VaultGrow-make-learnEntriesAquaponics_Pool_Kit — ESPHome Firmware for the Atlas Scientific Wi-Fi Aquaponics Kit

Aquaponics_Pool_Kit — ESPHome Firmware for the Atlas Scientific Wi-Fi Aquaponics Kit

Summary

Aquaponics_Pool_Kit is a set of open-source ESPHome configurations for the Atlas Scientific Wi-Fi Aquaponics Kit, bringing lab-grade sensors — RTD temperature, pH, EC, dissolved oxygen, humidity, CO2, and a dosing pump — into Home Assistant with automatic discovery. First released in 2023 and actively maintained through 2026, it ships pre-built firmware installable from the browser via ESP Web Tools, calibration binaries, OTA updates, and documented status-LED codes. Sensor configs are shared packages from the maintainer's larger AquaPi project, so users enable only the sensors they own. The project targets the global DIY/Home Assistant community of aquaponics and pool hobbyists, and suits classroom water-chemistry labs, backyard aquaponics monitoring, and citizen-science water-quality logging. For new learners it is among the gentlest on-ramps available: flash from a browser, join Wi-Fi via the device's hotspot, and the device auto-appears in Home Assistant.

Guiding Principles

  • Open Source — open firmware running on commodity ESP32 hardware with commercial open-sensor probes.
  • Modularity — per-sensor YAML packages mean you enable only the sensors you own; configs are fully remixable.
  • Community Self-Sufficiency — local-first data through Home Assistant with no mandatory cloud dependency.

Learning Outcomes & Transferable Skills

Learners gain Electronics experience (lab-grade probe integration), Coding (basic ESPHome YAML), Water Chemistry (analytical-chemistry instrumentation and sensor calibration practice), and Data Literacy (local time-series logging). The ESPHome/Home Assistant local-control architecture transfers directly to environmental-monitoring research workflows.

How to Replicate or Build On It

  1. Flash the pre-built firmware from a browser via ESP Web Tools using the project's browser installer.
  2. Join the device to Wi-Fi via its own hotspot; it auto-appears in Home Assistant.
  3. Enable only the YAML packages for the sensors you own; add further sensors with basic ESPHome YAML.
  4. Use the shipped calibration binaries and the documented status-LED codes to commission and troubleshoot probes.
  5. Remix freely — the YAML-package modularity is designed for it; see the sibling Aquaponics-Kit repo for variants.

Considerations & Constraints

  • Cost: Firmware is free, but the Atlas Scientific probe kit is a real hardware expense (EZO probes typically tens to ~$100+ each).
  • Skill Level: Low-to-moderate — browser-based flashing is beginner-friendly; adding sensors requires basic ESPHome YAML.
  • Space/Climate: Indoor or outdoor with weatherproofing; the ESP32 needs Wi-Fi range.
  • Tools Required: The Atlas Scientific Wi-Fi kit (ESP32-based), a browser for flashing, and a Home Assistant instance.
  • Ongoing Maintenance: Moderate — probes need periodic calibration.
  • Access Barriers: Depends on Home Assistant for the full experience; probe hardware cost is the main hurdle for classrooms.

Prerequisites

A running Home Assistant instance and basic Wi-Fi network access; no programming experience needed for the browser-flash path.

Primary Source

https://github.com/TheRealFalseReality/Aquaponics_Pool_Kit-AtlasScientific (sibling repo: https://github.com/TheRealFalseReality/Aquaponics-Kit ; browser installer: https://therealfalsereality.github.io/Aquaponics-Kit/)

Built with LogoFlowershow