Mattgsa 315 gallon build

[mattgsa]

This, I think, is very cool!

I know nothing about any of this and am guessing you have had some previous experience with them. I based this on your comment about it being the "the cleanest wiring job I've ever done."

I did find the video below and it is quite informative for a guy who knows nothing. I seldom have much free time but am going to try to dive a bit deeper into these things.

I appreciate you sharing!

This is my first PLC project, but since I work in IT, we do a lot of wiring, even with my tank; it's nothing more than a large rats' nest. You will also want to look into Node-Red, that is where the logic for the controller is going to be located.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

This is my first PLC project, but since I work in IT, we do a lot of wiring, even with my tank; it's nothing more than a large rats' nest. You will also want to look into Node-Red, that is where the logic for the controller is going to be located.

Thanks Matt. I will start looking more into these things when I get the time. This should be sometime around half past never. LOL!

Node-Red... noted.

 

[mattgsa]

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Any progress made in the past month?

 

[mattgsa]

I did get the float switch for the skimmer hooked up to the plc. However, I have been swamped with work over the last few weeks and have not had the time to work on the tank. I mainly just feed the fish. I did get in a dosing pump for the carx and it sitting on the floor by my desk.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I did get the float switch for the skimmer hooked up to the plc. However, I have been swamped with work over the last few weeks and have not had the time to work on the tank. I mainly just feed the fish. I did get in a dosing pump for the carx and it sitting on the floor by my desk.

Being swamped is a bittersweet thing or, at least, for me it usually has been.

If we do not connect beforehand, hope you and the fam have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

It's been a month, Matt. We want updates.

Did you get the dosing pump hooked to the carx?
What gives with the PLC automation? Any progress made?

 

[mattgsa]

Quick update since I’ve been juggling way too many projects at once and this one is moving, just slower than planned.

I did run into an issue with the AWC that got my attention. The waste line partially clogged, which caused the sump water level to rise and come closer to overflowing than I was comfortable with. Nothing spilled, but it was close enough that I shut things down and investigated before it turned into a real problem.

Once the clog was cleared, I rerouted the waste line using the tubing I had on hand so I could get the system back online quickly. The system is fully functional again, but the current routing is temporary and not how I want it long term. The routing itself isn’t causing any issues now, it’s just ugly and inefficient. Once more tubing comes in, I’ll redo it clean and permanent.

System numbers are looking good otherwise. Salinity is sitting right at 35 ppt, and PO₄ is coming down. Last check was around 2.01 and trending in the right direction. Because of that, I’m intentionally keeping changes to a minimum and letting things stabilize.

On the calcium reactor side, most of the hardware is ready. The plan is to get effluent and CO₂ flowing first, verify everything is stable, and then bring Node-RED and AI monitoring online so I can start collecting real data. Calibration will come later once I know the system can run consistently.

I also have a Melanurus wrasse on order from Marine Collectors. He hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m hoping he’ll help with some of the pest issues in the tank, especially the vermetid snails that have gotten out of hand. Once he’s here, I’ll be making sure a proper lid is in place since wrasses are known jumpers.

I’ll be honest, the part I’m really not looking forward to is the wiring. The plumbing and mechanical work is the fun part for me. The wiring phase is where everything has to be thought through carefully so pumps, sensors, control, and power all stay clean, safe, and serviceable.

More updates soon once the reactor is flowing and I can start pulling actual data. Appreciate everyone following along.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Quick update since I’ve been juggling way too many projects at once and this one is moving, just slower than planned.

I did run into an issue with the AWC that got my attention. The waste line partially clogged, which caused the sump water level to rise and come closer to overflowing than I was comfortable with. Nothing spilled, but it was close enough that I shut things down and investigated before it turned into a real problem.

Once the clog was cleared, I rerouted the waste line using the tubing I had on hand so I could get the system back online quickly. The system is fully functional again, but the current routing is temporary and not how I want it long term. The routing itself isn’t causing any issues now, it’s just ugly and inefficient. Once more tubing comes in, I’ll redo it clean and permanent.

System numbers are looking good otherwise. Salinity is sitting right at 35 ppt, and PO₄ is coming down. Last check was around 2.01 and trending in the right direction. Because of that, I’m intentionally keeping changes to a minimum and letting things stabilize.

On the calcium reactor side, most of the hardware is ready. The plan is to get effluent and CO₂ flowing first, verify everything is stable, and then bring Node-RED and AI monitoring online so I can start collecting real data. Calibration will come later once I know the system can run consistently.

