Hydros controller, what do I need ?

[n2585722]

The X10 doser heads are absolute trash. They crack and need replaced often. They also are limited to ONLY dosing programs. You can’t use those heads for things like an ATO or functions outside of dosing. Coralvue loves to limit features because they just don’t feel like allowing them.


Personally I would get a launch and xp8. I have a bunch of the controllers and they all have their uses but the only one that basically does everything is the launch. Pretty soon I’ll be pairing down some controllers like a minnow, and x2 I believe. Just trying to finish up my mixing station.

Those pumps will overheat if they are on for a long time so they are limited in that respect. They are also smart pumps and smart pumps can only be used in a dosing schedule or if it is a Sole it can be setup to run at a specific flow rate continuously. Then you can control the on and off of the pump using the depends on function with another output. I have 2 of the X10's the oldest one which will be 2 years old this summer I used for the alkalinity testing which I do 4 times a day and also drain and refill the beaker twice before each test to get the temp closer to that of the tank. So they do get a lot of use, but I don't run them at the 100ml flow rate. I used 75ml a minute and the heads I have on there will be two years old this summer.

 

[Frogbone]

One last question before I get my things delivered.

Currently I am using a Robo-Tank system which has a Webapp to display the dashboard.
I have two tablets that show the dashboard. One by the Display Tank and one downstairs where all the equipment is.
In addition I have the webapp on my phone for remote monitoring and manual control.
Can I do this with the Hydros app? What's that app like? I have tried to find images of a Hydros Dashboard but can't find anything.

 

[n2585722]

One last question before I get my things delivered.

Currently I am using a Robo-Tank system which has a Webapp to display the dashboard.
I have two tablets that show the dashboard. One by the Display Tank and one downstairs where all the equipment is.
In addition I have the webapp on my phone for remote monitoring and manual control.
Can I do this with the Hydros app? What's that app like? I have tried to find images of a Hydros Dashboard but can't find anything.

The Hydros app can be installed on iPads, iPhones and most android devices. There is also a web app that you can use with any device that has a web browser by clicking on web app on a Hydros webpage that also has a link to the online manuals. You will need to setup an account. I have a lot of screenshots on my build thread here on R2R. I think the Hydros info starts on page 6. Just clicl on the My Tank Thread banner in one of my post and it should take you to my build thread.

 

[Dr. D]

I use the Hydros app as my main dashboard. I can instantly see temp and pH readings, and control everything as needed. I use the AI app for my Hydra lights; as far as Hydros is concerned the lights are simply plugged into my XP8 and on all the time.The AI app stinks but once it’s set up you don’t really need to mess with it. (I have a Launch, Kraken, XP8, XS, and Wave Engine.)

 

[Frogbone]

Sounds good just don't use the power pack that comes with the minnow since you will have a power source with the XP8 and Launch. Those power packs that connect directly to the command bus cannot be used with any other source of power on the command bus.

I did say it was my last question but I just skimmed over your build thread for a bit. The inputs and outputs you are discussing, are these hardware inputs and outputs or are they "PLC" type software inputs and outputs to create logics ?

 

[n2585722]

I did say it was my last question but I just skimmed over your build thread for a bit. The inputs and outputs you are discussing, are these hardware inputs and outputs or are they "PLC" type software inputs and outputs to create logics ?

Inputs and outputs have to be created in Hydros using the app. As an example here is a water level input. This one is for sump high and it the type is set to sense port. Then under sense port the actual sense port the device is hooked to is selected. Then the sense mode is set to float water level here since I do use a float switch for this one. I also set the notification level to orange. The Hydros has a selection of none, yellow, orange and red. In options menu you can set the type of alert sent for each level. Alert when dry is set to off since I want this one to alert when wet. Also invisible is set to off since I do not want this input to be invisible. If it is invisible is set to on it will not show on any of the status pages unless a particular page is set to show invisible inputs and outputs. Once this has been setup you can use it to control outputs. In this case this would turn off my skimmer and the ATO outputs. I assume that is the inputs and outputs you are referring to. A output would be setup similarly. The output device in the output settings chooses the output port on a controller that is compatible with the type of output you are setting up that are not already in use. Once an output port or input port have been used they will not show up as a selection.

