DIY Universal Budget “ReefLink” with Echo dot

[Y8ZC]

Hey everyone!

So there might be others who have thought of this, but I wanted to show how I made my own “ReefLink” with an Echo dot, Alexa, and some cheap smart plugs.
I’m currently in college dual majoring in Marine Biology and Fisheries and Aquaculture. Because of this I can only work summers so I don’t have a lot of money to put to my hobbies.

Here are my system’s specs:
12g DIY AIO
AI Prime 16HD
DIY Refugium
DIY Lime wood protein skimmer
Hydro Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump
AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro
DIY phytoplankton culturing system

My sister over the summer programmed her Alexa to change the smart lights that she got, and it had me thinking. My dad has the real Reef Link and there was no way I could afford it but I thought why can I do that with an Echo dot and smart plugs? So I bought a set of four smart plugs from Amazon for $22.99. The company is GoSund, and I’ll include a link.

I got the individuals because I didn’t know if I could control each outlet port on the multi ports individually. It was super simple to setup and the directions that came with the plugs tell you how to set them up with your phone and the Echo dot. You need the Gosund app and the Alexa app.

Once I got it all setup, I used the Alexa app to make a “routine” for three of my plugs for my system.
Here are the steps I did to setup my routines for “ReefLink”:

Step 1.
Go into your Alexa app and select more

Step 2.
Click on routines

Step 3.
Click on the plus symbol

Step 4.
Name your routine

Step 5.

Step 6.
Go into the “when this happens”

step 7.
Select verbal

Step 8.
Write in what you want the verbal command to be

Step 9.
Add action

Step 10.
Go to smart home

Step 11.
Pick a plug that you will use for your commands I renamed my plugs for what they’re connected to

Step 12.
Select off

Step 13.
Add another action

Step 14.
Click waiting

Step 15.
Set your time

Step 16.
Add another action

Step 17.
Click on Smart home again
Step 18.
Set it to on

Step 19.
Press on the actions and slide them up and down into the order you want

Step 20.
This is what it should look like

Step 21.
Hit save and now all you have to do is to tell Alexa your command and it does it. I have mine setup so that my return pump so it turns off for 15 minutes and turn back on for feeding. I also have another one setup to my protein skimmer for dosing phytoplankton and it shuts off for a hour. My light refugium is setup so I just have to say turn on and off.

This can be used further with more applications, and I will look it more in the future. This system will work with just about all equipment back the plug is doing all the work.

The whole “ReefLink” setup costs $52.98 plus tax, for the plugs and the Echo dot.

I hope this helps others on a budget like me!

 

[FangsAndGames]

What a beautiful tank!

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Hey everyone!

So there might be others who have thought of this, but I wanted to show how I made my own “ReefLink” with an Echo dot, Alexa, and some cheap smart plugs.
I’m currently in college dual majoring in Marine Biology and Fisheries and Aquaculture. Because of this I can only work summers so I don’t have a lot of money to put to my hobbies.

Here are my system’s specs:
12g DIY AIO
AI Prime 16HD
DIY Refugium
DIY Lime wood protein skimmer
Hydro Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump
AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro
DIY phytoplankton culturing system

My sister over the summer programmed her Alexa to change the smart lights that she got, and it had me thinking. My dad has the real Reef Link and there was no way I could afford it but I thought why can I do that with an Echo dot and smart plugs? So I bought a set of four smart plugs from Amazon for $22.99. The company is GoSund, and I’ll include a link.

I got the individuals because I didn’t know if I could control each outlet port on the multi ports individually. It was super simple to setup and the directions that came with the plugs tell you how to set them up with your phone and the Echo dot. You need the Gosund app and the Alexa app.

Once I got it all setup, I used the Alexa app to make a “routine” for three of my plugs for my system.
Here are the steps I did to setup my routines for “ReefLink”:

Step 1.
Go into your Alexa app and select more

Step 2.
Click on routines

Step 3.
Click on the plus symbol

Step 4.
Name your routine

Step 5.

