Reef-Pi (Raspberry Pi Aquarium Controller) (1 Viewer)

[Tenny]

So on my main tank I have an Apex Classic and love it. It works great and I trust it 100%. On my smaller 12g cube, I have no controller on this tank. I just put in a couple fish (GoldxLightning Maroon Clowns and an Anemone) over the weekend and a little concerned about a runaway heater. So I began my search of course by looking for a cheaper controller and I couldn't find anything that I was happy with for under the price of an Neptune ApexEL and I didn't want to spend $499. Plus the tank already has an expensive ATO (came with it) so I don't need much functionality.

So eventually my search lead me to the Reef-Pi. It's under development still and looks to be a capable but very DIY solution. I'm into this sort of things and have done many similar things for my 3D Printer over the years. I also built 100w COB LED's for my frag tanks back when I lived in Cali (components tanks assembled assembled led ). I had done PAR tests on them and they ended up being very close to those of Kessil 360's. The only issue is they didn't have any colors other than blue / white so I ended up having to get a full spectrum LED's to supplement it. Still those were about $30 each and I had 8 of them running at one point.

I only want two things from it:

• Multiple Temperature Probe (two in this example)
• Control of ~4 Outlets

So my parts list (ordered)

• Raspberry Pi Zero W ($26.99)
• 4 Channel Mechanical Relay ($8.49)
• DS18B20 Temperature Probe (5 Pack) ($9.99)

So a few things I want to say about my order list. Tons of Raspberry Pi Zero W kits out there, I went with this one because I'll take a power supply for a few bucks over a blank one. No plan on using the case though. I may later regret going with a Pi Zero W instead of a 3+ (thinking of having a screen) but I will deal with that later. Maybe I'll upgrade then and want PH also. I went with mechanical switches over solid state. I don't plan on going over the wattage of a solid state, but I also have no plan to run a doser. If I was planning on running doser's I would have gone SSR. The temperature probe isn't coated, I am going to dip it in PlastiDip once I get it.

Other stuff not mentioned PCB Material, Resistors, Water-Proof Plugs, AC Outlets, Power Gang Box (for lack of the technical term), Project Box, etc. All in, if I had to buy everything from the start this would be about $80. Since I have a lot of the stuff already it'll probably be closer to $55-60.

I am following this guide: Temperature Controller

All the parts are ordered, and I will update this and document what I do as we go in case anyone else wants to go a cheaper route for their controller.

 

[steveb]

Looking forward to this!

 

[Cody]

Dude, figure out how to get these up and running and I'm right behind you using one. I'll try it out on a smaller system for a while then move it to my main if it is reliable.

Also, while you're going through it, see how difficult it would be to add more controllable outlets. What would be the max? Juwt keep that in your mind while you're working on them

 

[Tenny]

Dude, figure out how to get these up and running and I'm right behind you using one. I'll try it out on a smaller system for a while then move it to my main if it is reliable.

Also, while you're going through it, see how difficult it would be to add more controllable outlets. What would be the max? Juwt keep that in your mind while you're working on them

Definitely. After I get it setup I'll probably run it in a bucket of water for a week or two just to ensure it seems to be working properly.

As far as controllable outlets, I think it's 28 outlets max (w/ RP3) BUT you start sacrificing probes (other outputs / inputs) for the outlets. You can easily buy a 16 port relay for cheap though ($15-20) which will probably be enough for most of us. Then maybe a 4 port solid state (for dosing / ato) and then you'll still have 8 spots for other stuff like i/o.

There's actually a lot of great development going on there related to Digital Aquatics (ReefKeeper) talking about re-using the stuff sensor ports, Power Brick 4, and stuff like that. I have a bunch of older RK stuff I was about to sell but I think I'm going to hold onto that. That would make it a lot easier for most people!

 

[lucho]

Great idea. I ended up building one with an Arduino, and has been running my tank for a few months now. I had a Reef Angel before and wanted to reuse some of their stuff, that is why I went with Arduino.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tenny]

Great idea. I ended up building one with an Arduino, and has been running my tank for a few months now. I had a Reef Angel before and wanted to reuse some of their stuff, that is why I went with Arduino.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's awesome! Any pics or thing to show us what you did?


I got the Raspberry Pi in today and loaded ReefPi on it. All the sensors come in Wed-Thurs, but I leave to NH tomorrow. So I will resume Sunday or next week.


Also doing a little experimenting with PlastiDip and Magnets.

It's not working out so well. lol

 

[lucho]

It doesn’t look very pretty. I have 3 ph probes, 4 temp probes, and 4 8-outlet relays attached to it. Also a humidity sensor and 4 water level sensors. The water level sensors are the best feature in my opinion, they came from the RA and are pressure sensors that measure the column of water. You can see in the display that they show % of water.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cody]

Do y'all have links on where to ready up on how to make one of these?

 

[Tenny]

It doesn’t look very pretty. I have 3 ph probes, 4 temp probes, and 4 8-outlet relays attached to it. Also a humidity sensor and 4 water level sensors. The water level sensors are the best feature in my opinion, they came from the RA and are pressure sensors that measure the column of water. You can see in the display that they show % of water.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That looks awesome. Nice little LCD screen with status of everything on it. I'm guessing you have multiple conditions on it for the various things. Any more pics to share? Is it hosting a webserver (i think this is the pi's strength) so you can configure stuff that way or do you have to upload new code to the arduino whenever you do it? Did you write it all yourself or is there others doing it too? Opensource? Sorry ... tons of questions

Do y'all have links on where to ready up on how to make one of these?

https://reef-pi.github.io/ for the Raspberry Pi

 

[lucho]

I need to upload a new code when I want to change things. Not the most efficient, but workable. I am using the Blynk app to use it with my phone.
I coded most of it, but also used some of the RA code as inspiration when I used their hardware.
Here is a pic of the app and a crappy picture of the back of the controller

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tenny]

I need to upload a new code when I want to change things. Not the most efficient, but workable. I am using the Blynk app to use it with my phone.
I coded most of it, but also used some of the RA code as inspiration when I used their hardware.
Here is a pic of the app and a crappy picture of the back of the controller

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

App looks great. Very functional. Also... 4 ethernet ports?

