reef-pi :: An opensource reef tank controller based on Raspberry Pi.
- Thread starter Ranjib
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Dukereefnz
Active Member
Thanks - i did that and it was OK, rebooted router and bingo... all good to go.
I should have done that before posting a thread!
thanks for the reply.
JFReyes
New Member
Hi:
I prepared a modified version of reef-pi that allows for custom ranges in the temp & pH charts. You can find it at Robo-Tanks's forum here.
bishoptf
Valuable Member
Man get busy and blink and reef-pi is out with v4, congrats. :) Where can I go to find the release notes in the threads, anyone have that handy? Found it...wish my tank looked as nice as your @Ranjib I'm currently in Dino hades. Things are running so well on 3.x that I am always reluctant to mess with things.
On another note, I am wanting/needing to start dosing Kalk and I do not want to run it in my ATO, I have @Michael Lane hat and dosing module hooked up to a jaebo doser but having second thoughts on using the Jaebo. Thinking of going with w/ a BRS doser controlled by reefpi on a timer. What is everyone using for dosing, I have a Nano tank and overdosing is much easier to accomplish, I've given a lot of thought to try to make it as fail proof as possible just looking for some advice.
Thanks :)
On another note, I am wanting/needing to start dosing Kalk and I do not want to run it in my ATO, I have @Michael Lane hat and dosing module hooked up to a jaebo doser but having second thoughts on using the Jaebo. Thinking of going with w/ a BRS doser controlled by reefpi on a timer. What is everyone using for dosing, I have a Nano tank and overdosing is much easier to accomplish, I've given a lot of thought to try to make it as fail proof as possible just looking for some advice.
Thanks :)
Last edited:
b4tn
Valuable Member
I have been using the Jaebo doser for several years without a hickup. Its super easy to integrate into reefpi and replacement heads are like $20. You dont even really need to use the jeabo heads. You can get replacement pump/head assemblies for like $10. I daily dose 30ml of Alk and Calc, 3ml of magnesium, and 2ml of nitrate.
bishoptf
Valuable Member
Yeah I have it already setup and ready to go but I read all the horror stories and it freaks me out, very new to reefing, only had my 30g nano going for 5-6 months, tank is a mess atm due to Dino's but a pump staying on and dumping a bunch of limewater into the tank, shudder.
b4tn
Valuable Member
I was a bit nervous myself. But honestly if the pump stays on thats a reefpi issue not doser issue and would happen controlling any brand pump. The only thing you really need to be concerned about is if the head or motor stops operating.
92Miata
Valuable Member
The biggest issue with the jebao dosers is that the pump controller/interface is awful - and completely unintuitive. I'd guess a significant percent of the failures are really configuration problems, or the terrible advice of putting your dosing container above your sump - where a failed head leads to siphoning.
You're shortcutting most of the problems controlling it via reef-pi
You're shortcutting most of the problems controlling it via reef-pi
dmolavi
Well-Known Member
Are you using the 4 head doser and controlling w/ ReefPi? If so, how? I don't see any external control mechanism for it, short of the built in control pad.
b4tn
Valuable Member
Here is a link with some pictures of the modified doser. You just run the two output wires from the motor controller direct to the doser motors, I used a TB6612. The Jaebo controller is 100% bypassed.
bishoptf
Valuable Member
I have the Jaebo slave 4 head doser tied to reef-pi via @Michael Lane module attached via cat5 wire. Seems to work like its supposed to but I have not started using it yet, have been manually dosing so far.Here is a link with some pictures of the modified doser. You just run the two output wires from the motor controller direct to the doser motors, I used a TB6612. The Jaebo controller is 100% bypassed.
:)
b4tn
Valuable Member
ooo... That is handy. I didnt know that was a thing. It has the motor driver built in, Very nice!
bishoptf
Valuable Member
Yeah the slave doser is supposed to be daisy chained to the master Jaebo doser and it doesnt have any electronics in it, with @Michael Lane module its pretty plug and play. I picked it up on ebay new for like $26, I think some folks purchase thinking its a normal doser and then have no use for it...:)
Mikeneedsahobby
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I run two 4 head jebao dosers. Both use the Michael lane adopter and are controlled by reefpi. I’m not a big fan of them, but I havent had any serious issues. I think they are far more likely to under dose than overdose.
my freshwater tank uses 2 heads for water change. And 2 heads for fertilizer dosing. The salt tank uses 3 heads for water change and top off and 1 head for all for reef dosing. The water change storage containers are in my basement so there is signifant head pressure. This is likely why I have more problems than others.
the first problem I had was that all of the heads were assembled wrong. The spacer ring was on the wrong side of the head. This causes the rollers to be angled and slip on the drive pin. The fix is easy once you know about it. And maybe they are being built right the first time now. But I spent several weeks trying figure out why sometimes it was fine and sometimes it was loud with no fluid flow.
