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

[wykat]

.
btw, did you notice my post on the hat thread?

:rolleyes: Sorry to ask, but which post? Believe I've answered all but in the "heat of the fight" may have overlooked one :D
Thanks for all your good work!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I couldn't stop myself...

 

[Ryan115]

For anyone interested in picking up a cheap station at a great price...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/153291050828

On its way...thanks for the heads up.
Now I can stop bringing my Weller Station home from work every time I need it.

 

[Ranjib]

:rolleyes: Sorry to ask, but which post? Believe I've answered all but in the "heat of the fight" may have overlooked one :D
Thanks for all your good work!

You did answer :-) , the thread on your PCB HAT

 

[USCGReefer]

Hi,
Just starting to look into making DIY controller and stumbled upon Reef-Pi and the community that follows. Before I get too deep into supplies and planning, I was hoping someone could give me a list of what capabilities the Reef-Pi can provide so far?

I would basically like to have the following functions myself if possible:
Water Temp Monitoring and Control
Outlet controls for pumps skimmer etc.
Salinity Monitoring
PH Monitoring
Convert my SB Reef Light to be controlled
Dosing pump control
Display to tablet wirelessly if possible or Attached screen
Notifications if anything out of the norm via email or text

Can these be done and are there any other cool functions that can be done?
Thanks and I look forward to the journey!

 

[Diamond1]

Hi,
Just starting to look into making DIY controller and stumbled upon Reef-Pi and the community that follows. Before I get too deep into supplies and planning, I was hoping someone could give me a list of what capabilities the Reef-Pi can provide so far?

I would basically like to have the following functions myself if possible:
Water Temp Monitoring and Control
Outlet controls for pumps skimmer etc.
Salinity Monitoring
PH Monitoring
Convert my SB Reef Light to be controlled
Dosing pump control
Display to tablet wirelessly if possible or Attached screen
Notifications if anything out of the norm via email or text

Can these be done and are there any other cool functions that can be done?
Thanks and I look forward to the journey!

All of the above can be done with reef-pi except salinity monitoring. It can also do ATO. I believe that @Ranjib and company figured with an ATO system salinity monitoring wasn't really needed.

 

[Ranjib]

Hi,
Just starting to look into making DIY controller and stumbled upon Reef-Pi and the community that follows. Before I get too deep into supplies and planning, I was hoping someone could give me a list of what capabilities the Reef-Pi can provide so far?

I would basically like to have the following functions myself if possible:
Water Temp Monitoring and Control
Outlet controls for pumps skimmer etc.
Salinity Monitoring
PH Monitoring
Convert my SB Reef Light to be controlled
Dosing pump control
Display to tablet wirelessly if possible or Attached screen
Notifications if anything out of the norm via email or text

Can these be done and are there any other cool functions that can be done?
Thanks and I look forward to the journey!

As @Diamond1 mentioned, most of these can be done except salinity monitoring. I intentionally punt on it, since its expensive, requires frequent calibration and I could not see a compelling reason to have it (compared to other features). If you are new to electronics, I would also recommend to start simple and aim for multiple controller instead of one thing that does all of it (to keep circuit complexity at minimum). The dosing pump control will be improving in coming days to include stepper motors and few other goodies. Salinity monitoring has been a constant ask for the community, and if I get extra time then I might shoot for it in our next release cycle.

 

[USCGReefer]

As @Diamond1 mentioned, most of these can be done except salinity monitoring. I intentionally punt on it, since its expensive, requires frequent calibration and I could not see a compelling reason to have it (compared to other features). If you are new to electronics, I would also recommend to start simple and aim for multiple controller instead of one thing that does all of it (to keep circuit complexity at minimum). The dosing pump control will be improving in coming days to include stepper motors and few other goodies. Salinity monitoring has been a constant ask for the community, and if I get extra time then I might shoot for it in our next release cycle.

I am pretty familiar with electronics and some programming however, have never messed with Raspberry Pi or Arduino type setups, if were to use multiple controllers can they all be linked together into a single dashboard or would it be a dashboard for each controller/function.

