Internet monitoring of Aquarium

travis32 · 07/17/2018, 07:50 AM

I do tend to travel some for work and leisure. I would like to monitor my aquarium from my phone or from my computer from anywhere with an internet connection with multiple video feeds on one screen. I'm hoping to do wired connections to my router for each camera. I also want my home network safe and secure and the camera's to not be an entry point to my network.

My goal would be to have 2-4 video feeds:

1. The overflow box and back of tank to ensure nothing is overflowing in a bad way.

2. One monitoring the sump and if possible to get in the same view the top off system.

3. Possibly one just monitoring the front of the tank to be able to see the livestock and corals etc.

I would like to bring up an app and see all 3 and see that there's no issues, resting assured that if no one is home everything is operating safely and correctly. Or that if my wife is at home by herself she knows that I can check things and know that my 400 gallon system is running as it should.

It would give both of us piece of mind when I travel that all is well and o.k.

Is there a good quality camera system and camera software that would easily bring these 3-4 feeds together in a single app, I could click on which feed I want to see full screen, or go back to viewing all the cameras at once?

I need wired cameras for ethernet, because my wireless is sketchy in the basement and for reliability purposes I want to run all 3 to a hub that then runs to a router.

Thanks for any advice!

mcgyvr · 07/17/2018, 08:17 AM

Might want to start looking at offerings from Foscam and Amcrest..
In general there are always little quirks/annoyances with just about every brand out there..

Many of them require a subscription cloud service payment now a days..

Quite a few of them are wireless though now..

I have an Amcrest 4K that I use inside for monitoring the babies room.. It works really well and was quite simple to setup.
You can even control devices remotely through its relay interface which may allow some "troubleshooting" remotely by allowing you to activate devices/shutoff valves,etc...

journeyman · 07/17/2018, 08:59 AM

Wyzecam. Hd cameras for $25. It's compatible with the tiny cam app, which allows you to live stream multiple cameras at once.

thesimplereef.com

mcgyvr · 07/17/2018, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by journeyman

Wyzecam. Hd cameras for $25. It's compatible with the tiny cam app, which allows you to live stream multiple cameras at once.

thesimplereef.com

Just be aware that with that one (and this seems to be an issue with many of these cheap cameras).. That your video data is being sent to "uncontrolled/unannounced" 3rd party servers as part of their process/low cost solution ..
I usually prefer to have one where my local computer is the server or whatever and I control where that video is going.. Or at the very least I really pay attention to what that camera is pointed at,etc...

I bought one not to long ago (don't remember the brand off hand) but when monitoring traffic the video feed was sent to multiple "out of country" servers.. many with IPs reported to be in a country that rhymes with Rhina

Of course for a reef tank its not that big of a deal.. Its not like you are just going to stumble across video of your clownfish walking naked in the kitchen..

From what I remember Wyze is really just a Xiaomia camera with slightly modified firmware for Wyze.. They license the hardware,etc...

Even the brands that I have stated above have reported "issues" about them..
Just saying.. Buyer beware..

journeyman · 07/17/2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Just be aware that with that one (and this seems to be an issue with many of these cheap cameras).. That your video data is being sent to "uncontrolled/unannounced" 3rd party servers as part of their process/low cost solution ..
I usually prefer to have one where my local computer is the server or whatever and I control where that video is going.. Or at the very least I really pay attention to what that camera is pointed at,etc...

I bought one not to long ago (don't remember the brand off hand) but when monitoring traffic the video feed was sent to multiple "out of country" servers.. many with IPs reported to be in a country that rhymes with Rhina

Of course for a reef tank its not that big of a deal.. Its not like you are just going to stumble across video of your clownfish walking naked in the kitchen..

From what I remember Wyze is really just a Xiaomia camera with slightly modified firmware for Wyze.. They license the hardware,etc...

Even the brands that I have stated above have reported "issues" about them..
Just saying.. Buyer beware..

True. Although you can turn off the cloud recording service and just plug in your own SD card.

thesimplereef.com

lapin · 07/17/2018, 11:42 AM

What you are going to want is a closed circuit TV set up with a computer as a video monitor. If you dont want something like an apex connected to the internet (Fusion) to adjust your equipment, you will need an app on that home computer that controls your tank. For your safety concerns you might set up a private home network. You will need a router that you can program that will let you into the home network network via a VPN. You can screen share with your computer running in the house. This might be overkill, but seems like what you are looking for.

travis32 · 07/18/2018, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the suggestions and validating my concerns around security. heh. I agree, if I do catch a clown fish walking naked in the furnace room. Heck yah I want that to go viral and my own youtube channel labeled "Walking Nemos!"

Assuming that won't happen. I don't want someone getting into my home network through a video feed and downloading highly illegal stuff through my internet connection. I'm more worried about that than, "Walking Nemos" in the furnace room.

As to recording, I don't need anything recorded (Unless a clownfish does go for a stroll!

I do have an Apex controller already and will have that accessable via mobile. The tank is new, the equipment is not. However, with this tank, I realize the importance of watching for failed top off systems, or failed cavitating return pumps, etc. All things I had happen with my previous tank while I was away.... No livestock was lost in those incidents! But, I simply got lucky... I had no way of knowing they had failed until I returned home, and I lucked out in the failures that they happened the day I was returning. I would like to shore that up with some type of non-recorded live stream to an app with a highly secure password and proxy service that prevents people following the trail back to the live feed. Or something I only turn on when I'm away on trips or things like that.

