Ecoqube C Add-on Information
almost 9 years ago – Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 02:52:40 PM

Hello Backers!

Need help choosing your EcoQube C add-ons? We’ve been receiving a ton (literally) of emails regarding the add-ons, asking which ones are actually necessary and which ones we recommend. Here’s the scoop on the add-ons.

Your EcoQube C already comes with all the basic items for your EcoQube to work! The add-ons posted are simply items many of our backers have requested to further enhance your EcoQube. In this update we will go over the benefits and potential uses for these add ons.

Our TOP FOUR:

1. LED Remote Control

By far our favorite! With this remote, you’ll be able to control the light and ambience of your Ecoqube C and your space from across the room. (Check out this video to see all the cool things you’ll be able to do with this remote)

With just one remote, you can have all these features on your EcoQube! 

- 6 optimized color presets to bring out the different colors on your fish! 

- Adjust Red, Green AND Blue intensity to create HUNDREDS of color combinations 

- Save up to 4 custom colors by holding M1-M4 buttons 

- Get moonlight, storm with lightning and cloud cover (our favorite) 

- Program and combine colors to match your ecosystem!

The remote control comes with LIFETIME WARRANTY (ONLY for kickstarter backers) so we will replace it free of charge because you are a kickstarter backer. Powered by our friends at Current USA.

Backers will not be able to purchase this remote separately from the LED light because the light itself requires a IR sensor and controller installed onto the PCB board for it to carry these functions.

2. Mountain stone 

Easily give your aquarium an earthy feel with this natural handmade stone specifically for the EcoQube! The crevices are perfect for anubias roots to grasp onto. We have one of these in every EcoQube in our office and we absolutely love what they do for the aquariums’ look!

3. Magnet Cleaner

We’ve paired the magnet cleaner with a magic eraser polishing pad that polishes any small scratches and keeps acrylic shiny. It removes any dust with one swipe while polishing your tank and it’s unlike anything else that exists. This magnetic eraser allows you to keep your aquarium’s glass clear and pristine, without you putting your hands in the tank or removing the water! It’s actually quite fun.

4. Ecoqube compatible Livestock Package (U.S. Only)

This package comes with the perfect combination of animals to inhabit your Ecoqube C. These shrimp are known to be the best cleaners. They eat the naturally occurring brown dust and debris from crevices of ecoqube, and love picking at sand and soil. They also clean up dead leaves from plants. These Snails are the best snails at cleaning flat surfaces and the Betta looks nice and creates waste, completing ecosystem! These animals are very capable of co-existing with each other, so there should be no problem having them all in the same tank.

See how we are able to provide the most sustainable livestock here previous update.

The Award-winning Betta Livestock Package is identical EXCEPT the included betta is from a sustainable farm who produces bettas specifically for international competitions such as these:

With this award-winning package your betta will come from the same source but may not be the same color as the one in this picture. The normal package comes with a crowntail betta, which are also available at local pet stores.

The Remaining Add-ons

To provide the best and easiest experience for our backers, we’ve tried extremely hard to acquire all the best components our backers have requested for their EcoQubes so that any of you can receive the best/compatible things you may potentially need in one or two packages. More information on the rest of the add-ons:

UV LED Sterilizer 

This is the 2nd ever UV-C LED sterilizer made for aquariums. The first one was for the EcoQube 1! ;) Add it to your EcoQube C for consistently cleaner water. It’s designed to sterilize everything that passes through and remove free floating bacteria, algae or opaque water. Leaves room for mistakes such as overfeeding. More specs are available in the Ecoqube C Kickstarter FAQ.

Natural Water Clarifier 

 Great for cleanup when you overfeed or sediments from bottom are disturbed. Just add a pinch of it and water clears up! The coagulator binds to free floating debris and allows the aquaponics filter to remove debris. This is the only water clarifier we’ve tried that works this well.

Beneficial Bacteria (U.S Only) 

This freeze-dried bacteria activates once wet and converts harmful ammonia from fish waste into nutritious nitrates that are easily absorbed by the plant in aquaponics filter. By adding bacteria you can expedite the startup process of ecosystem from 4 weeks to 2 weeks, allowing you to add the fish two weeks earlier!

