Automated water parameter control?

[Judon]

I have a few questions regarding water parameters. If you had the choice to fully automate the control of your water parameters, what parameters would you choose to have controlled? I’m asking for FW/ SW and planted/ non planted tanks. So say something like, “FW/planted, I would automate x,y,z parameters; FW/ non, I would automate x,t,r; SW monitor a,s,e,t,y,j,c,y,w… etc”

I work in the automation field so this is something I am thinking about attempting. So, here is a short list of things I want to automate through one controller:
FW/planted
Timer for lighting
CO2 controlled by lighting timer
Temperature
Water level/ top up
water change?
differential pressure across filter?
pH
ammonia
nitrites
nitrates
phosphates


I’m not sure if I can even find affordable sensors for the last three. J The rest of it is pretty simple to control; it’ll be the economics of it that’ll be tough.

I would add other examples, but to be honest I started earlier this year so my knowledge is limited and I’ve only read anything about FW/planted tanks. So I have very little idea about what’s necessary to control for the other types of tanks. I’ve seen that there are some full service controllers out there, but they seem to start out at about $1300. I think I can do this for cheaper, so I want to start out with “Would be nice to have” and eventually get down to “needs to have”.

If anyone knows of cheaper products that can sense the variable (ex…pH) and send a controlled dose of chemical to bring the variable back into range, please let me know.

Thanks for your input everyone, if I am able to do this in an affordable fashion ya’ll will be among the first to know about it, I promise!!

 

[Ornate Fish]

I think the # 1 killers of most fish are temperature and Ammonia. I lost some very nice peacock cichlid's due to fast rising ammonia levels. The ammonia levels would rise to dangerous levels in just two days. I learned from my LFS that adding aeration to the water helps dramatically with releasing free ammonia from the tank's water. I tried it and haven't had problems since. I one thing I would like to see happen is an automated water change system. Something that you can hook up to a waterline and automatically change say 20 to 25 % of your water per week. What way you don't have to fuss with water changes. Shouldn't be to difficult. The only problem I can see is the fact that you would still have to vacuum the substrate. This system would obviously become more difficult with salt waster as well.

 

[Judon]

My tank seems to be really stable so far. I've got it planted pretty heavily so the plants do most of the work. That and as far as vacuuming the substrate I've got a clam that putt putt's around cleaning that for me. I really like the idea of automatic control. whether its biological or man made.

and you're right the water change isn't difficult at all.

 

[Clay]

TBH, I think you're better off looking into a reef controller and customizing it, or looking into something going on in the RC forums - an Arduino based controller. That would allow you all the flexibility you could ever want. Luckily, it's an open source project and all of the code has been written and would simply need some customization. Almost all of those parameters could be controlled. One thing you didn't mention is a graphical output that can be checked and controlled remotely. There are a few that have iphone apps and you can turn stuff on or off via your phone.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_searchItem.aspx?SearchText=reefkeeper lite&parsed=1
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_searchItem.aspx?SearchText=apex controller&parsed=1

For FW, I would opt for a drip system and avoid a top off. This would also take your water changes out of the picture, as you would only have to do a simple gravel vac every so often and allow the drip to refill (depending on volume, you may have to manually refill).

Hope that helps.

 

[Judon]

Wow... the Arduino is exactly what I was looking at, precisely for the reasons you mentioned.

I thought a small pump that would fill up the tank as evap occurred would be the preferred method. As far as the water change goes, I figure a simple pushbutton that opens a solenoid valve to a drain and using the normal "top up" pump with a level switch would be the best way of refilling the tank. Less disruption, less programming/ hardware requirements...etc..

 

[STATMATT]

I second the Arduino, it is crazy powerful, but it is a bit like using a missle to kill a guppy. I've had good luck learning on the basic electronics kit sold at Radio Shack. Most of what the Arduino can do with programming, you can do by building basic circuits for less than a few bucks. I have both, I like the Arduino, but I really like making the circuits on my own. The cool thing about making the circuits is that you can then plug them into the Arduino and multiply its abilities 100 fold with very little programming.