APEX Lights Programming

iemsparticus · Apr 28, 2017

Howdy all!

I am setting up a 120 gal mixed reef over the next several months, and will be using the APEX along with their Lunar Module, Lunar LEDs, 2 or 3 Kessil A360s, and 4 T5s.

I would like to sync the LEDs and T5s up with the Seasonal Table, and have my LEDs ramp up at dawn for 3 hours, be full for 6, and ramp down at dusk for 3 hours. The T5s will be on after the ramping period, I think. That's the plan anyway.

My question... how to program this? I'd also like to have some weather allowences in there (clouds, storms, etc...)

Thanks in advance for any help.

Bob Escher · Apr 28, 2017

Following

iemsparticus · Apr 30, 2017

Bump...

Anyone have any ideas? I ordered the lighting, and when I get back from vacation I will start working on it. I'll absolutely post updates. If anyone already has experience doing this, I will absolutely take the jump start!

Bob Escher · Apr 30, 2017

iemsparticus said:
Bump...

Anyone have any ideas? I ordered the lighting, and when I get back from vacation I will start working on it. I'll absolutely post updates. If anyone already has experience doing this, I will absolutely take the jump start!

What type of lights are they? I got into studying this and I have a controllable light and without using the table I can ramp up and down ( of course not by season)
But if you go to the Neptune forum it does have many sample
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sh...ions-with-season-table&highlight=Season+table

iemsparticus · Apr 30, 2017

Bob Escher said:
What type of lights are they? I got into studying this and I have a controllable light and without using the table I can ramp up and down ( of course not by season)
But if you go to the Neptune forum it does have many sample
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sh...ions-with-season-table&highlight=Season+table

I ordered 2 Kessil A360Ws and 2 T5 retro kits (4x 54 watt bulbs total)

Bob Escher · Apr 30, 2017

On the forum there is a schedule or at least how to
Here it is
I'm using radions myself but to be honest the programming is over my head at the moment
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sh...-E-Season-Table&highlight=Kessil+season+table

iemsparticus · Apr 30, 2017

Bob Escher said:
On the forum there is a schedule or at least how to
Here it is
I'm using radions myself but to be honest the programming is over my head at the moment
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sh...-E-Season-Table&highlight=Kessil+season+table

Yeah, I've seen a lot of example with other lights, so I am sure I'll be able to adapt them. I studied Computer Science with an emphasis on programming in college, and I'm pretty proficient with several object oriented programming languages including C++, C#, and Visual BASIC, so I'm confident in my abilities here. I just don't like reinventing things, so any amount of programming I can use that others have done already will be great!

Bob Escher · Apr 30, 2017

Hey I studied CS as well but back in the 80's, cobol, firtran and basic
Was never a math person so can never figure out programming per se
But I became a hardware computer consultant installing networks and admin

iemsparticus · Apr 30, 2017

Bob Escher said:
Hey I studied CS as well but back in the 80's, cobol, firtran and basic
Was never a math person so can never figure out programming per se
But I became a hardware computer consultant installing networks and admin

Nice... COBOL and Fortran are distant memories.

I still tinker with QBASIC occasionally... my buddy and myself had a lot of fun with it back in the day. And Math was my minor... hahaha. It help!

I'll make sure I post the code for my system here as I get it up and running.

Bob Escher · Apr 30, 2017

Sounds good can't wait to see some pics too

iemsparticus · Apr 30, 2017

Bob Escher said:
Sounds good can't wait to see some pics too

Will do. I have a build thread going as well, and that will get updated with pics constantly as I progress.

Bob Escher · Apr 30, 2017

Cool can't wait

iemsparticus · Jun 19, 2017

OK – so I realized that I have yet to post my code here. I will rectify that now: the caveat is that I am still in the tweaking process as far as intensity of lighting… I am wanting my tank to be a true mixed reef, so it takes a bunch of tweaking to get the PAR levels where I want them. But the basic code stays the same.

I use a T5/Kessil A360WE hybrid, and the T5s are not dimmable, so far any storm/cloud lighting, they shut off. They are also off for the sunrise/sunset ramp periods.

First, for the Kessils, I have 6 different Profiles:

[Rise]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 12
End Intensity: 50

[Rise_Color]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 180
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 90

[Day]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intensity: 50
End Intensity: 50

[Day_Color]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intensity: 90
End Intensity: 90

[Set]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 50
End Intensity: 12

[Set_Time]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 180
Start Intensity: 90
End Intensity: 0

Then, I use the following Outlets setup:

[KessilColor] (variable output 1)
Set OFF
If Sun 000/-360 Then Rise_Color
If Sun 360/000 Then Set_Color
If Sun 180/-180 Then Day_Color
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then Clouds
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then Storm

[KessilPower] (variable output 2)
Set OFF
If Sun 000/-360 Then Rise
If Sun 360/000 Then Set
If Sun 120/-120 Then Day
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then Clouds
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then Storm

[KessilLeft] (EB832 outlet)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output KessilPower = ON Then ON
If Output KessilColor = ON Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then OFF

[KessilRight] (EB832 outlet)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output KessilPower = ON Then ON
If Output KessilColor = ON Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then OFF

[Storm_Prog] (virtual output)
OSC 000:00/037:00/636:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 13:59 Then OFF
Min Time 037:00 Then ON
If DoW S-T-T-S Then OFF

[Clouds_Prog] (virtual output)
OSC 000:00/037:00/636:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 13:59 Then OFF
Min Time 037:00 Then ON
If DoW -M-W-F- Then OFF

For my Moon lighting, I use the Neptune Apex LSM. Once installed, it comes pre programmed. If you, for any reason, have changed the program, you can easily set it back to what it was. Below is my module and the correct programming:

[LunarLights]
Set OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then ON

For programming the T5s, I have two separate outlets. One controls the two T5 bulbs in the front of the canopy, and the other controls the two T5 bulbs in the back of the canopy. I have them shut off if the tank ever reaching 82 degrees F, with a minimum off time of 30 minutes, so the lights don’t flicker on and off if the temp is right at the edge.

