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

[Ranjib]

Just a word of warning - "Motion" "MotionEye" and "MotionEyeOS" are three different systems which build on eachother and are developed by the same person (ccrisan on github). It took me a lot of confusing trial and error to figure out which was which, and which I could use in different scenarios.

- "MotionEyeOS" is basically a plug and play model, as the name implies, it's a full operating system made as a standalone. It works great as is but really can't be modified other than the standard config options and it can't be run alongside another OS.
- "MotionEye" needs to be installed on top of an OS like Raspbian
- "Motion" is the building block for both of those (and I think is what @Ranjib is using for reef-pi)

I have a Raspberry Pi Zero W with MotionEyeOS watching my tank - for placement reasons it was easier to have this separate from the reef-pi box. It would be great to be able to add this as a feed to reef-pi. It might even save some coding hassle to have a modified version of MotionEye running in the background of reef-pi as a default camera option.

MotionEye / OS makes this feed available at:
http://IP_ADDRESS:8765/picture/1/current/?_username=USERNAME&_signature=SIGNATURE_STRING

I'm not sure about the specifics since i haven't looked at the reef-pi code much but it should be fairly straightforward to drop that into a reef-pi container as a feed.

thats pretty much what reef-pi does. Motion does the heavy lifting of capturing via pi camera and streaming it, reef-pi just embeds it in its UI. But this is not documented, and @pdisner is a still learning all the gory details :-) , so this will take time. I asked him to sort out the relay, lights and other circuit first.

 

[Ranjib]

I didn't see a reef-pi group so I just created one (before I saw this post lol).

https://www.thingiverse.com/groups/reef-pi

It might be good just to have a place for members to see what others are printing, and to keep the 3d print specific chatter away from the build chatter. Anyway, join in if you're on thingiverse!

Thank you

 

[pdisner]

Just a word of warning - "Motion" "MotionEye" and "MotionEyeOS" are three different systems which build on eachother and are developed by the same person (ccrisan on github). It took me a lot of confusing trial and error to figure out which was which, and which I could use in different scenarios.

- "MotionEyeOS" is basically a plug and play model, as the name implies, it's a full operating system made as a standalone. It works great as is but really can't be modified other than the standard config options and it can't be run alongside another OS.
- "MotionEye" needs to be installed on top of an OS like Raspbian
- "Motion" is the building block for both of those (and I think is what @Ranjib is using for reef-pi)

I have a Raspberry Pi Zero W with MotionEyeOS watching my tank - for placement reasons it was easier to have this separate from the reef-pi box. It would be great to be able to add this as a feed to reef-pi. It might even save some coding hassle to have a modified version of MotionEye running in the background of reef-pi as a default camera option.

MotionEye / OS makes this feed available at:
http://IP_ADDRESS:8765/picture/1/current/?_username=USERNAME&_signature=SIGNATURE_STRING

I'm not sure about the specifics since i haven't looked at the reef-pi code much but it should be fairly straightforward to drop that into a reef-pi container as a feed.

Thank you. I kinda had a hint that it was setup like that. I’ve only worked with the eyeos and had no idea about the other two. It’s so much to learn. I day I’ve been reading about the Adafruit ios. I’m stuck as far as how to use specific boards such as the arduino and rasppi3. I’m just trying to setup the RGB led experiment they have except that I don’t have a WiFi capable Arduino and wanted to use the pi but can’t figure out how to do that yet.

 

[pdisner]

thats pretty much what reef-pi does. Motion does the heavy lifting of capturing via pi camera and streaming it, reef-pi just embeds it in its UI. But this is not documented, and @pdisner is a still learning all the gory details :-) , so this will take time. I asked him to sort out the relay, lights and other circuit first.

Ok Ranjib. What am I learning next? What did you think of the pics of my settings? I’ve been tinkering with the Adafruit io while waiting for your response. I’m anxious to make some headway today, so that I can order some parts!!

 

[Ranjib]

Ok Ranjib. What am I learning next? What did you think of the pics of my settings? I’ve been tinkering with the Adafruit io while waiting for your response. I’m anxious to make some headway today, so that I can order some parts!!

This should be your milestones:
- Get relay working
- Get temperature sensor working
- Get PWM circuit (with test leds) working

 

[Ranjib]

Thank you. I kinda had a hint that it was setup like that. I’ve only worked with the eyeos and had no idea about the other two. It’s so much to learn. I day I’ve been reading about the Adafruit ios. I’m stuck as far as how to use specific boards such as the arduino and rasppi3. I’m just trying to setup the RGB led experiment they have except that I don’t have a WiFi capable Arduino and wanted to use the pi but can’t figure out how to do that yet.

