Incoporating more technology?

[DN328]

I stumbled across this short video and couldn't help of thinking how this could be incorporated into to sump plumbing and/or auto water change systems.

OK, OK, I'm not totally convinced the problem it would actually be trying to address in an aquarium environment, not to mention likely pricey / overkill. But hey, it's kind of fun exploring how gadgets could be incorporated that could be helpful. Check it out...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/watc...s-on-the-same-team/vi-AAghO8W?ocid=spartanntp

 

[DN328]

Any thoughts from anyone? Was it the typo in the name...LOL

 

[matseski]

I have an Arduino-based aquarium controller and while it is a great gadget, was fun to setup, and has a bunch of alarms and remote control functionality, I have been transitioning to passive systems wherever possible. The cost of mission critical electromechanical devices and electronics is simply too high for your average hobbyist. There are many low cost electronic valves, switches, and electronics if you have some knowledge of C++ and basic soldering. For instance, my aquarium controller which controls 2 feeders, 2 heaters, 3 pumps, ATO, 2 fertilizer dosers, 5 lights, and monitors for low water, cabinet humidity and temp, pH, and leaks was under $300. It was definitely worthwhile, but I have only been using it piece meal as a toy since I have had problems with float switches sticking and temperature readings going crazy. These are very solvable problems with higher end electronic components but then you end up with either an Apex system which is super expensive and fairly limited, or can get lab/industry rated components which would push the cost of such a controller to well over $1000 (probably several). Using physics and a bit of ingenuity is more reliable, and much, much cheaper. Gravity is much more reliable than electronics.

 

[DN328]

Thanks for sharing matseski. Agreed, between DIY and Pre-made offerings there's something that can be used to address most needs. But even some of the aquarium hobbyists equipment is pricey.

But sometimes you can only do so much with just natural physics and that's when you do need to rely on technologies.

 

[matseski]

Hopefully as more and more things become web-connected and infiltrate the home security market we will see a price drop in higher quality electromechanical offerings. I suspect the first things we will see become affordable are temperature and leak sensors since they fit a broad role in general home monitoring.

While notifications are nice, there are very few things that a well planned and designed system can alert you to besides catastrophic failures. Even small leaks are hard to detect without an army of sensors. Pumps failures are one of the few examples I can think of (which would be very easy to make a basic Arduino based alert system with sufficient reliability).

 

[soupa2]

I have to agree with both of you on things.. no questions ask about it.. as technology advances we all eventually depend on them more and more.. if we can depend on science or physics its good and inexpensive.. so there is always other side of the fence.. we all have to keep each other informed n learn from others...

 

[matseski]

I am a big fan of using technology to automate things. As a PhD student in engineering, I spend my days building nanofabrication deposition systems and producing materials for ultra high temperature electronics operation (>1000C). The feedback and control devices on these systems are very expensive. Yet, even with laboratory grade components, the reliability of the feedback systems is often a limiting factor. Even professionally designed and industry tested systems have many problems and need a full time staff for the constant adjustments.

Of course, technology is slowly improving. Sensors are more reliable, have lower limits of detection, and are more stable over time. Decades of research have made electronic circuits much more reliable and less sensitive to EMI and advanced coatings improve environmental stability. This has only recently opened the possibility for the Internet of Things. However, if you look at various industries (automotive, aerospace, defense, security, medicine), mission critical mechanical systems have rarely been replaced with complicated electronics.

Certainly, electronics are good for monitoring and logging and can be used to trigger actions to make our lives easier. But keep in mind, that, to date and into the near future, no electrical/internet connected device will be as reliable and secure as using physics and chemistry to your advantage. Often, additional electronics are needed to monitor the electronics in the system.

 

[Oddball]

I used electronic monitoring systems on the main system of my 33k gallon system. Mainly because it was my business interests I was protecting. For single systems, I tend to make things as simple as possible.

 

[boldtogether]

I have always told my boys when they were customizing their cars, "you are going to customize the reliability right out of that car..." I only said that because I was guilty myself.
Tried and true is tried and will always be true in everything that is simple....the simplest answer etc...over kill isone thing...and I like overkill...over complicated makes me grumpy and irritated....one of the reasons I don't use canisters anymore.
All that automation is cool and future fun, but I like old school.