reef-pi :: An opensource reef tank controller based on Raspberry Pi.

[JDowns]

Thanks. Looks like now it's a decision between the:

https://www.coolerguys.com/products/everflow-40x10mm-pwm-high-speed-dual-ball-bearing-fan-r124010bu

and

https://www.coolerguys.com/products/evercool-40x10mm-12v-dual-ball-pwm-fan-ec4010th12bp

I may be leaning towards the EC4010TH12BP, but mostly due to the more complete specs that seem to be available. I'm fine paying an extra dollar for a little more info, if only to better know what I'm getting.

The Evercool's double ball bearing as compared to the single ball bearing of the Everflow should be quieter and last longer.

Documentation on both are slim at best. But the Evercool does have specs on Pressure lnch-H2O which typically indicates an IP58 or IP68 rating. Either will provide ingress against dust and moisture, and in our environments is a plus.

 

[Ranjib]

I am working on building this myself. I have Reef-Pi up and running on a raspberry pi now, and am going to be adding my temperature probes and heat control this weekend. I would like to add my lighting as well, however, I am not sure I am going to be able to use the Aquaillumination lights I currently have. Any advice?

AquaIllumination Sol Light: http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/o...mination-sol-blue-lighting/related_product-10
I also have this, which I would love to use if I can: https://www.theaquariumsolution.com/resetting-ai-wireless-adapter-sol-or-nano

Thank you for consoidering reef-pi
I went through the webpages, its not clear to me how to control the led, without that information, its bit hard for me to recommend anything

 

[Gareth elliott]

I am working on building this myself. I have Reef-Pi up and running on a raspberry pi now, and am going to be adding my temperature probes and heat control this weekend. I would like to add my lighting as well, however, I am not sure I am going to be able to use the Aquaillumination lights I currently have. Any advice?

AquaIllumination Sol Light: http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/o...mination-sol-blue-lighting/related_product-10
I also have this, which I would love to use if I can: https://www.theaquariumsolution.com/resetting-ai-wireless-adapter-sol-or-nano

Do you know what driver the light uses? Some are pwm others that have connectivity to say apex use 10v logic. If can get the driver model used by the light should be able to get an idea how would connect.

 

[Flotto]

I've setup a 12V lighting-prototype with an IRFB 3806 and another one with an IRLB8721: Both setups do not emit the same amount of light compared to a direct connection with a psu. It's a massive "loss" of light...
Actually I can't go up to 100% in the UI, cause 100% means off and 99% is the max.

Any ideas?

 

[Ranjib]

I've setup a 12V lighting-prototype with an IRFB 3806 and another one with an IRLB8721: Both setups do not emit the same amount of light compared to a direct connection with a psu. It's a massive "loss" of light...
Actually I can't go up to 100% in the UI, cause 100% means off and 99% is the max.

Any ideas?

Can you share a photo of your wiring. When you said you are not able to get same power output as the original psu, can you elaborate exactly what’s missing? Voltage or current ? How are you measuring it ?

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi guys!

This is a great project, and I’m really interested in building my new tank around a reef-pi controller. I have been using Linux for years, though I know nothing about programming. Is it possible for me to get a reef-pi controller up and running? I haven’t had a chance to read this whole thread yet, but I’m about 9 pages deep, and I was excited so I joined the forum just for this thread. Is this the best place to ask questions about this project? And just because I am anxious to get a Pi ordered up, can I just ask if the Raspberry Pi 3 B is the unit everyone is using? As opposed to the RPi 3 A?

Thanks guys!

-Fish Fan

 

[Ranjib]

Hi guys!

This is a great project, and I’m really interested in building my new tank around a reef-pi controller. I have been using Linux for years, though I know nothing about programming. Is it possible for me to get a reef-pi controller up and running? I haven’t had a chance to read this whole thread yet, but I’m about 9 pages deep, and I was excited so I joined the forum just for this thread. Is this the best place to ask questions about this project? And just because I am anxious to get a Pi ordered up, can I just ask if the Raspberry Pi 3 B is the unit everyone is using? As opposed to the RPi 3 A?

Thanks guys!

-Fish Fan

Pi 3 B is good enough. If you dont want touchscreen display, even pi zero W will be good enough. You dont have to read through the whole thread to build a reef-pi controller. You can follow the documentation here: http://reef-pi.com . This thread has all the historical development details :-), many of which is stale or not useful. We are releasing reef-pi 1.0 , the very first major & stable public release in/around coming weekend, the docs are being improved as part of that. Let us know what you plan to control via reef-pi, tank setup etc , those make me excited most :-)
godspeed

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi! Thank you very much for your reply! I’m someone who has gone in and out of reefkeeping, so I’m kind of a noob right now, but I’m trying go slowly and build a nice system. I recently purchased an Innovative Marine Nuvo Black 40 gallon tank. After much consideration I think this is the biggest tank I can afford. I ordered a Bubble Magus 5 skimmer, a Synergy Reef ghost overflow I will plumb BeanAnimal style, and a Tunze 3155 Osmolator too off. That’s what I have so far, everything else is up in the air.

