Hi I don't even have an Arduino yet but based on the help will get the started I hope.
I want to build an led cover for my aquarium, I have seen lots of things on the internet but I want something different.
lights come on and off at set times ( do I need some sort of clock attached ) or can I use an easier option.
lights to go from white to blue in the evening ( do I need white and blue or can I use RGB ones ? )
I don't want the fish overfed as everyone who walks pass them tends to feed them ; I want a small screen in the hood at specific times shows the text feed us, when the lid is opened we can assume it's to feed them so a small switch turns off the feed us text.
after the lid is lifted and they are fed I want the text to change to say thank you ( e.g. stay on for say 30 seconds ), then go off until the next time it's required and comes up again feed us.
concerned over heat from the LED's I have got hold of an aluminium sheet which I thought could put some PC fans with heat sinks on it to take the heat away. Can I set the fans to only come on when a specific temp and go off when heat reduced.
currently I have a strip of led's stuck to a temporary lid but have a splash guard between the water and lid this takes a lot of the led power away so leds are dull. When i make the new lid /cover can I set the LED's into a plexi glass sheet and would I need to waterproof them e.g. glue them on the sheet or silicone ?
Lots of questions I know just some advice wanted point me in the right direction if things I have said should not be tried or yes can be done or better still have I over thought things and it can be done easier. Any advice on what Arduino I should start with, my wife also wants an automatic pop hole opener for her chickens. so this will I think be a start with my Arduino projects,
any advice appreciated thanks Cliff
Cliff100:
lights come on and off at set times ( do I need some sort of clock attached ) or can I use an easier option.
If you want it relative to real time than yes you need a RTC, if it's only a "delay" relative to a start time then no.
However, without a RTC I'm not quite sure how you would keep track of this.
lights to go from white to blue in the evening ( do I need white and blue or can I use RGB ones ? )
You can use either but it seems a bit of a waste to use RGB leds when you will be using only 2 colours.
You may also want to think about varying the led's intensities so that the change over would be a gradual one as opposed to it's day then suddenly it's night.
I don't want the fish overfed as everyone who walks pass them tends to feed them ; I want a small screen in the hood at specific times shows the text feed us, when the lid is opened we can assume it's to feed them so a small switch turns off the feed us text.
after the lid is lifted and they are fed I want the text to change to say thank you ( e.g. stay on for say 30 seconds ), then go off until the next time it's required and comes up again feed us.
You can use a 1 X 16 LCD to display this.
You will also need some sensors to detect when the lid is opened.
concerned over heat from the LED's I have got hold of an aluminium sheet which I thought could put some PC fans with heat sinks on it to take the heat away. Can I set the fans to only come on when a specific temp and go off when heat reduced.
That would depend on how hot the Led's or strips would get.
currently I have a strip of led's stuck to a temporary lid but have a splash guard between the water and lid this takes a lot of the led power away so leds are dull. When i make the new lid /cover can I set the LED's into a plexi glass sheet and would I need to waterproof them e.g. glue them on the sheet or silicone ?
Be careful with what kind of glue or silicone you use as many have lots of noxious chemicals and very soon you will see your fish doing the backstroke.
Use something that specifically mentions that it's safe for aquatic life.
great info thanks, A question re the heat from the LED's do you know how hot these get or if I needs fans at all?
Yes worth mentioning the silicone needs to be aquatic that's the last thing I want dead fish
As a complete newbie to Arduino what type should I start with I am sure everyone has favourite for one reason or another.
ideally I want to use the Arduino for other projects so I believe I need to make a prototype board if that's what it's called
Cliff100:
A question re the heat from the LED's do you know how hot these get or if I needs fans at all?
I have never used the led strips so cannot give you an answer on that, I'm sure others that have will be able to inform you.
As regards single leds, they don't get hot at all.
As a complete newbie to Arduino what type should I start with I am sure everyone has favourite for one reason or another.
ideally I want to use the Arduino for other projects so I believe I need to make a prototype board if that's what it's called
That is the hardest question of all to answer as it depends on what other future project you have in mind and what your budget is.
IMO, if you get the Mega2560, it will pretty much cater for most of your needs but will be an overkill for you current project with the Uno probably being adequate.
Best I can suggest is carefully look at the models available and their memory sizes, number of I/Os and of course price and availability in your part of the world.
Cliff do a search on reefcentral, I am making a controller with and without some of the options you mentioned. This guy has made a controller that I would say is awesome. http://arduino-aquarium.blogspot.com/ (Look at his autofeeder) Lots of people have made controllers that have various elements that you mentioned. Reefcentral has a whole thread devoted to the control of lights. (Dimming up and down, storm simulation, cloud simulation......etc) Reefcentral has a bunch of articles on building LED fixtures (they get very hot, Like MH hot)
You don't need a RTC but if you lose power even for a minute the arduino will lose time. Don't take my word on this ask someone else
White to blue? as in dimming the whites, leaving actinics on for another hour then dimming those? Reefcentral. Go on a website like nano-reef or reefcentral and see what others have done with arduino, lighting and tank monitors/controllers.
