Home Assistant Thread

[firechild]

I see a handful of threads on various places on r2r about using Home Assistant for aquarium control for specific use cases. As someone who is working towards adding as much aquarium control as possible to my Home Assistant instance, I'd love to see what others are doing. What dashboards are you creating? What components are you using? Obviously with ESPhome, just about anything is possible, but there are loads of smart devices that can be integrated directly.

Currently I have my Inkbird controller and dosing pumps integrated with HA and I'm working on auto top-up, lights and a few other components.

I'm using one of these for dosing pumps - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003637113966.html
I have one of these on the way to monitor the level of my RO reservoir - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007651837969.html

In addition I'm using a number of smart switches to control actions, while this is useful, it's not nearly as interesting as what people are doing to monitor and automate.

Tell us what you're doing.

 

[cdemoss01]

I see a handful of threads on various places on r2r about using Home Assistant for aquarium control for specific use cases. As someone who is working towards adding as much aquarium control as possible to my Home Assistant instance, I'd love to see what others are doing. What dashboards are you creating? What components are you using? Obviously with ESPhome, just about anything is possible, but there are loads of smart devices that can be integrated directly.

Currently I have my Inkbird controller and dosing pumps integrated with HA and I'm working on auto top-up, lights and a few other components.

I'm using one of these for dosing pumps - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003637113966.html
I have one of these on the way to monitor the level of my RO reservoir - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007651837969.html

In addition I'm using a number of smart switches to control actions, while this is useful, it's not nearly as interesting as what people are doing to monitor and automate.

Tell us what you're doing.

How is the dosing going? Never really trusted things from alli or less known companies.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Im curious to see how those Ali dosers are doing as well!

 

[firechild]

How is the dosing going? Never really trusted things from alli or less known companies.

Im curious to see how those Ali dosers are doing as well!

The build thread is here - https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-dosing-unit-home-assistant.1080788/#post-13008130

I've only just finished it so I can't tell you anything long term but the pumps themselves are Kamoer and the only other major component from aliexpress is a wifi relay board. From what I understand that is no different to the power strips used with the Hydros that people seem to have no reliability issues with.

 

[shoedy]

I'd be interested in a list of integrations with off-the-shelf hardware. So far I've only been able to integrate stuff that is build by myself with esphome

 

[firechild]

Unfortunately the water level sensor I bought doesn't integrate with HA. It is recognised as a device but has no entities. I did find some posts on the HA forum from people saying they were working on the integration so hopefully that is something that comes soon. In the meantime I have the monitoring in the Tuya app and I can create automations there to fill my reservoir.

 

[firechild]

Seems there's less interest in Home Assistant than I thought there'd be. I'll keep posting my own devices and integrations for anyone that's interested.

I actually got the ultrasonic level sensor working with the xtend Tuya integration. I have this installed in the top of a 220L drum for my RO storage. I can now create automations to fill the reservoir by switching a solenoid at the tap in the laundry. Currently, when the level drops to 20%, the solenoid opens and the drum fills to 100%.

 

[Bio]

Unfortunately the water level sensor I bought doesn't integrate with HA. It is recognised as a device but has no entities. I did find some posts on the HA forum from people saying they were working on the integration so hopefully that is something that comes soon. In the meantime I have the monitoring in the Tuya app and I can create automations there to fill my reservoir.I

Unfortunately the water level sensor I bought doesn't integrate with HA. It is recognised as a device but has no entities. I did find some posts on the HA forum from people saying they were working on the integration so hopefully that is something that comes soon. In the meantime I have the monitoring in the Tuya app and I can create automations there to fill my reservoir.

I use these for level senors and top off sensors they work good with esp boards

Food Grade Optical Infrared Water Liquid Level Sensor 500mm Cable High Sensibility, Working with Liquid Level Controller(Pack of 3) get them on amazon,​

 

[firechild]

I use these for level senors and top off sensors they work good with esp boards

Food Grade Optical Infrared Water Liquid Level Sensor 500mm Cable High Sensibility, Working with Liquid Level Controller(Pack of 3) get them on amazon,​

I have looked at using sensors like that for other purposes but with my RO reservoir, I would like to be able to monitor the level rather than just know when it is empty or full. I will change out my float switches at some point because they do tend to stick more regularly than I am comfortable with. I have looked at the ones you're using as well as something like this which should also be pretty simple to use with ESPhome.