They are set to turn on during the “daylight” part of my photoperiod, which is 3 hours after sunrise, and ends 3 hours before sunset. They also, as stated previously, turn off in the instance of a storm or clouds, because they are not dimmable.

[T5Front]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 180/-180 Then ON
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Tmp > 81.0 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

[T5Back]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 180/-180 Then ON
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Tmp > 81.0 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

As I stated, the photoperiods and intensities are still being tweaked… it’s possible the “daylight” period will lengthen or shrink, the Kessil intensities will be increased or diminished, etc… but this programming can be modified for any application.

Also, obviously, these profiles, outlets, and modules have the names I have given them... if you wish to use different names, you will need to change the names that refer to them in this program.

ngvu1 · Jun 20, 2017

@iemsparticus: did you backup all the codes;-)

I don't see that in Fusion. I need to update mine. It would suck if I have to go spot check on my codes

ngvu1 · Jun 20, 2017

sorry double post. hate Sprint!

iemsparticus · Jun 20, 2017

ngvu1 said:
@iemsparticus: did you backup all the codes;-)

I don't see that in Fusion. I need to update mine. It would suck if I have to go spot check on my codes

I guess I'm not sure what you mean. I mean, I know you can share a WAV scheme so that other users can use yours (though I'm not sure if it would work for me because my WAV scheme is also based on Seasonal Tables and uses profiles, etc...), but can you do that with any Apex Fusion coding?

I have the code as a Word document...

ngvu1 · Jun 20, 2017

iemsparticus said:
I guess I'm not sure what you mean. I mean, I know you can share a WAV scheme so that other users can use yours (though I'm not sure if it would work for me because my WAV scheme is also based on Seasonal Tables and uses profiles, etc...), but can you do that with any Apex Fusion coding?

I have the code as a Word document...

Imagine you have to replace the apex base

iemsparticus · Jun 20, 2017

ngvu1 said:
Imagine you have to replace the apex base

I think you would just link that new base to your fusion, correct? Then you could use your current settings? Not sure, never had to do that.

jtietz · Feb 21, 2019

iemsparticus said:
OK – so I realized that I have yet to post my code here. I will rectify that now: the caveat is that I am still in the tweaking process as far as intensity of lighting… I am wanting my tank to be a true mixed reef, so it takes a bunch of tweaking to get the PAR levels where I want them. But the basic code stays the same.

I use a T5/Kessil A360WE hybrid, and the T5s are not dimmable, so far any storm/cloud lighting, they shut off. They are also off for the sunrise/sunset ramp periods.

First, for the Kessils, I have 6 different Profiles:

[Rise]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 12
End Intensity: 50

[Rise_Color]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 180
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 90

[Day]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intensity: 50
End Intensity: 50

[Day_Color]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intensity: 90
End Intensity: 90

[Set]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 50
End Intensity: 12

[Set_Time]
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 180
Start Intensity: 90
End Intensity: 0

Then, I use the following Outlets setup:

[KessilColor] (variable output 1)
Set OFF
If Sun 000/-360 Then Rise_Color
If Sun 360/000 Then Set_Color
If Sun 180/-180 Then Day_Color
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then Clouds
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then Storm

[KessilPower] (variable output 2)
Set OFF
If Sun 000/-360 Then Rise
If Sun 360/000 Then Set
If Sun 120/-120 Then Day
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then Clouds
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then Storm

[KessilLeft] (EB832 outlet)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output KessilPower = ON Then ON
If Output KessilColor = ON Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then OFF

[KessilRight] (EB832 outlet)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output KessilPower = ON Then ON
If Output KessilColor = ON Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then OFF

[Storm_Prog] (virtual output)
OSC 000:00/037:00/636:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 13:59 Then OFF
Min Time 037:00 Then ON
If DoW S-T-T-S Then OFF

[Clouds_Prog] (virtual output)
OSC 000:00/037:00/636:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 13:59 Then OFF
Min Time 037:00 Then ON
If DoW -M-W-F- Then OFF

For my Moon lighting, I use the Neptune Apex LSM. Once installed, it comes pre programmed. If you, for any reason, have changed the program, you can easily set it back to what it was. Below is my module and the correct programming:

[LunarLights]
Set OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then ON

For programming the T5s, I have two separate outlets. One controls the two T5 bulbs in the front of the canopy, and the other controls the two T5 bulbs in the back of the canopy. I have them shut off if the tank ever reaching 82 degrees F, with a minimum off time of 30 minutes, so the lights don’t flicker on and off if the temp is right at the edge.

They are set to turn on during the “daylight” part of my photoperiod, which is 3 hours after sunrise, and ends 3 hours before sunset. They also, as stated previously, turn off in the instance of a storm or clouds, because they are not dimmable.

[T5Front]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 180/-180 Then ON
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Tmp > 81.0 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

[T5Back]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 180/-180 Then ON
If Output Storm_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Output Clouds_Prog = ON Then OFF
If Tmp > 81.0 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

As I stated, the photoperiods and intensities are still being tweaked… it’s possible the “daylight” period will lengthen or shrink, the Kessil intensities will be increased or diminished, etc… but this programming can be modified for any application.

Also, obviously, these profiles, outlets, and modules have the names I have given them... if you wish to use different names, you will need to change the names that refer to them in this program.

Quick question. I also have the lsm with kessil t5 hyprid. I have an older kessil a350w. How would you alter this schedule to format an a350w. Thank you