The next problem I have is I’m pushing the limit on head pressure in my water change. The dosing heads make a loud smacking noise when they just can’t pull hard enough. I’m guessing the noise is the rollers popping over an area of high pressure water it can’t move. When this starts happening flow is reduced.
The last problem is the tubes in the heads wear out and stop flowing. They take a permanent flat set and no longer open up. The rollers stop moving fluid. Again this is on my water change heads that are running hours per day and pulling water from the basement.
I’m going to switch all the tubing in the heads to neoprene a60g. This material is supposed to be capable of higher pressure. I tried silicone tubing but it has less pressure capability.
I haven’t had problems in any of the short distance fertilizer or all for reef dosing heads. And the problems I have would occur in any of the lower cost dosers that use the 3 plastic roller design. It’s jebao specific. I’m pushing the limits and finding faults that under dose on the heads that run a lot with pressure.
I would have been better off using the geared dosing heads from Kamoer for my application.
I am running a @Michael Lane board with a Jebao slave. It has been working without issue for a good 4-6 months. Just need to calibrate the heads to know that 100% at 1 second will vary. Mine takes 75% for a few seconds to hit 5ml, and the other is at I think 85% to reach the same volume.
Love not having to manually dose.
I am a weird one that really enjoys testing. I actually like the new Hanna checker Nitrate steps.
I say this because I can watch when my tank is requiring the 2 part to increase on my excel chart, and adjust as necessary. Much easier through the ReefPi interface to correct, it will always dose, compaired to when I had to manually dose, I may have skipped a few.
Love not having to manually dose.
I am a weird one that really enjoys testing. I actually like the new Hanna checker Nitrate steps.
I say this because I can watch when my tank is requiring the 2 part to increase on my excel chart, and adjust as necessary. Much easier through the ReefPi interface to correct, it will always dose, compaired to when I had to manually dose, I may have skipped a few.
92Miata
Valuable Member
Rage. Flames. Rage.
Apparently this Michael Lane guy lives a couple of minutes away from me and I could have bought a $5 board and a $26 jebao slave pump instead of 3d printing pump bodies and learning how to wire stepper motors and how to not burn myself with a soldering iron. I mean, I learned some stuff though?
(This whole thing is pretty great. Keep coming up with stuff and eventually we can have a totally open ecosystem for these things)
Apparently this Michael Lane guy lives a couple of minutes away from me and I could have bought a $5 board and a $26 jebao slave pump instead of 3d printing pump bodies and learning how to wire stepper motors and how to not burn myself with a soldering iron. I mean, I learned some stuff though?
(This whole thing is pretty great. Keep coming up with stuff and eventually we can have a totally open ecosystem for these things)
Mikeneedsahobby
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You should buy him a beer and see what else he has. He certainly has made my life easier!
dmolavi
Well-Known Member
Hmm I have a master pump for Jebao, but I am comfortable w/ electronics to bypass the control module in it. Thanks for
Hmm I have a master pump for Jebao, but I am comfortable w/ electronics to bypass the control module in it. How are you powering them individually though?
Here is a link with some pictures of the modified doser. You just run the two output wires from the motor controller direct to the doser motors, I used a TB6612. The Jaebo controller is 100% bypassed.
Hmm I have a master pump for Jebao, but I am comfortable w/ electronics to bypass the control module in it. How are you powering them individually though?
b4tn
Valuable Member
The wires that come off the motor controller are either positive or negative depending on which direction you want the motor to spin (configurable in reefpi) you just have to supply the controller breakout board with the appropriate voltage source. In my case I think I am using 12 volts.
Vmotor gets the voltage source for the motors, vcc is the logic voltage (3-5v), PWM A and B are the PWM sorce, Ain and Bin are your gpio inputs, and motor a and b go direct to the motors.
Adafruit TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board
Fire four solenoids, spin two DC motors or step one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper with 1.2A per channel (3A peak) using the TB6612. These are perhaps better known as "the drivers in our assembled Adafruit Motorshield or Motor HAT." We really like these dual H-bridges, so if you want to control...
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