 

[Bio]

I have looked at using sensors like that for other purposes but with my RO reservoir, I would like to be able to monitor the level rather than just know when it is empty or full. I will change out my float switches at some point because they do tend to stick more regularly than I am comfortable with. I have looked at the ones you're using as well as something like this which should also be pretty simple to use with ESPhome.

I was looking into the same thing with pressure sensors but their a little pricey at 32 dollars i still might pick one up to try.

 

[firechild]

I was looking into the same thing with pressure sensors but their a little pricey at 32 dollars i still might pick one up to try.

I am looking into pressure sensors to monitor the level of dosing containers as the ultrasonic sensor is too big (and at over AU$50 each, not cheap) for 2L containers. Something like this looks like a cheap way to start.

 

[SeBsZ]

Hey guys, maybe I can help a bit. Full disclosure: I'm working on an ESPHome powered device that I want to sell in the future called AquaHA (for Home Assistant). Not sure if I'm allowed to link to it here? The reason I'm posting here is because I'm still finalizing the exact inputs and outputs and if you want me to add something I still can. Right now it can measure temperature, salinity and pH. There are also 4 inputs that can be used for those cheap contact-less liquid indicators. They can measure the presence of water through glass so you can set up warnings when dosing containers or sump are low.
It can also drive and dim 4 power LED bars, 2 relays for heaters/coolers and some general outputs. I've been running the prototypes for months. I'd love to hear from you if you have suggestions or are interested.

On the topic of level sensing, I'm afraid I have bad results to share. I've tried several sensors from ultrasonic to laser time of flight. Nothing worked well. I tried using a tube with a sensor mounted on top. Some things would work for a while, most notably the ultrasonic sensor, but then fail after weeks due to, I think, salt creep inside the tube causing false reflections. I also bought a pressure sensor that sits at the bottom of the sump, but I don't like solutions that touch the water. In this case I don't trust the stainless steel to be reef safe. I do like @firechild 's solution to maybe put the container on top of a load cell to measure the weight of the container. That should be reliable as long as each container that holds a fluid is separate from the other containers. And it's not very practical to measure the weight of the whole sump.

Looking forward to your thoughts. It may be a small group of people but I'm sure there are a bunch of us who like both Home Assistant and aquariums?

 

[Lukes Saltwater Tank]

Hey guys, maybe I can help a bit. Full disclosure: I'm working on an ESPHome powered device that I want to sell in the future called AquaHA (for Home Assistant). Not sure if I'm allowed to link to it here? The reason I'm posting here is because I'm still finalizing the exact inputs and outputs and if you want me to add something I still can. Right now it can measure temperature, salinity and pH. There are also 4 inputs that can be used for those cheap contact-less liquid indicators. They can measure the presence of water through glass so you can set up warnings when dosing containers or sump are low.
It can also drive and dim 4 power LED bars, 2 relays for heaters/coolers and some general outputs. I've been running the prototypes for months. I'd love to hear from you if you have suggestions or are interested.

On the topic of level sensing, I'm afraid I have bad results to share. I've tried several sensors from ultrasonic to laser time of flight. Nothing worked well. I tried using a tube with a sensor mounted on top. Some things would work for a while, most notably the ultrasonic sensor, but then fail after weeks due to, I think, salt creep inside the tube causing false reflections. I also bought a pressure sensor that sits at the bottom of the sump, but I don't like solutions that touch the water. In this case I don't trust the stainless steel to be reef safe. I do like @firechild 's solution to maybe put the container on top of a load cell to measure the weight of the container. That should be reliable as long as each container that holds a fluid is separate from the other containers. And it's not very practical to measure the weight of the whole sump.

Looking forward to your thoughts. It may be a small group of people but I'm sure there are a bunch of us who like both Home Assistant and aquariums?

That sounds interesting and alot like a project I'm working on... Marine assistant also for home assistant.

Maybe we should combine forces somehow?

I've also got a echo distance sensor running for the ato reservoir.... Doing fine up to now and it's been running a while, maybe due to my 3d printed bracket that allows airflow. I'm really happy with it all at the moment but It's crazy what home assistant can do!

 

[jshoxk]

Tagging along. With pumps and lights being on Mobius, I see less of a need for an Apex level controller. 15 years ago when I had a tank with halides, t5, my ATO was high/low float switches wired into my own break out box, it made sense.

While I’d love to see Mobius in HA, don’t see it being soon due to no documented API. I would however love HA integration for monitoring anything I can get a probe for.

