Monitoring hydroponics

I originally set out to monitor and control my hydroponics setup using the Arduino however it soon became obvious that keeping everything as simple as possible is definitely the best idea.  I've now left growing down to Wilma and instead focused the Adrunio on monitoring the environment with multiple sensors.

I've discovered a fantastic website called ThingSpeak which enables you to send sensor readings from the Arduino, then you can graph and analyse data.

Click here to see the real-time hydroponics  monitoring in action!

Problem alerting

It's useful to log the environmental factors influencing the crop but it's even more important to know if there is a problem such as things are getting too hot in midday sun and you need to do something about it.  This is where I use a second really useful website called Prowl which pushes alerts to your mobile, tablet or computer etc.

About the Arduino environment

Just like the hydroponics setup there have been a number of versions of the Arduino design, originally with relays to control pumping (running via a 12v caravan battery), through to coupling of a Raspberry Pi 3 to provide monitoring, graphing and alerting - then ultimately superseded by ThingSpeak and Prowl.

The Arduino design running today simply collates sensor data and logs it to ThingSpeak.  In the 'control box' there is an electronic timer to control pumping cycles which are specific to the growing life-cycle of the plant, a complementary timer to switch the air pump on / off, and a home-plug to connect the Arduino to the Internet.  Further reading on aerating a hydroponics reservoir.

What's the Arduino is monitoring?

• Environmental temperature
• Plant temperature
• Plant humidity
• Reservoir temperature
• Ground temperature
• Arduino Temperature
• Rain drop sensor alarm
• Sensor failure alarm

Contact me if you would like a copy of the source code ;)