Consumer monitoring systems for aquariums are cheap, but can get expensive real quick if you desire something that can be viewed remotely. Typical systems can costs hundreds of dollars, and are stripped down in features compared to commercial solutions.
This Particle-based temperature monitoring system costs less than $100 and allows temperature data to be viewed from anywhere in the world. It includes an event log for the opening and closing of the fish tank lid, allowing you to keep track of feeding habits and ensure your tank inhabitants are well taken care of.
An inexpensive, waterproof epoxy thermistor is used to accurately measure a wide temperature range with a 1% tolerance. A simple magnetic sensor is used to detect whether the lid has been opened or closed, with one end fixed to the lid and the other fixed to the tank body. An LED indicator is affixed to the magnetic sensor system to ensure the magnetic sensor state and mobile app push notifications are in line and accurate.
Physical Circuits
Flowchart of Communications
The thermistor Argon sends periodic information to IFTTT, which is tied to a mobile app. When the thermistor Argon receives information from the magnetic sensor system, it is sent to IFTTT, sending the user a push notification whether the lid of the tank has been closed or opened. It then stores these events in a viewable event log for the user to view over time, which is useful for tracking long term feeding habits, or checking to make sure a trusted caretaker is doing their job correctly.
The data from the thermistor Argon is taken and converted into degrees Celsius, and sent to Thingspeak to graph over time. This allows the user to monitor the safety and optimal temperature of the tank, and detect whether any harmful fluctuations or system defects are present in the temperature regulation system.
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