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

[GaryE]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I need to start my own, personally I need more channel control for lights.

Would be great if we can do a poll though.

What are you using for lights? How many do you need?

 

[T-MIKE]

I'm building lights from a custom 5 channel led module with the same number of leds per color as the Radion g5 blue. I'll probably tie 2 of the channels together however and run it as 3 channels.

 

[GaryE]

10v PWM circuits?

 

[Ranjib]

I see it now. Can I get a board? How much will it be?

If you can make it available long term and easy to obtain that would be great.

I would still like to know which functions would satisfy 90% of the users though.

@Ranjib, perhaps you can make a poll? I don’t think I have that privilege yet.

I plan to update the official website page with all the recent boards . It will be up to those boards documentation to detail what they offer.

 

[T-MIKE]

I'll be using Meanwell LDD-H series which is 5V PWM until I have time to design my own driver.

 

[T-MIKE]

I plan to update the official website page with all the recent boards . It will be up to those boards documentation to detail what they offer.

Thanks Ranjib.

I have been using reef-pi in my Chinese black box for over a year now. Only issues I ran into was the light wouldn't turn on when the wifi was out and when you plug it in initially the light is on full blast for a couple of seconds. These issues may have been fixed by now but I haven't looked into updating the software yet.

 

[Litserv]

Hi Ranjib, hi everybody,

thanks for reef-pi!

I cannot get to work the pi-camera with reef-pi.

I setup a 'fresh' raspbian on a Rapsberry Pi 4B.
I configured reef-pi to use the camera. I rebooted the raspberry.
The pi-camera is working when I test it in a terminal window with: 'raspistill -o bild.jpg'

I can read temperature. I can switch relais. I can dimm an LED.

But the camera isn't working...

What could be wrong with my setup? Do you have an idea?

Thanks, Litserv

 

[Ranjib]

Hi Ranjib, hi everybody,

thanks for reef-pi!

I cannot get to work the pi-camera with reef-pi.

I setup a 'fresh' raspbian on a Rapsberry Pi 4B.
I configured reef-pi to use the camera. I rebooted the raspberry.
The pi-camera is working when I test it in a terminal window with: 'raspistill -o bild.jpg'

I can read temperature. I can switch relais. I can dimm an LED.

But the camera isn't working...

What could be wrong with my setup? Do you have an idea?

Thanks, Litserv

Hi Litserv,
Thank you for trying reef-pi. The camera module is not heavily used by most of members and got little rusty (i have not pushed any code in that module in past two year), since it takes significant CPU, not critical for controller function and cheaper/better alternatives are readily available.
Can you check your logs and share any error you may notice in there?

 

[GaryE]

Hi Litserv,
Thank you for trying reef-pi. The camera module is not heavily used by most of members and got little rusty (i have not pushed any code in that module in past two year), since it takes significant CPU, not critical for controller function and cheaper/better alternatives are readily available.
Can you check your logs and share any error you may notice in there?

@Ranjib I just posted an issue on Github.

 

[Litserv]

@Ranjib I just posted an issue on Github.

Many thanks taking care of the camera issue.
Here's the error report:

 

[Litserv]

Hi Litserv,
Thank you for trying reef-pi. The camera module is not heavily used by most of members and got little rusty (i have not pushed any code in that module in past two year), since it takes significant CPU, not critical for controller function and cheaper/better alternatives are readily available.
Can you check your logs and share any error you may notice in there?

In general I would prefer an USB-WebCam. But somewhere you had written, that reef-pi supports pi-camera only. Therefore I bought a pi-camera... Now it's not working...
Thanks for taking care about the issue.
Again, here's my error report:

 

[Schreiber]

Thanks Ranjib.

I have been using reef-pi in my Chinese black box for over a year now. Only issues I ran into was the light wouldn't turn on when the wifi was out and when you plug it in initially the light is on full blast for a couple of seconds. These issues may have been fixed by now but I haven't looked into updating the software yet.

When you say "when you plug it in initially the light is on full blast for a couple of seconds", do you mean when you plug in the light, or when you plug in the Reef-Pi setup power?

If you mean when you plug in your setup, I don't think there will ever be a way around that, unfortunately. Until your Raspberry Pi boots up & starts the Reef-Pi software, there will always be a few seconds where nothing is being controlled yet.

 

[GaryE]

Time to get to work

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I was going through the parts list and noticed a lot of the parts might be outdated? I see many people going with specific boards and what not can someone shed some light on the subject please?

