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When my mate kept marine fish (in the early 1990's) , he stored the generated RODI water in an outside water tub, with a 50W aquarium heater in it (set to lowest thermostat setting) and never had issues with the water freezing.

Not true. The amount of CO2 we use in the aquarium is so small their is no chance of the regulator freezing, I ran my FE laying down horizontal on a magazine rack beside the tank for years with no issue.

Not touched my PLC for years. It just works 100%. Did disable liquid carbon dosing when I ran out during lockdown. Need to update sometime... Running hours overflows back to 0 after 32,000 hours run time. There is a spelling mistake on one screen. Disable dosing if lights are on, which...

Here is a good start for the salts and amounts needed. Ei Starter 1 Kit with Bottles - Starter Kits - Dry Chemicals - Fertilisers

Unfortunately in my design I didn't use any analogue I/O. Zeus is the man to talk to, as he used both analogue inputs and outputs. I do remember that this is how you connect a counter to an analogue output. You connect the counter count (B001) to one of the parameters of a mathematical block...

New version 8.3 of the Logo modules available soon. Allows control from the cloud, if that is the type of fish tank control you require. https://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/new-logo-logic-module-series-8-3-connects-aws-to-the-cloud-40034247 Hosted on AWS (Amazon Web Services), so I be there...

Anyone still following this.... Logo! SoftComfort V8.2 SP1 is available. https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/109767413/logo!-soft-comfort-v8-2-sp1-(download-notes-instructions)?dti=0&lc=en-CN Also other PLC manufacturers are getting on the Ethernet programmable PLC/relay bandwagon...

For those of you "following along at home" (Zeus & Filip & anyone else?) there is a new version of Logo!Soft Comfort V8.2.1 as well as and update to the Logo Web Edit and firmware updates for Logo Modules V8.2. This is my Logo!Soft Comfort as of this morning. Not sure what is new in V8.2.1 or...

My tank us only 180l, so tiny compared to 2000l. PLC just ticks away, turning the things on and off. Been running over 20,000 hours now with no issue.

Glad you liked it. Using the PLC just makes the tank run itself and makes making changes very easy. I have followed your system and it is a perfect application of PLC. Its a shame that people spend £1000's on tank and equipment, spend months devising all these wonderful plumbing & filtration...

Use this button the Logo!Soft Comfort simulator to simulate power going on and off when simulating your design. :p Tick this box to make a counter (for instance) remember over power cycles.

Yes it has a battery backed up real time clock, so if using the timer blocks will just carry on with correct time when power comes back. Also for things like counter blocks you can set an attribute to remember the value at power off. You can store things like which 2 tubes out of my 4 were/are...

I used these from this project. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/diy-dual-peristaltic-dosing-pump-with-alternate-switching.22332/

I think it was done to seriously reduce maintenance workload, especially on a large tank, by automating as much as possible.

Whilst doing PLC research I did find someone who build a huge marine tank in garage/house, that did have quite a monster PLC system controlling it. It was using Allan Bradley commercial PLC kit, a huge wall mounted box. It was supplied and programmed by a marine tank specialist company. I think...

Please continue to document your PLC project, documenting the failures is just as important as documenting the clever successes. During my PLC research, I found many people who started forum threads about PLC controlled aquariums, about how they had "obtained a PLC" (Ebay 2nd hand is very...

Hmm, the S7 series are proper big boy PLC's for real serious industrial control but with a serious price tag and serious software development. I did look at them before going the Logo 8 route. In the end I really wanted a simple PLC with a display & buttons for "at the tank setting", tank...

Just edited page 1 to include a link to Zeus's PLC controller build notes for any one contemplating their own PLC controlled fish tank. Mine is still running 18669 hours (2.1 years) later. Same software, working 100% reliably. The bad old days of unreliable mains timers, dead fish, over...

I think these are the part numbers for the old Logo 8.0 modules that Zeus and I have. The new 8.2 modules, replacing all the 8.0 (and 8.1) modules, have a web server in that allows rendering of web pages with browser clickable/editable things in to change settings. :grumpy: You are looking for...