For lighting, I had been thinking about an AI Hydra26, but after researching the reef-pi, and seeing as how you personally use the Kessil A360, I think I’d like to go that route. I had originally been attracted to the Kessil because of their reputation and I really like the shimmer, but had been leaning towards an AI unit because of their web based controller software. However, if I can control the Kessil with the reef-Pi and not have to buy a separate Kessil controller, I think I’d like to do that. Do you recommend the Kessil lights to be used with reef-Pi?

After that, I’d like to control my heaters for sure, Circ pumps, return pump, etc. I don’t know if this is too much to ask, but I thought it’d be great if I could somehow add a camera that could upload real-time video that I could access on my phone when away from the house. Notifications by email/text would be awesome too. I’m pretty sure most all of this is either built into your software already, if I’m not mistaken.

And forgetting about the Pi zero for now, would you say the RPi 3 B is the best board to get for this project? If there’s another that’s better, please let me know, otherwise I think I’d prefer the 3 B over the zero for now.

Thank you very much for your help!

-FF

 

[Ranjib]

Hi! Thank you very much for your reply! I’m someone who has gone in and out of reefkeeping, so I’m kind of a noob right now, but I’m trying go slowly and build a nice system. I recently purchased an Innovative Marine Nuvo Black 40 gallon tank. After much consideration I think this is the biggest tank I can afford. I ordered a Bubble Magus 5 skimmer, a Synergy Reef ghost overflow I will plumb BeanAnimal style, and a Tunze 3155 Osmolator too off. That’s what I have so far, everything else is up in the air.

For lighting, I had been thinking about an AI Hydra26, but after researching the reef-pi, and seeing as how you personally use the Kessil A360, I think I’d like to go that route. I had originally been attracted to the Kessil because of their reputation and I really like the shimmer, but had been leaning towards an AI unit because of their web based controller software. However, if I can control the Kessil with the reef-Pi and not have to buy a separate Kessil controller, I think I’d like to do that. Do you recommend the Kessil lights to be used with reef-Pi?

After that, I’d like to control my heaters for sure, Circ pumps, return pump, etc. I don’t know if this is too much to ask, but I thought it’d be great if I could somehow add a camera that could upload real-time video that I could access on my phone when away from the house. Notifications by email/text would be awesome too. I’m pretty sure most all of this is either built into your software already, if I’m not mistaken.

And forgetting about the Pi zero for now, would you say the RPi 3 B is the best board to get for this project? If there’s another that’s better, please let me know, otherwise I think I’d prefer the 3 B over the zero for now.

Thank you very much for your help!

-FF

pi 3 b is the best board. You should be able to control all equipment with reef-pi already. The temperature controller module can control heater/chiller as well. reef-pi won't have any recommended lighting, I as a reefer personally would recommend reef-pi, and I can also attest it that kessil is tested by me on reef-pi. But others have tried out different lights. I think nanobox is a good option as well.
reef-pi can do Auto Top off as well, in case you want to consider that.
reef-pi has an experimental camera module that can take on-demand or periodic image capture.. and upload it to google drive. I use that a lot when I am out of town. Its not as polished as the other 1 target features (equipment, ATO, lighting, temperature).

 

[Fish Fan]

^^Thank you again!

I will order up a RPi 3 B this evening, I’ve been excited to fool around with one for a while anyway. I appreciate that you’re not necessarily endorsing any particular light, but because the Kessil is well tested by the main developer, and because I really think I want that shimmer, I think I would like the Kessil.

I believe I would like the Kessil A360we Tuna Blue. Would this light work well with reef-Pi, and what other hardware do I need to make the reef-Pi controller communicate with the Kessil A360we? I’m sorry if these are noob questions, but if I can sort this out I’d like to order some hardware very soon and get to work on my system. I think getting reef-Pi running and figuring out my lighting would be my first priority.

Thank you very much for your time and help!

-Fish Fan

 

[Ranjib]

^^Thank you again!

I will order up a RPi 3 B this evening, I’ve been excited to fool around with one for a while anyway. I appreciate that you’re not necessarily endorsing any particular light, but because the Kessil is well tested by the main developer, and because I really think I want that shimmer, I think I would like the Kessil.

I believe I would like the Kessil A360we Tuna Blue. Would this light work well with reef-Pi, and what other hardware do I need to make the reef-Pi controller communicate with the Kessil A360we? I’m sorry if these are noob questions, but if I can sort this out I’d like to order some hardware very soon and get to work on my system. I think getting reef-Pi running and figuring out my lighting would be my first priority.

Thank you very much for your time and help!

-Fish Fan

Yup it will work. Refer this guide for details on hardware only for lighting: https://reef-pi.github.io/build-guides/lighting/
A full bill of materials for all reef-pi 1.0 features is available here :
https://reef-pi.github.io/general-guides/bom/
I’ll strongly recommend reading through the general docs before you get started

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you, I’m already reading through the documentation at the link you provided above. I have a few other things I want to try with the Raspberry Pi, so I’m gojng to order that tonight anyway. But I will continue to read the docs for reef-pi. Is this the best place to ask build questions, or should I join the other forum if/when I need help?

