DIY Tank Controller

[vequalsir]

This project is really more as a proof of concept. I recently started building an aquarium controller designed around the arduino microcontroller.

The system reads a timer and a thermal probe to control the lighting and heating. It is also set up to allow changes to the timer and temp via a webpage. I also added a feed mode switch that will turn on the lights and shut off the filters for ten minutes while the fish eat.

The outlets for my basic life support (heater and filter), are controlled by a normally closed connection. This means that if the control fails, these outlets will fail to the "on" position. The heaters in the tank are set slightly higher than the controllers set temp to allow the relay to be the primary control.

The relays for the lighting are normally open. Meaning they will fail to the off position.

I have also added a multi-color LED light. I thought it would be cool if the tank slowly cycled through various colors overnight.

I'll add some screen shots of the web pages in the next few days.

If you are looking for greater detail on the wiring, programming, and build. Check out my personal website for the details: www.vequalsir.com

Thanks for reading and send me any question you might have.

 

[BoCoMo]

opcorn:

 

[calivivarium1]

Interesting... if I go with a reef setup this is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for. I am going to check out your website. Do you have a cost-breakdown on there for this project?

 

[fishkeepermedic]

wanna sell me one cheap and ill test it out lol jk. Thats cool how much did it run you

 

[vequalsir]

I'll have to go through and figure out a price break down for the total.

I have around $75 invested in it, but could make one cheaper now. It seems a bit pricey at this point for what it does; however, it can be expanded to monitor water levels for ATO.

 

[Pharaoh]

Very cool.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

man if it hasn't already been done better patten your idea. Even if its been done yours might be different. I can just picture in my mind these things being packaged and sold, I know Id buy one if it saved me allot of time and aggravation forgetting to turn my filters or heaters back on. This would or could be wireless right?

 

[jmhart]

Similiar to the Wasser-controller:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/66050-wasser-controller.html

but it's nice that yours adds the temperature control. Temperature control and pH control are the two things most DIY controllers are missing these days.

If you think of a cheap mod to allow pH control, be sure to post. I suppose a PLC based system that allows for simple input and logic based progamming would allow for it.