Yes, you read that right. The IceCap REEF-Cam is supposedly the first underwater video camera capable of streaming a live feed from inside a fish tank. Now how about that!
This waterproof camera has a wide angle lens, providing a 120 degree field of view, and can be mounted both inside or outside of the aquarium. So how does it work? Well, all you have to do is download a free iOS or Android app to your mobile device and connect to your home network via Wifi or a direct ethernet connection to begin streaming.
This tiny camera (1″ x 1″ x 3/4″) is capable of live streaming in HD (720p) and can be pivoted in multiple directions. You can also capture and store video with a MicroSD card, which is sold separately. Protective cases or sleeves are available, including one that will disguise the camera as live rock (hmmm…perhaps I can mount a frag on that one!).
The IceCap REEF-Cam will not be available until the Spring of 2017 so it will be interesting to see how it performs. A really cool option is the ability to zoom in, although you will not be able to remotely pan the camera.
One set of features not available that I would like to see in the future is the ability to adjust the camera\’s brightness, contrast and white balance. White balance is very important and according to CoralVue, the distributor of the product, the camera has been excellent at white balancing the frame. This is a good thing since any tank with light at the blue end of the spectrum can look very blue through the eyes of certain cameras. The Nest Cam does not have this feature and that was one reason why I chose not to use it to monitor my tank.
And what about a continuous broadcast of the live stream to the public via YouTube or another streaming service, similar to what I set up for this Axis Network camera? It will not be possible with this first generation camera but CoralVue says it can definitely add it to the wish list if demand is high.
***UPDATE***
I was very much disappointed with how this camera performed when I had it in my possession nearly two years ago. Perhaps later generations of the camera have improved since then.
Additional Resources
If you would like some help with a new tank build, including help designing a custom aquarium, or help re-configuring your current setup then you can visit this page for more information. And if you are looking to add some equipment, I do sell GHL, Pax Bellum, Reef Octopus Calcium and Kalk Reactors and Royal Exclusiv products, including Dreamboxes, which is the equipment I use and recommend. I also sell Reef Brite metal halide and LED fixtures as well as Maxspect & IceCap Gyres.
As for additional insights and information, please explore my many other reef tank and SPS related articles as well as my YouTube channel. For an even deeper dive into reef tank care you can check out my Reef Keeping Master Class. This online course is an immersive and one of a kind educational tool designed to help reef aquarium hobbyists build and maintain a beautiful SPS reef tank. The course is a series of video presentations with some supplemental video from my YouTube channel. There are also quizzes to help students retain and understand the information presented in the course.
Need some frags…..I can help with that as well 🙂 Please visit my SPS Frag store to see what is available.