What's your outlet's look like?

I'm wondering if I can rip open a basic power strip and wire to them versus using standard duplex outlets.

It appears that the ReefPi doesn't support two temperature sensors currently.

 

[lucho]

Thanks! I actually have 3 Ethernet ports. I haven’t yet finished that part, intended to control 3 jebao return pumps using the controller that links to the apex (hence the Ethernet). I had to get a voltage increase module since the arduino only outputs 5v and Apex is 10v. That was intended for my new build, will try it in a few months.
On the relays, I am essentially using the RA ones. I use one built from a relay, but had 3 more in my RA so it didn’t make sense to build one that looks ugly when I could use those.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[newellio]

When i had my tank setup in San Diego i built a complete my own Reef Pi type controller. I can't wait to get unpacked and get a new tank setup so i can add some new features. I had 16 outlets, temp, ph, salinity, full web interface with an app for my phone. Also had a second pi with a touchscreen mounted into the stand so i could quickly see an alert if i missed one. I had wrote all my own code.. Time consuming, but i got it to do what i want.

Another cool feature you may want to consider adding is leak detection.

 

[steveb]

When i had my tank setup in San Diego i built a complete my own Reef Pi type controller. I can't wait to get unpacked and get a new tank setup so i can add some new features. I had 16 outlets, temp, ph, salinity, full web interface with an app for my phone. Also had a second pi with a touchscreen mounted into the stand so i could quickly see an alert if i missed one. I had wrote all my own code.. Time consuming, but i got it to do what i want.

Another cool feature you may want to consider adding is leak detection.

Y'all need to post detailed plans for us electronically challenged folk who would like to do the same..

None of that fancy resistor, transistor funny talk...lol just pictures and instructions a 6th grader can follow



Seriously... Anyone interested in doing a show and tell DIY controller MARSH meeting at some point?

 

[newellio]

i have no issue releasing my code and design... i'm just technically homeless right now and my computers and raspberry pi are buried in the bottom of a uhaul storage. When i move to my real place in January and dig stuff out of storage, i'll be happy to post some code, steps and designs. You do need a little linux OS/ bash shell ability. Put something on your calendar and hit me up in January.

 

[steveb]

i have no issue releasing my code and design... i'm just technically homeless right now and my computers and raspberry pi are buried in the bottom of a uhaul storage. When i move to my real place in January and dig stuff out of storage, i'll be happy to post some code, steps and designs. You do need a little linux OS/ bash shell ability. Put something on your calendar and hit me up in January.

Got ya covered on the Linux OS/bash shell front! I’m a Unix/Linux escalation engineer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[sneezebeetle]

This is all like a foreign language to me. I am by no means technilogically or electronically gifted but man do I wish I was! Agree with Steve though, need 6th grade level instructions haha! I wouldn't mind trying this out.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Tenny]

Update time!

So I received almost all the parts for the controller while I was out of town:

I have one of the temperature probes dipped in Plasti-Dip. I dipped it twice to ensure it wouldn't rust (they say the probe can handle f/w... not s/w). I question if that's too much insulation now though... I also read that it can support two temperature probes, but I'm not 100% certain yet.

I got the basics wired up:

And it works properly. I've had it running since Sunday check monitoring temperature fluctuations in the house and it's controlling the relay just fine. I did have a weird incident yesterday where the temperature went out of the norm (went up to 80*f in the house, when it should have been between 66-70*f). I do just have the probe laying on my table, and my cats do lay on the table at times. So I am monitoring it closely... I may put it on my water change station for a few days or weeks before I actually put it on the tank. I am going to just throw in another temperature sensor tonight just to monitor the difference between them.

I ordered a few more parts last night (sadly they won't be here until Friday).
- Power Plugs (connectors)x5 Individual
- Waterproof Project Box
- Power Socket w/ 10A Fuse

I am re-using cables like this for the temperature probe connection: 2 3 4 5Pin Waterproof IP67 68 LED Strips Connector Cable for 3528 5050 5630 UE (although the ones I have are 4 pin).

My current plan is to wire the five outlets to the top of the power box, and house everything inside.

I am kind of torn... part of me feels I should have bought six of those power plugs, that way I could use one to power the pi, and the other to control my AI Prime (both always on).... BUT I feel that if I run the Pi off the wall directly if something trips the fuse, the Pi will still know alert me of issues (unless whatever tripped it fries the pi).

 

[Tenny]

Just a crazy idea...

What if we did a Marsh build party for something like this? Everyone would have to bring their own components but we could kind of run it like a class? I've done a lot of educational robotic and drone classes like that... it could work and get those that want to do it but don't have any experience the "push" for them to start.

 

[Tenny]

Set up the second temperature probe. Was kind of surprised that it's hooked into the same data pin going to the Pi. Didn't realize it was doing that tbh... but I know other things that can communicate like that... just caught me off guard.

Reef-Pi also released 2.0 (no longer RC).

(Temp readings are off because I was messing with them). Hopefully Friday or Saturday I can finish this project up and put it on the water change to monitor it keeping the temp accurate.