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

[Sam Rowe]

@Ranjib just spotted a website link problem on the ATO page the breadboard image isn't displaying

Got mine working for ATO controlling one of the SSR channels will be using a float switch for now as have one in tank already just straight controlling a relay for the pumps as too big load and makes the contacts stick.

 

[Gareth elliott]

@Ranjib just spotted a website link problem on the ATO page the breadboard image isn't displaying

Got mine working for ATO controlling one of the SSR channels will be using a float switch for now as have one in tank already just straight controlling a relay for the pumps as too big load and makes the contacts stick.

. I always refer to this, printed it as a sticker thats inside my pi display housing. Is the recommended connections ranjib posted awhile ago.

 

[Sam Rowe]

Not sure if I've found a bug with version 1.0?
On the doser tab I added a pump to it but it doesn't give any parameters for it in terms of timing and run time etc that was mentioned earlier in the thread.
Once added I cannot remove the pump and the tab doesn't display properly.
Turning off and back on the doser function doesn't clear it.

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks for the reply Ryan, Ive got all terminals connected DC+, DC-, CH1-4 it is a low level trigger which is why I thought it may be a pull up issue for the GPIO pins used as I know its similar to Arduino that pins can be specified as low, high or nothing.
If I put one of the pins to ground it will trigger the corresponding relay so the board its self works I may just be missing something to get the trigger working properly.
Oddly just firing it up and now is working, I have gone into raspi-config and turned on SPI and i2C as although I specified them to be on with the text file on the boot sector for some reason it hadn't activated them not sure if that would affect the relay as surely just standard GPIO?

I have noticed this too. In recent raspbian (2017 , November release) updating the /boot/config.txt is not enough to enable i2c , I had to do it via raspi-config

 

[Ranjib]

Not sure if I've found a bug with version 1.0?
On the doser tab I added a pump to it but it doesn't give any parameters for it in terms of timing and run time etc that was mentioned earlier in the thread.
Once added I cannot remove the pump and the tab doesn't display properly.
Turning off and back on the doser function doesn't clear it.

Doser , camera and wave maker are not fully done yet. They are experimental, in progress modules, I plan to finish them as part of 2.0. So that is expected .

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib just spotted a website link problem on the ATO page the breadboard image isn't displaying

Got mine working for ATO controlling one of the SSR channels will be using a float switch for now as have one in tank already just straight controlling a relay for the pumps as too big load and makes the contacts stick.

Yeah this is a known thing. We don’t have a fritzing file for the ato sensor part. I am working on it , expect it to be added in the guide sometime next week.

 

[Mandelstam]

Quick question, are there any future plans for some dosing pump controllers? I was just browsing around the web looking at some quite cheap peristaltic pump heads for nema 17 stepper motors and it got me thinking about my future dosing pump needs.

 

[Ranjib]

Quick question, are there any future plans for some dosing pump controllers? I was just browsing around the web looking at some quite cheap peristaltic pump heads for nema 17 stepper motors and it got me thinking about my future dosing pump needs.

Yes. Variable speed dosing pump control is something I plan to work on for 2.0 release. There an work-in-progress UI already there in 1.0, but its not functional yet. I am already using reef-pi to do two part dosing using the timer module and two cheap peristaltic pump from adafruit, they are dc motor based. Not as precise as stepper motors, but they are good enough for me , as of now

 

[Sam Rowe]

Kessil Control is working lovely. Need to get another Kessil so I can take away the aqua one tiles as better light output from Kessil and look a lot nicer.
I feel a little after Christmas present to myself is in order, see what I can find in the sales

 

[Ranjib]

Kessil Control is working lovely. Need to get another Kessil so I can take away the aqua one tiles as better light output from Kessil and look a lot nicer.
I feel a little after Christmas present to myself is in order, see what I can find in the sales

Thats awesome
Did you get the relays working ?

 

[Sam Rowe]

Thats awesome
Did you get the relays working ?

Yeah, after manually getting i2c and Spi active I just tried the relays and they worked? Not too sure what was going on there as aren’t they just straight off GPIO as high and lows?

Either way it’s all going nicely just need to look at installing it into the cabinet.

