What material is the aquarium in the EcoQube and what is the size?
The dimensions of the tank you see are ~9.5”x7”. We are working on finalizing the dimensions based on YOUR feedback! We will post an update where you guys can vote by commenting towards the end of the campaign. We’d like the tank to be a 7x7 cube but we want to hear what you all think!
The tank you guys see is hand made from acrylic. For the final one, we are deciding between acrylic and polycarbonate for several reasons:
-
Polycarbonate and acrylic are generally optically more clear than any glass that exists on the market right now.
-
To go along with our goal of beauty and perfection, we chose those 2 types of materials because they will not require silicone to be mended together (less obtrusive material, and more beauty). It will actually likely cost more than glass because we would have to use more material since polycarbonate and acrylic is less rigid than glass.
-
With our goal of being sustainable, we wanted to reuse as much material as possible and eliminate waste (like packaging). So our goal is actually to use the AQUARIUM as the PACKAGING. You can imagine glass to not be the best packaging during shipments when things are stacked. Here’s a photo of what it would look like with the aquarium as packaging: http://on.fb.me/1aDoTat
Message us and let us know what you think!
Last updated: December 09, 2013 16:30
Is the compact UV sterilizer needed?
We originally built the Aquaponics filter in the EcoQube with commercial use in mind so it can be scaled for food production and run clean water through plants we harvest from the filter but a typical small aquarium will not require UV sterilization although it helps keep the water extra clear and clean by acting as a buffer for mistakes such as over feeding or too much light which can cause bacterial and algae blooms.
The compact UV sterilizer can be added on as an attachment as well!
Last updated: December 03, 2013 23:17
What plants are included and recommended for the best filtration?
We’re testing out different seeds right now and will likely package it with a type of small flower since that’s not often seen in a living area. We are still working on finding the perfect seed.
If you’re wondering what to plant, the easiest thing we’ve been using has been mint and basil. It brings an AMAZING aroma into the room as well.
But if you want to please the ladies, tropaeolum majus is a beautiful flower we’re still testing.
Keep in mind seeds can only be shipped domestically.
Last updated: November 30, 2013 22:04
How long does the compact UV sterilizer last?
The UV light is the first ever 265 nano meter LED used for water sterilization in aquarium filters and is rated for over 10,000 hours! It also only needs to be on 1 hour/day to clean your EcoQube. So it should last a lifetime.
Last updated: December 09, 2013 16:30
How many fish can this tank hold? What types? Can I put more fish in?
We recommend white cloud minnows and zebra fish for starters but you can definitely get a bit creative getting into more tropical fish (like we did) in warmer room temperatures.
The internet generally suggests 10 gallons mainly because 10 gallons of water generally stays cleaner longer than say 5 gallons of water, but to put it in perspective, typical aquariums have little to no filtration. Think, would the fish prefer a larger tank like a mansion filled with their own feces or would they prefer a smaller environment with plants and the cleanest water they have ever been in? The aquaponics filter turns around a whopping 100 gallons of water per hour!
It’s VERY hard to come up with a fine line or minimum gallon amount from our experience. It’s all relative to the filtration capacity (mass of plants filtering the water).
What we would suggest is start with 2 small zebra fish or minnows and see how they like it and then slowly add more as the plants grow if you’d like. If you placing in a warmer area (75* room temperature) you can easily keep smaller fish like guppies, scarlet badis (really cool!) and many others like we have. But again for starters, we suggest sticking with minnows and zebra fish.
If you’re looking to put more fish in, please do not cramp them in the little EcoQube. Simply purchase a larger aquarium and place the aquaponics filter on the aquarium for optimal filtration!
Last updated: December 01, 2013 23:05
What material is the aquarium in the EcoQube and what is the size?
The dimensions of the tank you see are ~9.5”x7”. We are working on finalizing the dimensions based on YOUR feedback! We will post an update where you guys can vote by commenting towards the end of the campaign. We’d like the tank to be a 7x7 cube but we want to hear what you all think! The tank you guys see is hand made from acrylic. For the final one, we are deciding between acrylic and polycarbonate for several reasons: 1. Polycarbonate and acrylic are generally optically more clear than any glass that exists on the market right now. 2. To go along with our goal of beauty and perfection, we chose those 2 types of materials because they will not require silicone to be mended together (less obtrusive material, and more beauty). It will actually likely cost more than glass because we would have to use more material since polycarbonate and acrylic is less rigid than glass. 3. With our goal of being sustainable, we wanted to reuse as much material as possible and eliminate waste (like packaging). So our goal is actually to use the AQUARIUM as the PACKAGING. You can imagine glass to not be the best packaging during shipments when things are stacked. Here’s a photo of what it would look like with the aquarium as packaging: http://on.fb.me/1aDoTat Message us and let us know what you think! Last updated: Mon, Dec 9 2013 7:30 pm EST
Is the compact UV sterilizer needed?
We originally built the Aquaponics filter in the EcoQube with commercial use in mind so it can be scaled for food production and run clean water through plants we harvest from the filter but a typical small aquarium will not require UV sterilization although it helps keep the water extra clear and clean by acting as a buffer for mistakes such as over feeding or too much light which can cause bacterial and algae blooms. The compact UV sterilizer can be added on as an attachment as well! Last updated: Wed, Dec 4 2013 2:17 am EST
What plants are included and recommended for the best filtration?
We’re testing out different seeds right now and will likely package it with a type of small flower since that’s not often seen in a living area. We are still working on finding the perfect seed. If you’re wondering what to plant, the easiest thing we’ve been using has been mint and basil. It brings an AMAZING aroma into the room as well. But if you want to please the ladies, tropaeolum majus is a beautiful flower we’re still testing. Keep in mind seeds can only be shipped domestically. Last updated: Sun, Dec 1 2013 1:04 am EST
How long does the compact UV sterilizer last?
The UV light is the first ever 265 nano meter LED used for water sterilization in aquarium filters and is rated for over 10,000 hours! It also only needs to be on 1 hour/day to clean your EcoQube. So it should last a lifetime. Last updated: Mon, Dec 9 2013 7:30 pm EST
How many fish can this tank hold? What types? Can I put more fish in?
We recommend white cloud minnows and zebra fish for starters but you can definitely get a bit creative getting into more tropical fish (like we did) in warmer room temperatures. The internet generally suggests 10 gallons mainly because 10 gallons of water generally stays cleaner longer than say 5 gallons of water, but to put it in perspective, typical aquariums have little to no filtration. Think, would the fish prefer a larger tank like a mansion filled with their own feces or would they prefer a smaller environment with plants and the cleanest water they have ever been in? The aquaponics filter turns around a whopping 100 gallons of water per hour! It’s VERY hard to come up with a fine line or minimum gallon amount from our experience. It’s all relative to the filtration capacity (mass of plants filtering the water). What we would suggest is start with 2 small zebra fish or minnows and see how they like it and then slowly add more as the plants grow if you’d like. If you placing in a warmer area (75* room temperature) you can easily keep smaller fish like guppies, scarlet badis (really cool!) and many others like we have. But again for starters, we suggest sticking with minnows and zebra fish. If you’re looking to put more fish in, please do not cramp them in the little EcoQube. Simply purchase a larger aquarium and place the aquaponics filter on the aquarium for optimal filtration! Last updated: Mon, Dec 2 2013 2:05 am EST
Current Estimated Shipping Date: November 2014
Last Updated At: 09/29/14 | See Kickstarter UpdateWhat is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.