Detecting Water Level

I'm working on a Netduino Plus project to monitor my hedgehog's enclosure. I'm planning on monitoring temperature, light level, whether he's sleeping or not, statistics from his wheel (speed, distance, etc.), and water bottle level. I've been doing some research and I have planned solutions to all of these exception for the water bottle level. I've thought of a few ideas (magnet attached to something that floats and hall effect sensor, IR transmitters/receivers, drilling holes and inserting probes, etc.). Has anyone tried something like this before or have any ideas which might help? This isn't the exact water bottle but it's pretty similar: http://www.amazon.co...0962283&sr=8-46

... any ideas which might help?

How about a pressure sensor? You might want to check out water tank depth sensor project, if I remember it correctly there are various approaches discussed in the book in detail - i.e. placement of the sensor, in you case it could be on the output pipe.

Another idea would be to place the bottle (holder) on a hacked digital scale and measure its weight.

Edit: Do you need to measure the water level continuously, or just discrete values (e.g. full, empty)?

I'm working on a Netduino Plus project to monitor my hedgehog's enclosure. I'm planning on monitoring temperature, light level, whether he's sleeping or not, statistics from his wheel (speed, distance, etc.), and water bottle level.

This isn't the exact water bottle but it's pretty similar:
http://www.amazon.co...0962283&sr=8-46

Is it possible to use a float switch?

Regards,
Mark

I only need to measure discrete values (probably thirds). I suspect the water bottle is too small to measure pressure but a small float switch may work.

I only need to measure discrete values (probably thirds). I suspect the water bottle is too small to measure pressure but a small float switch may work.

How about http://www.adafruit....products_id=166, looks like a logarithmic scale from 20 to 10000 grams.Price is right!

Ran across this and remembered your request. A little pricy… but… http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10221

I am working on something involving non-contact measurements for determining the amount of water in a tank. That sensor from spark fun is nice, but I don't want to put any wires in the tank at all!