Angry Fish

This application is created for SimACo aquarium controller. SimACo is the SIMple Aquarium COntroller mainly created for freshwater aquariums. But all controller’s functions can be used also in marine aquarium. Main idea was to make a simple, easily controllable, reliable and relatively cheap device which helps to make aquarium owner’s life easier. Buying separately all required fabric-made controllers for separate functions is expensive so this controller is cheaper alternative and it has all main functions required to control freshwater aquarium equipment. Controller is not overloaded with not very useful functions like camera to watch your aquarium fish in real time. This is semi-DIY controller because in order to assemble controller soldering is not needed: all boards are already soldered. You will only need to connect all parts using usual wires. More complex connection wires already comes with controller. SimACo best fits for the users which like DIY and have basic electrical and IT skills and know what the wire is:). Controller is powered from the mains, wide AC voltage is supported: 120-230V.

Controller can do many repetitive aquarium maintenance jobs: Control LED lighting. Four channels available so you can control four different colors LEDs manually or automatically. In manual control mode user can turn LEDs off or on; when LEDs are on, LED brightness for each channel can be set from 0% to 100%. In automatic control mode controller can change LED brightness uniformly through a selected period of time. This means you can simulate sunrise, sunset or moonlight effects when LEDs are uniformly dimmed for example from 0% to 100%. Also LED brightness can be set to stay constant through a selected period of time. Controller has LED temperature sensor. This sensor can be attached to LED radiator. Sensor will measure radiator temperature. User can set temperature limit when controller will activate cooling fan to cool-down radiator. Also there is temperature alarm setting: when alarm limit will be reached controller will generate alarm. Turn off/on automatically high voltage (120-230V AC) devices, like water filter, air pump, CO2 valves, aquarium fluorescent or metal halide lights etc. Eight channels available. Each channel has inbuilt separate timers which have 1 minute resolution. Timers allows to turn on/off aquarium devices several times per day. Also manual control available where you can turn on/off channels manually. Aquarium water temperature is measured using water temperature sensor. Controller will activate water heater or cooling fan block when water temperature drops down or rises. Thus controller will support constant aquarium temperature, set by user. User can set low and high water temperature alarm limits. Controller will generate alarms when these limits will be exceeded. Ambient temperature sensor will measure air temperature in your room where aquarium is placed. Measure water PH and control CO2 valve if you are using one. If carbonate hardness in aquarium is stable then controller can adjust CO2 level in in the water by measuring PH level and turning CO2 valve on or off. Thus controller will support constant water PH value, set by user. Also controller can shut down CO2 at night when plants do not need it. User can set low and high water PH alarm limits. Controller will generate alarms when these limits will be exceeded. It can automatically fertilize aquarium with liquid fertilizers using peristaltic pumps. Four types of liquid fertilizers can be dosed. User selects dosing hour, dosing amount in mililiters and days at which fertilizers will be dosed. Controller automatically calculates the time needed to keep pump activated. After dosing fertilizers amount left in containers is calculated. Each type of fertilizer can be dosed automatically one time per day. Also manual dosing available: select fertilizer type, dosing amount and press button “Start manual dosing” – fertilizer will be dosed immediately. When fertilizer amount in container will be low, controller will generate alarm – user will know that it is time to refill containers. Top-off function: aquarium can be refilled with water automatically from the reservoir if aquarium water evaporates. Two modes available: Auto top-off and manual top-off. Automatic mode allows you refill aquarium every day at the time selected. Manual mode lets you to refill aquarium immediately. Water level is monitored in aquarium and reservoir with water using two float sensors. For a better protection from aquarium overfill (if float sensor fails) there are limited aquarium fill time protection – top off will be stopped if fill time is exceeded. Alarm will be activated on fill time threshold reach. Also there is alarm to inform user when water reservoir is empty. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS): if you are using UPS to supply power to your aquarium devices you can set controller to disconnect non-critical loads when blackout occurred. SimACo has integrated mains voltage sensor in order to know when power from the mains is lost. Alarm will be generated during blackout to inform the user that aquarium devices are running on battery.