 

[Ranjib]

I am pretty familiar with electronics and some programming however, have never messed with Raspberry Pi or Arduino type setups, if were to use multiple controllers can they all be linked together into a single dashboard or would it be a dashboard for each controller/function.

that is exactly what we are working for next release :-) . currently not, but soon..

 

[USCGReefer]

So I saw a video already about SB Reef Light and converting, but can the SB Reef Light Timer version be converted to work with Reef-Pi and can it do more functions other than channel dimming, such as storm effect etc. Although I haven't seen documented evidence that those affects are truly beneficial to coral, it would still be cool to have :)

 

[Ranjib]

So I saw a video already about SB Reef Light and converting, but can the SB Reef Light Timer version be converted to work with Reef-Pi and can it do more functions other than channel dimming, such as storm effect etc. Although I haven't seen documented evidence that those affects are truly beneficial to coral, it would still be cool to have :)

I don't know the specifics about sb reef lights, I'll let someone with experience on them chime in. On the light module feature, reef-pi currently support manual dimming, auto mode (12 intensity profile with 2 hour intervals and linear interpolation in between them), diurnal mode. We'll be incorporating a notion of custom profile for variable DC equipment (such as light and wavemakers) in next release that will allow users to do storm or any other arbitrary simulation with lights.

With all that being said, I also want to call out that reef-pi UI is backed by API, which is very powerful and let you extend reef-pi in pretty much any manner that you want. Put other way you can write few lines of python to use jacks api (variable DC output) to achieve the storm effect .. right now.

 

[Diamond1]

@Ranjib Would the dc light control your talking about be able to run dimmable flourescent ballasts like these? https://webbuilder.asiannet.com/957/files/SD218-40.pdf
I'm considering a hybrid light system with both LEDs and t5hos.

 

[rushbattle]

@Ranjib Would the dc light control your talking about be able to run dimmable flourescent ballasts like these? https://webbuilder.asiannet.com/957/files/SD218-40.pdf
I'm considering a hybrid light system with both LEDs and t5hos.

Definitely should be able to control that ballast.

 

[Diamond1]

Definitely should be able to control that ballast.

I'm trying to figure out how to do it with current reef pi software and I'm not sure how to convert the light control in reef pi from pwm to 0-10v dc or if it's even possible.
I'm thinking I can do it with L293D chip that the dosing pumps use and declare the jacks in the light control tab.

 

[b4tn]

I'm trying to figure out how to do it with current reef pi software and I'm not sure how to convert the light control in reef pi from pwm to 0-10v dc or if it's even possible.
I'm thinking I can do it with L293D chip that the dosing pumps use and declare the jacks in the light control tab.

Isnt that what @Ranjib does in his adafruit guide?

 

[Diamond1]

Isnt that what @Ranjib does in his adafruit guide?

Yes but this guide runs the lights with pwm. The flourescent ballasts work on variable 0 to 10v DC.

 

[b4tn]

Ahh, I think @Ryan115 made something that may work for you.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...-on-raspberry-pi.289256/page-406#post-5429983

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Nothing to do with reef pi but this is for all the designers, builders and tinkerers. Maybe you'll dig this as much as I do...

https://www.chonday.com/15454/the-writer-automaton/

 

[Ryan115]

Yes but this guide runs the lights with pwm. The flourescent ballasts work on variable 0 to 10v DC.

Ahh, I think @Ryan115 made something that may work for you.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...-on-raspberry-pi.289256/page-406#post-5429983

A RC filter on the PWM output will smooth out the signal into an "analog" 0-10V output.

This calculator helps...
http://sim.okawa-denshi.jp/en/CRlowkeisan.htm

 

[Ryan115]

Nothing to do with reef pi but this is for all the designers, builders and tinkerers. Maybe you'll dig this as much as I do...

https://www.chonday.com/15454/the-writer-automaton/

That is very impressive...and creepy.