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

[elysics]

For calcium and magnesium at least there are "ion selective electrodes" which are allegedly used in some upcoming devices if i remember correctly. Pricy though

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

It's not the big brother (6 plug), but Amazon has the 3-plug Kasa powerstrip on sale for $19.99 with a $10 coupon. Just grabbed one for the QT tank.

Amazon product

 

[LongBeachReefer562]

While not related to ReefPi I have an electrical question and given all the sparkys on this forum I'm hoping someone is able to share there input on the below.

I dose 2 part using the BRS 1.2ml/min dosers. My Alk doser runs 1.2 but the calc is almost double at 2.1 so I'm trying to figure out a way to be able to adjust the motor speed. Pretty much every BRS doser varies from 1.2-2.2 ml/min, it's a crapshoot what you get.

The BRS doser uses the below AC motor, unfortunately I cant find the datasheet on the OEMs website so the below pic is the only info on the motor I have.

I am wondering if I could use this AC motor controller to slow down the doser motor a bit which is made to work with AC fans from 8-50 watts. Does anyone know if this may or may not work?

I'd cry if I burnt out the motor on my new doser so hoping I can get some feedback before attempting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00809BQZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[LongBeachReefer562]

The trident/khdirector are both basically doing hanna-checker style liquid tests. Suck in water, baseline reading, add a reagent, do an LED based colorimeter comparison.

Not aware of any probes for those things.

Not sure about the Trident but the KH director and the Alkatronic actually use titration of a standard acid and a PH probe to perform an alkalinity test.

Most of the legwork is already figured out in the below article, it'd be a good starting place.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/a-diy-alkalinity-test.12/

 

[92Miata]

Not sure about the Trident but the KH director and the Alkatronic actually use titration of a standard acid and a PH probe to perform an alkalinity test.

Most of the legwork is already figured out in the below article, it'd be a good starting place.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/a-diy-alkalinity-test.12/

I stand corrected.


So, basically we'd need a pH probe, and a bunch of very precise dosing pumps to pull in sample, administer reagent until proper ph, and then dump. Not super complicated - but probably very finicky to get exact.

 

[LongBeachReefer562]

I stand corrected.


So, basically we'd need a pH probe, and a bunch of very precise dosing pumps to pull in sample, administer reagent until proper ph, and then dump. Not super complicated - but probably very finicky to get exact.

Exactly!

Not saying the colorimetric wont work, just saying forwhatever reason the titration method is what most are using for auto testing.

The other thing I've heard (not positive) is that they use algorithms as well for inconveniences in case there is some anomaly and the test gets screwed up. Like say you test your alk a dozen times and it's readying 8.1-8.3 and you drop it down to 5dkh suddenly, I hear it wont read 5 but instead will take averages based on current and past measurements.

 

[jsweir]

finally ready to set it up to use and can't login - saw there is a command line to reset password, but what is the actual command?

 

[Ranjib]

I'm nearly done building my canopy for the new tank & am excited to try out 3.5!!! Thanks @Ranjib & @Michael Lane for all the incredible work!

One question I had before getting into it this weekend- Is there any sort of documentation for using the ADS1015 with Reef Pi? I'm super interested in the LUX meter aspect of it. I just finished building a hybrid T5/LED fixture & the bulbs for it should be arriving next week. I have no idea what to expect when I flip that switch & I'm trying not to bleach everything out.

The ads driver will allow you creating two analog input connectors with it. Treat it as ph probe and the reading will be raw . Calibrate and control as you wish from there on.

 

[Ranjib]

While not related to ReefPi I have an electrical question and given all the sparkys on this forum I'm hoping someone is able to share there input on the below.

I dose 2 part using the BRS 1.2ml/min dosers. My Alk doser runs 1.2 but the calc is almost double at 2.1 so I'm trying to figure out a way to be able to adjust the motor speed. Pretty much every BRS doser varies from 1.2-2.2 ml/min, it's a crapshoot what you get.

The BRS doser uses the below AC motor, unfortunately I cant find the datasheet on the OEMs website so the below pic is the only info on the motor I have.

I am wondering if I could use this AC motor controller to slow down the doser motor a bit which is made to work with AC fans from 8-50 watts. Does anyone know if this may or may not work?

I'd cry if I burnt out the motor on my new doser so hoping I can get some feedback before attempting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00809BQZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I’m not sure about this. You have to try it out and let us know. I don’t think any of us is using this , to make a informed advice

 

[stefanm]

@Ranjib I'm having a weird thing regarding macros, I made a feed macro to switch off my return pump and wavemaker, also disable one of the temperature sensors to prevent the chiller switching on during feeding.

However only the item that's listed first will disable, on earlier versions it would work on a single macro. My work around is to have 3 separate macros and press run one after the other.

