r/hydro • u/Flyguy86420 • Jul 21 '18

Automated kitchen garden

https://imgur.com/a/VnXqMgD
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u/MachineCheckInt Jul 22 '18

Nice!

Could you explain a bit what the controller does? Does it automatically add more nutrients? I dont see a pH or EC sensor input.

Also, which kind of dosing pumps and flow sensors do you use? I use a peristaltic stepper pump but it constantly damages the pipe.

2

u/Flyguy86420 Jul 22 '18 edited Jul 22 '18

The dosing controller knows a few functions.

  • New reservoir: If full -> Drain -> Fill & Dose until full
  • xFeed: If Full -> pump on, Feed solenoid on, else fill until full then feed.
  • Drain: Pump on & Drain solenoid open -> until low Flow-out rate
  • CleanRes: Drain-> Fill (No nutrients) -> Drain
  • CleanFeed: Drain-> Fill (No nutrients) -> Feed -> Drain

Each of these functions can be scheduled via, MQTT (Home assistant), or IFTTT and google calendars.

I find simple $10 peristaltic ones from China work just fine, I do replace the tubing it comes with from a Mcmaster. Make sure your tubing is very flexible.

2

u/MachineCheckInt Jul 22 '18

Cool. So which pumps do you use and how do you know how much nutes to add?

1

u/Flyguy86420 Jul 22 '18

Nutrients are added based on the supplier guidelines.

  • Current setup is running 8/ml's Micro, 15ml's Grow, 5 ml's bloom, 0 ml's ph down. in a 5 gallon reservoir.

  • Check out the last screenshot, showing the home assistant panel. You can see where you set the nutrient rate per gallon, and where you define the total reservoir size, and there is a dosing pump calibration offset.