★ 110 Gallon (In-Wall Office Dream SPS Reef Tank) ★ PROJECT GENESIS [Total Automation, DIY & More ]★

[WallyB]

After 12 Hours of Debugging (a Stupid Typo, and then something DUMB!!....)

AquaMon is ALIVE !!
FILMING DEMO NEXT!!​

This project started Aug 15, 2019 with an Idea looking at a Crystal Vial.

Pondering....

-> How I could fill it accurately?
-> How I could mix it?
-> How I could empty it?
-> How could I get an ALK Test result Automatically?
-> and How I could Present that Alk Data?

TODAY the Idea has become a working reality. (6 Months in the making)

Yet I BRIEFLY (TONIGHT) I stumbled at the Finish line (to prepare for the Video Demo)

Everything was perfect in bits and pieces till I put it on Real Tank Water for the Final TEST.

Results were not right, but the tests each time were perfect.
It was a stupid typo in my calculation Logic (for the Computer Vision). REALLY HARD TO FIND.

Once I found the TYPO, everything started working as Expected.

But then SOMETHING WENT WRONG......The test results started FADING.

I got really frustrated, and couldn't figure it out.

DUH!!!

I ran out of TANK Sample water in the Small Jar !!!

Once Jar was filled up, it started working again.....

PERFECTLY!!!! CONSISTANTLY!!!!!
and PRETTY ACCURATE!! (seems like 0.05 dkh, which is better than My Salifert Test)

Here is proof.....

Accurate Enough to Watch my Tank for Abnormalities, and for Adjusting Dosing.

Now I just have to Make the (LIVE "demo" Video) how that Graph is Made (AUTOMATICALLY)
TONIGHT!! IS SHOWTIME!!

 

[tenurepro]

i got a chance to see Wally tank monitor last weekend and i got to tell you folks .... it is INSANE. Super cool engineering...

 

[WallyB]

i got a chance to see Wally tank monitor last weekend and i got to tell you folks .... it is INSANE. Super cool engineering...

Thanks @tenurepro .

You got a sneak peek but only the TIP of the ICEBERG.

PHoto taking is not too hard, but this Video is a challenge. Dark Areas vs Bright screens. So much contrast lighting.

Wish I had your video skills like you have shown on your YouTUbe Channel.
This filming of demo is tough. To show both running robot, and the screen, etc
Might take 3 cameras running to do it.

Setting things up right now. Maybe better lighting, a tripod, Not sure.

 

[WallyB]

Demo Location SETUP ( AquaMon Joins the Tank Mate Controller Family )

I was going to do the YouTube Demo Video at my Desk, but Jar's are not the same.

I Moved The AquaMon Alk Monitor into Final Place. (Next to Frag Tank).....(Close to SPS Tank Sump)...and (6 feet from Kitchen Tank Sump)

One test will still run from a Jar.

The 35G Frag Tank was a mess. Nothing but Macro Algae, but it did cycle and stabilize over last few monts.
No dosing, just ran off the Old Water from SPS tank during daisy chain Water Changes with the Tank Mate Water Changer.
It Kept topped up by the The ATO+

I actually overhauled/Cleaned the Frag Tank this morning.
It neverd id anything for Frags, except kill them. Zero Frags right now. Just LR and Fish (Coperband, Damsel and two Picasso Clown).

Tonight for the first time in Months, I'll know what the ALK is.
Then I'll build a mini 2 head doser (A copy of the Doser II+), but smaller. That should take a week.

Right now....Setting up the Tripod, Laptop, etc. Hoping to do the Demo Video Tonight.

 

[Arthacker87]

This was an insane read!!! I just found this earlier today and wow does it make me feel like is uck hashana but no joke this is genius work my friend. Kudos to you!! I am still in shock and awe and a bit lost on what the heck went I to all of this!!

 

[WallyB]

This was an insane read!!! I just found this earlier today and wow does it make me feel like is uck hashana but no joke this is genius work my friend. Kudos to you!! I am still in shock and awe and a bit lost on what the heck went I to all of this!!

Glad you enjoyed some reading. I write to much blah blah. But for me it's like a log. I look back on when, what happened. Like no way I would remember when I started the Alk Monitor. Reef2Reef post did.

What are you lost about? Why I made the Alk Monitor? Because Neptune wouldn't sell me a Trident when I wanted one (none available). But it wasn't just that. I have 2 older Apex's so upgrade would be expensive.
Glad that I couldn't get a Trident. Mine is better (I hope). We'll see soon

Welcome to the Thread. It may be ending soon. Maybe...
Might start a new one since this thread started with a Plan to Grow SPS in the New 110 Gal Tank.
That Plan failed. I messed up. Too much tinkering. Additives or Something else. At least rocks survived!! and Fish (not all)
So I'm starting all over again (Same tank, but new approach).
New Lessons learned applied. New DIY toys. Less junk including my hands going into the tank.

