Satellite Water Tank Monitor
Cellular and satellite water level monitoring for stock tanks and troughs. Get an alert before a tank runs dry, anywhere on the ranch.
Cellular and satellite in one unit. Where there's cell signal it reports every 2 hours; past cell coverage it reports every 6 hours over satellite. The monitor switches networks by itself — nothing to choose or configure.
Key Features
- Cellular and satellite in one unit, switches networks automatically
- Reports every 2 hours on cellular, every 6 hours on satellite
- Weighted pressure sensor with no floats or moving parts
- Low-water alerts by push, text, or email, plus an all-clear on refill
- Runs for years on 2 standard D-cell batteries
- Fits any fresh-water tank or trough up to 15 feet deep
- First year of service included, then $100 per tank per year
Product Overview
The VitaRanch water tank monitor is a toss-in level sensor for stock tanks and troughs. Drop the weighted sensor to the bottom of the tank, mount the small module where it can see some sky, and tell the app how deep your tank is. That's the whole install. From then on it reports the water level every 2 hours where there's cell signal and every 6 hours over satellite where there isn't, switching between the two on its own. If a float valve sticks or a line breaks, you get an alert while there's still water in front of the cattle, and an all-clear when the tank comes back up. The first year of service is included; after that it's $100 per tank per year.
What the monitor is actually for
Water is the one thing that can't wait until tomorrow. This is what the ranchers we work with use the monitors for.
Skip the daily water run
Check every tank from the kitchen table before you decide where to drive. On most places that's an hour and a few gallons of diesel back, every single day.
Catch failures early
A stuck float valve, a quit pump, or a split line drains a tank fast. The low-water alert reaches your phone while there's still water in front of the cattle — and an all-clear follows when the tank comes back up.
Know your water
The level history shows how fast each tank draws down through the season. That's how you spot a slow leak, plan hauling, and size the next tank.
VitaRanch is built by the Texas team behind LoneStar Tracking. Not sure the monitor fits your setup? Email hello@vitaranch.us and tell us about your tanks — we'll give you a straight answer.
One monitor, two networks
We used to sell a cellular monitor and a satellite monitor as separate products. This unit carries both radios. It uses cellular when it has signal and drops back to satellite when it doesn't, so the same monitor works on the trough behind the house and the one on a lease with no bars — and you never have to pick a network when you buy.
| On cellular | On satellite | |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | Every 2 hours (12/day) | Every 6 hours (4/day) |
| Works | Anywhere with cell signal | Anywhere with a view of the sky |
| You do | Nothing — the monitor picks the network on its own | |
How It Works
Drop the sensor in
The weighted sensor sinks to the bottom of the tank and reads water depth by pressure. No floats, no drilling, no plumbing — if the tank holds water, it fits.
Mount the module
Mount the small module on the tank or a nearby post using the 15-foot cable. Give it open sky if you can — that's what satellite reporting needs when there's no cell signal.
The first report can take a few hours to land while the monitor finds its network.
Tell the app about your tank
Claim the device in the VitaRanch app, name the tank, and enter its depth. From then on every reading shows up as feet of water and percent full — on your phone or in the web dashboard, alongside your other tanks.
Set your low-water line
Pick the level that means trouble for each tank. If a reading comes in below it, you get a push, text, or email — and an all-clear when the tank refills, so you're not left wondering.
Common Questions
Which network will my monitor use?
Both radios are in every unit. Where there's cell signal it reports every 2 hours over cellular; where there isn't, it reports every 6 hours over satellite. It switches on its own — you don't pick a version when you buy, and you don't configure anything.
What kind of sensor is it?
A weighted hydrostatic pressure sensor that sits on the bottom of the tank and reads the depth of water above it, accurate to about 1%. No floats, no switches, no moving parts — nothing to stick, corrode, or wear out.
What tanks does it fit?
Any fresh-water storage tank or trough up to 15 feet deep — steel, poly, or concrete. Deeper tank? Email us and we'll set you up with a longer cable.
How long do the batteries last?
It runs on 2 standard D cells you can buy anywhere — typically 3 or more years between changes. Hard winters and satellite-heavy sites run shorter. When it's time, you swap the batteries yourself in a couple of minutes.
What does it cost to run?
The first year of service is included with the hardware. After that it's $100 per tank per year, covering airtime on both networks, the apps, alerts, and support. One subscription covers all your tanks — add a tank and it joins the same bill, and you can cancel individual tanks anytime from your account.
Can I move it to a different tank?
Yes. Pull the sensor, drop it in the next tank, and update the tank depth in the app. Ranchers move them seasonally between summer and winter pastures all the time.
What alerts will I get?
Low water at the threshold you set for each tank, an all-clear when the level comes back up, and a heads-up if a monitor stops reporting. Alerts go out by push notification, text, or email — your choice, per person on your account.
Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees or surprise charges. Here's exactly what you pay:
Hardware Purchase
One-time cost per monitor
- Monitor module with cellular and satellite radios
- Hydrostatic sensor with 15-foot cable
- Mounting hardware
- 1-year manufacturer warranty
- First year of service included
Annual Service (After Year 1)
Per tank — one subscription covers all your tanks; cancel individual tanks anytime from your account
- Airtime on both cellular and satellite networks
- Mobile apps (iOS & Android) and web dashboard
- Low-water, all-clear, and offline alerts
- Level history and consumption reports
- Software updates and technical support
Monitoring more than a dozen tanks? Email hello@vitaranch.us for volume pricing.
Technical Specifications
The full data sheet — the same numbers we quote on the phone.
Physical
- Sensor
- Weighted hydrostatic pressure sensor — no floats, no moving parts
- Cable
- 15 ft from sensor to module (longer available on request)
- Maximum tank depth
- 15 ft
- Enclosure
- IP68 — dust tight and submersible
- Operating temperature
- −30 °C to +70 °C (−22 °F to 158 °F)
Power
- Batteries
- 2 standard D cells, user replaceable
- Battery life
- Typically 3+ years; cold winters and satellite-heavy sites run shorter
- Idle draw
- Microamps — the radio only wakes to take and send readings
Measurement & reporting
- Accuracy
- ±1% of tank depth, typical
- On cellular
- Reports every 2 hours (12 readings a day)
- On satellite
- Reports every 6 hours (4 readings a day)
- Network selection
- Automatic — uses cellular when it can, satellite when it can’t
- Tank types
- Any fresh-water storage tank or trough
Alerts, service & warranty
- Alerts
- Low water, back-to-normal, and offline — by push, text, or email
- Included service
- First year included with the hardware
- After the first year
- $100 per tank per year, one subscription covers all your tanks
- Warranty
- 1 year manufacturer warranty