Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

And this is what I have so far.

Maybe something else in the google webses.

http://www.directindustry.com/prod/ir-m ... 55974.html

http://www.directindustry.com/industria ... 75632.html
http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/ ... -May-h.htm

http://www.directindustry.com/prod/dr-a ... 72831.html



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

And there is the source of the problem. No insult intended (or implied). Pure facts. I've already researched this and it's just not feasible within reasonable costs.

Redman,
There certainly does seem to be a bit of sarcasm in the responses to your post. I think the issue is that, sure the system can be built, but there is no possible way to justify the cost vs. benefit for any backyard aquaponics system being discussed on this forum. Once a system is stable the time required for testing is minimal, so the labor savings of an automated system would not be significant.

I looked at the links you provided, most of which had a "call for quote" statement. These are not going to be available at a price which would make sense in this environment.

Now, the other side: I am running my system on an Arduino platform which uses sensors & controls for normal operation (not testing). I use it for monitoring moisture levels in my grow beds and automating the water flow and grow lights instead of using auto-siphons. I do this because I have a background in programming and interest in automation, not because I necessarily believe it is the best solution. Even though I'm pretty sure it would qualify for your "low cost" requirement, it is still is significantly more expensive than most current reliable AP systems.

The Arduino is an open platform which could be easily used for a base for developing what you are talking about. Check it out, as well as equivalent compatible systems (Seeeduino, etc.) and don’t get discouraged. Even though every idea you have may not end up being practical, if you dig a while, some will. It is folks like you who will make the breakthroughs necessary to bring AP into mainstream. However, take time to understand the current best practices before you write them off. There are a lot of good ideas out there which will take a lot of thinking to improve upon.

Besides, make the process easy enough for the yuppies to feel good about themselves and your selling systems baby!

There are several threads concerning the subject of automation and monitoring...

And several members do so, much along the lines that Capaul mentions...

And there have been many attempts at automating "flood & drain"....

As others have indicated though.... the basic parameters that might require monitoring and testing... are similar to those in aquaculture... and even the largest RAS aquaculture systems have difficulty justifying the cost of "real-time" monitoring systems...

Even hand-held devices, especially mutli-function units... run to thousands of dollars...

Unless you have a commercial interest and expected return... the cost just simply can't be justified... as opposed to simple cheap, reliable reagent test kits...

Hey, if you've got the inclination, time and money... go for it...

I seem to remember one bloke who did set up a system that SMS'd him when his pump failed... and it worked the one time the pump did fail.... trouble was he was about 10,000km in the air at the time...

Oh, and by the way... just to be alittle pedantic...

pH is not a measure of "electrical conductivity"... EC as used in hydroponics is... but that's an entirely different measurement to pH, and even in hydroponics is measured differently to "EC", and with a different meter...

Perhaps it is "scientifically" possible to determine pH by some measure of "electrical conductivity"... and conversion formulas... or mass spectrometers...

But a $50 API Freshwater Master Test Kit... will not only measure ph, but ammonia, nitrite, nitrate.... and do it about 800 times....

That's cheaper than even plugging in a mass spectrometer...

http://airecycle.com/?ibp-camp=adwords& ... pAodGBypDg

Cheaper than I thought for a second hand machine.

Kewl.... with a 100 fish... that only works out at about $130/fish....

$130/fish plus you get "Chips"

I've always thought that I might be able to turn the manual testing kits into an automated test.

The whole idea is based on a computer with a webcam which is able to drive motors via serial (RS232, usb etc).

You have put your bottles in and have some mechanism to squeeze them. The whole thing is monitored by a webcam which does processing. With a bit of visual processing, it can measure/count the drops that are squeezed in. You'd probably need a light behind the tube. Then you have another mechanism to shake the tube. A quick FFT will give you the spectrum and then you can do your colour matching. Then another motor turns on to twist the tube (maybe the same one that shook the tube), which dumps the water.

Anyway, i've done a poor job of explaining it and I haven't thought it right out. It's a bit low tech, but given the cost of the high tech solutions, this might be a good middle ground.

You could change the amount of water to test so you can use just one drop of the testing agent. Easier to get one drop out per test. Or just use the strips.

Or just go and dip the bloody test tube in the tank... and add the drops....

Seriously... all the automation in the world isn't going to help... if you don't have the knowledge, or proximity, in order to react to any problem...

In some ways, being reliant on manual methods, probably means you're more likely to be present and capable of reaction...

If you're not, unless you close enough to respond.... having an automating notification is'nt going to help...

I still want a mass spectrometer. Finally find out what they really put in gummy bears.

Poor little buggers... Still have finger bones, but just no fingers....

Gemmell, that's not as silly as some people would think. With a facial recognition type algorithm you could then send a digital reading based on the colour scale.

Mal

Gummi bear surgery..

http://i.imgur.com/NAGXt.jpg