★ 110 Gallon (In-Wall Office Dream SPS Reef Tank) ★ PROJECT GENESIS [Total Automation, DIY & More ]★

[WallyB]

**SHOCKING** BACK FROM "A Week Away "ABSOLUTELY BORING "Return" ** Nothing went Wrong this Time **

This is a first for me. Went away for a week.....JUST GOT BACK...

No fish jumped out and on the Floor (all accounted for)
No Skimmer Overflowing
No Mechanical Pump Failures
No Power Failures to mess up anything
No upsets to Both DT Tank Chemistries
Nothing, except fish are hungry for some Frozen Food!!! (After Flake and Pellet from Auto Feeder)

Usually Vacation returns are full of unexpected suprises and mishaps, and a Ton of Fix up work.

NICE Change from PAST!!

Even looks like every single Coral in Both Tanks have improved a bit (with my hands out of tanks).

 

[WallyB]

I am Brainstorming something Really DIY Crazy (Concept is simple, making a working design Extremely difficult)

It's really a long shot that I get it working. (Been racking my brain a couple of days)..
Perfect Distraction for me to keep my hands out of tanks (SPS are growing extremely slowly, and I'M BORED)

Maybe someone is willing to toss out some ideas.....

ANYTHING GOES...the crazier the better since it might just be the clue/trick I need.

Anyone interested in participating (just on this thread)? (I Fully understand if nobody replies)

CLUE: Auto Alk Tester (Robot)

 

[Fudsey]

Interesting idea Wally, I'd be down for testing.

 

[WallyB]

Interesting idea Wally, I'd be down for testing.

@Fudsey ... This is way more wacky then a device you can test.

I'll post my current design thoughts, and see if you and anyone can help.

 

[WallyB]

ALK Tester ROBOT ( Concepts and Challenges )



All with Parts I already have....

 

[WallyB]

ALK ROBOT ( PARTS and Robotics ) CRAZY Design


CRAZY EH?

 

[WallyB]

Here is a Little Proof Of Concept (The Printer Robotics for Testing Stations)

A million miles away from anything real.....

Took apart some of the Printer, to get a feel if things might work....

Just A simulation using the OnBoard Printer Functions (I'm not controlling anything yet)....




At least the Printer Mechanism Re-Use seems possible.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Excellent planning and organizing. Looks fantastic
Don’t know why stores have tanks at such low salinity and expect hobbyists to equalize their typical 1.025 tanks to low salt let.
I realize it reduces disease in their tanks but it cannot benefit the fish long term

 

[Janci]

ALK ROBOT ( PARTS and Robotics ) CRAZY Design

Here is what I want to share, and hope someone can throw out some ideas.

The Parts to play with (Crazy Indeed..... but a fun challenge)



First let me explain what the simple things I figured out.


4) Read Result and Show on A Graph/APP/WEbPage

At first I thought, I'd would reverse Engineer the LCD Display signals on the Hanna to get the Alk Result.
Not an easy task but possible.

Then I discovered this article, using Computer Vision Algorythym with a Common Programming Language PYTHON. (And a special module call OPEN CV, for Open Computer Vision)
https://www.pyimagesearch.com/2017/02/13/recognizing-digits-with-opencv-and-python/

All the code is there to get the LCD value off the Hanna. I just have to get a photo using a WebCam digital Camera.

Next is......

2b) Push Button to get Reference Color
3e) and Push Button for ALK Result
Easy Peasy. I use a Relay wired into the Hanna and my micro computer pushes the button (On, test1, test2, OFF)

Next is......

1) Fill Vial with 10ml of Tank Water
3b) Add 1 ml of Reagent
Again. Easy.
-> The Micro Dosing Pumps which I know how to control since I used for my DIY Doser do both steps.
---> I know the dosing pumps with my doser control logic can dose 1 drop at a time.
-> The third pump would do a fresh water rinse (Vial upside down)


That' the SOLVED PIECES SO FAR.

Now comes the hard part. Dealing with the Vial (how to place and fill, mix and rinse)

And thus the BROKEN Printer, CD Rom Motor and Mini Cozmo Robot (in the Parts Photo).