I also have a Melanurus wrasse on order from Marine Collectors. He hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m hoping he’ll help with some of the pest issues in the tank, especially the vermetid snails that have gotten out of hand. Once he’s here, I’ll be making sure a proper lid is in place since wrasses are known jumpers.

I’ll be honest, the part I’m really not looking forward to is the wiring. The plumbing and mechanical work is the fun part for me. The wiring phase is where everything has to be thought through carefully so pumps, sensors, control, and power all stay clean, safe, and serviceable.

More updates soon once the reactor is flowing and I can start pulling actual data. Appreciate everyone following along.

Thanks for the update, Matt.

Happy you caught the waste line clog before it turned into a real problem. Curious as to how it becaome clogged. Sounds like it was the way you had it run.

The Melanurus wrasse will be a nice addition and, yeah, get the tank covered or it'll may end up dried and stuck to the floor.

You're a bright guy and I am sure you'll figure the best way to manage the wiring for everything.

Looking forward to more updates from you.

Merry Christmas to you and the family!

 

[mattgsa]

I have been messing with AI a lot lately, and I found this old picture that was all blue, and put it through AI, not bad in my opinion. Here's a before and after

 

[mattgsa]

Not reef related.


My son got a “yes day” for Christmas, and he chose a Nintendo Switch 2. The last time I dealt with Nintendo was back in the 80s and 90s, and back then it was generally a positive, straightforward experience.

If you have the opportunity to buy a Switch 2 today, do yourself a favor and take a sledgehammer to your toe instead. It will hurt less than trying to get the account system set up.

I’ve worked in IT for nearly 30 years. I have set up level one hypervisors, enterprise firewalls, identity systems, and multi factor authentication environments. I can say without exaggeration that it is easier and less frustrating to stand up enterprise infrastructure than it is to navigate Nintendo’s modern account, family, and verification setup.

What should feel like unboxing a toy turns into hours of QR codes, passwords, email verification loops, and unexplained restrictions layered on top of each other. It is exhausting, unintuitive, and completely hostile to parents who are trying to do the right thing.

Once the system finally works, the games are fun. But getting there feels like an exercise in futility. Nintendo may still make great games, but their account and user experience is shockingly bad.

 

[mattgsa]

I know it’s not much of an update, but I’m hoping these little white connectors really help out, I’m tired of these tubes coming undone.

 

[mattgsa]

Also, I figured out why I was blowing through resin so fast, I didn’t have a flow restrictor. Learn something new about RODI systems.

 

[mattgsa]

As you know, I’ve been battling high phosphates, and I didn’t want to carry the same problem into the new year. So I decided to take extreme measures. Yesterday, I did a 200-gallon water change, but it barely moved the needle on PO₄. That pushed me to finally tackle something I’ve been putting off for years — a full sump cleanout. I followed that up with another 200-gallon water change.

Now I’m hoping that tomorrow, the Hanna Checker will finally reward all the effort.

I turned off the return pump and used my hand to kick everything up so the pump could suck it all out. Sorry about the mess. Cleaning the tank room hasn't been a priority at all.

Then here is the after

 

[lubeck]

Also, I figured out why I was blowing through resin so fast, I didn’t have a flow restrictor. Learn something new about RODI systems.

This exact thing happened to me after I was going through $100 in DI per month

 

[mattgsa]

I didn’t have the energy to stay up and wait for my painfully slow utility pump to finish the full 200 gallons, but I still managed to fill about half. Tested this morning and PO₄ dropped to 1.42, not amazing, but it’s finally moving in the right direction. I think I’ll shift back to AWC for now and see how the system responds.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I didn’t have the energy to stay up and wait for my painfully slow utility pump to finish the full 200 gallons, but I still managed to fill about half. Tested this morning and PO₄ dropped to 1.42, not amazing, but it’s finally moving in the right direction. I think I’ll shift back to AWC for now and see how the system responds.

I'm not sure I remember but why did you move away from the AWC?

 

[mattgsa]

I'm not sure I remember but why did you move away from the AWC?

I went through 400 gallons of salt water and it didn't make any difference on the PO4 levels.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I went through 400 gallons of salt water and it didn't make any difference on the PO4 levels.

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I mean, if your tank was like 5,000 gallons, then yeah.

Anyways, why did you move away from the AWC originally?

 

[Robmbush]

Since I took the day off of work I decided I better get some work done.

How's that AA hybrid sump holding up? I'm waiting on the basically identical but 84" version for my 420g build. I was supposed to get it a couple months ago