What did you do with your hydros?

[Nor'easter Reefer]

So far I have a Minnow and two Wifi Strips. My priorities are sensing and alerting + some decisions. four sense ports:

1. Temperature sensor: I have a Helio that will be plugged into a Wifi strip managing temperature between 76-78 (target 77). I have a backup Finnex titanium for if the Helio breaks that will also be plugged into a wifi strip. If Hydros senses the temp drop to 75, it will turn on the Finnex outlet. If it senses the temp over 79, it will turn on fans. If it senses temp over 81, it will turn off the outlet for the Helio (assuming Helio is broken or that it's just too hot to keep temp down).

2. Leak sensor: To sense leaks and turn off pumps.

3. Float switch in the sump: If the level rises above the ATO for some reason, I'll know it's somehow briken or malfuncioning, and it will turn off the return pump.

4. Float switch in the Smart Dosing Container: When not engaged (off), will send an alert to make new AFR and refill the dosing container.

In future Hydros controllers, I would like more sense ports:

5. Tiny optical level sensor (skimmer sensor) in the overflow box: if levels rise to slightly below the emergency drain, turn off the return pump and send an alert.

6. Float switch in the sump return chamber at the level of the return pump: if levels drop that low, turn off the pump (there may be a clog or blockage somewhere.

I will also eventually swap out the wifi strips for an XP8, probably, as I've heard the wifi connection can be a bit spotty.

Love the skimmer sensor in the overflow box! I might do the same!

 

[TheWB]

I’m pretty invested in my Apex system for most of my control and monitoring. However, I also decided to jump into the Hydros ecosystem to see how it works and if I would like it. So far I just have a Minnow because I wanted a doser and some sense ports, and a WIFi power strip. The Minnow is set up to dose Nopox and will eventually dose All For Reef when the need arises. I have two sense ports in use. One is for the low water level in my ATO reservoir and the other is for a Rope Leak Detector. The WiFi power strip runs the pump and heater that I mix fresh saltwater in for water changes and will also power the return pump and heater on a small AIO tank I’m going to use for new fish observation.
I have lots of issues with keeping the WiFi power strip connected to my home network but this is not really a Hydros problem so much as it is my lack of understanding how to set my home network up properly so that the Hydros gear stays on the 2.4mhz frequency. I will eventually figure that out. The Minnow never disconnects though, only the WiFi strip does.
All in all I’m very happy with the things I can do with just the Minnow and the strip. It was less expensive than getting a DOS, a water level sensor, a leak detector and an extra EB4 or something to do all the same things in the Apex system. I don’t see any reason why I should tie myself to one system or the other. If Maven comes out and proves to be reliable I’m all set up to add one. If I need more sense ports for temp probes or other sensors in the observation tank or mixing container they are easily added on with an XS. I have no complaints about my Apex gear but the Hydros seems to work well too and it’s nice to have choices.

 

[JoJosReef]

One is for the low water level in my ATO reservoir

Why didn't I think of that? Adding that to my sense ports list!

 

[n2585722]

Why didn't I think of that? Adding that to my sense ports list!

I have 10 float switches on sense ports. I have a low level and full sensor in my DI reservoir, fresh saltwater reservoir and mix tanks in my garage. I also have a sump overfull, sump low and sump full in the sump and a skimmer full float switch. Those were on my Archon but moved them over to my Hydros over time. I have 16 Hydros controller and most are in the same collective so the inputs and outputs are shared with all other controllers in the collective.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I have quite a bit of information on my Hydros controllers in my build thread here on R2R. The Hydros info starts on page 6 post # 119. To get to my build thread just click on My Tank Thread banner on my post. The first post on Hydros was when I got my first Hydros gear which was a X4 starter kit and an extra wifi power strip. From that point on there are a lot of post with screenshots and info on what I am doing. I now have 16 Hydros controllers and they control the normal things at the tank. It also does alkalinity testing. It also controls my RODI unit and my mixing station in the garage. It also does auto water changes and ATO with those pumps in the garage 35ft from the tank. Also as new features were released I have post about them and how I used them. Also when I changed things along the way I made post about the changes. Let me know if you have any questions.

Protein skimmer on a wifi strip probably fine?

 

[n2585722]

The odds of the skimmer needing turned off for some reason at the same time there is a communication issue would be quite rare. The only one I could see is if the return pump were to turn off but if that is on the same strip odds are it would stay on also.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

The odds of the skimmer needing turned off for some reason at the same time there is a communication issue would be quite rare. The only one I could see is if the return pump were to turn off but if that is on the same strip odds are it would stay on also.

Say I got a xp8, my sump is in the basement. I (being a electrician by trade) have a outlet down stairs that is wired upstairs into a junction box with a male cord end that I currently have plugged into a inkbird controller under my display tank. Would it be worth doing the same thing for my return pump and have my return pump, powerheads, and heaters on the xp8 and leave my skimmer and water mixing pump/heater of the wifi powerstrip?

 

[n2585722]

Say I got a xp8, my sump is in the basement. I (being a electrician by trade) have a outlet down stairs that is wired upstairs into a junction box with a male cord end that I currently have plugged into a inkbird controller under my display tank. Would it be worth doing the same thing for my return pump and have my return pump, powerheads, and heaters on the xp8 and leave my skimmer and water mixing pump/heater of the wifi powerstrip?

If a controller is in a collective it has to be connected to the other controllers using a command bus cable. They come in two types the data power cables but those can be no more than 14ft long. There is also a data only cable and they come in longer lengths. You would just have to have a source of power on both side of a data only cable but an XP8 is a source of power and can also power several other controllers that do not have a separate power connector or an AC plug. The ones with a separate power connector or power plug need to be powered but are also a source of power to other controllers. CoralVue has several lengths for the power data command bus cables. There are a few sizes of data only cables but they will also make one a specific length for you if you request one. I have one that is 35ft long since I have 7 controllers in the garage and 7 at the tank that are in the same collective.