IT’S OFFICIAL – Maker Faire 2014 – we will be there with a booth to show case Tower unit March 24, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in adafruit, agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, arduino, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, indoor aquaponics, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, One-wire, PRODUCTS, sensor, Stainless Steel Temp Probe, Tower Pocket Block, Tower Tubes, Yourduino.Tags: aquaponic automation, arduino sketch, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, microcontroller, rik kretzinger
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IT’S OFFICIAL NOW:
I’ve been accepted to exhibit at @MakerFaire Bay Area on May 17 & 18, 2014 http://makerfaire.com/
#20475 – internet of farming arduino-based aquaponics
Will be able to show case a number of new leading edge things that I have been developing.
Here are just a few of them:
Design of a “Radial Flow Filter” for the tower unit system ( will be blogging and doing a Youtube video about it shortly”
Venturi DIY design that will replace air pumps on my systems.
Aquaponic Fog Unit that I have just completed and in testing mode now.
Have fully working Tower unit with totally enabled IoT features that show case the latest developments in this technology as related to aquaponics.
agponic – MD — air supply feature March 1, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, IoT aquaponics, plumbing, PRODUCTS.Tags: aquaponic automation, automation, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, rik kretzinger
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A lot of aquaponic systems use air pumps. So what is a aquaponic automation simulator without a air pump! Here is how it is handled and how it is connected up. This air pump comes standard on all the versions. The extra air line is for the planned 12V back-up configuration that is part of the pro version. Well underway on that unit and will have details soon.
agponic MD – connecton box left side features February 12, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, arduino, DIY aquaponics, DO sensor, indoor aquaponics, indoor growing, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, One-wire, PRODUCTS, Slide Switch, Slide Switch.Tags: aquaponic automation, aquaponic crop, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, indoor aquaponics, microcontroller, rik kretzinger, Temp Probe
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Here is the configuration of the left side of the connection box.
agponic-MD — features defined February 4, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in 1-wire, agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, indoor aquaponics, indoor growing, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, One-wire, PRODUCTS, Stainless Steel Temp Probe, Temperature Probe.Tags: 1-wire, aquaponic automation, automation, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, indoor aquaponics, rik kretzinger, sensor, Temp Probe, Temperature Probe
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Now that the basic agponic-MD unit is completed – I am working through all the different features that can be found on the unit and define there functions.
Here is one side of the connection box at the back of the unit.
Pass through PORT – on agponic-MD February 3, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, Rj45 connector.Tags: aquaponic automation, aquaponics, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, rik kretzinger, sensor
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One design feature on the agponicMD unit is the “pass through port”.
This is a tube that runs from the top of the grow bed and in front of the RJ-45 top junction connection box and then down into water tank or fish tank.
This ‘Pass through port” actually has 3 functions:
First Function — is to allow the unit water tank or fish tank (if you have fish in it) to be filled with having to open the unit up.
Second Function — allow for your fish to be feed if you chose to add fish to the unit. I like Cory cats myself in it Green Emerald’s add a nice color contrast .
Third Function — Really the main reason I needed one. Being that these containers are sealed when fully locked down air cannot get into the bottom tank. This causes a problem with the drain valve. Water tank container will not allow draining from the grow bed container as a air is source needed to unlock the inside pressure of the closed container.
I did a youtube video on the subject. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFwA7KqAJ0
Backside equipment found on agponic-MD unit February 2, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, arduino, DIY aquaponics, Electronic Componets, Gravity feed valves, plumbing, sensor.Tags: arduino sketch, automation, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, IoT, rik kretzinger, sensor
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Connector Box on agponic-MD February 2, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in 1-wire, agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, arduino, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, Float Sensor, Float Switch, indoor aquaponics, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, One-wire, Rj45 connector, Slide Switch, Stainless Steel Temp Probe, SUGRU.Tags: 1-wire, aquaponic automation, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, indoor aquaponics, rik kretzinger, Temp Probe, Temperature Probe
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A big part of the aquaponic simulator is the fact that it uses standard RJ-45 jacks to interface with Arduino’s or a Raspberry PI. Having this type setup helps keep all the wires and connectors that are required for the unit to operate in a consistent manor safe and out of possible interaction with water elements.
Here is what is needed to construct this sub-assembly:
When all the above parts come together the finished product looks like this:
Re-Design of agponic-MD January 29, 2014
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, aquaponics electronics, DS18B20, Float Sensor, Float Switch, indoor aquaponics, IoT aquaponics, One-wire.Tags: aquaponic automation, aquaponics, automation, CAT 5 cable, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, microcontroller, rik kretzinger
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After much thinking about how I could improve the desktop aquaponic automation simulator called agponic-MD (micro-device) I built a new one. It helps to have people that wanted to purchase a few of them. So I got busy and made it a bit larger with expansion capability for future components like a 12V backup system and additional sensors to learn how to automate. Here is the feature set for the re-designed agponic-MD.
Fully valved for water movement and control
Large grow bed and tank configuration
4 – water level control sensors
1 – RH and temp internal probe
3 – temp probes (grow bed / water tank / outside)
1 – water flow sensor
1 – pH probe and connectors
1 – DO or additional probe expansion options for future growth of unit
1 – controllable drain port
1 – grow bed media package to fit grow bed (comes from an established grow bed – so bacteria included)
1 – Container of starter water from an active system ( should you like to cycle the system)
1 – outside tank temp indicator
1 – Heater for tank water
1 – Air pump and stone
Over flow configuration to prevent spillage in grow bed
Drain configuration for micro device — December 9, 2013
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponicMD, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, indoor growing.Tags: aquaponic automation, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, microcontroller, rik kretzinger
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Now that I have been building additional micro-devices for recent orders – I need to start doing a better job documenting how the build goes so I can duplicate the process as demand for the units is building (more on this in a later post). Here is the view of the draining mechanism that allows water exchange between media bed and water tank or fish tank in the real world.
agponic MD — adding cable gland to the container November 12, 2013
Posted by rik94566 in agponic MD, agponics.com, aquaponics, DIY aquaponics, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics.Tags: aquaponic crop, container, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, rik kretzinger, sensor, tank container
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An important aspect to making the agponic MD unit work is making sure the containers are water tight. There are a large number of holes made to accommodate the many mounting screws and allow sensor wires to pass from the tank container and grow bed container. Without addressing this issue early on one will only encounter leaks and problems once the unit is together.
STEP ONE — The parts
STEP TWO — Mark where the hole should be before drilling
STEP THREE — prep to drill
This is a very important step, if you do not take extra careful steps you will crack the plastic with the drill bit and you will be starting over. Support is needed behind the plastic.
STEP FOUR — make the hole
STEP FIVE — assembly the parts in the hole
STEP SIX — test the install — important last step
Aquaponic DIY Automation Blog 