You should be able to use reef-pi and just the Pi to directly dim RGB leds

 

[pdisner]

Well that’s what I’m trying to do yes. So scrap the camera setup then? As I was saying In my earlier posts, I have gone as far as the rest led, the first test. The second test did not work, but wiring diagrams not complete with PIN numbers so I made my own deductions based on diagram. With the second test the light does not turn on, and thus the slider does not work. I’ve sent pics of my configuration and log page as you had asked. Just not sure where to go from here. I guess I will skip the lights for now until I can figure out. I’m pretty much stalled....

 

[pdisner]

You should be able to use reef-pi and just the Pi to directly dim RGB leds

Ok then, should I use an RGB led with the 2nd test instead of regular one?

 

[Ranjib]

Ok then, should I use an RGB led with the 2nd test instead of regular one?

If you have regular ones go with it its simpler. Once its working we can test rgb leds next. You have two channel pwms with Pi.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Alright guys I have everything I can ever dream of hooked up to this bad boy amazing job guys its not only way cheaper than other reef controllers I really loved building it. I am trying to get the email alerts set up I made an email address just for this with gmail. I cant seem to get it to accept I want to send the emails to the same account I made. The problem I keep having is an error saying "please set a valid email passowrd" yes "Passowrd" not sure whats wrong with my password? if i click on the link in https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-installation-and-configuration/testing (For gmail users, app passwords can be generated here.) It asked me to login and then displays a screen (The setting you are looking for is not available for your account.) ??? Sorry I'm Lost at this point.

 

[Dave's Reef]

worked for a second now its not again

Update: Its working not sure why but it is

 

[Ranjib]

Ok then, should I use an RGB led with the 2nd test instead of regular one?

Yes, you wont be able to control all three, but at least two

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

Can reef pi control jebao PP8 powerhead or similar?

 

[Ranjib]

Alright guys I have everything I can ever dream of hooked up to this bad boy amazing job guys its not only way cheaper than other reef controllers I really loved building it. I am trying to get the email alerts set up I made an email address just for this with gmail. I cant seem to get it to accept I want to send the emails to the same account I made. The problem I keep having is an error saying "please set a valid email passowrd" yes "Passowrd" not sure whats wrong with my password? if i click on the link in https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-installation-and-configuration/testing (For gmail users, app passwords can be generated here.) It asked me to login and then displays a screen (The setting you are looking for is not available for your account.) ??? Sorry I'm Lost at this point.

You have to setup two factor authentication first. Then you can generate the app password like that.
I strongly recommend setting up two factor authentication, as its a serious security problem if you use your actual gmail password, and if reef-pi is compromised your entire account is compromised. I always use it, so I have never tried directly using my password. I think if two factor is not enabled, you can just use your own gmail password, but I dont know if it will work and i would not recommend doing this other than for testing

 

[Ranjib]

Can reef pi control jebao PP8 powerhead or similar?

I dont know . I think it should be, but unless we know someone has tested it or have some idea around what its requirement.. hard to say

 

[pdisner]

Yes, you wont be able to control all three, but at least two

Well the problem is that it isn’t working. I’m on the second test in the documentation, and that’s only one single led. It’s the pwn twat using the slider. Ugh. I guess I’ll just post a pic and see if you can see some mistake I made then...
The led does not turn on, much less respond to the slider. There’s no errors.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

I dont know . I think it should be, but unless we know someone has tested it or have some idea around what its requirement.. hard to say

I understand. Jebao pp8 or such ( previously rw…) use 12v as power supply and have individual controller. I got no clue how the controller works though.

 

[Ranjib]

Well the problem is that it isn’t working. I’m on the second test in the documentation, and that’s only one single led. It’s the pwn twat using the slider. Ugh. I guess I’ll just post a pic and see if you can see some mistake I made then...
The led does not turn on, much less respond to the slider. There’s no errors.

Yes. and lets use your own build thread, as there are lot of things going on (camera, relay, led etc etc). Post your circuit pic, post your connectors UI screenshot , and finally your light UI screen shot. Unless we isolate the problems and attack each of them in isolation, I doubt we'll make progress, and go in loop due to multiple issues interplaying.

 

[Ranjib]

I understand. Jebao pp8 or such ( previously rw…) use 12v as power supply and have individual controller. I got no clue how the controller works though.

Yea, we have to know if it can accept external control signal, if so we dont have to hack those units and just generated the expected signal. I remember some one posting a slave doser hack... not sure which thread :-0/

 

[pdisner]

Yea, we have to know if it can accept external control signal, if so we dont have to hack those units and just generated the expected signal. I remember some one posting a slave doser hack... not sure which thread :-0/

Right now, just trying to follow the steps in the documentation. I’m on the second test. Not working with a regular LED. I’ve uploaded all the pics you’ve asked for already. That’s where I’m at and where I’d like to get past for this next step so that I am confident it is working correctly. So...