Anubias nana petite (U.S Only) 

The smallest leaved anubias on the market so it fits in the Ecoqube C perfectly. Its small leaves makes the aquarium look larger. It pulls nutrients from water column and its roots anchor perfectly into crevices of rock and wood. It’s extremely sturdy and grows slowly but consistently. One plant covers one crevice we like to start with 2-3 plants per tank, and it requires very little maintenance.

Marimo Moss Balls (U.S Only) 

Aside from adding unique shape to your aquarium, these moss balls also offer many benefits such a preventing excess algae growth and offering oxygen to your tank.

Drift Wood (U.S Only)

These pieces have been hand selected for the EcoQube C because of their smaller size. They’re from a special type of wood that don’t leach tannins into water. They keep the water clear and serve as a great surface for beneficial bacteria to colonize because of how porous it is. When received you may need to trim, but it should be easy to cut. 

Heater (U.S Only)  

 Turns on and off by itself (turns off at 79 F or 26 C). Rough Specs: Height - 5 ½ inches; Length/width - 1 inch; 10 watts with slot in the back for the wire.

We don’t make the heater but the specs were provided. You don’t need this add-on unless the room temperature, to which your Ecoqube is exposed, drops below 68 F. Even though tropical fish (such as our bettas) like water temperatures of 75 F, they still do fine in around 70 F. Their metabolism slows down at lower temp so they’ll actually live longer as long as the water doesn’t get too cold. This add-on has been recommended by backers.

Betta Hammock

Betta fish tend to establish their natural habitats in areas with slower water flow. Faster water from our filter delivers cleaner water, but sometimes bettas want a place behind a rock/shelter to stay away from flow. This is a great addition for the betta to feel secure.

Dechlorinator (U.S Only)

If you plan on using tap water the dechlorinator removes chlorine from municipal tap water that makes it safe for aquarium use. If you plan on using bottled water or RO water then you don’t need this.

Automatic Fish Feeder 

Holds enough food for 8 months to a year for one fish. Standard size by Current USA http://pentairaes.com/aqua-chef-feeder.html . Just make sure you don’t over feed your fish when on vacation.

Sand vs Soil 

When choosing which medium (sand or soil) you want to have in your Ecoqube C, make sure you choose ONE OR THE OTHER. Do NOT mix up the sand and soil.

Get soil if you want to have more sedentary nutrients (nutrients at bottom of tank that slowly release into water) and want to add more plants in future. Soil lowers pH level of water, which is great for tropical fishes that prefer more acidic water.

Get sand if you want your aquarium to have a brighter look. At the end of the day, the base material of your aquarium is completely up to you, but just make sure you pick one or the other.

The Automatic Timing Function and Cover is provided for EVERYONE. The cover helps prevent excessive evaporation so you only have to top off water once every 2-4 weeks. The Automatic Timing Function ensures your Ecoqube C receives the 7 hours of optimal LED light, without wasting any additional electricity.

With this information, please finalize necessary items to your Backerkit cart and finalize order within the NEXT THREE DAYS. For all of you who have filled out the survey, Your ordered will be “locked down” to provide August shipment information to our manufacturer and suppliers. Your order surveys can not be changed after it is “locked down”.

We are extremely backed up which is why we try to batch up the questions and answer them all at once here! =)

But as always feel free to let us know if you have further questions and we will answer them as soon as possible!

Thank you for your support and patience. We look forward to shipping your Ecoqube C to each and every one of you!

- Team ADI

Survey is here!
almost 9 years ago – Thu, Jul 02, 2015 at 05:47:21 PM

Hello there backers!

We’ve made dozens of tiny iterations on production samples the last several weeks and we’re on time to begin volume production next week! We’ve made many tiny adjustments to improve ease of use and durability for the Ecoqube C! With incredible speed in running multiple production samples, our manufacturers will begin first mass production of 600 units NEXT WEEK and will be completed by 2nd week of July! The first EcoQube C’s will be on it’s way to our fulfillment facility 3rd week of July for distribution. VIP backers should be receiving their orders by the end of August!