I just got back in the hobby 2 weeks ago with a waterbox 20 cube. With an AI prime 16HD, ecotech mp10, and inkbird controller for heater, I don’t really “need” control. More monitoring. If I needed control and only one I can really think of would just throw a zigbee plug in before the inkbird, if temp > 80, turn off inkbird outlet,

I was thinking could one of the optical water switches like the one from Neptune that plugs into fmm, is that just a normally open/closed type switch where it could easily be added into HA

 

[Toti]

Hello.
I've been using HomeAssistant for three years, controlling and monitoring things at home.
For the aquarium, I only control the dosing pumps.

I'm very wary of letting HomeAssistant take care of my aquarium; it's let me down at times. I don't want to have any issues with refilling evaporated water, calcium reactor issues, or temperature problems. I maintain all of this with wired automations. Remember, if the Home Assistant instance crashes, you'll lose control of the aquarium. And you'll have to run to a backup or find a new computer.

What I do do is keep all the aquarium information monitored on an HA dashboard, with alerts sent to my phone in case something strange happens.

I hope I've clarified some ideas.

Best regards.

 

[Elwinmage]

My System if fully controlled by Home assistant (Dosing pumps, waves, leds, water level, temperatures, skimmer, pumps, PH, heaters...) without any trouble. Because many of my devices are Redsea (Reefbeat), if case of homeassistant crash the devices continue to work for other devices the wiring is made to put them on in case of failaure (heaters for example).

 

[FranklinDattein]

Another user of home assistant here. I've integrated it to various Tuya devices like pH controller, energy monitoring and air quality sensors in the fish room. Also Google nest camera to watch my tank and various esphome devices I built myself, like TDS meters, ATO, etc.

About 10y ago I built a fully fledged controller with RPI and sensors/actuators from various brands, but it has become too hard to maintain and migrating to HA made it much simpler.

 

[Bubule]

Hello,

I've been using HA for four or five years for my home. Heating, lighting, music and weather were the first I installed, mainly to manage them from outside my house. But each is autonomous in case of HA failure. I use a lot of Enocean products for the home cause they don't require a power source to work (no battery, only piezzo).

All my aquarium equipments are in the basement. I use rainwater storage to fill my RO water tank (through 5 stage reverse osmosis system). And I like to see their levels.

Automation engineer in industries for 40 years, I've always been wary of electronic systems (dangerous machines are protected by redundant relay systems because µC and µP are too 'sensitive'). I made some pump oscillators about ten years ago, controlled by Arduino. And I thought it was a good idea to control water levels with the same card. This was not a good idea. Of course, despite the card's protected location, the salt ended up damaging it. I've replaced it twice in 10 years. The last time was the day before leaving for vacation. Brilliant !

Now, each HA update makes me tremble so that nothing gets broken. If you use it for long time, you understand what I mean.

So, in my new installation, everything (or almost everything) is controlled by relay automation systems, without microcontroller. Essential elements such as heating, lighting and pumps are controlled independently.

HA simply tells me the values (temperature, pH, redox, sensor levels) and sends me alerts on my phone in the event of a power outage, an empty or low tank level, or an abnormal interval between refills. Temperatures out of ordinary.
For now, I still have the calcium hydroxide feed and its agitator, controlled by Shelly Uni and HA, but I will transfer to the Esp, so that they are autonomous. I could control them by timers and, relay, but that’s less critical than the rest in case of failure.

For tank levels, I use these sensors for rainwater and RO tank.
They send values via Wi-Fi on Shelly Uni module (which disconnects from the network too often for my liking). One day, I'll probably replace them by an ESP equipped with an external antenna which works in my basement without any connection issues.

For tank return levels, I use sensors of this type directly connected to the relays (and a relay contact returns informations to HA).

In the basement near my technical tanks, I have a small screen with ESP to display the values, without opening my phone.

For pH and ORP measurements, I use DfRobot modules with isolation boards https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1621.html to avoid interference for each measurement.


Franck

 

[Bubule]

and various esphome devices I built myself, like TDS meters, ATO, etc.

@FranklinDattein ,
I can see you have alkalinity tracking on your dashboard. What measurement method do you use? Are you satisfied with it?

Do you use Grafana for your graphs ?

 

[FranklinDattein]

@FranklinDattein ,
I can see you have alkalinity tracking on your dashboard. What measurement method do you use? Are you satisfied with it?

Do you use Grafana for your graphs ?

I am currently using an AquarinoKh (aquarino.com.br) and o am happy with it. It doesn’t use reagents, measures every hour and controls the solenoid of my calcium reactor.

The graphs widget is Lovelace mini graph card.
When time allows I’ll share the HA config on GitHub.