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- Nov 25, 2019
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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!
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
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!