New build, new ideas. :)

First off, I wasn't sure where this thread would go so if it is not in the proper location, I would appreciate if a mod. would please relocate it for me.

As I am still in the design process for my new build I thought I would throw some ideas around.

Automated equipment. How would I run my main equipment off of a computer? - like light time shut off/on, pump, and reactors. Skimmer will be separate - always on. I assume I would use a program of some kind or write one? I would run it off a laptop. Just an idea but what do you guys think?

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/camilskys-45g-nano-cube-53824-11.html

On this thread (posted above) Camilsky mentions having his equipment automated to run by a computer. In his case, it malfunctioned, due to a bug in the code. But this is just an idea for me. I don't know if I will even have a separate computer that I can use for it. I also plan to keep my records of water parameters on here too. Any suggestions? What do you think?

 

no clue on writing code or any of that other stuff but, im pretty sure there are systems you can buy that do most of this. of course to get complete control i suppose you would have to make your own progam or something

 

I tried a google search - found a program called Dr. Aquarium. Appears to be good, at least according to this thread on Reef Keeping Forum (Dr. Aquarium???). It's an older thread though.

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/electronics-programming-88242.html#post890709

Recent discussion on a Stand-Alone controller.

 

oh yeah... ive been shooting this idea around!
im starting to research much more in depth now that school is out. it will be tricky but i MIGHT be able to pull it off?
do you have any programing experience...?

 

It sounds really cool. Personally I don't have much programming experience, but know some about the open-source operating system, Ubuntu Lynux, and Dad got his associate's degree in web design. Maybe he can help me, I don't know. I have not asked him yet. lol

 

Thanks for the info Jon.

 

when i start this build i was talking about in that other post we can collaborate and hopefully figure this thing out

 

You're going to need a piece of equipment that can control its plugs based on the computer's input. I don't know of any power strips or devices like this off the top of my head, but the principle is in use for everything from digital timers to the prebuilt controllers, so they can be fairly easily built if they're not on the market already.

I have a decent amount of programming experience. You might need an electronics guy, though, depending on who sells the plugs, if they sell them at all.

 

Unfortunately, my build wont be started for a while, as i won't start until I find another house. We want to move still and I also wouldn't trust this old house's floors with the weight of another tank ( 1/4 -1/2 ton). I am pretty excired about this idea. It should make things a lot easier, if done properly. I'm pretty tech-savvy.

I would like to run most of my tank equipment, 24/7 and my lights on dim-able 24 hr lighting & monitor my water parameters, maybe on a small computer or an old one. Would an atom/net-book computer be sufficient as far as processing for this?(I'm looking at a net-book, running linux)