How to make your backyard pond smart

On our latest IoT Podcast episode, we take a question that Jeff left on our IoT Voicemail Hotline. Jeff has a backyard pond that often gets too warm for his fish. Since he really doesn’t want a fish stew, Jeff is wondering if there’s a way to add smarts to pond so he can monitor the water temps and pH levels.

There are several products available to do this, although most of them are meant for pools. While those solutions would work for a pond, they’re typically overkill and more expensive than a pond-specific solution.

Although we haven’t used either of these since we’re pond-less, we have two product suggestions to consider.

First is the Aquascape Smart Pond Thermometer, which costs $64. There is an upgrade option available for $80 that includes a 12V transformer as well.

The all-weather sensor sits underwater up to 20-feet, monitoring temperatures between -20 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The sensor attaches to a display, which also has a 2.4 GHz wireless radio inside. Aquascape’s mobile app shows both real-time and historical data; you can receive alert notifications if the water exceeds a temperature threshold.

To monitor other data points, we suggest the $295 WaterGuru Sense.

Since this is meant for pool usage, the WaterGuru Sense also provides data on Chlorine, pH, temperature and water flow. So it’s more capable than you’d need for a pond. It too has a mobile application, which receives data over either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

You can integrate these products with a supported smart home ecosystem such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. If you have a pond heater connected to a smart outlet, for example, it’s possible to turn the heater off automatically based on the temperature readings. I’d personally test those integrations before relying on their stability though. Thinking the heater is off based on a routine or automation when it isn’t won’t be ideal for your fish.

We did consider DIY options as it’s definitely possible to build your own smart pond temperature monitor with sensors and a small compute board with wireless radios. Due to the outdoor and water scenario requirements, however, it’s probably best to consider an off-the-shelf product.

To hear Jeff’s question in full, as well as our discussion on the topic, tune in to the IoT Podcast below: