Backyard Aquaponics
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Hi all, I have a question to those who are/ have been using remote monitoring systems what they experience has been. Brand, Value for money, cost, set up etc....

Before commenting please note I want real world experience not just opinion.

I have had a small system for the past 3 or so years and probably have only tested twice in the last couple years. I can see when water needs topped up and when nutrients are required. I fully understand that once the system has matured and stabilised it all 'works'.

However with my new BIG system I have more at stake and wish to research options. Would love to hear from those who have real world experience.

Cheers

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I monitor temperature remotely via EasyLogCloud, can be viewed on computer or phone app. Details and graphs in my system threads, although I haven't bothered preparing graphs to post for some time.

I'm away from home a lot.

I've had a Seneye device monitoring various water parameters for a few years now... the slides only last a month and cost a bit to order from UK. Light monitoring costs a bit more.

Works very reliably, particularly the low water alarm. Sends alerts when parameters are high or low. Has phone app and web interface.

But the pH readings are inaccurate. Something to do with my water hardness from memory

More recently, and more for fun than anything else, I taught myself some Python. Now have a Raspberry Pi monitoring some float switches so I know exactly how much water is in the system and also get IFTTT and email alerts when my syphon isn't working... generally when I've forgotten to put the bell back in!



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Thanks Gunagulla, looks like I have a fair bit of reading in front of me. Is it just temperature you monitor?

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Also thanks Dave, I have seen the Seneye units and wondering how good they are. Which unit do you use?
Also will investigate the raspberry pi option. Cheers

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Yes Dubot, only monitoring temperature remotely. pH testing done manually occasionally, and only very occasionally do I check NO3.

I have the Seneye home device and a webserver.

Mostly used to monitor for low water - but now superfluous as the Raspberry Pi tells me a lot more about water levels. Also great for temperature monitoring - but I hardly look at that these days as we never get temps that are a threat to my fish. Also warns me when there's an NH3 spike... though hasn't happened for a long time.

I've found the Seneye very reliable... and support is excellent on the odd occasion I've needed it.

The Raspberry Pi option will give you complete control over what you do... but there's a bit of a learning curve if you haven't used something like it before and also if you haven't done coding before. And you also need to do a bit of research on what sensors you'll connect to it.

There's a long discussion about related issues on this forum - don't think it's been active for some time though. Might have been about Arduino rather than Raspberry Pi... but iirc, there are a few posts about the latter too.

Sounds really interesting.

What sensor are you using to measure nitrate levels?




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Only measuring water levels with the Raspberry Pi. I'm sure it's capable of more... but that's a few projects down the line for me

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I gave up testing for nitrate a long time ago anyway. Mine was always high and fish and plants seem fine regardless

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Thanks guys. I was originally interested in the bluelab guardian connect https://www.getbluelab.com/shop/By+Appl ... nnect.html
However is researching the raspberry pi Found these guys
https://www.atlas-scientific.com/kits.html

If one had the money, knowledge and time then looks like the sky is the answer.

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