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

Fishyj · Mar 31, 2019

I have a question. What is the best way to handle water changes and reef-pi? Should you just unplug it or what?

b4tn · Mar 31, 2019

Fishyj said:
I have a question. What is the best way to handle water changes and reef-pi? Should you just unplug it or what?

I built two water change macros. One to turn off everything I want off and another to turn it all back on in the order I want it back on. You could also just turn it off with the macro and have it all come back on after a certain time but I wanted to turn it on when I was done. Not wait for a timer

Fishyj · Apr 1, 2019

Is there a tutorial on making a macro? This is a challenge area for me.

rushbattle · Apr 1, 2019

Fishyj said:
Is there a tutorial on making a macro? This is a challenge area for me.

I haven’t seen one, but think of it like a storyboard. First I turn off the skimmer pump, then I turn off the return and the power heads. Each step is another line in the macro.

bishoptf · Apr 1, 2019

Fishyj said:
Is there a tutorial on making a macro? This is a challenge area for me.

I can take some screen shots of what I have in mine, but they are pretty simple. Turn temp monitoring off, turn filters off, turn heaters off, etc. Then I have a corresponding macoe that turns everything back on. I also have one with a timer to turn the filter off for feeding, then it automatically turns the filter on after 5min.

ChrisNH · Apr 2, 2019

Ranjib said:
Prometheus integration

This is really great news. I am new to reef-pi but now I am even more excited to get it up and running. I think I will get it started on my daughter's freshwater tank while I wait for my reef tank to get going.

Bigtrout · Apr 2, 2019

ChrisNH said:
This is really great news. I am new to reef-pi but now I am even more excited to get it up and running. I think I will get it started on my daughter's freshwater tank while I wait for my reef tank to get going.

Great...it has been flawless running everything in my 75 gallon freshwater planted tank...im running 2 lights (4 channels)pwm, 2 heaters, and 3 canisters...with macros and timers to automate water changes, feeding and the like.

bishoptf · Apr 2, 2019

ChrisNH said:
This is really great news. I am new to reef-pi but now I am even more excited to get it up and running. I think I will get it started on my daughter's freshwater tank while I wait for my reef tank to get going.

Welcome!

bishoptf · Apr 2, 2019

rushbattle said:
I haven’t seen one, but think of it like a storyboard. First I turn off the skimmer pump, then I turn off the return and the power heads. Each step is another line in the macro.

Here are some screenshots of a couple of my macros, pretty simple:

View attachment 1028492

Hope this helps, just add the steps in the order you want things to happen.

:)

Mandelstam · Apr 3, 2019

It's been a long time coming but I'm soon at the point where I can start a build thread of my version of Reef-pi. But until then I'll have to post some specific questions here.

I'm drawing up the enclosure for the whole controller in cad so I can laser cut the parts at work (benefits of working at an architectural firm with a model workshop). I want to have some status leds on the front panel.

RPi power led, I read somewhere that you can hook that up to pin 1 and it will act as a power status indicator, is that true? Does that pin always have power on as default? If not, do you have any suggestions on how to hook up a custom power indicator led?
Status indicators for relay board/power module. Can I hook up a small 20mA 5mm led (with resistor) in parallell on the GPIO pin that connects to each of the relays?

Bigtrout · Apr 3, 2019

Mandelstam said:
Status indicators for relay board/power module. Can I hook up a small 20mA 5mm led (with resistor) in parallell on the GPIO pin that connects to each of the relays?

The raspberry pi has a max of around 30ma on the whole 3.3v rail, use more than that and you kill your pi, so I would not use the 20ma leds there. You would be better off paralleling them on the outputs of the ULN2803 which handles more current. Thats why it is used, it handles alot more current than the raspberry pi outputs can handle.

Mandelstam · Apr 3, 2019

Bigtrout said:
The raspberry pi has a max of around 30ma on the whole 3.3v rail, use more than that and you kill your pi, so I would not use the 20ma leds there. You would be better off paralleling them on the outputs of the ULN2803 which handles more current. Thats why it is used, it handles alot more current than the raspberry pi outputs can handle.

Ofcourse, much better option! Thank you!

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2019

Mandelstam said:
It's been a long time coming but I'm soon at the point where I can start a build thread of my version of Reef-pi. But until then I'll have to post some specific questions here.

I'm drawing up the enclosure for the whole controller in cad so I can laser cut the parts at work (benefits of working at an architectural firm with a model workshop). I want to have some status leds on the front panel.

RPi power led, I read somewhere that you can hook that up to pin 1 and it will act as a power status indicator, is that true? Does that pin always have power on as default? If not, do you have any suggestions on how to hook up a custom power indicator led?

Status indicators for relay board/power module. Can I hook up a small 20mA 5mm led (with resistor) in parallell on the GPIO pin that connects to each of the relays?

@dmolavi may be able to chime in on this as I believe he did exactly what you want to do.

Ranjib · Apr 3, 2019

Anyone here coming to reefapalooza ? I’ll be there with my family , we can hang out :-)

bishoptf · Apr 3, 2019

Ranjib said:
Anyone here coming to reefapalooza ? I’ll be there with my family , we can hang out :)

Ok so dumb question, where is reefapalooza being held?

:)

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2019

Tom Bishop said:
Ok so dumb question, where is reefapalooza being held?

:)

There are several venues but I believe the one @Ranjib is referring to is the Anaheim one in August. There's one this weekend in Orlando too.

bishoptf · Apr 3, 2019

crusso1993 said:
There are several venues but I believe the one @Ranjib is referring to is the Anaheim one in August. There's one this weekend in Orlando too.

I was thinking it was something along those lines, would be a long drive for me :)