Day 16 RET summer training

Day 16

A quick dissection over our calendar and a short chat with Vardhman have changed our plans for monitoring and collecting data of our sensor cluster. The plan was to collect 24hr data today through a series of tweets (recall we receive tweets every 40min with a live update of water tank conditions for pH, temperature, and DO levels). There really is no problem with having all these tweets but we would like to be able to create an online database in which we can access live readings; then figuring out a way to graph these points to help us visualize the water conditions over a period of time. No biggie, we have more tasks to complete.

We took another trip to Lowe's to purchase a large container (which will house water to control system water level), 1/2" rubber tubing, pump for container, clamp, a third adhesive for pH dispenser, Velcro, lid to replace old existing one, and screws to mount motor. Fern took water readings this morning and noticed ammonia levels high once again. We decided to purchase 3 more plants to help with water conditions in addition to the existing growing bacteria. We now have 3 tomatoes and 3 cucumber plants:)

 The first series of pictures for food dispenser was just a prototype, I now used a 4 X 4 to mount motor to add stability. Using a drill press at ESSAT's workroom I carved out a 2 1/2" X 1" chunk to precisely insert motor. Next, I drilled a hole 1/2" deeper and one on top of wood to create a path through wood to allow us access to motor wires. Several strips of Velcro gave it both an aesthetic quality and a tight grip on the tank's lid. I need to remove blade motor screw to fit a small food container. Unfortunately I do not have such a small screw driver so have asked Vardhman for one. Placing container will finish off this task.

 The loctite adhesive from Friday did the trick in adhering solenoid to dispenser. We added water, left it in there for a couple hours and it does have a water tight seal.

 Looks pretty awesome this time;)

The bottom tank on the far left is our water level control. The pump below this picture will pump water to fish tank (1st tier) when sensors (which will be attached under the lid) read levels below 1/2" of overflow bulk head in fish tank. We anticipate the addition of water, using a control, every 2 weeks. We will test control once Vardhman creates circuit (he will turn off/on the circuit-- no solenoid needed).  

 This motor is more powerful than our aquaponic system's.