Hydros Control 2 , Control 4 and accessories question and answer thread.

[TheHarold]

If they go to switch inputs you can use the 0-10v inputs on the Control 4 to hook them to. Those are like DIY type inputs. I plan on using them for water level for my storage tanks. I had planed on using float switches but may try to build a pressure sensor interface to get a actual water level instead of just full and empty. You can hook more than one switch to a input using a resistor ladder but only one switch will register at a time so you would have to keep that in mind as to where on the ladder the switch is hooked. I would imagine that they may come out with something in the future to makes easier for someone that does not have the skills to make their own. If not there will be other users that can probably help with that as the base of users grows. Those 0-10v inputs have 3 different modes push button switch, float switch and the analog 0-10v. all have different configurations You can setup.

Yeah exactly. I have a bunch of these PCBs, minimum order was 25pcs if you need one lol.

Or you can grab the resistor values from the photo too:

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Is there a way of running an Apex DOS from a Hydros controller?

 

[n2585722]

Is there a way of running an Apex DOS from a Hydros controller?

I doubt that will ever happen. I have some dosing pumps that I am going to try with the Hydros. They are 12v DC and come with an AC power pack. I maybe able to use a drive port to power them. If so I will be getting a Control 2 to go with the Control 4.

 

[n2585722]

Yeah exactly. I have a bunch of these PCBs, minimum order was 25pcs if you need one lol.

Or you can grab the resistor values from the photo too:

That looks well laid out. Nice job. I assume those are for momentary push button switches.

 

[TheHarold]

That looks well laid out. Nice job. I assume those are for momentary push button switches.

Thanks

 

[n2585722]

That looks really good also. For my storage tanks I had something like the drawing below since I would have 3 switches. The empty switch has priority and the dispense switch has secondary priority. The full switch has the lowest priority. Only one switch will be recognized if more than one is active. The dispense switch is for turning on a pump to dispense into containers from the storage tank. I have not calculated the resistors yet. Then again I may go with the pressure sensor eventually.

 

[JGT]

That looks really good also. For my storage tanks I had something like the drawing below since I would have 3 switches. The empty switch has priority and the dispense switch has secondary priority. The full switch has the lowest priority. Only one switch will be recognized if more than one is active. The dispense switch is for turning on a pump to dispense into containers from the storage tank. I have not calculated the resistors yet. Then again I may go with the pressure sensor eventually.

I see they have ATO capabilities with high water level sensor. Anything in the works for AWC?

 

[n2585722]

I see they have ATO capabilities with high water level sensor. Anything in the works for AWC?

I have AWC setup on my Archon. I plan on transferring it to the Hydros. Since I use peristaltic pumps that are controlled with my current controller. It should be just a matter of programming the new controller. It may take me awhile to get it transferred over. Since it is working good on the other controller already I am not in a big hurry to get it transferred over.

 

[JGT]

I have AWC setup on my Archon. I plan on transferring it to the Hydros. Since I use peristaltic pumps that are controlled with my current controller. It should be just a matter of programming the new controller. It may take me awhile to get my it transferred over. Since it is working good on the other controller already I am not in a vig hurry to get it transferred over.

Thanks, so sounds like nothing inherent yet.

 

[Peace River]

Thanks, so sounds like nothing inherent yet.

CoralVue has mentioned on their various live streams that several products are in the works and some will be announced before the end of the year. I'm not sure about an AWC, but I have to believe that it is somewhere on the list.

 

[shred5]

I see they have ATO capabilities with high water level sensor. Anything in the works for AWC?

Yes they are planning one. I think it will be sooner than later since it is one of the most requested items.

Honestly think I could do it with what is available now.

 

[n2585722]

Thanks, so sounds like nothing inherent yet.

I do AWC on my Archon with the multi timer function. I use the pumps in the photo below. The two to the right are auto water change. I matched the flow rate on the pumps with the flow settings. I do use different timers but they are normally set for the same time and length. If I want to increase the salinity over a period of time I can add a little on time to the fill pump as an example. The pump on the left is the ATO. These pumps are in my garage so they have to pump up into the attic then over to the room with the tank and down the wall to the tank. The drain pump pulls from the sump and then has to pump up through the attic to the kitchen wall with the sink and then to the drain for the sink. So they seem to work for this application. The water change pumps run for 15 minutes at a time three times a day. A 20 gallon storage tank last a little less than a month. I don’t think there would be an issue using these pumps with the Hydros.

