Posted by rik94566 in aquaponic automation, aquaponics, Balcony aquaponics, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DS18B20.
Tags: agponics, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, arduino, automation, balcony aquaponics
aquaponic-IoT device — Balcony Garden
BALCONY AQUAPONIC GARDEN – IoT READY- DIY or purchase materials locally and build — by rik kretzinger
With all the interest around the world in aquaponics there are a number of creative units being developed for small spaces. Many if not most of these solution do not address a number of issues that cause these units to end up on Craig’s List or in the trash at the end of the day. None of these solutions even address the automation aspect of aquaponics to take the stress out of operating a small unit effectively at an affordable price point and can be assembled safely by anyone interested in aquaponics.
AUTOMATION COMPONENTS:
1 – DHT-22 – Humidity and Temperature
2 – DS18B20 – 1 wire Temperature probes (grow-bed and fish tank)
1 – Analog Float Switch in Fish Tank for water level tracking
1 – Analog Water Sensing Probe in grow bed for tracking water level and timing of cycles
4 – Relay Controlled outlets
1 – Master System Kill Relay – should anything go wrong with the unit
1 – Stainless Steel gravity feed Valve N/O – allows for precise control of cycle times and water level control in grow bed,
BALCONY GARDEN KIT FEATURE SET:
27 gallon fish tank
27 gallon grow bed – this allows for the aquaponic standard of 1:1 ratio of water to grow bed volumes be maintained for a healthy system
DIY Solids Filtration unit – allows for solid wast capture or removal and reuse in system
DIY Bio-Filter reactor – converts toxic fish waste to non-toxic plant fertilizer using moving bed media (big system component not found in any small systems)
Overflow Preventer – will not let any water to escape from your grow bed should you encounter a system problem
Root Clogging Preventer Mechanism – this is the problem no one talks about in aquaponics – roots clog everything – unless you plan for the problem
System power down – should a power failure occur
Air supply back-up for fish tank – should power failure occur
Plug-N-Play construction of kit
Once assembled and cycled easy to maintain.
Starter water – bacteria rich and ready to jump-start your system provided with the kit
Small footprint – big results
High percentage of materials can be locally sourced at a big box store and rest at Amazon if you want to do-it-yourself (DIY)
System allows for a high degree of control of the flood and drain cycles depending on what you are growing and environmental demands
Allows for expansion of sensor set and moving to solar back-up option in the future
Unit can be converted to off-grid applications easily – will require a different power configuration of components and equipment
Starting code for system on which ever micro-controller platform a person would like to use
Posted by rik94566 in Uncategorized.
Well this is a true statement. Many things have taken place since Maker Faire in 2014 and now. Some good and some not so good. But now is the time to get back to blogging about all the developments of importance in regards to aquaponic automation and systems in my world.
The really good news was that during Maker Faire – Keith Hammonds an editor with Make Magazine approached me with an idea about doing a article on automated aquaponic system build using only items that could be constructed with parts and materials purchase at local big box stores.
I got very excited about this idea and possible project. As in all things execution on ideas is what make the world go round. I developed the concept and started on the execution of the concept. Then some of the not so good things played out and I had to scale down my time commitment to aquaponics and could not deliver the project before years end of 2014.
Well the build is now on track and details will be in the next post that will take place just after this one.
Aquaponic DIY Automation Blog 