing with the Fishbit monitor now for a while. What I’ve found is a straightforward, easy to use device that could certainly help beginner and intermediate reef keepers monitor their tanks. From a monitoring perspective, the Fishbit doesn’t offer anything new. When first discussed on forums and hobby media, there was mention that the Fishbit would monitor nitrate, calcium, alkalinity or other vital parameters. For now, it simply measures ph, temperature and salinity. Anyone who has been in the hobby for a while knows that electronically monitoring these crucial elements is nothing new. Where Fishbit blazes a trail is in ease of use, introducing a monitor that connects to a wi-fi network. It’s easy to set up and works well with the iOS application that compliments it. However, after spending some time with the monitor, I have a few concerns based on the beta version I received. To start with, the probes are non-replaceable and installed in the upper-end of the monitor, sealed up by a thick layer of silicone. The silicone itself concerns me, as silicone is prone to failure after extended exposure to saltwater. Additionally, the software stops live reporting aquarium conditions to the aquarist’s mobile device. In order to get up-to-the-minute data, the Fishbit needs to be unplugged and fully restarted. This could be a real problem if an aquarist is traveling, at work, or away from their tank. According to Nathan of Current Labs, this issue is being addressed right now, as the development team tries to find out what’s going on. While wireless hardware and software is easy to set up and is certainly handy, it is somewhat prone to connection issues and other bugs. Of all the wireless-enabled devices I have in my home, which includes security cameras, weather monitoring stations, light bulb controllers, and speakers, all of them have had repeated connection issues. While it’s annoying when a smart bulb won’t adjust color temperature, it could be a major concern if the Fishbit is reporting incorrect aquarium water parameters due to an inability to update. One area of Fishbit’s set up could be problematic for less than tech-savvy aquarists. When first plugged in, the Fishbit enters wireless connection mode, and creates its own wi-fi network to give a mobile device direct access to it. If during the device’s initial connection to wi-fi it doesn’t connect, there is no reset to try again from scratch.… More:
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