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Post by troybtj on Nov 16, 2015 13:49:32 GMT -5
I do a good deal of work with embedded systems (microcontrollers/electronics), and can throw a single fluid system together for about $50. This means I can mix Seachem Flourish and Flourish Excel, and it will drip in 0.1 mL/hr from 2 hours before the lights are on to 2 hours before they go out (1mL-ish max per day, all adjustable rates and amounts). It gets complicated with other ferts, as Flourish Trace can't be mixed with Flourish, and all the Seachem NPK singles like Flourish Iron/Phosphate/etc have their own limiting combinations. I ordered some stuff from AAP for plumbing, and a peristaltic pump from a distributor that should be here Wednesday, I already have lots of different controllers and displays, etc. The peristaltic pump is the same type used in dialysis machines, so no pump parts ever touch the fluid. So I'll have a prototype this weekend hopefully. That was the basic idea... I've then gone a bit overboard in my head: I know we like to save cash, but what about an automated Aquarium alert system, which, in addition to adding ferts (buy an Eheim feeder), it would monitor pH, TDS, Nitrates*, and CO2 levels? There are actually electronic probes for the latter two now, but they aren't cheap. I could be Wi-Fi connected to send you an email or automatically adjust a valve. Logging would be no big deal. Something This , but with a few more features (which would drive up the cost for Probes depending on parameters monitored). *Drive up the cost a mind numbing amount for a lab grade continual use Nitrate Probe, like a few thousand dollars. |
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Post by mmfed01 on Nov 17, 2015 0:04:00 GMT -5
I think it's a very interesting idea. I use a 4 Channel Dosing Pump to low dose ferts on my 93 gallon cube but haven't taken it much further due to cost that you outlined. It's a goal though. I'm waiting on Tunze's latest controller to mature further before I go forward....and the season of giving is fast approaching  Mike |
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Post by Carl on Nov 17, 2015 10:53:12 GMT -5
I do a good deal of work with embedded systems (microcontrollers/electronics), and can throw a single fluid system together for about $50. This means I can mix Seachem Flourish and Flourish Excel, and it will drip in 0.1 mL/hr from 2 hours before the lights are on to 2 hours before they go out (1mL-ish max per day, all adjustable rates and amounts). It gets complicated with other ferts, as Flourish Trace can't be mixed with Flourish, and all the Seachem NPK singles like Flourish Iron/Phosphate/etc have their own limiting combinations. I ordered some stuff from AAP for plumbing, and a peristaltic pump from a distributor that should be here Wednesday, I already have lots of different controllers and displays, etc. The peristaltic pump is the same type used in dialysis machines, so no pump parts ever touch the fluid. So I'll have a prototype this weekend hopefully. This would be a good idea IMO  Keep in mind that peristaltic pumps can still have issues even though no pump parts ever touch the fluid. My son was on a peristaltic feeding pump for the first 4 months of his life, and I can still rember many alrams going off that the machine failed and i had to clear it and re-establish the pump. Is this worth the cost for these parameters? I personally find that nitrates and pH are quite stable and predicable in an established aquarium. TDS is something I generally checked more with new water. Now CO2 is something that I would be a bit more concerned with as I know of persons who have had failures of their CO2 systems and killed off fish because of it. Carl |
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Post by troybtj on Nov 17, 2015 13:22:04 GMT -5
The Nitrate probe would be too expensive to bother with. CO2 sensors are around at lower costs (couple hundred), but those aren't designed for continual monitoring. The continual monitoring probes double the cost or more, but I'll keep looking around. It's just a crazy idea I had since so many people futz with those parameters. I use dip stick measures, unless I need a more accurate number, then I use drops. I have ideas for auto-priming the pump and detecting failures already, which work with water, may have to tweak them to work with ferts. |
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Post by Carl on Nov 17, 2015 13:50:09 GMT -5
The continual monitoring probes double the cost or more, but I'll keep looking around. It's just a crazy idea I had since so many people futz with those parameters. I use dip stick measures, unless I need a more accurate number, then I use drops. This is basically what I did with my maintenance company. The "dip sticks" were/are accurate enough for ball park figures and knowing if all is well. I would use drops or meters if more precision was needed, which was generally onely with new aquariums or those having issues The medical peristaltic pump I used had a built in alarm Carl |
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Post by troybtj on Nov 24, 2015 14:55:35 GMT -5
I'm using the raw pumps and creating the alarms and display myself. That's what I normally do for production prototypes.
I mis-guessed the size of something. The pump I got was for insulin, and the tubes coming out of it are about 16 gauge outside diameter, they flop around inside the airline hose I ordered. So now I've ordered a few different pumps of varying capacities to find the one that I can actually mate the airline to easily.
I might look at solvent pumps, but they aren't as reliable as the medical grade ones, however they are much cheaper...
I'll keep updating this when they arrive...
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Post by troybtj on Nov 24, 2015 15:00:53 GMT -5
I think it's a very interesting idea. I use a 4 Channel Dosing Pump to low dose ferts on my 93 gallon cube but haven't taken it much further due to cost that you outlined. It's a goal though. I'm waiting on Tunze's latest controller to mature further before I go forward....and the season of giving is fast approaching Mike What ferts/rates are you dosing, and what features are there and which ones are missing? The control code modifications are easy, it's the user interface that's hard to make simple and straightforward, yet allow for every possible parameter to be adjustable (without a touch screen). |
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Post by mmfed01 on Nov 26, 2015 21:37:41 GMT -5
I use all dry ferts and mix them myself. Right now I'm experimenting with a Micro/Micro all in one mix. I have a 4 channel Aqua Medic dosing pump. Only using one channel at this time. I'm anywhere between 12-15ml a week with 2 days rest and water changes on Monday. At this time the only thing I see is having one diffuser in the 120 gallon is not enough...going to add a second one. Trapdoor snails and plants happy. I hand test Iron levels and add separately if needed.
I moved this unit off my 93 gallon to the 120...
Mike
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Post by parker002 on Dec 4, 2015 9:48:49 GMT -5
The problem with doing a combined macro/micro solution is that some of the combinations aren't inert. You might accidentally be altering the formulas by mixing them together.
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Dec 4, 2015 11:57:51 GMT -5
I know instructions on mine say dose one day, then the other the next day.
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Post by mmfed01 on Dec 5, 2015 3:17:20 GMT -5
While true, I enjoy safely experimenting with dry fert mixtures. Every tank is different with different demands. I made sure this macro/micro mix did not have KH₂PO₄ in it. I add that separately. My biggest concern with the "all in one" solution is inability to make changes. Keeping macro and micro separate let's you adjust. So far, my smaller tanks (16 and 14 gallon) are responding fine. No problems noted with 120 gallon but I think long term keeping the ferts divided might be the better idea.
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Post by parker002 on Dec 14, 2015 14:48:02 GMT -5
As long as you enjoy the experiment there's nothing wrong with it. I always got my best results with dry ferts by keeping macro and micro separate...
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