Shortened for ease of reading:

"NetMax" wrote in message
...
The canopy of the future will resemble what we have today, but will be
much bigger, possibly 8 to 12" thick. It will incorporate things like:

1. Filter system
- integrated biowheel, and sponge media which would be serviced through a
hatch in the canopy.
- backwash capability into overflows (see para. 7. below)

I agree but I would say that the hobbyist should be able to add modules as
she/he sees fit. I would also say that an optional UV sterilizer module
could be added to the final stage.


2. Storage
- nets, test kits etc

That could be easily part of the stand.

3. Heater
- why use precious aquarium real-estate for an unsightly heater

I would also add an optional chiller module too.

4. Food storage
- empty/mix all your dried fish foods, pellets, flakes, freeze-dried etc
into a compartment which is sealed when the hatch is closed.
- there is a screw-type feeder with rubber blades (to keep humidity away
from the food) operated/programmed from a keypad (integrated into the
canopy)
- level indicator (proximity switch) provides visual indicator of low food
levels (ie: by reversing light operation to get your attention)
- filters would automatically turn off for 10 minutes during feeding

I don't think I could buy into that. Another poster metioned the joys of
having one's fish great you as you feed them. It's kind of like when Duncan
Heinz cake mixes first came out. Everything was included in the mix so that
the busy mom/wife could "just add water" and be done but so many women at
that time camplained that they felt that they weren't trully baking if eggs
and other "liquid" ingredients were powdered and that they could add them
themselves. So Duncan Heinz (and others) changed the formula to allow for
the "baker" to add "liquid" ingredients his/herself. Why the history lesson?
To illistrate what you might run into with "too much automation".

5. Light System
- staged lighting, programmed from same keypad
- dawn/dusk lights, small halogen making a spot light effect, with ripples
shadowing the substrate, used to transition to/from nightfall and daylight
main lighting
- main lights (two CF groups, morning 1/2 on, mid-day all on, and evening
1/2 on again)
- programmed variability (cloudy periods) to reduce algae (currently done
with timers set to 1 hour off)
- twilight lighting (typically red or actinic) not programmed, set
manually, for those bottle of wine by the fire late evenings.

Let's not forget "moon light" LEDs to make nocturnal effects. Maybe even
adding "phases" would be good.

6. Ventilation & Cooling
- all that lighting will require that the ballasts are in a separate
vented area (separate from the air under the canopy)
- stainless steel tubing (with cooling fins) replaces conventional hoses,
allowing atmospheric cooling using a small fan triggered by a
thermocouple.

No arguments here.

7. Water/Atmospheric control
- pH regulated through CO2 injected inside canopy (or skip to next item)
- low pH amber/tannic appearance through black-water concentrate pellets,
or processed/compressed leaf pellets
- kH regulated through baking soda pellets
- continuous monitoring of conductivity (TDS control)
- plumbed directly into home's DWV and cold water supply line (for
continuous water changes through a drip system)
- thermocouple (replaces thermometer), to activate dynamic cooling
(para.6) and reduce lighting to cool as required. (heater's thermocouple
would be a separate unit in-line with heating elements).
- backwash cycle which would pulse water in through the gravel, trapping
mulm in screens located near overflow pipes

Again no arguments.

8. Power distribution
- plug the canopy in and all peripherals connect to canopy's integrated
GFI protected power bar.

9. Water Purification option
- clear plastic bell fits on top of canopy (semi-integrated), housing
various bog/terrestrial plants whose roots would strip out any remaining
NO3 from non-planted tanks (silk plants would make a come back, but some
people will always want real plants).

Can't give much thought on thst one.

10. Live Food option
- habitat section in canopy for growing small creatures (ie: white worms
in earth, feeding off decay from mechanical filtration stage, or mysis
shrimp hatchery etc). Hatchery occupants will randomly 'escape' into main
tank to be eaten.

Too much complication IMHO

Did I miss anything? Today, this equipment & electronics exist
separately, much of it in high volume consumer goods, except for:
a) the canopy itself (fairly straightforward mould with several options
and expansion panels to include odd sized aquarium dimensions).
b) the canopy horizontal filter (plastic moulds) utilizing twin
(redundancy) generic powerheads
c) the controller and fairly straightforward programming
d) integration of all the components

I would add that it should be easy on the hobbyist and that optional modules
can be added or removed depending on the hobbyists desires.

Alone, I could prototype this in about 6 years (it is that easy), so a
group of people could probably get one into pre-production testing in 12
months, and into production, 6 months after that.

The question is, would it sell. Would you buy one? Is it complete,
anything missing?
--
www.NetMax.tk

Anyway these are jusy MY opinions