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

[Ranjib]

Thanks Ranjib.

I never expected to be able to do a fully autonomous water change. To my mind that had too many variables and room for error .

There's something i don't like about the idea of a continuous water change either. Even though i understand the theory behind it all.

My idea was always around a semi autonomous Macro based operation as you said.. my first ideas were around complicated systems with multiple solenoids and pumps.

My latest idea is to use a dedicated ATO system and siphon the required water change into the system and rely on the ATO to pump the excess water out of the system to waste.

Well that's the idea at the moment. It might change another few times before i implement it.

Sounds like a very good approach to me. I will put my macros in action soon after the thanksgiving , once I’m done with the guides /docs .

 

[Ranjib]

Do you by chance have an actual schematic of this? Breadboard diagrams are easy to copy but I cant read it. Is this still a legitimate design? I would really like to combine this with the existing power, temp, ATO, PH rather than building a whole new separate box.

I can share the fritzing file , but the schematic is not as polished as the breadboard view, I use it mostly to illustrate the wiring for folks without much prior electronics background.
Check out the adafruit guide on using l293d with Raspberry Pi for schematics

 

[Ranjib]

Do you by chance have an actual schematic of this? Breadboard diagrams are easy to copy but I cant read it. Is this still a legitimate design? I would really like to combine this with the existing power, temp, ATO, PH rather than building a whole new separate box.

This is a legitimate design for sure . I have two builds that are running this circuit. One for doser and another one I am experimenting with continuous water change .
I have tried couple of builds with all things in one (aka all in one) , couple of challenges I faced was the pwm signal for kessil/led shows noise , I think it needs some capacitors and I run out of spaces sometime in the housing.
On the same topic, I realized during this process that there’s no value in combining things like led control in the same build, since we don’t do any feedback etc to light controls from other module (like we do for temperature or ato where the sensor and power control needs each other). I also kinda like the fact that they can fail independent without impacting each other . Some of it is just due to the fact that I built my controller as and when the software was built, and I always wanted to ensure that each module can be run independently.
Now all that said, it does not mean we don’t want all in one builds. In fact I want to focus on the specific challenges I faced in my last builds , power supply unit in particular. We need a way to generate stable and ripple free 24, 10, 12 , 5 and 3.3 v power for the aio builds and make changes to existing circuits (with proper diods and capacitors ) where the individual components do not interfere with each other . If you or anyone here has good electronics background and have done similar things , let me know , I am happy to ship one of my aio build which shows these symptoms

 

[b4tn]

Man, I wish I could help. My knowledge is antiquated and rusty! In the early 90's I built a multiple output power supply for my high school electronics class final. It was supposed to have clean power with several set voltages and one adjustable voltage to power some digital projects. If I recall I used LM7805 voltage regulators and filter capacitors to clean up the voltage. Bu that was years ago and I also remember it being big lol

 

[pickupman66]

@b4tn I have done the same as you stated above. I have dual temp probes, 1 in the display and 1 in the sump. I added a 3rd room temp for good measure. I also use a float switch with mine. I did not add any resistors or anyting. just GPIO > Float switch > Ground. it works flawlessly thus far.

 

[b4tn]

@b4tn I have done the same as you stated above. I have dual temp probes, 1 in the display and 1 in the sump. I added a 3rd room temp for good measure. I also use a float switch with mine. I did not add any resistors or anyting. just GPIO > Float switch > Ground. it works flawlessly thus far.

Are you controlling you heater from just one input from the temp probe or combining an average?

 

[Ranjib]

Man, I wish I could help. My knowledge is antiquated and rusty! In the early 90's I built a multiple output power supply for my high school electronics class final. It was supposed to have clean power with several set voltages and one adjustable voltage to power some digital projects. If I recall I used LM7805 voltage regulators and filter capacitors to clean up the voltage. Bu that was years ago and I also remember it being big lol

LOL :-) . We are still happy to have you with us

 

[Ranjib]

Are you controlling you heater from just one input from the temp probe or combining an average?

I don't think reef-pi supports this unless you are extending reef-pi with API (which is just fine) and do the average/control with your own script

 

[speedstar]

And I am running, buckled it up and put it on the aquarium, Should see the lights come on in 10 minutes and temp controller is working great. Just have it doing lights (on/off MH), and heater and chiller control based on temp sensor. Thanks so much for all your work on this.

 

[speedstar]

Would it be possible or can they be separated by commas to have email alerts to multiple emails. I ask this as I want to send myself and email but also want to send an email to my phones email to text service. SOmetimes they spam filter so I want it in two places not just one. Thanks

 

[Ranjib]

Would it be possible or can they be separated by commas to have email alerts to multiple emails. I ask this as I want to send myself and email but also want to send an email to my phones email to text service. SOmetimes they spam filter so I want it in two places not just one. Thanks

Why not just create an email group and club those emails, and use the group email in reef-pi instead

 

[pickupman66]

Are you controlling you heater from just one input from the temp probe or combining an average?

So just the tank temperature controls my heater. but I think I accidentally had them both setup to control that outlet.

 

[pickupman66]

@Ranjib I never got the ADAfruit telemetry going for items I had custom named in Reef-pi. this would be my temperature probes. It does name them but never transmits data. I am getting data logged from the ATO and the system telemetry.

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib I never got the ADAfruit telemetry going for items I had custom named in Reef-pi. this would be my temperature probes. It does name them but never transmits data. I am getting data logged from the ATO and the system telemetry.

What the log says ? Does it shows any text related to error in sending telemetry data ?

 

[pickupman66]

How do I see the log? I have no errors

 

[sector9]

How do I see the log? I have no errors

sudo journalctl -fu reef-pi.service

 

[speedstar]

How do I see the log? I have no errors

sudo journalctl -fu reef-pi.service
EDIT
beat me to it.

 

[Ranjib]

How do I see the log? I have no errors

https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/troubleshooting/

 

[Michael Lane]

Thanks Ranjib

Update went off without a hitch.

I see the Farenheit / Celcius glitch in teh temperature module still seems to be there.

Will carry on investigating.

@Des Westcott That issue should have been fixed by now.
- Which browser are you using?
- Have you cleared your cache?
- Are you able to reproduce the issue using http://reef-pi.herokuapp.com?

 

[Ranjib]

Current state :-)