remote high tech monitors

[John Guyer]

I am setting up a small aquaponics green house and am looking for monitor equipment that can be used with a computer any one have any ideas  Thanks John

[Mark]

Try smarthome.com they have a ton of equipment and software that you could make work with your system. I have bought products from them in the past and they have been good. You will have to do your homework they have alot of products but you should be able to find water temp, airtemp, video cameras, also flood detectors, you could also use timers for feeding the fish. Look at Sensaphone Web600 Web-Based Monitoring and Alarm Notification System on there site. Good luck Mark

[Bradly]

John

This may be more for those with low budgets like me, but I've been using a product for just water temp monitoring...it's an Ambient product  WS-PF11-X2-KIT wireless pool and spa thermometer with dual remote sensors.

I use 1 sensor for the fish tank, and 1 sensor down in the sump tank (because I have my heater in the sump tank). There is a handheld logging device that gives you current temperature, and also stores the high and low temps reached on each sensor since the last "clear" command you give it.

They've been operational since July...so almost 4 months ...and going strong.

I apologize for the "low" techness of this, but they are very useful... for setting up your system to see what kind of temps you're going to be up against (BEFORE PUTTING YOUR FISH IN IT)  :-)    and also for the winter now-so I can watch my heater settings against the actuals of the water.

No computer interface though.

[Bob Rogers aka The White Lion]

Hi John,

I will agree on the “ Smarthome.com “ suggestion. I have used their products for about thirty years now. The company started out originally as “ X-10.com “. X-10 was the original name of the product line.  The X-10 modules have been around ever since “ Commodore Computers “. The X-10 line of products has been continually refined and updated through the years, but the modules are still pretty much the same and now there are a number of companies selling X-10 compatible equipment.

The X-10 product line originally started out as a way of controlling a home’s electrical Appliances, Lights, Lamps and other electrical products. The basic module was an addressable plug-in device. You plugged it into any electrical outlet and then plugged the device that you wanted to control, into the module. The module was controlled by an interface device and software, which you programmed; The software told each module when to turn on or off and for how long to stay on or off.  The software allowed you to run your appliances and make your home look lived in while you were away. It is a fairly easy system to set up and program. It operates by passing a DC signal over your AC lines to each addressable module. There are several different levels of the software, depending on the sophistication level.

The only real problem most people have is with older homes. If the wiring wasn’t properly installed and grounded, then you would have erratic and phantom problems with the operation of the modules.

They have since developed “ Bridge Filters “ and several other devices to cure that problem.

You can order a paper catalog from the website. It will be easier to sit down and read about all the different items offered and what they can do. They have some pretty amazing components.

They also offer basic controller boards that experimenters can purchase, to build special dedicated one of a kind modules to measure or control anything your heart desires.

If you are good at electronics, this is a nice creative way to go and you can build exactly what you need.

Good Luck and Have Fun !

The White Lion !

[John Guyer]

Thanks to all the helpful information that was sent my next question is listed below.

I have a 275 gal tote and am using a sump which is part of a tote that was left after making my grow bed.  I am wondering what the height of this sump should be I have it cut to 26 inches now but by putting it under my grow beds makes them really high restricting the grow height.  Any on have any thoughts on this.  I sure that I read somewhere that this tank was 18 inches but not sure.

Thanks again John

[Bradly]

My sump tank is in the ground (except the top 6 inches of it.... so not exactly the same setup....BUT

I figured my sump tank size by how much water it might need to hold.

For example...my 4 grow beds hold about 40 gallons each when full, and I wanted 20-30 gallons extra rooms for evaporation during the week.  So I ended up going with 230 gallons worth of water sump tank room (an ibc with the top cut off).

Interestingly, the week after I set the sytem up I was glad I did have such a big sump tank.  I had a leak in the fish tank, so I needed to drain the fish tank (270 gallons !!!)   So I filled the grow beds up, then siphoned all I could from the fish tank into the sump tank so I could work on the fish tank.  That way I only lost very little of the fish tank water that I had to drain into the field.

SO, I say bigger the sump the better...my opinion though.  (Also helps with temp control with the more water) 

[John Guyer]

  
Bradly said:

My sump tank is in the ground (except the top 6 inches of it.... so not exactly the same setup....BUT

I figured my sump tank size by how much water it might need to hold.

For example...my 4 grow beds hold about 40 gallons each when full, and I wanted 20-30 gallons extra rooms for evaporation during the week.  So I ended up going with 230 gallons worth of water sump tank room (an ibc with the top cut off).

Interestingly, the week after I set the sytem up I was glad I did have such a big sump tank.  I had a leak in the fish tank, so I needed to drain the fish tank (270 gallons !!!)   So I filled the grow beds up, then siphoned all I could from the fish tank into the sump tank so I could work on the fish tank.  That way I only lost very little of the fish tank water that I had to drain into the field.

SO, I say bigger the sump the better...my opinion though.  (Also helps with temp control with the more water)