DIY computer based water quality monitoring system? - Aquarium Advice

hannibal_lector · 10-05-2005, 06:54 PM

I have a bunch of old [acronym:b2fc0c60f0="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:b2fc0c60f0]'s etc... that are all in good working order but I don't need them for anything, too slow for gaming and I already have nicer ones throught the house.

I know ameture electronics kits that can utilize the serial\parellel ports for all sorts of things and figured it might be possible to solder together a few bits and have a controller mediate between the computer and an array of sensors. Say water-level, temp, [acronym:b2fc0c60f0="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b2fc0c60f0] etc...and just throw someone elses logging software to keep track.

I know people have used x-10.org's stuff for computer automated timing of lights and powerheads etc but havent heard specifically of stuff like this, seems like a decent way to save money and get more accurate results than the chemical test kits.

greenmaji · 10-06-2005, 09:37 AM

From what Ive read..this is part of the hobby that requires some hard core programing.. and controller moduels for this purpose in particular.. its WAY over my head..

BillyZ · 10-07-2005, 10:09 AM

it will take a bit of programming. i don't know if there's any open source projects around for it or not, but that doesn't mean you couldn't start one!

you would need to find probes for which you can get the raw signal information for. Once you have that information then you'll know what to program for. Take a look around the web and see if someone else has something out there to start from.

greenmaji · 10-08-2005, 02:08 AM

reefcentral's [acronym:436b69b835="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:436b69b835] section has alot of people doing this.. you might want to check it out..

czcz · 10-10-2005, 06:59 PM

Here's the WRRC, which is based on OpenWRT. In case you've not run *nix before, don't be intimidated as OpenWRT's wiki is good and the bash is easy to understand. We bounced some ideas around in the planted forum here, and there's links to neat but pricey toys in the thread. If you're [acronym:673021e662="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:673021e662] minded and start this and decide to contribute to the WRRC, I know there's a few of us who may get off our ___es to help

Todd2 · 10-10-2005, 07:02 PM

Yea, I'd check out Reef Central's [acronym:0531a7b0a4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:0531a7b0a4] forum. They have a sub forum dedicated to making a controller.

On the otherhand if you're into computers and stuff you could turn one into a smoothwall box (linux firewall www.smoothwall.org) or make one a file/web server or something.

Jaymz_Eric · 01-12-2006, 05:25 AM

www.seaquariums.com down here in flatwoods ky, did an in wall 4000 gallon saltwater tank with 2 black tipped sharks, live sand, 6 [acronym:636e61303d="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:636e61303d] sterilizers, 6 foot tall protein skimmer and the its computer controlled, it monitors food, water level/ temp, [acronym:636e61303d="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:636e61303d] levels, salinity, all kinds of things, if any of these parameters become out of synch, the computer automatically fix's the problems, and if it can't it sends a message to the john the owner of seaquariums on his email and personal beeper!!!! check out the site, its aweome, they had to scube dive in the tank to place the live sand and coral, very cool

10-05-2005, 06:54 PM	#1
hannibal_lector Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: trenton nj Posts: 13	DIY computer based water quality monitoring system? I have a bunch of old [acronym:b2fc0c60f0="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:b2fc0c60f0]'s etc... that are all in good working order but I don't need them for anything, too slow for gaming and I already have nicer ones throught the house. I know ameture electronics kits that can utilize the serial\parellel ports for all sorts of things and figured it might be possible to solder together a few bits and have a controller mediate between the computer and an array of sensors. Say water-level, temp, [acronym:b2fc0c60f0="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:b2fc0c60f0] etc...and just throw someone elses logging software to keep track. I know people have used x-10.org's stuff for computer automated timing of lights and powerheads etc but havent heard specifically of stuff like this, seems like a decent way to save money and get more accurate results than the chemical test kits.

10-07-2005, 10:09 AM	#3
BillyZ Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Western NY Posts: 3,622 Images: 6	it will take a bit of programming. i don't know if there's any open source projects around for it or not, but that doesn't mean you couldn't start one! you would need to find probes for which you can get the raw signal information for. Once you have that information then you'll know what to program for. Take a look around the web and see if someone else has something out there to start from. __________________ Acronyms and Abbreviations

10-10-2005, 07:02 PM	#6
Todd2 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 408	Yea, I'd check out Reef Central's [acronym:0531a7b0a4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:0531a7b0a4] forum. They have a sub forum dedicated to making a controller. On the otherhand if you're into computers and stuff you could turn one into a smoothwall box (linux firewall www.smoothwall.org) or make one a file/web server or something. __________________ 20G L planted - 6 Black Skirt tetras, 1 Dwarf Gourami favorite fish (King of the tank) Plants - java fern & moss, dwarf sag, money wort 10G - empty

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DIY : 24/7 New Water Drip System	neoprodigy	DIY Projects	3	11-09-2006 08:24 PM
Help - Oily Sheen on water possibly from oil-based paint!	Kilgore	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	9	02-14-2006 02:08 AM
Water quality question- Using coralife RO filter system.	jasno999	General Hardware/Equipment Discussion	7	02-10-2006 12:22 AM
Water quality	SJSobczyk	Saltwater & Reef - Getting Started	2	04-07-2005 02:42 PM
Water quality and RO system, Phoenix-Arizona	nguyen27	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	5	11-24-2003 01:23 AM

10-06-2005, 09:37 AM	#2
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	From what Ive read..this is part of the hobby that requires some hard core programing.. and controller moduels for this purpose in particular.. its WAY over my head..

10-08-2005, 02:08 AM	#4
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	reefcentral's [acronym:436b69b835="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:436b69b835] section has alot of people doing this.. you might want to check it out..

01-12-2006, 05:25 AM	#7
Jaymz_Eric Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Flatwoods KY Posts: 34	www.seaquariums.com down here in flatwoods ky, did an in wall 4000 gallon saltwater tank with 2 black tipped sharks, live sand, 6 [acronym:636e61303d="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:636e61303d] sterilizers, 6 foot tall protein skimmer and the its computer controlled, it monitors food, water level/ temp, [acronym:636e61303d="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:636e61303d] levels, salinity, all kinds of things, if any of these parameters become out of synch, the computer automatically fix's the problems, and if it can't it sends a message to the john the owner of seaquariums on his email and personal beeper!!!! check out the site, its aweome, they had to scube dive in the tank to place the live sand and coral, very cool