Thanks very much!

-FF

 

[Flotto]

Can you share a photo of your wiring. When you said you are not able to get same power output as the original psu, can you elaborate exactly what’s missing? Voltage or current ? How are you measuring it ?

At the moment this is only measured by my eye balls. I’m getting a new meter to measure it on Monday. But I believe that the n-channel MOSFETs saturation voltage is the “voltage crasher”... On Monday I can tell more...

But actually my PSU has - to my surprise - a V+ adj. screw. But I’ll have to measure it all on monday with the new digital voltmeter.

 

[Flotto]

 

[Ranjib]

Thank you, I’m already reading through the documentation at the link you provided above. I have a few other things I want to try with the Raspberry Pi, so I’m gojng to order that tonight anyway. But I will continue to read the docs for reef-pi. Is this the best place to ask build questions, or should I join the other forum if/when I need help?

Thanks very much!

-FF

Yeah, this is the best place to ask reef-pi questions. It will be nice if you start a tank build thread, that way we can have coherent and relevant discussion there , similar to @Somnifac ’s build thread. Here it may be mangled and interleaved by different things related to reef-pi

 

[Ranjib]

At the moment this is only measured by my eye balls. I’m getting a new meter to measure it on Monday. But I believe that the n-channel MOSFETs saturation voltage is the “voltage crasher”... On Monday I can tell more...

But actually my PSU has - to my surprise - a V+ adj. screw. But I’ll have to measure it all on monday with the new digital voltmeter.

It’s not super clear if the resistor is connected to the first pin aka gate. If so,I think it’s correct wiring. Pwm output from pca9685 should be connected to gate via a resistor in series. Drain or second pin should be connected to the negative end of the led and source or the third pin of the mosfet should be connected to ground. Positive end of the power supply should be connected directly to the positive end of the led. All ground should be connected to a single rail (pi, power and pca9685) .ill try to get a prototype mosfet tested during this weekend for reference

 

[Ryan115]

Ranjib,
I had some inadvertent testing of reef-pi last night. We lost power a few times, and it happened to be a pretty cold night down here.
Looking at the history on adafruit, we lost power for about an hour then had it back for about 4 hours, and then out again for ~2.5 hours.
Tank temp dropped a few degrees (down to about 75) but all looks good right now.
When I woke up this morning there were a few relays that were not in the same state as what reef-pi thought they were, lights were on when they were reported as off, and the return pump power supply was showing a power fault error code, so not running.
All of my relays are wired up as NC. I am not sure the order of how power re-established and what the GPIO pins were doing when power was restored. Would the raspberry pi boot with pins in the last configuration, or would they all be floating? Is there any way for reef-pi to validate or cycle all of the relays after a power failure to get them into a known state?
If relays could be cycled for enough time, this would also have reset the power supply to the return pump.

 

[Flotto]

Hi Ranjib,

Pwm output from pca9685 should be connected to gate via a resistor in series. Drain or second pin should be connected to the negative end of the led and source or the third pin of the mosfet should be connected to ground. Positive end of the power supply should be connected directly to the positive end of the led. All ground should be connected to a single rail (pi, power and pca9685)

This is exactly the way I have wired it. PSU is 12V, 10Amp and a V+ Screw. On monday I will measure the whole setup with a voltmeter.

 

[Ranjib]

Ranjib,
I had some inadvertent testing of reef-pi last night. We lost power a few times, and it happened to be a pretty cold night down here.
Looking at the history on adafruit, we lost power for about an hour then had it back for about 4 hours, and then out again for ~2.5 hours.
Tank temp dropped a few degrees (down to about 75) but all looks good right now.
When I woke up this morning there were a few relays that were not in the same state as what reef-pi thought they were, lights were on when they were reported as off, and the return pump power supply was showing a power fault error code, so not running.
All of my relays are wired up as NC. I am not sure the order of how power re-established and what the GPIO pins were doing when power was restored. Would the raspberry pi boot with pins in the last configuration, or would they all be floating? Is there any way for reef-pi to validate or cycle all of the relays after a power failure to get them into a known state?
If relays could be cycled for enough time, this would also have reset the power supply to the return pump.

Oh, that’s unfortunate . I’m glad that livestock is ok.
I am kinda sad to realize that reef-pi did not reset the equipment states upon boot. This is an unacceptable bug and has to be fixed before 1.0 release. I was under the impression that I already have the code that does this, because it’s logical and important, but I cannot see relevant code :-(. I want to say sorry and thank you for bringing this up. I’ll patch reef-pi by tonight. This feature (sync all equipment to desired state upon boot) will be in 1.0 release

 

[Ranjib]

Hi Ranjib,



This is exactly the way I have wired it. PSU is 12V, 10Amp and a V+ Screw. On monday I will measure the whole setup with a voltmeter.

Keep us posted on your finding. I got busy with finishing up the documentation, and didn’t get a chance to make the mosfet prototype circuit