Well here is V4.5 of my software for any of you "following along at home" :cigar: and need to be OCD complete.... There were a couple of issues with V4.4, niggling in my mind, that after being prodded by Zeus I have fixed. 1. The clock/outputs only changes by an hour, one day after the clocks...

I take that back. The £42 (ex VAT) is for 115V versions, 230V versions are £34.82 or £40.80 inc VAT.

For any people still following along at home, there is a new version of Logo! Soft Comfort V.8.2. https://w3.siemens.com/mcms/programmable-logic-controller/en/logic-module-logo/demo-software/Pages/Default.aspx Also no need to save a .BIN file to SD card to run, new Logo devices can run the...

So as your hobby is electronics you should have no problem wiring up safely and correctly a Siemens PLC. You have some interesting things on your site. Have you tried the SoftComfort software, available as a demo download ? Tried it once and that was it....this is the way forward. Search for...

If using 12V pumps you only need one 12V supply as only one pump will be going at a time.... Personally if going for the 230V Logo I would try and go for 230V peristaltic pumps, one less 12V transformer/plug to wire up. These are the peristaltic pumps Zeus and I used. Blimey price has gone up...

If any of you (other than Zeus) used a Logo PLC, there is a firmware upgrade for the later FS:04 and FS05 models. These appear to have an issue of display and web front end locking up after 50 days. Siemens have released a firmware fix to upgrade to firmware V1.81.03 which corrects the lock up...

Now in Walmart Florida. No the clock pauses on power cut, but will resync at midnight.

Currently on holiday...not quite still at Gatwick..but I just added another delay timer for 5 hours so that air runs for 5 hours when in holiday mode. When I get back might modify if I can remember anything fish and plc wise after 3 weeks of Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.. .

Well I have been working on the next version of the software the version 4.4, the TankyMcTankFace version. :jimlad: One of thing I wanted my controller to do (though didn't do on initial design, as I wanted to get something that worked), was to be able to just set one timer for the time I...

Another PLC handy hint for those of you playing along at home. How to find the settings of all your timers in your running PLC code, so you can check that your timers are correct. Download the code from your running Logo, then do "Save As" -> "PDF", with the options below. You then end up...

On phone at mo where not possible to edit reliably, please repost with making use of preview to verify pictures can be seen and I will delete the post without pictures.... On a pc open pictures in paint, resize to say 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 then select all and copy. Then in the forum reply...

I got the lcd version of the plc for the following reasons:- - You have manual control of stop/start, as well as simple programming. - You can edit the blocks in your fbd, eg alter on/off times. - Can display status of the inputs, handy for debug. - You can have the display show a status of what...

See my PLC article, why me as an electronic engineer who designs and builds and programmes PIC/STM32/Arduino stuff every day as a job, steered very well clear of all this DIY & open source stuff. Not sure any of the PIC/STM32/Arduino stuff would work out cheaper, by the time you have added all...

Seen loads of plc's for sale on ebay, was looking for ages before buying new Logo 8 from Siemens. Main ebay issues were, non ethernet programmable so need to buy a lead (£70), no real time clock, no display and biggest issue was no development software, would have to by dev software starting at...

You can of course just treat the PLC (basic one with display and 4 outputs) to be a 4 way timer...lights, CO2, dosing and air pump for instance. Unfortunately due to fall in pound and Siemens being German in €, the PLC starter kit is now about £175. But you do get a 100% reliable 4 output timer...

Zozo what you waiting for ?. Siemens plc available from a variety of sources, see my article or ask Zeus. Play with the demo version of Soft Comfort plc development system on generating 0-10V output based on a time, ask Zeus as that is what he doing with kessils. Done....

PWM frequency could be anything, hopefully above 20kHz so no chance if audio breakthrough... The 0-10V signal varies the width of the pulses from 0% to 100%, which when averaged by the eye and LED appears to be 0% brightness to 100%. You can get nice DIN mounted PWM controllers so you can mount...

