I'm looking for recommendations for a PH monitor that can either be connected to a computer LAN or via an RS232 serial connection to a PC for logging PH water parameters? Had anybody had any experience in this area? Something reasonably priced preferrably.
PH monitoring and loggin to PC?
- Thread starter hardb0iled
- Start date
Why do you want to monitor your pH so closely??? There are few pH monitors that are cheap, and will have output data feeds. None that I have worked with that were cheap, have had that ability.
I do bi-weekly water changes on my tanks but recently my cod tank almost crashed because I let the PH wander too high. I live by myself and and lately have been very busy with work and other demanding responsibilities, so its hard to monitor my tank water parameters as closely as I would like.
I work in IT so spend a lot of time on the PC and have a home network configured, if I have something that monitors and logs water parameters to my server I can easily check at any time whats been happening and act before things get out of hand.
I work in IT so spend a lot of time on the PC and have a home network configured, if I have something that monitors and logs water parameters to my server I can easily check at any time whats been happening and act before things get out of hand.
Electronic hand held PH meters are inexpencive...simple to calibrate and even simpler to use. While you COULD set up a system like your talking about the expence would far outweigh any benifit from it. Reciently I've seen relitivly inexpencive electronic PH meters with a built in alarm. That would accomplish the same goal with a lot less complication IMO.
http://www.automatedaquariums.com/
http://www.draquarium.com/
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaController3Pro.htm
^^^^ you can see the last one in use here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/photo-album/47667-son-kahuna-56k.html
Whether PC monitored aquariums are practical or not is another issue, but it certainly is neat. I think people get into it more for the challenge of making it all work, rather than the cost or benefits of it. Also, make sure you read that whole thread from start to finish. Theres screen shots of the PC interface later in the thread.
http://www.draquarium.com/
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaController3Pro.htm
^^^^ you can see the last one in use here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/photo-album/47667-son-kahuna-56k.html
Whether PC monitored aquariums are practical or not is another issue, but it certainly is neat. I think people get into it more for the challenge of making it all work, rather than the cost or benefits of it. Also, make sure you read that whole thread from start to finish. Theres screen shots of the PC interface later in the thread.
Cost effective? Depends how much your fish is worth to you? I've spent a few thousand on the tank and other life support just for this one fish - to have it all fail because I do not have enough time to manually test and monitor water parameters when for an extra few hundred I could have it all automatically monitored and logged sounds like a good investment to me!
I have owned and used hand held electronic PH testers and they have been ok but to log it all the data to a file automatically and be able to view it at any time would be ideal - I can then see trends and hopefully predict trouble before it happens.
Cheers Wizzin - I will check those links out.
I have owned and used hand held electronic PH testers and they have been ok but to log it all the data to a file automatically and be able to view it at any time would be ideal - I can then see trends and hopefully predict trouble before it happens.
Cheers Wizzin - I will check those links out.