Begining diy automated monitoring? any arduino locally? (1 Viewer)

[KyleH]

I just came across the arduino platform after someone chimed in on this forum.

Going through the first few steps of making lights flash and pulses on the arduino, I think the diy arduino has interesting applications. Is there anyone local that may have an arduino reef project? I am curious on what others have done with theirs. I see there are a few posts on other forums, but many are high-end sophisticated controllers, monitors, and warnings. Some give professional devices a run for the money, but unfortunately, some of the arduino projects are going leaps and bounds on their parts costs, too.

I have no plans of making anything competitive to the existing automated systems such as reefmaster, etc. However, I am interested in seeing simple applications. Such as little diy projects to help learn and understand what some things can be done. Some ideas are what I came across that may or may not be possible:

- use a solid state relay to turn on/off pumps, lights, etc.

- find a micro-valve / soleniod (like sprinkler controllers) that can share multiple sources and be controlled with a single dosing pump to power it?

- creating a temporary off timer. (basically, turn off skimmers for x minutes during dosing nutrients and food; turn off flow for x minutes during feeding. maybe turn it to low instead of completely off)

- hacking / rewiring a $15. ph probe for monitoring. I hear getting ph probe needs calibrating constantly, but I suspect whatever the ph probe reads, just send a warning if it changes by a certain threshold.

- hacking / rewiring devices to simulate button presses. Some of the fancy light systems now have menu buttons to change from blue/white/moon.

Basically, I am curious with ideas and if anyone is working locally with the arduino.

-KyleH

 

[KyleH]

Perhaps an automatic feed rotifers with phytoplankton?

I was thinking that one easy project to start that may be applicable is a way to automate the stirring of phytoplankton that may be growing, and pumping a certain amount (does not have to be too precise) into the rotifer tank.

Although phyto growing needs to be stirred 1x day, having something automated can do it a little more to keep them healthy. Then, feeding it to rotifers daily.

Basically, instead of something that needs to be monitored daily, it can be left alone for 1 week run by itself for those that may want to leave town for the weekend or take a vacation.

Would that be useful to anyone (besides myself)?

I think parts will probably costs about $25. + ardunio board + 1 Solid State Relay + real-time clock. Prob total < $50.

-KyleH

 

[Dernial]

There's been a group working on a full arduino control platform on reef-central. I know there's one or two people here working on it also.

I would love to work on it, but have been limited on funds lately.

http://www.hydra-reef.com

 

[DustinB]

I'm one of the people working on it. www.hydra-reef.com/wiki There's a bit more info there.

The project was built on the arduino platform, but with a custom board integrating a lot of features. I think I may have another board laying around.

If I remember right, parts cost around $125 including a pH probe and a relay strip. That would give you a full base set of hardware to do just about anything you want including ethernet. Whatever feature you can imagine is possible, just have to program it in.

 

[KyleH]

great info on Hydra!

Thanks all on the info on the efforts on Hydra.

I think my first reef project to get familar is to automate a little phyto/roti setup. After I go through a smaller step, I will probably be better ready to understand hyrda.

To reduce number of arduino components such as a realtime clock (RTC) for +$7., I was thinkiing of just using the millis() function and checking for time lapses. (Similar to the Arduino example of avoiding the use of the delay() function) Probably supply a button for "reset" to start the process and repeat every 24 hrs from that point. I suspect it will loose a few minutes each day, but if it gets annoying the user can press the reset button again (why would the rotifers and phyto really care).

DustinB (or anyone), you got a recommendation of 1 inexpensive SSR (possibly small to fit in small places) and probably a small power strip (maybe one of those 3-6 unit ones) to use with? Maybe gut extra power sections to make room for the SSR and everntually hide a ardunino nano controller.

Anyone got any ideas or suggestions?

-KyleH

 

[rrr757]

Kyle,

I have started researching, and as far as I have gotten is some links on reefcentral, they have quite a bit if not too too much information with stuff that is over my head.

Here is one post..
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18488741#post18488741

I have quite sometime before I get all my stuff together. But thinking about first starting with a dyi from rapidled and turning those on and off (dimming) with the arduino and adding a temp and ph probe.

Here is the kit I am thinking about getting, worried though because not many people have this size led and there is more support and code for the smaller lcd size.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Arduino-Kit-Meg...ultDomain_0&hash=item3f055e8127#ht_1975wt_932

Anyways keep us posted as to what you do.

mickey

 

[KyleH]

interesting post....

hey...that was interesting about the led's that you are planning to use.

I was planning back in March to use an arduino to control a $5. dc motor like an example of using it with a dc motor of a dvd player kit. Using the magnets of the fan, it was to turn a little stirrer in 1 liter bottle of phytoplankton. Possibly start is slow, medium, high such that it can get the spinning right--spinning high from the beginning causes stirrers to stall.

Furthermore, I was going to use a solid state relay (SSR) $10. to turn a power switch on/off connected to a $10. dosing pump for 1-3 minutes to feed phyto to another tank.

However, I started a new job around that time, and I have been swamped with adjusting to a different work schedule, commuting to downtown, and reading up documentation on the systems used at work.

Also, I reconsidered feeding phyto because of its value and I was going to use miracle grow that I do not think I want the plant food pushed to the next tank. So, I am dragging my feet; but, I will definately post any updates to this thread.

As for your project, I hope that you know that you will need a separate power supply for the led's, and use some kind of transitor controlled by arduino because the output on the arduino is very low (about 10mV). The voltage that you want to pass through your led's for your corals may be too strong to flow to the arduino board without a transistor. (When looking for a power supply, you may want to check out some of the controllers available. I have seen a really great LED controller that Flexrac had, and it may be worth looking into instead of messing with the arduino for lighting).

Also, why the big graphical LCD screen? the smaller ones are easier to setup, wire, and program/code. The large screens are more complex from what I can see in the programming, and most people are using it display graphs--which can be complex to program too. (On the other hand, it definately looks cool.)

Definately keep up with the posts to share some ideas.

-KyleH

 

[khan_man]

Ok I'm tagging along as my led set up is on it's way along with the audrino controller. Getting ready for a 40g cube. Hey Kyle do you have the audrino??

 

[KyleH]

yeah, actually I got 2 duemilanove

Yeah, the basic arduino runs about $25-40. shipped. I picked 2 up as part of a kit separately, and they bundled the older duemilanove kit.

After my "starter/intro" kit, I was looking for a dc motor kit. It was only an extra $20. to get it as a kit with another arduino instead of loose components. I thought it would be good to have a backup unit to test if I ever make a successful and useful program.

Thanks for sending me the link on your setup. It is very interesting to know that yours came from a working system. If mickey is still following (or anyone else), khan's setup uses the arduino to control Meanwell ELN 60-48P setup with a built ELN dimming shield put together by "DWZM/nano-reef.com".

You can get power source/"mean well ELN-60-48P dimmable driver" on rapidled.com for $34.

If you want to add a ph or temperature probe, lcd display, graphical display, ethernet, or anything else, you may want to consider starting with an arduino MEGA for the extra pins.

-KyleH

 

[rrr757]

Still following, just have to finish sealing the new cute on the tank and polishing it. Been side tracked as well on a home tiling project. My plan is to still get my led kit from rapid with the dimmable p driver and start with the mega kit ,but just tagging along for now

 

[khan_man]

Okay Kyle I have gotten the audrino controller in! Along wit my badass lights!!! Can't wait for the bigger tank and it's on. But until then I need to figure out how to use this audrino. Let me know when u will be free to take a peek at the set up. Thanx