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

[Des Westcott]

Temp probes went missing again this afternoon. had to disable and re-enable. They're back.

On another note, I am struggling to get timers to work. When I first set this Reef-Pi up, I played around with a timer test triggering a Macro as this was a feature I really like and wanted to use. I got it to work turning an triggering a macro every 20 seconds that turned an item of equipment on for 10 seconds and then off.

Fast forward about 2 weeks and I can't get a single timer to run despite adding a RTC to the Pi as a precaution.

The time never seems to update on my Reef-Pi. Could that be part of the problem?

 

[sfgabe]

I've reproduced several times, all with jacks based on PCA9685.

Same here. They seem to double up, and I'm still getting no response in the light itself. I've deleted the lights and ports several times with the same results.

On a positive note I did a update/upgrade on the core pi raspbian and the temp probe wobble seems to have stabilized quite a bit.

 

[Mike Kearns]

I don’t know if it is related to the disappearing temperature probes but my calibration keeps going away. It will last a few hours then I will go to check it and it is gone. My temperature probe reads about 3 degrees to low

 

[hhaase]

My hat boards should be here in about a week, looking forward to building this up for me. Pi is already here, so going to be moving along quickly.

 

[Des Westcott]

Update with a few observations :

• My timer issue above - I figured I was trying to get the timer to trigger a Macro. Maybe this feature isn't fully ready yet. I then found that the "Equipment" option under "Function" was missing. It still works if you select the blank slot though.
  
• Timers controlling Equipment is working well for me now.
• Back in the dark ages :) when Reef-Pi first implemented Macros, it would change the "Run" box to "Running" when a macro was actually in use. This was a very useful feature I think. At the moment, I have to analyse from the equipment if a macro is running.
• Editing a Macro - It would be really nice if you could insert a line in the middle of a Macro. I left a step out of a long Macro and you have to re-write the whole thing. Also would be nice if you add equipment and want add them into the middle of a Macro.

Progressing well though.

 

[BenB]

Last Monday I installed reef-pi-3.0.0-rc0-pi3.deb on my new Raspberry Pi 4B. Then I connected 4 temperature probes, did the settings in the Temperature tab, rebooted, all working fine. I let them run until Tuesday evening, no issues. Then I added a PCA9685, in the driver tab I added it with address 64. Assigned a Jack and I went to lights tab to add a light, after rebooting 3 of my temp sensors were gone from the dashboard but still under the Temperature tab. When I checked if Reef-pi did see al the temp sensors I could still choose all 4. Then I deleted the one that was visible on my dashboard in the Temp tab. And suddenly all the other 3 temp sensors showed up in the dashboard again. Only the light is not working still.
It looks like the same issues as some others already described in previous posts. I hope this helps a bit to solve the issue.

 

[PaulJ2303]

just to give an update for those who've helped my with my dosing pump setup.
Ive decided to go with a duty cycle of 250hz with the pumps running sat 70% this has proved to be the most reliable
over time whilst keeping the speed of the pumps down.

TBH the real reason i'm writing is i have a bit of a puzzle (for me anyway)
I have a ATO Refractometer and I've noticed something that has knocked my confidence in it.
I made up some salt using cold water and checked it as usual with my Refractometer, i then kept looking at the reading and the reading kept steadily lowering point by point. i'm assuming because the temperature of the water rose in contact with the warm Refractometer.

but i don't really know ... so i'm asking you techy guys what is the correct procedure for using an ATO Refractometer to get accurate consistent results?

ok back to reef-pi
on my dashboard (3.0b) the temperature seems to auto scale between the highest value and the lowest.
is it possible to set the dashboard temp scale manually like we used to be able to do in 2.4

cheers.

 

[Ranjib]

just to give an update for those who've helped my with my dosing pump setup.
Ive decided to go with a duty cycle of 250hz with the pumps running sat 70% this has proved to be the most reliable
over time whilst keeping the speed of the pumps down.

TBH the real reason i'm writing is i have a bit of a puzzle (for me anyway)
I have a ATO Refractometer and I've noticed something that has knocked my confidence in it.
I made up some salt using cold water and checked it as usual with my Refractometer, i then kept looking at the reading and the reading kept steadily lowering point by point. i'm assuming because the temperature of the water rose in contact with the warm Refractometer.

but i don't really know ... so i'm asking you techy guys what is the correct procedure for using an ATO Refractometer to get accurate consistent results?

ok back to reef-pi
on my dashboard (3.0b) the temperature seems to auto scale between the highest value and the lowest.
is it possible to set the dashboard temp scale manually like we used to be able to do in 2.4

cheers.

Can you share a link of of your refractometer? My refractometer is pretty stable and i can calibrate it with 40ppm calibration solution. Are you using hydrometer?

 

[PaulJ2303]

Hi @Ranjib :cool:

Amazon product ASIN B014CXHFEY
no not using a hydrometer

edit: i've been experimenting a bit with some calibration fluid and tank water and i think the trick is to put the water on the prism and just wait .... for a bout 5 minutes to let it settle .. it all seems to tally up and make sense then.

 

[Des Westcott]

Question :- On the Tank - Heater/Cooler graph below, what do the "up" and "down" figures represent? I thought it would be heater / chiller usage in seconds like the ATO displays, until I realised there can't be 5070 seconds in an hour.

 

[Ranjib]

Question :- On the Tank - Heater/Cooler graph below, what do the "up" and "down" figures represent? I thought it would be heater / chiller usage in seconds like the ATO displays, until I realised there can't be 5070 seconds in an hour.

Your assumptions are correct. This looks like a bug for sure. Is it possible to share the temperature controller settings? I'll fix it asap if i can reproduce it

 

[Des Westcott]

Here is my temp configuration.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Did you mean to have the alert temp in C? Showing low alert at 77C and High at 81C.

 

[Des Westcott]

Did you mean to have the alert temp in C? Showing low alert at 77C and High at 81C.

I don't have alerts enabled yet, so I haven't really given them much thought.

 

[Ranjib]

I don't have alerts enabled yet, so I haven't really given them much thought.

Yup, that should not matter.

 

[Soulreefer]

sorry friend, I just tried installing reefpi, there was a problem in the PCA driver, the pca driver always error when inputted to reefpi, this might sound very boring, because this problem has been asked a lot .... I have read it many times on the page 603-605 and have followed all the instructions there

I have done the steps as the instructions are there
enable pca> already

test i2c> with sudo i2cdetect -y 1
Detected results

try to install the driver always error

active reefpi

thank you
hopefully anyone can provide a solution

 

[Ranjib]

I cant see the images. Which version of reef-pi you are using?

 

[Ranjib]

sorry friend, I just tried installing reefpi, there was a problem in the PCA driver, the pca driver always error when inputted to reefpi, this might sound very boring, because this problem has been asked a lot .... I have read it many times on the page 603-605 and have followed all the instructions there

I have done the steps as the instructions are there
enable pca> already

test i2c> with sudo i2cdetect -y 1
Detected results

try to install the driver always error

active reefpi

thank you
hopefully anyone can provide a solution

Try with address as 64 .

 

[Ranjib]

Try with address as 64 .

Its strange, Im not able to see the screenshots via r2r forum webpage, but the google notification email had this post and there all the screenshots are present :0/

 

[Soulreefer]

Try with address as 64 .

I use version 3.0

now working
thank you ranjib