Aquarium Software... (Monitoring / Control)

[Verbalkint]

Ok, being a software engineer, and all, I have decided to re-create the wheel.

There are a ton of Aquarium Management software packages out there, but I just don't like the look and feel of most of them, and the others don't have all the features that I want..

So, starting this evening, I will be creating my own application suite for Aquarium Maintenance.

What I am looking for here is some ideas of what people would like to see in such a beast.

I already know the basics, such as water parameters, etc, graphed over time, but what other bells and whistles would you people recommend?

Provided I can get enough SDK's as well, I am considering adding 'plugin' capabilities, for things such as digital thermometers, refractometers, etc etc.

 

[Clown Monarch]

I created a decent Excel file for aquarium maintenance, but stopped using it. All my levels were flat over time making for pretty boring graphs (but very happy fish).

 

[seranko]

Pocket PC connectivity

 

[melissa1977]

Now that's a good idea. Palm pilot or pocket PC connectivity !!

It's kind of annoying to have to start your computer to enter couple of data in !!

 

[Verbalkint]

Wow.. Not too far off.. That's the 1st platform I am developing it for... I have a Toshiba Pocket PC.

I'll keep you guys updated as I get it going then.

 

[Bad Inferno]

Software wish list

Great project wish I had the programming talents.....If I could add my wish list ? to the normal functions:

I assume it is going to keep history for the data. If it was kept in a simple file structure it would allow us to Import a "flat" text file with time date and data so that the history could be populated from other than just manual input.

I would like it to calculate CO2 as a function of Ph and KH.

 

[malkore]

I use an Excel spreadsheet. And I only power off my PC's during lightning storms or if I go on vacation, so waiting to boot isn't an issue.

 

[Mr Burns]

Now if you could only make a USB probe that would measure temperature, pH, NO3, PO4, GH/KH, etc and record it to the software automatically.

 

[BillyZ]

if you work on a Probe, email/page you if parameters go beyond a set limit.