Seneye Reef

[Inklinkerman]

Seneye Reef
The Seneye Reef is a new, simple aquarium monitoring device which inc NH3, Ph, temp, and light meter (PAR,Lux,Kelvin). It connects to a windows PC or laptop via USB and utilises downloaded dashboard software to view current readings, and also a personal webpage at seneye.me that charts parameters, and also predicts future trends. At the moment there is no dedicated mobile site, however there are plans to run a site for iPhone/iPad and android smart phones. This will improve mobile connectivity, a feature which will do much to appeal to the gadget loving reefer. In order to make use of internet connectivity the device needs to remain connected to a PC or laptop, although a wireless add on is due to be launched soon. To power Seneye when not connected to a PC a USB power connector is needed. I simply use a power adaptor from my old iphone. Results are stored and then uploaded when the Seneye is next connected to the computer.
I decided to pick up the Seneye reef mainly due to its price point and advertised connectivity. The PAR meter was an interesting plus point but I didn’t deem it really important. I test for Ph/Kh a couple of times a week and so having an instant readout makes it easier, and I am very lazy. Any parameters out of tolerance are brought to the users attention by red LEDs on the device. It has been said that the NH3 monitor is of little interest to established reefs and that a nitrate monitor would have been better, I agree with this, but hopefully this will be remedied soon (see below)

The initial setup certainly wasn’t as easy as I expected. The simcard like slide which measures Ph and NH3 needs to be soaked in tank water for 24hrs prior to use, then the device needs to be connected to the internet for at least 1 hour (this actually meant 12 hrs for mine!)After signing up for an account, downloading software, entering information the device Initially was set as a Seneye Home (the £49 version) and was set up as a pond monitor, this was slightly annoying as it was also trying to tell me my temp was too high and my Ph was 6.4, obviously both of which was not true. I contacted the help email and received a reply very quickly, I have since exchanged a few emails and I have to say the customer service is very good. However after 12 hrs being connected everything magically started working ! The PAR meter came on line and the settings reverted to reef tolerances. The website however is quite disappointing, and is quite obviously not finished. When it is complete, judging by the standard so far, it will be very good, but it seems this is some way off. Seneye + is subscribed to via the website, yet this seems also to not be functional, and as yet I can’t seem to find a way to buy further slides or subscribe. This is slightly worrying, but I’m sure will be sorted soon, otherwise there will be a lot of annoyed punters with expensive thermometers.

The PAR meter is a really great piece of kit, its been very interesting to look at the readings, adn im sure i will post more on this when ive had more of a play. You can see PAR, Lux and the temp of your bulbs using the meter on the back of the unit.

The design is compact and reasonably easy on the eye, however I don’t think it will be going in my main display long term, I will probably move it to the sump. Also performance may be compromised by coralline algae growth in the future.

For £99 the Seneye reef is a neat piece of kit, obviously the income is mainly going to be generated by the subscription service Seneye +. For £6 a month (although it seems this price is different depending who you talk to) you get a monthly slide, email and text alerts and a calibration service, of less interest to established reefers is the online help that is tailored to your set up, although for those less experienced I think this will also be a good little feature. The dashboard also incorporate room for a “digi-strip reading”, a future add on which will allow the device to monitor Nitrate, Nitrite, Kh, general hardness and chlorine. No price has been announced and it is not clear if the subscription price will rise.

At the moment it is hard to 100% recommend the unit until the website issues are sorted, and when details of the “digi-strip” pricing is released. I think the potential of the product is massive, and I’m sure this will fast become a ‘must have’ piece of kit in its price range, however it seems the product deadline has caught up on the manufacturers and something wasn’t quite finished. In the long term this won’t be detrimental to the success of the product, as long as money from initial purchasers is ploughed into the completion of the website, and release of future updates happen soon. I would also like to see more customisable options on the website.

All in all the device is a great little investment, but like most investments, you will need to wait for it to mature; when it does the functionality, connectivity, and the initial price point will be very attractive.

The pictures below show the Seneye, The replaceable slide and light meter, and temp placement in the tank.

[Aaron]

I planned to get one of these just after the launch day, found out they've no support for Mac users so I'm not bothering for now, I like the idea but unless they port the software to OS X I won't be getting one. Hopefully the bugs will be ironed out by then anyways.

Good review BTW, thanks.

[Inklinkerman]

Yeah thats something else i didnt mention. Im sure this will be fixed, i think they simply run out of development time! It should be the start of something good though.

[Nytram]

Who makes this?



Martyn

Tapatalk is my friend

[Inklinkerman]

Seneye Ltd. A new company i think.

[Nytram]

Just puzzles me how they can supply a reliable probe for so little money.



Martyn

Tapatalk is my friend

[Inklinkerman]

It is a good price.

[mathewhargreaves]

Got mine yesterday and was working as above until 04.30 this morning now it tells me its not connected online so the graphs havent been updated since then. The seneye reader for ammonia PH and Temp is working however.Also the slide replacement light is flashing now,So does this mean it needs replacing already,Worried yes! only been 24hrs.Will keep posting.Has anyone else had any problems

[Inklinkerman]

My slide replacement light its also flashing. But these only need replacing every 30 days. Atm my device also shows its not attached, even though it is.

I'm guessing these are teething problems but are no less annoying for that. Id stock up on slides but don't know how, and their shop page redirects to the homepage.

[mathewhargreaves]

mine gone **** up! all lights now on PH is 8.7 Temp flashing oh and USB cable has a power fault so keeps going off. Online graphs wont upload and says im not connected.Faulty,Maybe. Have asked for an exchange or full refund now