Low-Head Shower?

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by bekko ...Today, I am semi-retired and my approach is becoming even more holistic, and less atomistic, than is was before. I hardly ever measure or record anything, hardly ever use chemicals, make much of my own food stuffs, and rely almost entirely on instinct and observation. More art, less science, the zen of fish keeping. This is a personal preference though and I do not want to give the impression that remote monitoring is inherently bad or that it can not be an effective tool. If technological fish keeping is what you want to do, then go for it. There are lots of different approaches to the same end and each individual should find the path that suits them. -steve hop kins

Isn't the KISS principle a beautiful thing . And much more relaxing too.

[Steve W]

Hi chaps
As luke says try to keep it simple


Steve W

[luke frisbee]

I thought PB said to kiss.

i said "My head hurts"

[junglegeorge12]

Now I understand your point steve, a late night false alarm would bug me too. However, I personally would rather get an email or cell call while away at work or on a trip that my pump had stopped or the water level had dropped or the heater was stuck on than to come home to thousands of dollars worth of dead koi I had kept for years. At least I can call the neighbor if I am gone to get the pump going, chase the herons or raccoons away with an alarm, or shut the heater off and call the neighbor or spouse if it needs to have the gas valve manually turned off. The ceramic sensors can tell you if the heater actually went off in seconds.

What I am working on is not really designed to make the pond more or less technological in terms of it's filters, functions, or appearance, or to gather data to be used for tweaking filters. Unless avid folks want to pay xtra for those types of sensors (ie oxygen levels, nitrate levels, etc etc) and enjoy or value it. Maybe I will design a 'breeder' version of it for those types. It is designed to be invisible except for your keypad.

It does not change the pond itself. It also is not a cure all that eliminates any pond care or makes the water nicer. It is just an emergency warning system designed to give you peace of mind when you are away, and warn you of danger if you need to be.

It lets you know when something has gotten grossly out of order (pump failure, reduced water flow, ph swings, temp rises or drops out of the safe range, water level drops, predator intrusion, etc.) Rather than finding out the sad news when it is too late to do anything about it. Imagine if Jules had gotten cell calls and emails the day his heater got stuck on. All his koi would probably still be alive today. He lost thousands of dollars of koi in a few minutes. Not to mention the heartache of losing a koi he was fond of.

It is a very simple and small device that just needs a regular phone line and passes along information. It also has simple attachments that do not make it a lightning rod, with ceramic sensors that do not corrode. It mounts on the wall inside or outside your home, shed, garage, with a small cable run to the pond attached to different sensors.

You do not need 2 or 3 wires for every sensor anymore. Just one wire with many sensors attached, each sensor has different output signals that the program deciphers into acceptable or various warning levels. (ie the water level drops 1/2" or 1", you get a low warning email, the water level drops 1 ft, you get 3 emails and a series of phone calls telling you the pond condition and sending you a pic of it, then you CAN know if there are any dead floating koi). It is especially designed for those who travel or work alot, or have huge amounts of time or money invested.

You don't have to drive anywhere these days, just get a pic from the camera sent to your cell or email at work. Also, they are products that have been used for years in different applications by major manufacturers. Not a brand new experiment, but proven products that really work and deliver.


Luke should love this part too, it can tell you how much power your pumps are consuming. Wouldn't it be nice to know if you keep the water level 1/4" higher the power comsumption drops by 10-20%? Many folks might not care too much right now, but let oil prices hit $100 barrel and electricity double or triple. In some cases this system might pay for itself in one month.


What got me thinking about all of this was the really bad week Jules had. It bugged me because much of it could have been prevented, and the muggers and hit and run guys could have been nabbed. It irked me a good guy lost so much money and could not do anything about it, and had his heart broken by losing his koi. Then guys started asking boiler controls and safety questions and answers were given that were really not suitable, accurate, or truly reliable. The answers also involved lots of wiring and valve and switch work and complicated controls wiring for homeowners, not a good scenario. This stuff is way simpler and totally reliable.

I have seen this stuff used in different industries, and started looking into affordable smaller scale versions of them. I found several and am working out the details of which is best. I am also working on a package of benefits, subscriptions, etc that tailors to the koi pondist type of person and their lifestyles.

You can even use your cell if vicitmized around town to take pics from sattelite and gps track and id vehicles nearby with a touch of a button. Very handy if victim of a crime or witness to one. It makes your cell phone a very powerful safety and security device simply by adding a subscription.
I know this is getting long but I want you all to understand my goals and motives.