Step 6.
Go into the “when this happens”

step 7.
Select verbal

Step 8.
Write in what you want the verbal command to be

Step 9.
Add action

Step 10.
Go to smart home

Step 11.
Pick a plug that you will use for your commands I renamed my plugs for what they’re connected to

Step 12.
Select off

Step 13.
Add another action

Step 14.
Click waiting

Step 15.
Set your time

Step 16.
Add another action

Step 17.
Click on Smart home again
Step 18.
Set it to on

Step 19.
Press on the actions and slide them up and down into the order you want

Step 20.
This is what it should look like

Step 21.
Hit save and now all you have to do is to tell Alexa your command and it does it. I have mine setup so that my return pump so it turns off for 15 minutes and turn back on for feeding. I also have another one setup to my protein skimmer for dosing phytoplankton and it shuts off for a hour. My light refugium is setup so I just have to say turn on and off.

This can be used further with more applications, and I will look it more in the future. This system will work with just about all equipment back the plug is doing all the work.

The whole “ReefLink” setup costs $52.98 plus tax, for the plugs and the Echo dot.

I hope this helps others on a budget like me!

Clever, nicely done

 

[Y8ZC]

What a beautiful tank!

Thank you I can’t wait to have a bigger one haha

 

[Y8ZC]

Clever, nicely done

Thank you I hope it was helpful!

 

[Tampaman]

It works like a charm! I've been running a 4 outlet smart strip for almost a year. It was $22. I'm an android guy so I use Google Home to setup routines and schedule lighting. Doesn't matter the program, they all work the same, with endless expandability. I don't think an extra power bar for an Apex could be had for $20. You can even get push notifications if so desired.

 

[Y8ZC]

It works like a charm! I've been running a 4 outlet smart strip for almost a year. It was $22. I'm an android guy so I use Google Home to setup routines and schedule lighting. Doesn't matter the program, they all work the same, with endless expandability. I don't think an extra power bar for an Apex could be had for $20. You can even get push notifications if so desired.

That’s awesome! I need to figure out how to do the push notifications. I think that there is definitely a solution for every obstacle if you just do a little brain work. It nice to know that someone had the same idea and made it work on the long tirm.

 

[FangsAndGames]

Thank you I can’t wait to have a bigger one haha

Dunno man

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Kudos to you! This is really cool!

 

[Tampaman]

I have a wifi PTZ baby camera that I put in place when leaving too. I can check temps by looking at the Ink Bird and turn off halides on hot days if needed. The camera works because all my electronics need to go into a nice cabinet, so the temp controller is visible for now. Going to need the wifi InkBird.

 

[Y8ZC]

I have a wifi PTZ baby camera that I put in place when leaving too. I can check temps by looking at the Ink Bird and turn off halides on hot days if needed. The camera works because all my electronics need to go into a nice cabinet, so the temp controller is visible for now. Going to need the wifi InkBird.

Wow that’s ingenious; I never would have even thought about doing something like that. You should make a thread about your system controls and how you did it I’d be really interested.

 

[Tampaman]

If you really want to get deep into it start playing with IFTTT (If This Than That) it works across platforms. Only way I could get my Ring doorbell (Amazon) to display on my Google hub. You can add enough triggers to do almost anything. Not that you would want to, but it could be setup so that when your phone comes into your wifi network a series of events take place, like open garage, unlock front door, turn on lights, etc...
Ands thanks for saying so, a year ago I just started my tank back up. Apex was out of the question, as the tank was given to me and money is tight. Now I don't have probs to monitor from a distance but many of the other automaton features became possible with a smart strip and a couple of the ones you show.
If your comfortable with programming Alexa like that, then IFTTT will be a quick learning curve for you. Cheers!

 

[Y8ZC]

If you really want to get deep into it start playing with IFTTT (If This Than That) it works across platforms. Only way I could get my Ring doorbell (Amazon) to display on my Google hub. You can add enough triggers to do almost anything. Not that you would want to, but it could be setup so that when your phone comes into your wifi network a series of events take place, like open garage, unlock front door, turn on lights, etc...
Ands thanks for saying so, a year ago I just started my tank back up. Apex was out of the question, as the tank was given to me and money is tight. Now I don't have probs to monitor from a distance but many of the other automaton features became possible with a smart strip and a couple of the ones you show.
If your comfortable with programming Alexa like that, then IFTTT will be a quick learning curve for you. Cheers!

Thank you for all the useful information, I’m far from computer savvy but it really interests me. I’ve been looking a little bit into IFTTT I want to make more options for the tank and my personal life. I’ll try to find more applications for that tank. My next project for it will be phytoplankton autodosing and refilling of the dosing container back with the same amount that was taken with fresh RO saltwater to keep the culture going.