 

[n2585722]

I did say it was my last question but I just skimmed over your build thread for a bit. The inputs and outputs you are discussing, are these hardware inputs and outputs or are they "PLC" type software inputs and outputs to create logics ?

Here is an output I have setup that is just used for logic to control the speed of my flow pumps during feed mode and it is triggered on by the feeder output and it has a minimum on time set to 30 minutes. So once turned on it will normally stay on for 30 minutes. I use this to switch the flow pump schedules to the feed mode schedule by using the depends on settings in the schedules for the pumps. They are set to this output and the feed mode schedule has a dependency mode of off if off so the only time that schedule can run is if this output is on. All the other schedules have a dependency mode set to off if on so that those schedules cannot run if this output is on. This output had no actual output device so it does not actually turn any ports on or off directly. The second input is an output I can turn on that will keep feed mode from running if it is on since the input is inverted. This output uses the combiner output type which uses other outputs as inputs. The combiner mode is set to AND so the first input has to be off and the second input which is inverted has to be off for this output to be on. You can have up to 9 inputs setup for this output.

 

[Frogbone]

Is there a way I can create this feeding routing to run at specific times? I am stumped once again...
All these devices are on AC outlets on my XP8

1. • Turn Off Return Pump
   • Turn Off Wavemaker
   • Turn on Feeder for 45 seconds (Dump food into hydration tube )
   • Wait 1 minute
   • Turn on Feeder Pump (Distribute hydrated food into tank)
   • Turn on Wavemaker (Prevent food from sinking to bottom)
   • Wait 2 minutes
   • Turn Off Feeder Pump ( By now hydration tube should be empty)
   • Wait 2 minutes
   • Turn on Return Pump

 

[n2585722]

Is there a way I can create this feeding routing to run at specific times? I am stumped once again...
All these devices are on AC outlets on my XP8

1. • Turn Off Return Pump
   • Turn Off Wavemaker
   • Turn on Feeder for 45 seconds (Dump food into hydration tube )
   • Wait 1 minute
   • Turn on Feeder Pump (Distribute hydrated food into tank)
   • Turn on Wavemaker (Prevent food from sinking to bottom)
   • Wait 2 minutes
   • Turn Off Feeder Pump ( By now hydration tube should be empty)
   • Wait 2 minutes
   • Turn on Return Pump

I do control the speed of my MP10's which are controlled by my Hydros wave engine. Here is the feeder output below. This will trigger my feed mode output and it stays on for 30 minutes when triggered. I do not turn off or slow down my return pump for feed mode but it could be done using the depends on in the output and in the schedule if the speed is controlled on it by the Hydros. Just make a feed mode schedule like I did for my flow pumps. Below is my feeder output which is also controlled by the Hydros. Below that is the feed mode output which is triggered by the feeder output. In it the enable advanced settings is turned on and a minimum on time is set to 30 minutes. So the feed mode output will stay on for that long before going off. I setup a feeding schedule for my MP10's which also have multiple schedules during the day. The depends on setting in that schedule is set to the feed mode output and the dependency mode is set to off if off so if the feed mode output is not on it will not run the schedule. If it is on it will run the schedule which runs the flow pumps at a constant 6% speed. The next schedule is one of the other normal schedule which happens to be the morning schedule. It has it dependency mode set to the feed mode output but the dependency mode is set to off if on and the other schedules are set the same. So it is the opposite if feed mode is on then this schedule will not run but if it is off then it will run the normal schedule. Hope this helps.

 

[Frogbone]

I dont use a wave engine and i dont think i want to spend the extra money in that .
I fugured the Hydros would let you create schedules dor anything, not just the canned schedule templates

 

[n2585722]

I dont use a wave engine and i dont think i want to spend the extra money in that .
I fugured the Hydros would let you create schedules dor anything, not just the canned schedule templates

Here is an output I Have a schedule setup to turn on every 2 hours for 10 minute using the generic output type. I just use this as a timer to turn on the input solenoid of my RODI unit so it will refill the RO bladder tank for the ice maker in my fridge. So you can setup schedules for outputs if you use the generic output type under tye advanced family.