Is this normal behaviour with recent versions?

Can anyone else test and verify whether the issue exists on other setups?

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib I'm having a weird thing regarding macros, I made a feed macro to switch off my return pump and wavemaker, also disable one of the temperature sensors to prevent the chiller switching on during feeding.

However only the item that's listed first will disable, on earlier versions it would work on a single macro. My work around is to have 3 separate macros and press run one after the other.

Is this normal behaviour with recent versions?

Can anyone else test and verify whether the issue exists on other setups?

It is not normal . Is there any error in the log?

 

[jsweir]

Got past my password problem, but so far I have a temp sensor hooked up - no problem configuring that - and a ph probe. When I try to configure that but when I try to choose analog input nothing shows up. I am using the robo tank with a pi 3+

Got it all set up

 

[geekengineer]

While not related to ReefPi I have an electrical question and given all the sparkys on this forum I'm hoping someone is able to share there input on the below.

I dose 2 part using the BRS 1.2ml/min dosers. My Alk doser runs 1.2 but the calc is almost double at 2.1 so I'm trying to figure out a way to be able to adjust the motor speed. Pretty much every BRS doser varies from 1.2-2.2 ml/min, it's a crapshoot what you get.

....

This looks like a synchronous motor to me. I'm not sure if the controller you are looking at would support this type of motor and what type they use in AC muffin fans.

Synchronous motor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[geekengineer]

So I went off into the weeds in life here for a while. I would like to eventually get a reef-pi setup for my new tank here at some point hopefully.. Is there a better place to look at building up a reef-pi in general? I see someone said to look at build threads. Could you list a few of the good ones that would be worth looking at maybe?

 

[geekengineer]

Looks I got some inventing to do.. LOL

They do have this automated tester. I haven't checked recently how well it works and how long it takes to get one.

Reefbot V2 - Reef Kinetics

ReefBot uses reagent based method to autonomously measure parameters in your tank. It currently measures Alkalinity , Calcium , Magnesium , Nitrate & Phosphate.

www.reefkinetics.com

 

[KorD]

They do have this automated tester. I haven't checked recently how well it works and how long it takes to get one.

Reefbot V2 - Reef Kinetics

ReefBot uses reagent based method to autonomously measure parameters in your tank. It currently measures Alkalinity , Calcium , Magnesium , Nitrate & Phosphate.

www.reefkinetics.com

I got to see one in action when they were first released into the market ( IF I remember right, the beginning of 2010).... way pricy then as it is still more than I would like to spend.
I like to keep my systems as simple as I can for the most part. I also refuse to get a Apex system. I guess I just don't want to take the fun out of the hobby by over automating everything, just want also want to play.

 

[elysics]

While not related to ReefPi I have an electrical question and given all the sparkys on this forum I'm hoping someone is able to share there input on the below.

I dose 2 part using the BRS 1.2ml/min dosers. My Alk doser runs 1.2 but the calc is almost double at 2.1 so I'm trying to figure out a way to be able to adjust the motor speed. Pretty much every BRS doser varies from 1.2-2.2 ml/min, it's a crapshoot what you get.

The BRS doser uses the below AC motor, unfortunately I cant find the datasheet on the OEMs website so the below pic is the only info on the motor I have.

I am wondering if I could use this AC motor controller to slow down the doser motor a bit which is made to work with AC fans from 8-50 watts. Does anyone know if this may or may not work?

I'd cry if I burnt out the motor on my new doser so hoping I can get some feedback before attempting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00809BQZG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Scrapping that attempt and buying 12v dosers from aliexpress and reusing old 12v power supplies is probably going to be cheaper, more reliable and safer than messing with the mains voltage of equipment that wasn't made for that. I got 6 with similar throughput directly from the kamoer factory for 36€.

 

[stefanm]

It is not normal . Is there any error in the log?

No errors in the log, I believe my card maybe corrupted.

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

So I went off into the weeds in life here for a while. I would like to eventually get a reef-pi setup for my new tank here at some point hopefully.. Is there a better place to look at building up a reef-pi in general? I see someone said to look at build threads. Could you list a few of the good ones that would be worth looking at maybe?

There are some good build threads listed here. https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/resources/

 

[theatrus]

This looks like a synchronous motor to me. I'm not sure if the controller you are looking at would support this type of motor and what type they use in AC muffin fans.

Synchronous motor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Those controllers usually don't change the line frequency so its not going to work (they just chop some part of the waveform like a normal triac dimmer).

Have you triple checked the tubing? Also, mark the rollers with a sharpy and count actual revolutions per minute to see if the motor is running faster. Sync motors would only run at line speed or some multiple of it - so a multiple of 60Hz. Its possible whatever BRS is getting has different gearing mounted in it of course, or they're loading different ID tubing.