Automated / Computerized Water Changes

[arowanaman85]

Starting new thread, here is existing system.

Setting up new tanks, all plumbed together going to have 1x 125, 2x 25, 1x 60 and might integrate Long
going to 4x 55 gallon barrels

Going to hose a few cichlids from my 360, other tanks will hold plants and any fry from my chocolate cichlids

Here are a few higher quality videos of the 360 system. I'll start posting pictures and videos here of the new system

design right now is rather then add and over flow, will have 2 solenoids, 4 float switches
Open drain valve on barrel, drain to level, after float for low level kicks, deenergize solenoid drain, energize solenoid for fill, when high level float kicks, deenergize fill solenoid.

Kind of a rough over view
I'll do a low flow fill with on off to let temperature remain stable and give prime time to react, run it through carbon

2 barrel will have a grow light lid installed and algae scrubbers, first barrel will be main drain from tank to a filter sock and lava rock, then over into next barrel with algae, then down into next with algae, then over into return barrel, pumped back to manifold to with valve to set flow to each tank, low flow to plant tanks, high flow to live stock tanks.

Waiting on hole saws and silicone to cure on 125....more to come

 

[Wailua Boy]

Sound like you are on the right path

 

[arowanaman85]

The barrels I am using had contained a coagulant that was water based and used for water treatment, not sure what plant, found them on craigslist for cheap.

Took off one of the screw tops and soaked it in tap water, then tested the pH. pH came back off the scale of my test in the Low range, so less then 4.

I had some borax in the garage that I believe is a pH of 10.5 or 11, didn't test it but added around 2 cups to each container, then filled with tap water and let soak over night.

Tested pH in the morning and got a pH of 8.

Rinsed and refilled the containers, tested again and it was identical to my tap, around 7-7.2.

In one of the buckets, added dechlorinator, and a few feeder guppies.

After 36 hours guppies are still alive (around 6-7 of them), so added some food.

Container is getting full sun light, so to speed up testing I added the water from a bucket used to clean my filter socks with tank water, I grow algae in the socks so figured it could help seed the tank with algae.

Attached is a video of the toxicity testing as of last night.

Anyone else have opinion or preference on how they test a barrel for toxicity before using it in a system?

In the next few days (have to order new hole saw) I'll start getting these barrels tied together and attaching to tank. Also have a new(for me anyway) pump coming in to pump the water from the barrels in my basement, back up to the display tanks. Have some old concrete block and some treated lumber I'll be installing in the basement to reinforce the floor. I probably don't need it.

Where these tanks are going in, its where an addition was put on, and under a concrete firewall. directly under the existing tanks the foundation makes a sort of S shape and is around 2' thick. But added the re reinforcement shouldn't be that difficult so I'll do it as a precaution as I'll be extending out away from this with the 125.

 

[arowanaman85]

Decided to go Arduino for control on this build, keep cost down.
Will use 2x 4" metal jboxes
first box will contain arduino
will use thermostat cable for communications on low voltage
second box will contain led's, push buttons, and 2x relays 10A

From Barrels, the High level floats will come off the line voltage on the arduino, through an LED, out to the Float, then back in to Digital input 1
low level same thing but Digital input 2

The Relays will come off digital output 1 and 2
Then a momentary push button into digital input 3 and through an led

 

[carbene]

wouldnt it be easier to use drip system?

 

[arowanaman85]

yes....