I think it is more about the software than the hardware. Most any IP camera (if possible with Ethernet port) would do the trick. It's finding the right software to merge the feeds into a single app. But, I assume most of that comes with the cameras.

d0ughb0y · 07/19/2018, 12:56 PM

if you are on public wifi, pretty much all public wifi does not allow video traffic from cameras directly, so you will need one that connects through the cloud. if you use your cellphone data plan, you will need an unlimited plan, otherwise you will consume your quota in no time if you check video often. my old foscam only has direct video connection and does not use cloud. I don't know if they have updated to present day technology yet, but half the time, I am unable to access my foscam video. I use a YI cam I got from amazon that uses the cloud and that works anywhere, wifi or LTE.

Jaffster · 07/20/2018, 10:48 PM

A few months back I also went through the pain of trying to set something up so that I could remotely check the tank. Keep away from the TMC Reef-cam, those things are poor.

After trying to find a value for money, 'off the shelf' solution and failing miserably I just set up my own system with a webcam, an old laptop and yawcam.

Just stick your IP address into a web browser and hey-presto! This also meant that I could do a time lapse of the tank too, which is great.

07/17/2018, 07:50 AM	#1
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Internet monitoring of Aquarium I do tend to travel some for work and leisure. I would like to monitor my aquarium from my phone or from my computer from anywhere with an internet connection with multiple video feeds on one screen. I'm hoping to do wired connections to my router for each camera. I also want my home network safe and secure and the camera's to not be an entry point to my network. My goal would be to have 2-4 video feeds: 1. The overflow box and back of tank to ensure nothing is overflowing in a bad way. 2. One monitoring the sump and if possible to get in the same view the top off system. 3. Possibly one just monitoring the front of the tank to be able to see the livestock and corals etc. I would like to bring up an app and see all 3 and see that there's no issues, resting assured that if no one is home everything is operating safely and correctly. Or that if my wife is at home by herself she knows that I can check things and know that my 400 gallon system is running as it should. It would give both of us piece of mind when I travel that all is well and o.k. Is there a good quality camera system and camera software that would easily bring these 3-4 feeds together in a single app, I could click on which feed I want to see full screen, or go back to viewing all the cameras at once? I need wired cameras for ethernet, because my wireless is sketchy in the basement and for reliability purposes I want to run all 3 to a hub that then runs to a router. Thanks for any advice!

07/17/2018, 08:17 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Might want to start looking at offerings from Foscam and Amcrest.. In general there are always little quirks/annoyances with just about every brand out there.. Many of them require a subscription cloud service payment now a days.. Quite a few of them are wireless though now.. I have an Amcrest 4K that I use inside for monitoring the babies room.. It works really well and was quite simple to setup. You can even control devices remotely through its relay interface which may allow some "troubleshooting" remotely by allowing you to activate devices/shutoff valves,etc... __________________ Who me?

07/17/2018, 11:42 AM	#6
lapin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Austin Posts: 801	What you are going to want is a closed circuit TV set up with a computer as a video monitor. If you dont want something like an apex connected to the internet (Fusion) to adjust your equipment, you will need an app on that home computer that controls your tank. For your safety concerns you might set up a private home network. You will need a router that you can program that will let you into the home network network via a VPN. You can screen share with your computer running in the house. This might be overkill, but seems like what you are looking for. __________________ Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening

07/17/2018, 08:59 AM	#3
journeyman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. Posts: 357	Wyzecam. Hd cameras for $25. It's compatible with the tiny cam app, which allows you to live stream multiple cameras at once. thesimplereef.com

07/18/2018, 03:37 PM	#7
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Thanks for the suggestions and validating my concerns around security. heh. I agree, if I do catch a clown fish walking naked in the furnace room. Heck yah I want that to go viral and my own youtube channel labeled "Walking Nemos!" Assuming that won't happen. I don't want someone getting into my home network through a video feed and downloading highly illegal stuff through my internet connection. I'm more worried about that than, "Walking Nemos" in the furnace room. As to recording, I don't need anything recorded (Unless a clownfish does go for a stroll! I do have an Apex controller already and will have that accessable via mobile. The tank is new, the equipment is not. However, with this tank, I realize the importance of watching for failed top off systems, or failed cavitating return pumps, etc. All things I had happen with my previous tank while I was away.... No livestock was lost in those incidents! But, I simply got lucky... I had no way of knowing they had failed until I returned home, and I lucked out in the failures that they happened the day I was returning. I would like to shore that up with some type of non-recorded live stream to an app with a highly secure password and proxy service that prevents people following the trail back to the live feed. Or something I only turn on when I'm away on trips or things like that. I think it is more about the software than the hardware. Most any IP camera (if possible with Ethernet port) would do the trick. It's finding the right software to merge the feeds into a single app. But, I assume most of that comes with the cameras.

07/19/2018, 12:56 PM	#8
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	if you are on public wifi, pretty much all public wifi does not allow video traffic from cameras directly, so you will need one that connects through the cloud. if you use your cellphone data plan, you will need an unlimited plan, otherwise you will consume your quota in no time if you check video often. my old foscam only has direct video connection and does not use cloud. I don't know if they have updated to present day technology yet, but half the time, I am unable to access my foscam video. I use a YI cam I got from amazon that uses the cloud and that works anywhere, wifi or LTE.

07/20/2018, 10:48 PM	#9
Jaffster Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 31	A few months back I also went through the pain of trying to set something up so that I could remotely check the tank. Keep away from the TMC Reef-cam, those things are poor. After trying to find a value for money, 'off the shelf' solution and failing miserably I just set up my own system with a webcam, an old laptop and yawcam. Just stick your IP address into a web browser and hey-presto! This also meant that I could do a time lapse of the tank too, which is great.