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

[Cary]

This thread has become way to tech/text heavy. I am injecting some reef photos to make it visually appealing :) . Also you all get to see my tanks powered by reef pi :-0)

Very nice. Do you use Rodi water?

 

[Ranjib]

Very nice. Do you use Rodi water?

Yup. I have an ro buddie unit hooked up in my patio .

 

[Cary]

How long does it take you to make 5 gallons? Love those zoas and palys. You also take very good pictures.

 

[Ryan115]

How long does it take you to make 5 gallons? Love those zoas and palys. You also take very good pictures.

If you are looking to get an RODI system, you will be much better off setting up the system with a larger holding tank. You can run the systems to get small volumes, but I believe that it shortens the lifespan of the filter.
Otherwise, for a 75GPD system, you are looking somewhere around 1.5-3hrs to make 5 gallons, depending on your water pressure.

 

[Cary]

Thanks. I have a problem with access to a water outlet and drain in the same place. Plus it had to make my wife happy. Even though I am in North Texas it still gets cold enough to freeze, so outside is not a real good option.

 

[AshwinRavi]

are these pictures from your pi camera? how is your experience with them and which model did you buy? I have a wifi controlled camera that I bought for my freshwater from Amazon, which I currently use to remotely monitor my reef, I would like to invest in a proper pi camera if the overall experience is good for fellow reefers here..

 

[Ranjib]

How long does it take you to make 5 gallons? Love those zoas and palys. You also take very good pictures.

3 hour and 35 to 45 minutes.

 

[Ranjib]

are these pictures from your pi camera? how is your experience with them and which model did you buy? I have a wifi controlled camera that I bought for my freshwater from Amazon, which I currently use to remotely monitor my reef, I would like to invest in a proper pi camera if the overall experience is good for fellow reefers here..

Nope. Photos are taken by iPhone 7, using an app called camera+ (2 $) , then white balance adjusted. Some of them are taken with a macro lense for iPhone (75$)

 

[Ranjib]

are these pictures from your pi camera? how is your experience with them and which model did you buy? I have a wifi controlled camera that I bought for my freshwater from Amazon, which I currently use to remotely monitor my reef, I would like to invest in a proper pi camera if the overall experience is good for fellow reefers here..

The challenge with official pi camera is that it is directly connected to pi, and the connector has length restriction. So you don’t have much freedom to move it around. It’s good for tank monitoring though.

 

[Ranjib]

If you are looking to get an RODI system, you will be much better off setting up the system with a larger holding tank. You can run the systems to get small volumes, but I believe that it shortens the lifespan of the filter.
Otherwise, for a 75GPD system, you are looking somewhere around 1.5-3hrs to make 5 gallons, depending on your water pressure.

My challenge is that I live in an apartment in Silicon Valley, so space is limited :-(. Hence the nano/pico tanks

 

[AshwinRavi]

The challenge with official pi camera is that it is directly connected to pi, and the connector has length restriction. So you don’t have much freedom to move it around. It’s good for tank monitoring though.

yea, that's how I feel. I am not sure where I can put it without getting in the way or the length being a problem. thanks for the info!

 

[marspeed]

longer camera cable https://www.adafruit.com/product/2144

 

[Ranjib]

longer camera cable https://www.adafruit.com/product/2144

Ooh :-)
:hugs:

 

[Ranjib]

There are opensource projects that allows using the camera to do spectroscopy , object recognition and other uber cool stuff. Not that we need all of that, but something to ponder about.... post 1.0 release

 

[Cary]

Did we decide the best temperature probe and how to keep it from rusting? Or do we buy multiple temperature probes. I will use our consensus to update the build document. I was just reading it and I think it needs a bit more information.

How about it guys and gals?

 

[AshwinRavi]

Did we decide the best temperature probe and how to keep it from rusting? Or do we buy multiple temperature probes. I will use our consensus to update the build document. I was just reading it and I think it needs a bit more information.

How about it guys and gals?

I bought these from Amazon,
Vktech 5pcs 2M Waterproof Digital Temperature Temp Sensor Probe DS18b20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EU70ZL8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SDqYzbXE6YJF2

they are about .5F off, I couldn't get them to match up, but I atleast know where they fall.

 

[njtiger aquariums]

I purchase these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KUNKR3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . They have been spot on when I test with other sensors. Now they have rusted on me but doesn't seem to affect the reading. I compare my reading from one of those with these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W3YB2VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 monthly

 

[AshwinRavi]

I purchase these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KUNKR3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . They have been spot on when I test with out sensors. Now they have rusted on me but doesn't seem to affect the reading. I compare my reading from one of those with these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W3YB2VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 monthly

that's the same ones I use to compare.

 

[Cary]

Thanks njtiger and AshwinRavi. Do either of you remember someone saying they were testing coating the sensors? I also think that Ranjib was using the Sparkfun probe because it is covered, but I could be wrong. We have so many pages now, it is hard to look back through them all and I dont' see anyway to search just this thread. Later

 

[njtiger aquariums]

Thanks njtiger and AshwinRavi. Do either of you remember someone saying they were testing coating the sensors? I also think that Ranjib was using the Sparkfun probe because it is covered, but I could be wrong. We have so many pages now, it is hard to look back through them all and I dont' see anyway to search just this thread. Later

I recall someone saying they was going to try a cover one with silicone but I don't know if they ever did or not.