The fish tank is just plants and fish no corals, the link you sent me was great the chap even had a chicken door opener which my wife tells me is my next task. I think once i get my Arduino what ever one i decide I will have a better understanding of things.
Hi, got to the top of this page and use the Search Arduino Forum facility, search aquarium , this subject has been threaded so many times I think you could write a book and tutorial on it.
Hope it answers your questions and gives you more ideas.
I think planted was one of my favorite tanks, the plants kept it super clean so there was little maintenance. Plantedtank.net could be a good link. For a easy little project there is a DIY CO2 Scrubber. Essentially http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CO2-Reactor-for-a-Planted-Aquarium/ Some designs vary a little but this is just one Gatorade bottle.
As for Arduino get a starter kit. (Will provide a bunch of sensors for you to learn with) You'll need to get the (Relays) components that work for you. Based on what you said You'll need a LCD, Button for resetting feed (button should be in almost every starter kit) Relays for controlling power (maybe 4, you may need 2 but think future expansion) You need something to monitor when lid is open. Not sure how to handle this. Lots of people make LED fixtures and put them directly on a heatsink because of heat. For best prices check ebay (I compared to Amazon, Fry's and RadioShack) For LEDs and Arduino stuff Ebay
Arduino Uno starter Kit
Starter kit will include button
LCD (possibly in starter kit)
Relay 4 pack
Sensor for Lid (not sure solution)
Again some great advice and links, Thanks Tom and JAnwyl
One thing I was not sure about and think it's a silly question:
do i need to buy a few nano's as the projects i want to build will stay set up. Unsure if I need to buy something else to programme the chip/processor in the prototype set up.
I have loads of books on the Arduino and it's not clear do you set up a project and if you want to keep it set up re build this on either a breadboard or PCB board. Not sure if you just do this first or is this just a matter of your choice.
I can see at this rate i will have to buy about 8 nano's or similar.
Would you not just set up a board with a Zif socket ( think thats what they are called ) set your project up on your arduino and then when working move everythign to a pcb and move the chip ?
One Arduino for project that's setup. Long term your going to need a Arduino for as long as you want to have your "aquarium lights with extras" I have a Arduino that will be in a enclosure for my Aquarium monitor (I would advise you get a uno) I really can't give a good explanation for that except shields (Shield are boards that are used to expand Arduino's capability) But I think that's what most would recommend you get. Also I priced out Arduino boards when I got mine ebay was as much as (50%) cheaper than amazon, frys, radioshack. I also shopped at some places that sell kits. (P.S. your kit will probably come with an UNO) Kits usually have sensors like a thermometer, potentiometer, LEDs, Resistors and maybe some others.
Usually a Arduino will have a bunch of sensors connected to it. Many times those sensors will require other components like a resistor. So Arduino to breadboard to sensor. Although PCB is a option its something most would consider advanced. Usually the way it interfaces with and Arduino is plugging into the Arduino like a shield does or you buy the chip that runs the Arduino and have it installed on the PCB with other components.
You can see on that blog that I mentioned, he has the Arduino with a whole bunch of wires going into a breadboard.
Thanks yes I think the uno will have to do as when. I price the other bits I may as well get an uno to run the aquarium.
I can't wait to start,
Thanks for all the great advice
Cliff
I'm sitting here writing code and I had experience in college (writing code sucks unless its something you get) So do searches for Arduino code and cut and paste what you can (assuming you find what you need and codes license will allow)
No I didnt consider the spectrum of light and just started the thread to see if possible, do you have any suggestions what I should be doing instead for plant growth.
I forget spectrum thats best (think 6500K) but forget. Those links I gave should tell you. Especially plantedtank.net.
My planted tank was great in that it required the least maintenance of all my tanks. (little algae growth cause of plants) Also I had fake plants in my freshwater tanks (hate to say it although I had them for 15+ years, they suck) real plants look so much better.
Color temperature isn't a good quantity for LEDs in this case, because they don't have a continuous spectrum. Color temperature is only really good if you have light that emerges from heat, like classic light bulbs, or if you want to characterize the impression on the human eye. The first thing is not the case here, the other is not your only concern. What you want are wavelengths that can be used by the plant for photosynthesis.
I don't know exactly what would be the best choice. There is some material on the optimal lighting, but that is just for efficiency and looks terrible, because it only consists of red and blue.
Just keep in mind how LEDs work and how plants work and that not every LED will be optimal for plant growth. See how others were successful and stick to their LEDs.