I don't think there is a standard Siemens Logo PWM module. However there are 0-10V analogue output modules, as used by Zeus to control intensity and spectrum of his Kessils, that could be connected to an industry standard 0-10V control input of a PWM module. Searching ebay finds plenty of PWM...

Glad you still like it. :D. 100% reliable switching is one of the main features I designed it for and 100% reliable switching is what I got. :clap:. Shame no one sells a Logo!8 in a box with 4 mains sockets on the outside and a single mains lead in. Then you wouldn't have to faff around wiring...

Going on holiday...engage holiday mode (remotely)... Halves light time, CO2 time and fertiliser dosing to slow the tank down whilst away....Done. Changed.

See my post #8 above about how to connect a pH probe to a Logo8. I still haven't added pH control to my controller, though it is on my "love to do someday list". Personally not convinced pH control is needed, as my drop checker is green, plants and fish are fine :D, but would be nice to have...

Siemens have just published an Excel addon that allows you to read data from your PLC into an Excel spread sheet. http://www.automation.siemens.com/salesmaterial-as/software/logo/tools/logo-access-tool.zip

This is my peristaltic pump write up. Was originally two pumps and two timers, but I added circuitry to alternate dose so only one timer was required. Now controlled by PLC. http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/diy-dual-peristaltic-dosing-pump-with-alternate-switching.22332/ And whilst at it, my...

Glad you liked it. Accessed my plc this morning over breakfast to verify clock had changed and reduce lighting by one hour as getting slight algae. If you need analogue inputs you need the 12/24 dc versions that have analogue in. However you can also attach a 12/24v analogue module to a 230v...

If anyone is following this or using Logo!SoftComfort, Siemens have released an update to V8.1. It can be updated by Help -> Update Center in the menus. Main things I have noticed is Java not crashing with NUL pointer exceptions anymore when expanding some of the block properties. Also...

There were numerous reasons I never added CO2 control to mine: - I am using 383 out of 400 blocks in mine. So basically it is full. - Mine has no analogue inputs (the 230V ones are 230V digital inputs only). - The analogue input module, which I could add to my 230V PLC, runs on 12-24V, so I...

Attached a PDF of the FBD (functional block diagram) I have in my controller. Easy peasy'ish. The PLC can produce graphs if connected to an analogue module. This is on the front panel display showing the input changing with time. This on the mobile app. Finally if you use Siemens WinCC...

Just now, still working fine. As logged on from work.

Figure 21 Fish Feeder, Wires Bypassing Controller. Figure 22 Fish Feeder 3.5mm Jack Socket. Initial PLC Setup The main thing on the PLC that needs configuring before use/programming is its IP address so it may be accessed over the network. This is explained on page 109 of Logo User Manual and...

Zeus also built a PLC controlled fish tank. Below is Zeus's build notes & pictures. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/how-to-use-a-plc-to-control-your-fish-tank.42993/page-3#post-489803 How to use a PLC to control your fish tank This article explains how you can use a PLC (programmable logic...

Be careful as general fertilisers usually contain ammonia compounds, as it is one for the cheapest ways of giving nitrogen to plants. If a commercial fertiliser may be ammonium nitrate, but for domestic generally use a variation of ammonium citrate type compound. Both toxic to fish.

Right...O2 cylinders have up to 230bar pressure for larger ones, smaller ones (used by medics) are 130bar, a lot of O2 regulators are designed only for 130bar and have threads too prevent connecting to wrong cylinder type. Also tend to be either low pressure outputs 0-3 bar (face mask) or high...

Also CO2 pressure is 55bar, O2 can be upto 300 bar.

There is always Ebay. But heed the warnings on ferts section about buying from Ebay. Numerous people have received white salts from scrupulous cheap sellers that are certainly not what is advertised and will more than likely be fatal to your livestock, but may make your plants grow. Just pay...

http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/

I doubt it... 1. Test kit is clearly indicating something else. 2. Ammonia above 5ppm is invariable fatal. 3. Fish will generally show signs of ammonia in as little as 0.25ppm as it burns their gills.