 

[Arthacker87]

Haha no just lost on how the heck you programmed all of it and meshed it together and all the custom set ups. Just super thought out and amazing. Sorry to hear man sps is rough. I'm kinda a throw it together guy and it's doing ok but I think I need to fine tune for my coloration. But I love seeing this much dedication!!!

 

[WallyB]

Haha no just lost on how the heck you programmed all of it and meshed it together and all the custom set ups. Just super thought out and amazing. Sorry to hear man sps is rough. I'm kinda a throw it together guy and it's doing ok but I think I need to fine tune for my coloration. But I love seeing this much dedication!!!

It's not DEDICATION......It's DESPERATION!!!

None of these last 3 controllers (The Water Changer, The Maintenance Minder, or the Alk Monitor) would have been built if my SPS tank was Thriving.

I love to solve things .....and I've messed up SPS success for over 5 years.

So I stubbornly want to solve the riddle....(Plus I love building stuff. Anything creative) I HACK, till something comes together.

MY PROBLEM (besides messing around) is....I give my Tank Attention and I get distracted with a project, and things slip.

For example...

Couple of weeks ago, I started a project to get my son a Better (Dust Free) Gaming Area in the Un-finished basement.
I totally forgot about my tanks, so at least the water changes continued, the minders blinked to tell me it was GFO change time, etc.

THIS IS THE DISTRACTION PROJECT : Started with some 2x4 wood, and 3 pieces of Drywall. Then I went off on a Tangent.

THIS IS BEFORE:

DURING

TODAY

Came out nice. (From a distance).....I'm not the best drywaller/painter, but it's a un-finished basement.
The Purple/White idea actually, was inspired when I went to IKEA to get a plastic shower curtain (to Cover up that Christmas Decoration Storage Table). They had the Fading Purple/White one, and I copied it.

MY FISH STARVED!!! (Next Project: Auto Feeder for Frozen)

 

[WallyB]

Haha no just lost on how the heck you programmed all of it and meshed it together and all the custom set ups. Just super thought out and amazing. Sorry to hear man sps is rough. I'm kinda a throw it together guy and it's doing ok but I think I need to fine tune for my coloration. But I love seeing this much dedication!!!

Thanks for the compliment.

This Alk Monitor is actually the most complex thing I've ever made.
That's the cool thing about coding. Once you have the routines, functions, next project is faster.
I re-used a lot of code from the Previous DOSER and Water Changer.

But the Alk Monitor is way beyond that.
Two micro-computers, talking to each other, motor controls, Servo motors, web site build in, computer vision, graphs.
I learned a TON making it. Google HACKING along the way for tidbits. Then a bit of elbow grease and creativity.

With these skills / code in my pocket, the possibilities are endless. Not just for fish tanks. Garden, home security, etc

I got an IDEA. The computer Vision stuff is pretty cool. Same stuff used by experts for face recognition, etc.
I just learned a tiny bit.

I'm thinking. With a Cheap Raspberry PI, and a cheap camera, it would be cool if it watch your fish tank, and equipment to catch abnormalities. Water too high, RED LED on Doser, or ATO (too long), anything that isn't normal could trigger an email, etc.
Nothing complex. Just a image of what's normal, and some logic to trigger NOT normal.

 

[WallyB]

AquaMon ALK MONITOR ( Video Done ) Uploading to YouTube

Video is done, after 3 fumble tries. Have a cold, so was hard to talk.

(Lighting was horrible in Fish Room, so I moved back to desk)
Then my Camera Battery Died 1 minute into Filming, Then I got a phone call from my Mom while doing demo....

Oh well, it's not the Best Video (Tough to film, Dark vs Bright subject), I didn't even watch it.
No Editing, no music, just me (attempting to talk) and showing how it works.

As soon as it uploads, I'll post the link.

 

[WallyB]

AquaMon Alk Monitor DEMO VIDEO is LIVE.

I created a thread with some Details to support the Video.

Enjoy.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/★-diy-auto-★-alkalinity-monitor-★-3-tank-dual-raspberry-pi-ardiuno-with-advanced-features.689106/#post-7058794

 

[WallyB]

MY LPS TANK ( IS MELTING !!! ) Don't know why.

I don't get it. My LPS tank has a few LPS on the Left, that didn't like the strong Flow.
Particularily a Aussie Golden Torch. That tried to open, but when it expanded it got shaken by the strong output.

I moved the pump (too close to the LPS) to the back, and it made a great recovery.

This caused the Tank to kind of reverse it's flow.