Backerkit Survey 

You should be receiving an email with a link to your much anticipated backerkit surveys very soon! Complete the survey as soon as you get it because certain addons are limited and may run out quickly! It will also allow us to order the correct amounts of addons and to ensure that your order is fulfilled on time! 

 Our focus the last several weeks has been to identify the single most reliable fulfillment service provider to ensure you all get your EcoQube C’s in a timely and professional manner. In our FAQ  at the bottom of the campaign we estimated domestic shipping rates to be ~$10-$20 and international shipping rates to be ~$25-$39. There is also a previous update regarding prospective shipping costs. Here is the link to the update: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kevinzl/ecoqube-c-your-window-to-nature/posts/1233148 

However, after digging deeper, we’ve found that average international shipment will still cost us $45 at our current volume. We did say previously that the highest international shipping cost will be $35 so we’ve stuck to what we’ve promised! =) We can’t thank you all enough for being the most amazing backers who have carried us this far! Feel free to message us at [email protected] if you have any questions!

Check out the new toys we’ve been playing with!

With much love,

Team ADI

WE DID IT! SUCCESSFULLY FUNDED!
almost 9 years ago – Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 10:52:05 PM

Hello Ecoqube C Backers!

First of all we’d just like to say 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 

Embarking on this crazy Kickstarter adventure has been surreal and we’re beyond thankful that we had such an amazing community of backers supporting us every step of the way. Without you, this wouldn’t be possibility. We’ve successfully funded more than 2400% of our goal, and now have an awesome, supportive community of 5,433 EcoQube C backers! It's truly inspiring to see the movement you've helped us build by spreading the knowledge of aquaponics to the world. 

In order to start producing the EcoQube C full scale, a few things need to happen. First, Kickstarter needs to transfer the funds so we have the money to make the orders (this can take up to 2 weeks). Second, we will be sending out a survey to you all in about 2 weeks to get your most up-to-date shipping information and to add on the adjusted shipping costs. We will give you a heads up before we send the survey so you can watch for it. It is important that when you receive the survey, you get it back to us as quickly as you can. We won’t be able to ship you your EcoQube C without this information.

We look forward to making the most AWESOME EcoQube C for you and growing the movement to bring the concept of aquaponics to as many people as possible! 

Pics from Aquarama 

Here are some pics we took from our first day at Aquarama. We had a BLAST showing the Ecoqube C to the public and meeting some of our backers!

Again, thanks for all your support. We can’t wait to send you your EcoQube C! 

- Team ADI

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Here are some super cool products we've recently backed! Check them out!

LINKA

How is LINKA unique? The LINK team discovered that 85% of bikes that are stolen are ridden away inconspicuously. By focusing mainly on immobilizing the wheel and locking it to the frame, they can seriously reduce the risk of a bike getting stolen, as it become a lot more suspicious to carry an alarming bike!

At it’s core, LINKA is a powerful bike lock mounted to your frame, so it’s always ready. To lock it, simply tap the button and you’ll be recognized securely through your phone. A 9mm hardened square steel ring automatically slides into place making your bike impossible to ride away! Check it out HERE

Cool Fat Burner: Burn 500 calories, with no diet

The Cool Fat Burner and Cool Gut Buster are the world's first and only proven brown fat, calorie burning cooling vests. The Cool Fat Burner allows you to burn hundreds of calories an hour while you sit and lounge. This means you can burn as many calories JUST FROM WEARING THE VEST, as you would from working out. Get one of these awesome vests HERE.

 Luno

These are some amazing watches! Each watch features an all natural bamboo or ebony wood case that is rich in texture. No watch is exactly the same. Each watch features a high quality, genuine leather band. Luno watches were designed to fit right in with the latest fashion trends and styles, while at the same time, stand out from all the other watches out there. It's a beautiful paradox. Check out Luno watches HERE

What We Accomplished in Asia! + Backerkit
almost 9 years ago – Tue, Jun 23, 2015 at 09:29:01 PM

Hi terrific backers!