 

[JGT]

I do AWC on my Archon with the multi timer function. I use the pumps in the photo below. The two to the right are auto water change. I matched the flow rate on the pumps with the flow settings. I do use different timers but they are normally set for the same time and length. If I want to increase the salinity over a period of time I can add a little on time to the fill pump as an example. The pump on the left is the ATO. These pumps are in my garage so they have to pump up into the attic then over to the room with the tank and down the wall to the tank. The drain pump pulls from the sump and then has to pump up through the attic to the kitchen wall with the sink and then to the drain for the sink. So they seem to work for this application. The water change pumps run for 15 minutes at a time three times a day. A 20 gallon storage tank last a little less than a month. I don’t think there would be an issue using these pumps with the Hydros.

Right, but you are doing that without the Hydros. I guess my question is does the Hydros have something sim to Apex to use dosing pump programming/timers/flow rates to do the AWC. Sounds like currently not but may in the future.

 

[n2585722]

I am sure the Hydros has a way to turn on outputs using a timer. That is a basic function for a controller. Without having one I cannot tell you how it is done. I hope to have mine Tuesday. I will be at work Wednesday-Friday so I am not sure how much time I will have getting used to it, but I defiantly will see how that is done for sure.

 

[JGT]

I am sure the Hydros has a way to turn on outputs using a timer. That is a basic function for a controller. Without having one I cannot tell you how it is done. I hope to have mine Tuesday. I will be at work Wednesday-Friday so I am not sure how much time I will have getting used to it, but I defiantly will see how that is done for sure.

Cool, thanks.

 

[ReefBeta]

Anyone know if possible to connect Apex's optical sensor to Hydros sense port? Both of them are 4 pins. I have couple of them around that would love to put on my Hydros.

 

[n2585722]

Anyone know if possible to connect Apex's optical sensor to Hydros sense port? Both of them are 4 pins. I have couple of them around that would love to put on my Hydros.

I think the Hydros optical sensors are only 39.99 so I am not sure it is worth the risk of damaging either the Apex sensor or the Hydros attempting to do this. It may be possible but not sure it would be worth it for the price.

 

[burningmime]

Is there a way of running an Apex DOS from a Hydros controller?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, but someone reverse engineered the AquaBus protocols here: https://stonyx.github.io/AquaBusLib/DataTransfer.html . He never got as far as the Dos (and the protocols might gave changed in the intervening 4 years anyway), however that project includes a straightforward tutorial on debugging.

Hydros side is easy since they're promising open APIs. So someone with the knowledge and desire could design some converter (ideally less hacky than an ardiuno with 2 PCBs hanging off the sides, but that's probably what it would end up as, especially if it's not officially supported by either company -- and I'm guessing there's legal reasons why that could never happen).

I'd love to support this effort, since I don't like all the vendor lock-in in the industry. I might be able to do some of the software side, but have little know-how on the hardware side of things. And don't have a Hydros, so that's also a bit of a blocker for me.

 

[JeffB418]

I think the Hydros optical sensors are only 39.99 so I am not sure it is worth the risk of damaging either the Apex sensor or the Hydros attempting to do this. It may be possible but not sure it would be worth it for the price.

They will not work. Apex optical sensors require a biasing network that the hydros doesn’t have. Plus the optical sensors on Hydros are actually double optical sensors in one module. This provides redundancy and longer life.
In summary they won’t work and the hydros ones should in theory last longer.

 

[JeffB418]

That looks really good also. For my storage tanks I had something like the drawing below since I would have 3 switches. The empty switch has priority and the dispense switch has secondary priority. The full switch has the lowest priority. Only one switch will be recognized if more than one is active. The dispense switch is for turning on a pump to dispense into containers from the storage tank. I have not calculated the resistors yet. Then again I may go with the pressure sensor eventually.

Harry and I did some work on what resistors are needed for this. It’s not as straight forward as it seems since they have some input protection on the input pin that throws off the resistor calculations. The following has been tested and works with hydros. And it also uses the 5V output already available on the 0-10v input connector.