FunkyWalker
08-22-2015, 09:26 PM
Hello everyone, as I stated on the introduction page many months ago I have been building an aquaponics system with a team of fellow electrical and computer science engineers. The original goal of this project was to create a system that could be controlled and monitored via internet or smartphone app. So because of the control we needed a lot of electronic parts vs the mechanical ones most of you use.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/full%20system_zpsw4kpazvc.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/full%20system_zpsw4kpazvc.jpg.html)
So getting to it let me explain what we got.
Approximately 300 gal fish tank
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0118_zpshxthn3ef.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0118_zpshxthn3ef.jpg.html)
(2) 4’ by 3’ Grow Beds
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0151_zpsietnp6cb.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0151_zpsietnp6cb.jpg.html)
I used a little trap because I was fearful of getting a small stone in the electronic drain valve.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0146_zpsr9rezeug.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0146_zpsr9rezeug.jpg.html)
To control the water flow I have a small 12V DC sump pump with the fill and drain all controlled with electric ball valves. Water level is monitored by a electro-mechanical float switch.
All this is controlled with a Arduino, relays and H-bridges.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/731ee029-9d7d-4765-a76b-db3bd06d82d4_zpswhjohdss.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/731ee029-9d7d-4765-a76b-db3bd06d82d4_zpswhjohdss.jpg.html)
Due to time constraints we had to abandon the phone app and couldn’t get it attached to the internet so we fell on using a touch screen LCD.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/th_MOV_0291_zpsoz3gdaza.mp4 (http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/MOV_0291_zpsoz3gdaza.mp4)
Over the next few days I'll go into the problems that I ran into and some of them that I solved and some that are still problematic.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/full%20system_zpsw4kpazvc.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/full%20system_zpsw4kpazvc.jpg.html)
So getting to it let me explain what we got.
Approximately 300 gal fish tank
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0118_zpshxthn3ef.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0118_zpshxthn3ef.jpg.html)
(2) 4’ by 3’ Grow Beds
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0151_zpsietnp6cb.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0151_zpsietnp6cb.jpg.html)
I used a little trap because I was fearful of getting a small stone in the electronic drain valve.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/DSC_0146_zpsr9rezeug.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/DSC_0146_zpsr9rezeug.jpg.html)
To control the water flow I have a small 12V DC sump pump with the fill and drain all controlled with electric ball valves. Water level is monitored by a electro-mechanical float switch.
All this is controlled with a Arduino, relays and H-bridges.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/731ee029-9d7d-4765-a76b-db3bd06d82d4_zpswhjohdss.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/FunkyWalker101/media/Aquaponics/731ee029-9d7d-4765-a76b-db3bd06d82d4_zpswhjohdss.jpg.html)
Due to time constraints we had to abandon the phone app and couldn’t get it attached to the internet so we fell on using a touch screen LCD.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/th_MOV_0291_zpsoz3gdaza.mp4 (http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i442/FunkyWalker101/Aquaponics/MOV_0291_zpsoz3gdaza.mp4)
Over the next few days I'll go into the problems that I ran into and some of them that I solved and some that are still problematic.