 

[Somnifac]

Published the 3D models on Thingiverse, if anyone is interested:

Fan Bracket: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2706693
Plug Panel: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2709392

As stated in previous posts, I've tagged them with 'reef-pi' and it would be nice to do the same if you create and upload a model. It makes it easy to find them in one place: https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:reef-pi

As for my build progress, I grabbed some of those DC-DC voltage regulators, so that should simplify some things. I have prints of the models above, so I can go ahead and finish cutting holes in my enclosure. I can get a few things wired up once that's done. I'm still waiting on the board from robo-tank for the lighting circuit (the ability to change the output signal on the lighting jacks, rather than hardwiring them, is very attractive), and some 4 conductor 3.5mm jacks (couldn't find any locally, so they're coming from China). Once I have those items, I will be able to finish my build, until the Atlas Scientific board support is added. Of course, I will have the hood hacking (to mount the LED panel in the BC29 hood) and wiring left to do. Maybe then I will be able to actually get my tank wet.

 

[RikardJ]

Ive looked at the ATO functionality, including the BOM, and have a few questions:

Are there any particular need for a DC ATO pump, or is it possible to just hook up a 110v AC?

What triggers the ATO pump to stop? Is it only the scan time? 120 seconds in the example. I assume you would set the time so you don’t overflow your tank

Is a pi zero sufficient to run a few controls, probably only ATO and light on/off? Or is it safer to splash out on the PI 3 from day one.

I’m a chemical engineer by trade and design chemical plants for a living. This system have a lot similar components, although I’m used to installing a lot of safety features too

 

[Gareth elliott]

Ive looked at the ATO functionality, including the BOM, and have a few questions:

Are there any particular need for a DC ATO pump, or is it possible to just hook up a 110v AC?

What triggers the ATO pump to stop? Is it only the scan time? 120 seconds in the example. I assume you would set the time so you don’t overflow your tank

Is a pi zero sufficient to run a few controls, probably only ATO and light on/off? Or is it safer to splash out on the PI 3 from day one.

I’m a chemical engineer by trade and design chemical plants for a living. This system have a lot similar components, although I’m used to installing a lot of safety features too

I am using a 80gph 110 ac pump with the system with no issues.
I am hopeful when conductivity probe support is added in the future this will be my back up for overfilling (salinity drops below 35ppt ato off). And when another optical sensor is supported placing that in the reservoir in reverse logic, when dry pump off.

 

[Sam Rowe]

I am using a 80gph 110 ac pump with the system with no issues.
I am hopeful when conductivity probe support is added in the future this will be my back up for overfilling (salinity drops below 35ppt ato off). And when another optical sensor is supported placing that in the reservoir in reverse logic, when dry pump off.

Adding a second sensor as a failover would be a good idea, there is a safety cutoff on the ato tab that will only allow to run the pump for a specified time only before locking out.

 

[RikardJ]

Adding a second sensor as a failover would be a good idea, there is a safety cutoff on the ato tab that will only allow to run the pump for a specified time only before locking out.

How does that lock work? Is it manual reset or will it expire after x amount of time?

I could see an extra sensor beneficial in the tank, and one in the ATO container for low level

 

[Gareth elliott]

How does that lock work? Is it manual reset or will it expire after x amount of time?

I could see an extra sensor beneficial in the tank, and one in the ATO container for low level

I could be wrong, but i believe the time setting is how often reef-pi takes a sensor reading.
The second time ranjib added was how long it checks after the pump is turned on. On/off is determined by state of the sensor. Water contact-off. No contact-on.

 

[Sam Rowe]

How does that lock work? Is it manual reset or will it expire after x amount of time?

I could see an extra sensor beneficial in the tank, and one in the ATO container for low level

I haven’t got mine fully setup for ATObit sure it works by only allowing the pump to run for ‘x’ seconds before cutting out. Not sure how the reset to it works @Ranjib is the chap to answer that.

 

[Brad Cox]

Maybe that explains my ato stop working. Hopefully he chimes in

 

[Ranjib]

Yeah, after manually getting i2c and Spi active I just tried the relays and they worked? Not too sure what was going on there as aren’t they just straight off GPIO as high and lows?

Either way it’s all going nicely just need to look at installing it into the cabinet.

Great. You can give ato and temp modules a shot, if you want