Aquarium software

[twb716]

I am currently using Maquarium (on a Mac) to keep track of my tanks. The software does a good job and has a lot of really useful functions, but I am curious as to whether or not there are other programs out there (for mac) that might work. Anyone?

TB

[Ulan]

What does the software do? Does it do water changes? Or is it a picture gallery of the deceased ones?

I can imagine some use in an online system that keeps track of pH and other water parameters. But that's a bit beyond my budget, let alone a bit over the top for my few tanks.

[twb716]

It doesn't physically do the water changes for you :-), but it does tell you when you are due based on both time and water parameters that you enter. It has a fairly decent built in database of fish, and you can list your tanks and their inhabitants (both plant and animal). You can download a trial, and the full version is only $24. Check it here:

http://www.everydaysoftware.net/maquarium/

[Ulan]

Well, I don't have a Mac, and now I remember that I actually have some freeware program for my PC. But don't ask me what that program does, because I never looked. I simply don't have enough tanks and fish for a program to be useful.

[tjBlotto]

I have insaniquarium.
It has some piranhas, an invisible fish, a jellyfish, and a soccerball fish that was once a whiffleball.

[tjBlotto]

does that count? :joke:

[dwarfgourami7]

Insaniquarium rocks! i got sooo addicted to it and its soo fun give it a try especialy the delux version.

[wataugachicken]

i don't see why software is necessary. seems like extra work masquerading as time-saving technology.

[Star_Rider]

if you have a lot of tanks it would be a good way of tracking the tanks. ie water change schedule, how much, when , parameters, health issues , treatment , meds administration etc..
of course you could set up a note book too. :rolleyes:
:) :joke:

personally i don't rely on software to tell me when to change the tank water. I just set up a schedule..I do track water changes etc in a notebook.

I am curious if the software takes into account fish species and waste.Ie we all know plecos tend to be poop machines..does the software use this to help determine TDS??

my personal experience with software telling someone to do something doesn't work with a teenage stepson..who has an alarm telling him to do something..and like most alarms he turns it off..continues to play on the computer and 'forgets' to do what the alarm was warning him about..

this is when I get the snips cut the cat 5 cord to the router...LOL :joke:

[captaincaveman9]

Insaniquarium rocks! i got sooo addicted to it and its soo fun give it a try especialy the delux version.

I just get sick of fighting the aliens :)

[FreakIndeed]

Interesting topic. I'm also on a Mac and I never realized (or even considered) that there were any aquarium software packages.

As for scheduling, I have an iCal calendar setup for each one of my tanks. I put my testing results, water changes, dates I added fish, cleaned filters, and everything else on that. I'll make a note of any changes I make to a tank on it's iCal calendar. That way if something starts acting fishy (pun intended) I can look back and see what I've done that may have changed something.

[twb716]

The latest version of Maquarium has tie-ins to iCal, so you can import schedules and such. I am waiting for the release that also incorporates X10 commands to control the lights, CO2 and other paramaters based on 2-way real-time communication.