 

[Schreiber]

I was going through the parts list and noticed a lot of the parts might be outdated? I see many people going with specific boards and what not can someone shed some light on the subject please?

I'm not sure I'd necessarily call the Adafruit parts list outdated. You can still build a perfectly functional build using the exact parts listed. But over the years, a lot of us have either developed our own circuit boards that make setting a system up much easier, or have made/found better alternatives to the parts listed (such as @Michael Lane 's pH interface or the higher quality buck converters.)

For reference, here's my parts list with links & prices for my entire build:

Control Board
Full setup

You'll notice the parts list is wildly different than the Adafruit guide, but in the end, you wind up with the same functionality.

It's definitely worth scrolling through the messages or other people's build threads to get an idea of the route you want to take. There's no wrong answer or build, you've just got to find the right one for you!

 

[T-MIKE]

When you say "when you plug it in initially the light is on full blast for a couple of seconds", do you mean when you plug in the light, or when you plug in the Reef-Pi setup power?

If you mean when you plug in your setup, I don't think there will ever be a way around that, unfortunately. Until your Raspberry Pi boots up & starts the Reef-Pi software, there will always be a few seconds where nothing is being controlled yet.

I think I would have to modify the circuit so that it is normally pulled high or low, can't remember right now. They are powered on at the same time.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I'm not sure I'd necessarily call the Adafruit parts list outdated. You can still build a perfectly functional build using the exact parts listed. But over the years, a lot of us have either developed our own circuit boards that make setting a system up much easier, or have made/found better alternatives to the parts listed (such as @Michael Lane 's pH interface or the higher quality buck converters.)

For reference, here's my parts list with links & prices for my entire build:

Control Board
Full setup

You'll notice the parts list is wildly different than the Adafruit guide, but in the end, you wind up with the same functionality.

It's definitely worth scrolling through the messages or other people's build threads to get an idea of the route you want to take. There's no wrong answer or build, you've just got to find the right one for you!

Right, I started going through people’s builds and noticed there was some specialty boards.
If you could help pick the best suited I’d appreciate it.
I’m looking to have reefpi do the following:

2 ph probes (1 for DT and one for frag tank)
2 a 4 temp probes
8-14 outlets
Dosing pump
2 Water level sensors

Eventually I plan to modify my Chinese viparspectras to work with the reef-pi as well since I saw someone has done it and managed to add dimming to it which allowed for ramp up and ramp down macro.

I plan on building it slowly so I can learn the ins & outs of the controller to be able to troubleshoot it when something goes wrong because like with all electronics is not a matter of IF but When.

Thanks for your time! I’ll be going over your list and look for your build thread now when I get home to my pc.

 

[Schreiber]

Right, I started going through people’s builds and noticed there was some specialty boards.
If you could help pick the best suited I’d appreciate it.
I’m looking to have reefpi do the following:

2 ph probes (1 for DT and one for frag tank)
2 a 4 temp probes
8-14 outlets
Dosing pump
2 Water level sensors

Eventually I plan to modify my Chinese viparspectras to work with the reef-pi as well since I saw someone has done it and managed to add dimming to it which allowed for ramp up and ramp down macro.

I plan on building it slowly so I can learn the ins & outs of the controller to be able to troubleshoot it when something goes wrong because like with all electronics is not a matter of IF but When.

Thanks for your time! I’ll be going over your list and look for your build thread now when I get home to my pc.

Best suited would be your own board you designed for this exact configuration :p But I'd say your best existing option with the least amount of modifications would probably be Michael's Goby board. Since it comes set up with 2 pH connectors already, you wouldn't need to modify or split anything. Keep in mind, you'll need to get 2 separate pH interfaces, one for each probe.

 

[Michael Lane]

I think I would have to modify the circuit so that it is normally pulled high or low, can't remember right now. They are powered on at the same time.

You probably need to pull the input signal low. I did that on my Mars Aqua adapter with R1 and R14.

 

[Ranjib]

Been very busy with new home stuff , covid19 Ppe stuff and everything in between. The new place gets hotter than past place and I decided to deploy fans and test out cooling control in reef-pi

these are 12v fans with two level controls.
I have two pico tanks one with fans clipped on the glass and the other like this

The in glass setup blocks some light which is why I preferred this one

printed this 3D printed fixture to easily mount the fan on my makerbeam made tank base

the 10x10 mm square hole slides in the beam that mounts light. It has two channeled grooves to tuck in the fan

Pretty happy with the setup. Albeit it can use some iterations of improved , but for the time being it can bring down a degree within 3 minutes