What do you think of when you hear the word pond? If you’re like most people, it conjures up images of a simple water-filled hole in the ground, maybe with a few fish added in for good measure. But not [Anders Johansson] — his pond is a technical marvel, utilizing more unique pieces of hardware and software than many of the more traditional projects that have graced these projects over the years.
In fact, this is one of those projects that is so grand in scope that any summary we publish here simply can’t do it justice. The aptly-named Poseidon project is built up of several modular components, ranging from an automated fish feeder to an array of sensors to monitor the condition of the water itself. How many other ponds can publish their current water level, pH, and oxygen saturation over MQTT?
[Anders] has provided schematics, 3D models, and source code for all the various systems built into the pond, but the documentation is where this project really shines. Each module has it’s own detailed write-up, which should provide you with more than enough guidance should you want to recreate or remix what he’s put together. Even if you use only one or two of the modules he’s put together, you’ll still be ahead of the game compared to the chumps who have to maintain their pond the old fashioned way.
In the past we’ve seen projects that tackled some of the individual elements [Anders] has developed, such as 3D printed fish feeders, but after searching through the archives we can’t find anything that’s even half as ambitious as Poseidon. At least, not for ponds. It reminds us more of a highly advanced aquaponics setup, and we wonder if that might not be a possible spin-off of the core project in the future.
Does it deliver a shock if a neighborhood cat tries to get a free lunch?
This reminds me, I need to build some kind of sentry gun/terminator T-1000 for coyotes and raccoons.
Herons discovered a friend’s pond was better than the local McDonalds for providing tasty Filet’O’Koi meals.
As a koi fancier, he claimed those were some pricey meals those birds ate. He eventually put up a net to keep out the fly-through diners.
There is a low-tech solution. It’s called a dog.
Actually, I worry about my Labrador getting into my neighbor’s pond!
As neighbors, we get along fine, but that could sour quickly if my dog follows his instincts.
Well I have a webcam over the pond (obviously) and possibilities for tensorflow object recognition. So a small water kanon might be suitable 😋. Actually the cats seem to have respect for the KOIs at least. Not a single caught fish to this day.
Strange you mention that. I have cats and chickens and my cats have never even tried to snag one. Not even baby chicks. I think if it’s part of its territory, maybe the old barn cat genes kick in and it decides that its off-limits.
*Cue Thomas Dolby synths* SCIENCE!
Foghorn kicked the cat’s butts enough that they leave his wimmens alone.
How would you know if a cat ate a chick or 3? It’s not like they don’t just disappear without cats.
My cats bring me _magnificent_ gifts. Once a whole headless squirrel. I shared tuna sashimi with him for that.
I count them. Also, my cat brings me what he kills. Brought me a giant (live) rat snake a few weeks ago. The wife was not impressed.
But to add to that, I think most chickens owners build separate incubation/enclosures for chicks until they become pullets before adding them to a flock. (I don’t keep a rooster due to civil restrictions.) Still a risk of everything else eating them, even if the cat doesn’t.
Yep, same experience
what happens when it becomes sentient? is this going to put regular ponds out of work?
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When I see “Pond,” i think River and Amelia Pond of Dr Who fame