We’ve done so much since we've arrived in Asia a few weeks ago! After a ton of deliberation and taking into account our tight timelines, we've decided to continue the EcoQube C production in the original factory that produced the very first EcoQube 1 for several reasons:

1. Their ability to ship QUALITY product on time 

2. Their attention to detail

3. They've agreed to purchase 3 VERY expensive machines JUST to product our EcoQubes in-house for better quality control and shorter lead times 

4. Their focus on providing a livable pay and great working environment for their workers

We've spent a lot of time trying to keep manufacturing in the US as it would've actually been the same price and easier for us. You saw our trial production run at a local acrylic manufacturer. But due to our lack of engineering expertise (for manufacturing specifically), we decided to go back to the factory that we know would guarantee the manufacturing quality as engineers are so much more abundant in Asia.

We got our machines in our own factory, so we can produce the highest quality product in the shortest amount of time. The EcoQube C is almost done, but we just need to clean up the wiring a bit. The finalized prototype should be done next week and then production will begin right away. It will take about 3 - 4 weeks for the first VIP batch to be produced, and then the first container of EcoQube C’s will leave about July 15th and arrive about August 15th, if we have no delay with customs. However, we cannot start production until all our funds from Kickstarter have been processed. This is the one thing that is holding us up. Nevertheless, we are on schedule!

Here are some pictures of what we've been working on:

Aquarama

If you were following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you know that we were busy at Aquarama in Singapore. It was GREAT seeing some our backers, in addition to plenty of new faces who wanted to learn about the Ecoqube C. Here are some more pictures of our awesome time at the convention!

BackerKit

Here’s the last item on our agenda. We will be sending an email with a special link to BackerKit surveys next week. It is important that when you receive the survey, you get it back to us as quickly as you can. Our ability to make an order depends on receiving this information.

That’s it for now! Thanks a trillion for all your support! We couldn’t have made it this far without all of you.

Much love,

The ADI Team

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P.S. This project is something you’ve got to see.

TEKNIQ: A Camera Strap / Cuff and Modular Camera Bag

Two camera accessories that will change the way you carry your camera. Check them out here!

Ecoqube C plant recommendations + Sneak Peak of Add-ons
almost 9 years ago – Fri, Jun 05, 2015 at 04:50:37 PM

Hello Friends!

You guys are INCREDIBLE! Within the last 5 days, our community of backers has grown to over 5000 members!! In addition to that, our profile for the Mission Main St grant competition now has 355 votes, more than one hundred over the required amount! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

This campaign has less than 24 hours left, so if you want to get an Ecoqube C at an amazing discount for yourself a loved one, and/or friend this will be your last chance. Through Kickstarter only, you can get 4 EcoQubes at $39 each by pledging a total of $156. You can also order a single Ecoqube for the reduced price of $59. After the Kickstarter campaign ends, the retail price for the EcoQube C will be $78 and they won't come with covers so make sure your friends and family know about this amazing offer by spreading the word with just two clicks HERE! Even if it’s with one other person, please help us share this video or the campaign via Twitter. As you can see, the Ecoqube C is the perfect interactive and educational gift for someone you love!

Ecoqube C plant recommendations for International backers

Recently we’ve been receiving questions from some of our international backers about what seeds and plant medium to place inside the Ecoqube C netpot. International backers will not be receiving seeds and soil with their Ecoqube due to regulations between international trade. 

However, we have an extremely simple and cheap solution. Basil seeds or mint seeds placed inside soft spongy material will do very well. Genovese basil is our personal favorite. It makes the area smell nice! More details are outlined in one of our early blog posts from the ADI website which you can find HERE. 

Backerkit 

With the campaign ending soon, expect a link to our Backerkit page in the very near future. Through Backerkit, you will be receiving detailed information about the next steps to confirm your shipping details, and the option to get add ons. Here is a preview of the maintenance tools, decoration items, and livestock that will be available by backerkit: Scissors, Tweezers, Heater, UV sterilizer, Magnet Cleaner, Fish Feeder, Sand, Mountain rock, Anubias Nana petite plant, Bettas, and more! 

Just wanted to finish this update with a massive shoutout to all our AMAZING BACKERS! The amount of support you all have given us by backing and sharing this project is staggering. Thank you so much! 

Much love, 

The ADI team