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

[b4tn]

I am not to familiar with server and IP stuff. I will play with it when I get home and educate myself. I remember that night per a tutorial I was inputting http://ip of pi.local and that wasn’t working. Whole reason i set up VNC

Thanks for the explanation. I have no idea what a web server is but I will try and figure out how to make it work. Maybe @Ranjib you could update that info on your webpage on how to do this?

Its here
https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-installation-and-configuration/raspberry-pi-configuration

By default, once you instal reef-pi and "if" your raspberry is connected to your home network, it is already set up as a web server. All you have to do is use your "wi-fi" connected phone or your home computer, open a web browser and type in the name http://whateveryounamedit.local

Update Hostname
You can use the raspi-config tool to rename Raspberry Pi to something else. For example, I named one of my reef-pi controllers as biocub29 (the name of the tank). Doing so allows accessing the reef-pi web UI as http://biocube29.local from other devices in the same network.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Its here
https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-installation-and-configuration/raspberry-pi-configuration

By default, once you instal reef-pi and "if" your raspberry is connected to your home network, it is already set up as a web server. All you have to do is use your "wi-fi" connected phone or your home computer, open a web browser and type in the name http://whateveryounamedit.local

Update Hostname
You can use the raspi-config tool to rename Raspberry Pi to something else. For example, I named one of my reef-pi controllers as biocub29 (the name of the tank). Doing so allows accessing the reef-pi web UI as http://biocube29.local from other devices in the same network.

Yeah I went through the tutorial but

http://whateveryounamedit.local

Did not work. Which is why I started using VNC. But I will double check things tonight. I could connect through SSH. But http://whateveryounamedit.local did not work.

 

[b4tn]

Led experts, I have 100 standard 3v 20mA Blue 450nm LED’s from another project that are not being used. I’m thinking about making moon lights with them to control with reef-pi. How do moon lights affect algae and corals at night? How many would be good for a 4 foot tank? Maybe 2?

 

[pickupman66]

New
@b4tn I have never noticed that moonlight caused any extra growth. keep in mind I have had mine just bright enough for viewing. I have AI Hydras26s now and use their lunar. it gets up to 4% and is pretty bright but i have never had any ill effects from it. on your tank maybe do two groupings of 3. that way you have some shimmer too.

Here is a photo I took last night of my tank with moonlight. I used the night scene feature on my Huawei.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Led experts, I have 100 standard 3v 20mA Blue 450nm LED’s from another project that are not being used. I’m thinking about making moon lights with them to control with reef-pi. How do moon lights affect algae and corals at night? How many would be good for a 4 foot tank? Maybe 2?

From what I’ve read lunar cycles can actually cause corals to spawn. But that’s as far as my knowledge goes

 

[sfgabe]

So I spend more time on reef-pi at my desk in my office than I do at home (dont judge I am a government worker) I know my router ip address is 69.137.x.x. So if I want to get to reef-pi that is forwarded at home, set up static, reserved, and all that I go to https://69.137.x.x. This works perfect with no issues. However, if for some reason xfinity pushes a new ip address to my router I dont know what it is anymore and I will not be able to access reef-pi until I get home, log into my router, and find out what my new IP address is. With Dynamic DNS installed on Raspian, if xfinity changes my router ip the dynamic DNS app reports that back to the NO-IP service which then updates. So no matter where I am at or what xfinity changes my IP to my reefpi is always https://myreefpi.ddns.net

I had this problem before I upgraded my router to one that provided a forwarding service. There are a few write-ups for IP notification scripts for the Pi. I don't remember which one I used, but this is similar. It just polls whatsmyip every few minutes and sends you a message if it changes.

 

[crusso1993]

Led experts, I have 100 standard 3v 20mA Blue 450nm LED’s from another project that are not being used. I’m thinking about making moon lights with them to control with reef-pi. How do moon lights affect algae and corals at night? How many would be good for a 4 foot tank? Maybe 2?

I don't doubt you'll get some good answers here but you might be well served by also posting your question in the "Aquarium Lighting by Dana Riddle" forum. Just a thought...