You have rediscovered finest green, first found by Lord Percy in the 1980's..

You won't pollute the water with excess nutrients, fish can withstand 100's ppm of EI salts, but you will pollute the water with organic waste. The 50% weekly water change isn't just to "reset the nutrient levels" it is mainly to get rid of all the organic waste produced by the plants when...

Exactly the same dosing, no change. If you can accurately measure the salts & ferts in your ADA soil, then you can reduce :D

Considering I saw 25Kg of Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts) for £15 at local garden centre, again at that price why bother leaving Mg out ????? :arghh:

Looks like gone mouldy. The ascorbic acid is to keep the solution acidic so as to keep the chelated iron chelated and potassium sorbate needed to prevent the mixture going mouldy. The original source of the DIY all in one came from here. http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm

Are you sure it is iron deficiency ? It is quite hard to get iron deficient plants in an aquarium, especially if you are dosing micros and are feeding your fish. Symptoms of carbon deficiency ie poor CO2 can also look like iron deficiency. I assume you have added an anti-mould to your micro...

Oh and just for the record did I mention....

Ignore it, even it happens, which I doubt, these graphs are for storage of chelated solutions. Once in the tank, possible precipitation is something not to worry about. Never seen this being mentioned as an issue. Oh did I say, just dose as say AquariumPlantFood.co.uk states in their EI kits...

Just dose as say AquariumPlantFood.co.uk states in their EI kits and everything will be fine. I have very very hard water (24 Clark) and still dose MgSO4 as its cheap.

So maybe your light isn't 2W/G and/or isn't as powerful as you think. Of course if not a fluorescent tube and/or cheap LED certainly won't be as many W/G as calculated. I would go with the plant health and lack of algae as an indicator that things are OK. Adding liquid carbon will help the...

2WPG is high tech (and 10hours !!!), so you will need CO2 source along with EI dosing or else you will be shortly farming algae rather than growing plants. CO2 may be supplied gas or liquid carbon. The plants need all three light, CO2 and nutrients in "sufficient" amounts. Normally we EI dose...

Yes, but your plants will not be able to make use of all the extra fertiliser as they do not have enough CO2 and (hopefully) you are not supplying them with huge amounts of light. If no CO2 and lower "non high tech" light levels you could try 1/3 (or less) EI dosing, no need waste the 2/3's the...

Doesn't really matter, upside down would in fact be best so it draws gas rather than liquid, but in the end most people operate them standing right way up, with absolutely no issues...

Found the leak then, that's good news. Bad news need to fix it. Looking at the pictures of my CO2supermarket regulator the solenoid is bolted onto the regulator. You may just be able to tighten it up or even unscrew is and put PTFE tape on the thread.

Cause found, you have a leak. Problem now is to find it. PTFE tape is OK with CO2, but shouldn't really be needed:rolleyes: . See if you can get a replacement washer, must not be rubber or fibre (fibre is fibre coated in rubber) as CO2 will dissolve in rubber.

1. Turn off solenoid. 2. Make sure FE handle is depressed. 3. Read & note main tank pressure, about 800psi, or mark dial with permanent marker. 4. Release FE handle to turn off CO2. 5. Leave say 24hours, overnight, a week etc. The pressure should stay 800psi, unless you have a leak. Mine stayed...

That's quite easy to check for a leak. After CO2 has gone off, close your main CO2 handle and make a note of the tank pressure. If not the same many hours later, you have a leak. Before I installed my CO2, I tested mine like this and pressure stayed at 800psi for over a week.

http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/easy-aqua-double-check-valve-p-5666.html I got mine from Hong Kong, via Ebay as this was not available from Aquaessentials when I got my CO2 setup. Cheaper BUT takes up to 21 working days to arrive.

