Neptune Systems - AquaControllers - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T01:13:26Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/neptune-systems?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A47360&feed=yes&xn_auth=nowow. I want one.tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:471982011-02-20T16:50:50.339ZNate Storeyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NateStorey
wow. I want one.
wow. I want one. Wow that looks cool! Keep us…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:475822011-02-20T16:11:07.821ZAJ Grottkehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AJGrottke
Wow that looks cool! Keep us updated on how it works out for you over time :)
Wow that looks cool! Keep us updated on how it works out for you over time :)
I will get the wires clean…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:475752011-02-20T14:56:19.988Zjrtroubleshooterhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/jrtroubleshooter
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172344?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172344?profile=original" width="640"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172385?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172385?profile=original" width="640"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172654?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172654?profile=original" width="640"></img></a></p>
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<p>I will get the wires cleaned up more soon...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Got it set up and basically running, Thank you post…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172344?profile=original"><img width="640" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172344?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172385?profile=original"><img width="640" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172385?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172654?profile=original"><img width="640" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772172654?profile=original" class="align-left"/></a></p>
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<p>I will get the wires cleaned up more soon...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Got it set up and basically running, Thank you post concentrating on the EC features on the monerting but the tool is soooooooo much more. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have my lights, pumps, and fish feeder all controlled by the unit. (Still working on the fish feeder time programing)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Heaters running on separte high amp control</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You can graph all the paramiters that the unit is controling and or monitering. I think this is going to be very good long term data.</p>
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<p>It can send email noticifications for anything you want to set it up for.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Progarming very simple but does take some time if you want more than just the basics but the salt water guyes have tried almost everything. While you can do the programing from the display I have been doing most of mine from PC</p>
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<p> </p> I'm with TCL with regards to…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:473602011-02-20T06:24:35.398ZRupertofOZhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RupertofOZ
<p>I'm with TCL with regards to EC readings in aquaponics...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite many years of hydroponic experience, I'm unable to correlate any EC readings from my aquaponics systems with any of my previous knowledge and experience in hydroponics...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let me know how the "Neptune System" goes over time... as it's a system that I'd like to evaluate over time... particularly in real time aquaponics usage... that so far has dealt a death knell for any of the cheaper on-line…</p>
<p>I'm with TCL with regards to EC readings in aquaponics...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite many years of hydroponic experience, I'm unable to correlate any EC readings from my aquaponics systems with any of my previous knowledge and experience in hydroponics...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let me know how the "Neptune System" goes over time... as it's a system that I'd like to evaluate over time... particularly in real time aquaponics usage... that so far has dealt a death knell for any of the cheaper on-line probes/systems that I've used</p> Kobus,
That's why I have an…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:471792011-02-20T06:11:01.286ZNate Storeyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NateStorey
<p>Kobus, </p>
<p>That's why I have an artist wife. . . I just mix my test tube and hand it to her and say "give me a reading." She uses her super-color seeing skills so I don't have to. : )</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I use my EC meter sometimes (I actually run an EC datalogger constantly) but it's mostly curiosity and as a diagnostic thing. Some feeds are high in a lot of salts so it's good to have if salt sensitive plants (like strawberries) start kicking the bucket. It helps you know what's going…</p>
<p>Kobus, </p>
<p>That's why I have an artist wife. . . I just mix my test tube and hand it to her and say "give me a reading." She uses her super-color seeing skills so I don't have to. : )</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I use my EC meter sometimes (I actually run an EC datalogger constantly) but it's mostly curiosity and as a diagnostic thing. Some feeds are high in a lot of salts so it's good to have if salt sensitive plants (like strawberries) start kicking the bucket. It helps you know what's going on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have a pH monitor but I don't even use it anymore. I just use a hand held digital pH tester (pH TESTR) and use the kit for nitrates, nitrites and ammonia every couple weeks. Honestly, everything is so stable I don't ever really need to test anymore. I haven't had an emergency in a very long time. (With the exception of the time accidentally turned on an over-tank light in the middle of the night and had almost all my tilapia spook and jump simultaneously. The small ones hit the net and bounced back. The large ones punched through and I spent half an hour cleaning them all off of the floor, out of the corners, etc.). Don't do that, by the way.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Kobus Jooste said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/neptune-systems?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment47560"><div>I'm "so glad" to see that normally sighted people battle with the dropper tests - I assume you are not colourblind, as I am. I use the dropper for a ball park but for accurate checks I need a digital reading. That goes for all my tests, not just pH.<br/><br/><cite>AJ Grottke said:</cite><blockquote><div>The water dropper PH test kits are really accurate, if you can match the color correctly, which can be a challenge.</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote> I'm "so glad" to see that nor…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:475602011-02-20T05:40:14.697ZKobus Joostehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KobusJooste
