Aquarium project

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

I'm trying to plan out a controller for a small aquarium and with the large amount of information on the internet it is getting confusing. To start, I'm planning on controlling 14 3 watt leds on two dimmable channels, one channel (7 leds) will be used strictly for blue lights and the other channel (7) for the rest of the lights. Next I'd like to have a thermometer and a fan or two if things get too warm. I'd like to have an lcd to display light power and temperature. Having it hook up to wifi for remote monitoring and possibly controlling the lights and fans is a must. I already have two uno boards and a mega on the way. Is it better to get a complete wifi shield or a module? Any other input would be greatly appreciated since I'm very new to micro controllers.

2

If your project really requires WiFi, then an Arduino board may not be the best fit. Of course it is possible to add a WiFi shield to achieve this, but that's a really expensive solution.

Take a look at the ESP8266 modules. The ESP8266 is a System On a Chip with WiFi built-in, that can be programmed using the Arduino IDE. There are boards that have more than enough I/O pins for your application, and it can easily host the monitoring webpage itself.

They sell for ~$3 on eBay.

3

You want to look around some of the led sections of the Aquarium forums like this one.
Should give you good ideas and guidance.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?717-LED-s-sub-forum

4

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.

Please read the first post in any forum entitled how to use this forum.

I'm trying to plan out a controller for a small aquarium and with the large amount of information on the internet it is getting confusing.
To start, I'm planning on controlling
14 3 watt leds on two dimmable channels,
one channel (7 leds) will be used strictly for blue lights and the other channel (7) for the rest of the lights.

Next I'd like to have a thermometer and a fan or two if things get too warm.

I'd like to have an lcd to display light power and temperature.

Having it hook up to wifi for remote monitoring and possibly controlling the lights and fans is a must.
I already have two uno boards and a mega on the way.

Is it better to get a complete wifi shield or a module? Any other input would be greatly appreciated since I'm very new to micro controllers.

Sorry, but spreading your post out in point mode will probably get more readers.

Tom....