My first check valve, after starting CO2 setup, leaked after a month or two. This was an air check valve and the plastic went "misty" and it leaked CO2 at the seams WHEN bent slightly. So first dunk underwater for leak testing, nothing all. Applied slight force to valve and bubbles streamed out...

It should have the weight stamped on it, like this, 4.87Kg. This is how to determine, during inspection, how much gas is in the extinguisher. Must also have, by law, the manufacturer/inspection house, serial number, the empty weight (tare), full weight, CE mark built to, test and burst...

On my 180litre tank I got the following from my 2Kg FE's. 1. 255 days. 2. 137 days - Leaking from cracked bubble counter. 3. 60 days - Leaking from bubble counter connections. 4. Currently 49 days old, CO2 still sloshes around inside, so quite a lot left. Unfortunately a very old cylinder (Aug...

Like above but put a spray bar in each tank. You will need two needle valves etc so that you can adjust flow to each tank. If you use just one off tee'ed to two tanks the CO2 will take the path of least resistance and basically end up going in just one tank.

CO2 is only filled to 68% capacity to allow space for expansion if the bottle gets 'hot'. If you fill to say 90% odd then there is a chance that if say sat in hot car the pressure could rise enough to burst the over pressure release. At 68% fill there is no chance that during normal use and...

You can't get CO2 gas to 300bar at room temp, it turns to liquid at about 50bar, thus adding more pressure does not get you any more gas. All CO2 cylinders are 50bar odd. 2/3 liquid 1/3 gas. Bet you have read the cylinder test pressure, but even so seems awfully high. As for nitrogen, as used...

Ask the plants? Do they care ? I just dose in one go, cos the plants told me so !!!!!

Hope you FE handle is like this, then no messing around with tape, cable ties holding the handle down :D

Just fill up loads of 30ml containers from plastic bottles, glass bottles, buckets, jerrycans, glass jars, containers and tell your dosing assistant to add one a day. Or build or buy a dosing pump.

Note that the plug shown in the Ebay auction above is NOT UK safe and should be replaced. The plastic collar on the earth pin makes such a plug extremely dangerous. BS 1363 Plugs and Sockets

I just connected up my regulator, closed needle valve and depressed FE handle. Short hiss as is pressurised then nothing. Did it all in the garage where I could get proper spanner access to the regulator tightening nut. Connected solenoid to mains, opened needle valve and out came CO2. I...

:shh: The issue here is Tom did not state what size and how heaped his teaspoons of salts were ? My kitchen ones, I use when my wife is around are not very deep and don't hold much, but the posh teaspoons we have which I use when my wife is not looking :shh: hold a lot more. Mine came from...

Ta. They/it was bought as quite a tiny piece which I tied onto a piece of wood about 12inches long. The wood was went left to right propped up on a large stone. It completely took over the wood, which is now located front to back. The stone you can just see is a "cave" where my 3 clown loaches...

Bps no idea too fast to count (small bubbles), a lot basically, green drop checker (maybe yellow'ish) on for 11 hours, 50W of T8 lights in Juwel tank cover for 9hours (may be 10 & 8 not sure), liquid carbon as well.....happy fish and green fast growing plants, no algae tiny bit of BBA...

My 2Kg FE lasted 8 months on my 180litre tank.

Yes they get warm to the touch, just checked mine, but not really hot. Check you are not driving a 110V solenoid from 240V ?

In fact my latest mix made on Saturday I used slightly smaller not stacked so high teaspoon fulls of powders, as in a month I am going away for 3 weeks, so I am reducing the strength and reducing lighting starting now in anticipation of no ferts for 3 weeks. Will have a fish feeder attached that...

I use 40ml every 2 days in my Vision 180, dosed as 2 x 20ml from 500ml dosing bottles. When mixing ferts, my teaspoon size does vary from mix to mix, but as stated doesn't really matter too much.

You take your empty extinguisher to local company who will swap it out for a new one for £10-£20 depending who you go to.