I'm "so glad" to see that normally sighted people battle with the dropper tests - I assume you are not colourblind, as I am. I use the dropper for a ball park but for accurate checks I need a digital reading. That goes for all my tests, not just pH.<br/><br/><cite>AJ Grottke said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>The water dropper PH test kits are really accurate, if you can match the color correctly, which can be a challenge.</div>
</blockquote>
I'm "so glad" to see that normally sighted people battle with the dropper tests - I assume you are not colourblind, as I am. I use the dropper for a ball park but for accurate checks I need a digital reading. That goes for all my tests, not just pH.<br/><br/><cite>AJ Grottke said:</cite>
<blockquote><div>The water dropper PH test kits are really accurate, if you can match the color correctly, which can be a challenge.</div>
</blockquote> Greener, recalibration is di…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-20:4778851:Comment:474172011-02-20T01:01:45.494ZAJ Grottkehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AJGrottke
Greener, recalibration is different for each meter, company, and model. For example i have a blue-lab guardian combo meter which measures PH, EC, and Temp. For this the temp and the EC never need to be replaced or calibrated unless it is damaged through misuse. The PH needs to be calibrated monthly and replaced every 1-3 years. But Ive had cheap electronic ph meters that needed replacement after 6 months or even less. I think what i said earlier about my PH probe is a common time…
Greener, recalibration is different for each meter, company, and model. For example i have a blue-lab guardian combo meter which measures PH, EC, and Temp. For this the temp and the EC never need to be replaced or calibrated unless it is damaged through misuse. The PH needs to be calibrated monthly and replaced every 1-3 years. But Ive had cheap electronic ph meters that needed replacement after 6 months or even less. I think what i said earlier about my PH probe is a common time frame for a quality piece of equipment. I check my PH probe against the readings of a PH water dropper test, in order to tell if my PH probe needs recalibration or replacement. The water dropper PH test kits are really accurate, if you can match the color correctly, which can be a challenge. Well I can't really commend o…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-19:4778851:Comment:472092011-02-19T19:40:45.084ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Well I can't really commend on EC and how it relates to aquarium stuff but I do know that EC as it applies to Hydroponics really has no bearing on Aquaponics. See Hydroponics uses EC to estimate the nutrient strength. EC being a measure of electrical conductivity and pure water isn't all that conductive when compared to water with salts in it. Anyway, Hydroponics uses this to help estimate the strength of the nutrient mix. If the EC drops because of large water top ups or the plants…</p>
<p>Well I can't really commend on EC and how it relates to aquarium stuff but I do know that EC as it applies to Hydroponics really has no bearing on Aquaponics. See Hydroponics uses EC to estimate the nutrient strength. EC being a measure of electrical conductivity and pure water isn't all that conductive when compared to water with salts in it. Anyway, Hydroponics uses this to help estimate the strength of the nutrient mix. If the EC drops because of large water top ups or the plants using up lots of nutrients relative to the amount of water, then it will show weak while lots of transpiration and evaporation will cause the EC to rise and this can help the hydroponic gardener know if they should add more water or more nutrient mix. Of course since the EC is just taking the total conductivity and can't tell which particular nutrients might be high or low, this means that to keep a better blend of nutrients for their plants, hydroponic gardeners must dump and re-place their nutrient mix every so often.</p>
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<p>However, Aquaponics doesn't depend on synthetic mineral salts to provide the nutrients for the plants and therefore EC is not an accurate measure of the nutrient strength in aquaponics at all. I could have nitrate readings off the chart according to the nitrate test kit while an EC meter might perhaps read 0.2 or you could take a brand new system with no nitrates at all but when you salt to say 3ppt to sooth new stressed fish you will wind up with a EC reading so high that according to Hydroponics texts would kill tomatoes in no time but I've found that tomatoes don't seem to mind 3 ppt of salt at all though I don't recommend salting an aquaponics system except in times of expected nitrite spikes (like during initial cycle up with fish.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have used my EC meter on occasion to help me estimate the salt levels in a system but it has otherwise done nothing for me since I quit doing hydroponics.</p>
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<p><cite>jrtroubleshooter said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/neptune-systems?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A47060&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment47060"><div>TC can you give some more detail on your experences with EC and aquaponics? </div>
</blockquote> I have read that these sorts…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-19:4778851:Comment:472032011-02-19T18:29:21.890ZGreenerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Greener
<p>I have read that these sorts of automated/electronic measuring devices need recalibrating and testing a lot to stay accurate. I think I read on one pH meter I was considering that I would have to replace the electrodes or something every few months.. I ended up deciding these aren't really worth it if you're going to be around a lot anyway and are willing to test by hand 2-3 times/week. Of course, for internet monitoring these are a must, so if you have the $$$ and are willing to maintain…</p>
<p>I have read that these sorts of automated/electronic measuring devices need recalibrating and testing a lot to stay accurate. I think I read on one pH meter I was considering that I would have to replace the electrodes or something every few months.. I ended up deciding these aren't really worth it if you're going to be around a lot anyway and are willing to test by hand 2-3 times/week. Of course, for internet monitoring these are a must, so if you have the $$$ and are willing to maintain them for accuracy, they should be very nice.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Can anyone comment on the recalibration & maintenance requirements?</p>
<p> </p> TC can you give some more det…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-02-19:4778851:Comment:470602011-02-19T17:58:44.664Zjrtroubleshooterhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/jrtroubleshooter
TC can you give some more detail on your experences with EC and aquaponics?
TC can you give some more detail on your experences with EC and aquaponics?