DIY Aquarium controller

[markdem]

Hi All, I have FINALY finnished the aquarium controller. i would of hade it done ages ago, but lots of work needs to be done around my house.

Anyway, it has been woring nice for the last 2 weeks here at work, so i guess i can now share it with you.
One word of warning, please do not attempt to build this if you are not confident with a soldering iron, as it is quick complex. the final cost of the project is aboput $A200, bu that is with a nice aluminium case. Also, if you dont mind waiting abit longer, you can get all the microchip parts for free using the samples from microchip.

I guess I can also build them for you, if you are not confident to do it your sell. I will only charge a small amout for my time.

please see http://members.optusnet.com.au/markdem/ for more info.

Any questions, please ask me here and I will update the web page.

looking forward to hearing about how you go.

Have Fun

Mark Demczuk

[epicfish]

I don't know what the availability of such items are in Australia, but...
http://www.saltycritter.com/digital-...controller.htm

[markdem]

epicfish, there is lots of other products, but they where all too expencive or they used X10 (like this one) which means i cant use it in australia because of the voltage diffrence. My controller does not care about the voltage on the relays, so you can use it anyware.

mark

[epicfish]

I wasn't trying to downplay your DIY...don't take it the wrong way.

I just mentioned other products for people like me who are liable to kill themselves while doing DIY with high voltages...

Glad to see that you got it working...and the enclosure looks great too.

How did you get the kH and CO2 readings? What sensors and/or probes did you use for that?

[nornicle]

Mark...

I have seen ALOT of DIY things for aquaria.

This is the damn most impressive thing I have ever seen.

A few questions:

1. could you give us some pics of the measuring equipment and the machine in action in the tank?

2. could you explain to us what the outputs/inputs are on the machine? it looks amazing.

3. Can it run controllers -> light, pH, water top up? or even fert dosing?

4. And can you build one for me

Cheers

Richard

edit:

I just want to mention again that this is seriously impressive...

things like this make me excited at the evolution of planted tank geeks.

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by nornicle

Mark...

I have seen ALOT of DIY things for aquaria.

This is the damn most impressive thing I have ever seen.

A few questions:

1. could you give us some pics of the measuring equipment and the machine in action in the tank?

2. could you explain to us what the outputs/inputs are on the machine? it looks amazing.

3. Can it run controllers -> light, pH, water top up? or even fert dosing?

4. And can you build one for me

Cheers

Richard

edit:

I just want to mention again that this is seriously impressive...

things like this make me excited at the evolution of planted tank geeks.

I've started playing with a microcontroller as well and yes, you can build it to automate your tank. My dream is to build an auto water changer. The controller can even control the amount of dechlorination in the new water too if you can build the hardware. It's pretty sweet.

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

man that is to cool, Id buy one if I could use it on 110v

[markdem]

hi All, i am glad so may people are intrested in this.

just to clear some things up.

1. The device is voltage free on the relays, so you can switch what every you want. eg 110 volts. The only thing you will need to change is the transformer for the 5 and 12 volt outputs.

2. The conntroller does the following;
It will controll upto 4 sets of lights, with diffrrent timer settings.

It checks water temp and turns the heaters on and off. This is much more controlled then the inbuilt settings in the heaters. It also checkes for water level in my DIY inline heaters, stopping the heaters form going on dry.

It checks for water level and will top up the tank. I cant see why you could not have a valve on your tank that you open once a week to let water out, then this would fill the tank you for you, making it auto water change.

It checks current PH, and will open a c02 valve when it is to high.

Checks the temp in your lighting hood, and will turn on a fan to cool it down when needed.

3. The device is setup using a computer app, then is free running. eg does not need the computer to be turned on to work.

4. I can build these for you, but i am still tring to work out what they would cost if i made 10 of them at the same time. I already have some guys at work that want one.

5. it is firmware upgradebale, and i still have some outputs left, so i cant see why i could not build a upgrade card for things like autodosing of ferts and such.

the price on the web site is australia dollers, and at lcost, so unless i can get some bulk discounts, i cat make the thing any cheaper.
I will take some more pictures later today, and post them on the web site. The tank that it is on now is at work, as i am still getting mine together.

One last thing. I have now started work on the Aquamaster2. it will check things like NH4, N02, N03, Iron, O, P, and redox. I might add some other stuff. but please dont wait for this one, it is along way away, and will be about $2000 when i have finnished.

i will try to get some more details on the web site tonight, as it is a bit crappy.


Have Fun

Mark

[epicfish]

Originally Posted by epicfish

How did you get the kH and CO2 readings? What sensors and/or probes did you use for that?

^^^^^^^^^

[markdem]

Hi epic fish, The ph is read from any non amped PH probe, much like the probles that you guys use on your co2 controllers. I got mine from ebay for $20. The controller has all the amps and logic to work out the PH.

The kh must be set manually, as i can work out how to measure it electronically. I will, then have a upgrade for the controller. It then can work out what the C02 content is, and displays it ont he screen.

i will try to get some bulk pricing on parts tomorrow, and post home much i can sell these for. I dont have a problem making 110vAC models.

Have Fun

mark

[shake]

Originally Posted by nornicle

Mark...

I have seen ALOT of DIY things for aquaria.

This is the damn most impressive thing I have ever seen.

A few questions:

1. could you give us some pics of the measuring equipment and the machine in action in the tank?

2. could you explain to us what the outputs/inputs are on the machine? it looks amazing.

3. Can it run controllers -> light, pH, water top up? or even fert dosing?

4. And can you build one for me

Cheers

Richard

edit:

I just want to mention again that this is seriously impressive...

things like this make me excited at the evolution of planted tank geeks.

I agree with nornicle, and he's and Aussie. We don't see too many things like that here.

[Gatekeeper]

Insanity.

Auto doser?
Auto feeder?
Auto "can you make it do my job for me so I can stay at home and stare at the automatic controller do all the things in my fish tanks that I don't want to do"?

[snafu]

markdem, thanks for sharing. i have a similar project breadboarded up next to my computer and has been sitting there for months and months. i almost feel inspired to finish it up. heh. i can also appreciate the amount of time you've put into it. nice work.
-snafu

[SuRje1976]

Originally Posted by markdem

It checks for water level and will top up the tank. I cant see why you could not have a valve on your tank that you open once a week to let water out, then this would fill the tank you for you, making it auto water change.

What type of sensor are you using for this?

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

I still want one of these, let me know how it works out and Ill boomerang some greenbacks