 

[LionHeart2017]

I renamed my hostname of the raspberry pi in the configuration menu to lightpi, I cannot get to reef-pi by typing http://lightpi.local
So how is renaming the host name of the raspberry pi, going to get you to reef-pi web page?
Am I missing something here

 

[b4tn]

Check some of the basics. I’m assuming you can remote in so it should have internet connection.

if you are trying to connect on your phone make sure your phone is joined to your home WiFi. It won’t work otherwise.

Check your configure screen. Below mine is set for ssl. You want to make sure yours says 0.0.0.0:80 and https is unchecked. Reload and try again. If it still does not work try http://lightpi.local:80

 

[LionHeart2017]

Check some of the basics. I’m assuming you can remote in so it should have internet connection.

if you are trying to connect on your phone make sure your phone is joined to your home WiFi. It won’t work otherwise.

Check your configure screen. Below mine is set for ssl. You want to make sure yours says 0.0.0.0:80 and https is unchecked. Reload and try again. If it still does not work try http://lightpi.local:80

Yes it's all set up as standard.

But what I'm failing to understand is how does renaming the raspberry pi hostname to something else, equate to opening up a web page on my phone and getting to reef-pi?
Does not work for me, vnc still connects to raspberry pi using it's ip address

 

[ScottBrew]

Yes it's all set up as standard.

But what I'm failing to understand is how does renaming the raspberry pi hostname to something else, equate to opening up a web page on my phone and getting to reef-pi?
Does not work for me, vnc still connects to raspberry pi using it's ip address

It's an association between the IP address and the hostname you set. It announces itself on the network by hostname or IP address. Terrible analogy but, think of your network as an apartment building. Bob is in 3C, Sally is in 2D, so on. If everybody knows each other by name, you don't have to clarify the apartment number.

 

[b4tn]

What @ScottBrew said. But I just checked with mine. Updating the host name in the config screen of the web UI does not update the DNS table. I’m not sure if it’s supoosed to @Ranjib ? To change my .local name I had to do it in Raspi-config.

 

[LionHeart2017]

What @ScottBrew said. But I just checked with mine. Updating the host name in the config screen of the web UI does not update the DNS table. I’m not sure if it’s supoosed to @Ranjib ? To change my .local name I had to do it in Raspi-config.

Well I've done both, changed in reef-pi config and changed the hostname of the raspberry pi, only way I can access reef-pi is ip address

Could I have setup the raspberry pi wrong somehow and it is private or something like that as no matter what name I give, only thing works is ip address

 

[ScottBrew]

Well I've done both, changed in reef-pi config and changed the hostname of the raspberry pi, only way I can access reef-pi is ip address

Have you rebooted?

 

[LionHeart2017]

Have you rebooted?

Yes rebooted, the light-pi name I changed in reef-pi has been like that over a month or more, I cannot access it with that name

 

[ScottBrew]

What response do you get with the command "hostname" in a terminal?

 

[LionHeart2017]

What response do you get with the command "hostname" in a terminal?

Lightpi is returned

 

[ScottBrew]

Lightpi is returned

Only other suggestion is to reboot your router to hopefully force it to recognize the new hostname. My pi didn't work initially, exactly as yours is doing. Don't know what I changed but has been working fine now. Funny thing is if I do a network arp (address resolution protocol) from my desktop, the reef-pi and the router are the only devices listed by name.

 

[Ranjib]

I renamed my hostname of the raspberry pi in the configuration menu to lightpi, I cannot get to reef-pi by typing http://lightpi.local
So how is renaming the host name of the raspberry pi, going to get you to reef-pi web page?
Am I missing something here

did you rename it using raspi-config? and after rename, did you reboot the pi ?

 

[Ranjib]

What @ScottBrew said. But I just checked with mine. Updating the host name in the config screen of the web UI does not update the DNS table. I’m not sure if it’s supoosed to @Ranjib ? To change my .local name I had to do it in Raspi-config.

yes., these two are different. the raspi-config thing changes the hostname, while the reef-pi ui changes the name metadata associated with only the reef-pi webserver , and is shown in the UI, its not the hostname. The name of reef-pi is useful for differentiating between different reef-pi when you have not setup hostname