Next day I lost a Frogs spawn, and today a Branching Hammer let go of it base on one stem.
All the Shrooms looked scrunched up.

Is it the flow Reversal?
(Did the LPS get used to being bent one way, and then the flow reversal made them get hurt)
Doubt it, but nothing else has changed.

 

[WallyB]

I'm BORED ( NOTHING TO DO ) After a Busy 6 Months

((( TIME TO CATCH UP on GOT ))

PLEASE NO SPOILERS!! (I know nothing )

I power watched The Game of Thrones a few years ago.
The LAST Episode I watched was Season 5 Eposide 9.

I left things..... till the Series Ended, to power watch till the End.

Now I have time.

(Before I start another Project...Like Restart my SPS & Frag Tank...with Alk Monitor Installed)

 

[WallyB]

FINALLY ( AFTER MONTH's of Waiting) Picasso Clown Pair Host Something (better)

124 Conch Street (Binkin Bottom, Pacific Ocean [NOT] )​

I tried everything, Live Rock, BITA, Shroom's, Torches, but the two Clowns in Frag Tank choose things like overflow, and power heads. (and never Together)

Today I almost took out the Pinapple house since I always use it for QT. (That's when I noticed the clowns)

AND I started QT today for a new Future SPS Tank ( FIsh ).

He got Live Rock and some plastic Plants. (Happy so Far)

 

[WallyB]

PROJECT GENESIS (II) New "Fresh Start" Tank Thread

I think I've covered off all I can on the "AquaMon ALK Monitor"

For those that missed the Details THE Thread is here.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/★-diy-auto-★-alkalinity-monitor-★-3-tank-hanna-with-raspberry-pi-ardiuno-with-advanced-features.689106/

Now Let's put it TO THE TEST on my TANKS, along with my *New* Approach for Tank Husbandry (Keep Additives out, and No Tinkering)

For Now I'll start a Thread on my SPS TANK (Since I'm giving it a Reboot)

Put in some new Frags( Some of my Favorite Classics)

More details to come.......

Hope some Folks Follow along the NEW THREAD.

Link coming soon...

 

[WallyB]

THE END

of the NEW BEGINNING has come.

Time to put the Lesson Learned & Improvements Made over last couple of years, towards a Fresh Start.

From Most to Least Important:

(1) NO ADDITIVES
(2) STABILITY
(3) PATIENCE
(4) Hands out of Tank (No Tinkering to Improve/Change things Drastically)
(5) More Automation for Maintenance, Monitoring, Accident Prevention.

Moving over to the New Thread shortly (link will be posted when it's up)

I mounted the few more NEW CLASSIC Frags to prepare for the New Journey.

Tank doesn't looks as bare, and I have Interest again..
With some Promising SPS Colors and Shapes

ONWARD!​

 

[WallyB]

HERE IS NEW TANK THREAD (This Thread is history)

PROJECT GENESIS (II) 2020​

 

[Janci]

83 pages of incredible brainstorming, problem solving, engineering, innovation and reefing.
Let's see what the new thread will bring.

Demo Location SETUP ( AquaMon Joins the Tank Mate Controller Family )

I was going to do the YouTube Demo Video at my Desk, but Jar's are not the same.

I Moved The AquaMon Alk Monitor into Final Place. (Next to Frag Tank).....(Close to SPS Tank Sump)...and (6 feet from Kitchen Tank Sump)

One test will still run from a Jar.

The 35G Frag Tank was a mess. Nothing but Macro Algae, but it did cycle and stabilize over last few monts.
No dosing, just ran off the Old Water from SPS tank during daisy chain Water Changes with the Tank Mate Water Changer.
It Kept topped up by the The ATO+

I actually overhauled/Cleaned the Frag Tank this morning.
It neverd id anything for Frags, except kill them. Zero Frags right now. Just LR and Fish (Coperband, Damsel and two Picasso Clown).

Tonight for the first time in Months, I'll know what the ALK is.
Then I'll build a mini 2 head doser (A copy of the Doser II+), but smaller. That should take a week.

Right now....Setting up the Tripod, Laptop, etc. Hoping to do the Demo Video Tonight.

This room looks like a Russian laboratory....

 

[WallyB]

This room looks like a Russian laboratory....

HAHAHa.. (Now that I look at the Photo.....IT DOES!!)

I'm Canadian Born "POLISH"....Russia is (Close!!)

 

[Janci]

HAHAHa.. (Now that I look at the Photo.....IT DOES!!)

I'm Canadian Born "POLISH"....Russia is (Close!!)

When shutting down my tank, I had the news that my new country of destination was going to be Vietnam.
Now many things have changed and in 2 months I will go with the family to Gdansk in Poland. This at least till the rest of the year.
What a coincidence!