SOME OF MY IDEAS:
-> Printer has a Great Stepper Motor, belt and mechanism to move back and forth (by Computer Control)
-----> and Mabye I have a Fill Position, Fill Reagent Station Position, Mix Rotor, and Dump and Rinse Station.
-----> I can remove the printer mechanism guts and use it (once I have a design in mind)
-> The Vial may not have to be placed into the Hanna, it could be permanently inside and moved around, and tilted

-> No vial screw cap needed, if I make a creative way to mix reagent (Like rubber stopper, or magnetic stirrer)

-> Or I can also Lower the Hanna upside down (over the Vial) to do tests. I tried by hand and it works (since test is done by shining light thru side of vial)
-> The Robot has a forklift or I can use Another Motor (to Raise, Lower either Hanna, or Vial)
-> The Robot is smart enough to also raise those Cubes accurately (so I can make a clone cube that is a vial or Hanna holder)

-> The Robot has a camera and I can get a Digital Photo from it to Process Result

Have I explained things well enough?

Any ideas?

or HAVE I LOST EVERYONE ?
( Simply put....It's a Hacked Together Simplified REEFBOT using a Hanna Alk Tester EGG)
https://www.marine-aquatics.eu/en/r...ated-testing-device-alkcamgpo4clno3?ItemIdx=2

CRAZY EH?

Sounds easy, but there will be some challenges.
First of all the total design, but that is not unrealistic.
It can work.

But in the end if I need a project to keep my hands out of the tank, I work in the garden or go out to drive my bike.

I like your challenges though.

 

[WallyB]

TBD

 

[WallyB]

Excellent planning and organizing. Looks fantastic
Don’t know why stores have tanks at such low salinity and expect hobbyists to equalize their typical 1.025 tanks to low salt let.
I realize it reduces disease in their tanks but it cannot benefit the fish long term

@vetteguy53081 I think you posted part of your comment in the wrong thread. Salinity isn't the topic at the moment over here at this time. It was a few weeks ago in QT. Were you referring to that?

 

[WallyB]

Robot Update.... ( Have Control over Printer Carriage Motor )

800,000 miles to go, so Getting Closer.

So it turns out the HP BubbleJet Printer is made with a Cheaper DC Motor, not Stepper.
In some way this make it easier for me. Less Learning. It will require a switch in in Position for 100% Accuracy.

Still some work on Fine Motor Movements, and this is Just A Demo/Testing with no Position Accuracy.



Lot's of pieces figured out. THE HARDEST one Left is.... (HOW TO STIR Reagent into Water?).

I have no idea how to do that without putting Cap on, and that's Impossible.

 

[WallyB]

Valuable Treasure Found ( IN HP Bubble JetPrinter) DC Power Supply (32volt/ 12 Volt 166ma)

Wish I knew this earlier, since I threw out 2 broken Bubble Jet Printer not to long ago....

If You remove the Single Screw Next to the Power Cord, a cover comes off.

Inside is a Self Contained AC/DC module, which is 12 Volta 166ma. Also appears to be 32Volt/468milliAmps)

12 Volt can come in handy for many things, like LEDs.

I May be using it to power the Whole Robot contraption.

That's worth about $20-$30 Dollars since it appears to be a real Switching Power Supply. Not a Typical AC/DC Adapter.

 

[WallyB]

Beacon of Health ( Turbinaria ) Catches my Attention at Dawn Actinic Lighting Time

Just a few weeks ago, I was worried about my Prized Turbinaria. It looked Dull and Lacking PE.

I got it Two Years ago, Smaller and Damaged.

Losing my Signature Center Piece would be devastating to me.

I forgot about it till tonight when I sat at Desk and it was Full of Glowing PE under Atinics, Looking Really Healthy.

Another confirmation the Tank is Doing Good.

Good Positive Distraction, but time to get back to the Alk Robot.

 

[WallyB]

Wire Fell Loose during Precision Motor Testing ( Stir and Rinse SOLVED!! )

750,000 miles to go.... (Quarter Done)...

So the Motor control Module Arrived from Amazon. ($6)
Amazon product

Now I have full control of motor ( variable speeds, two directions).



IT SHOULD WORK.

Now time to FULLY GUT THE PRINTER, and start building the Structure Components.

 

[WallyB]

New Idea

There should be something more Significant/Exciting to show soon (I hope). Tough work since it's all fine Alignment measurements.

 

[WallyB]

Carriage Assembly Protype (With Tester Rotator & Cap Robotics)

I need to learn 3D Printing if I want to make a Nice Looking and Solid Assembly. (For the Final Build).
Local Library has a few High End 3D printers and printing is pennies.

500,000 Miles more to go!

 

[WallyB]

Why I won't Bother With Aminos, and Will Continue GFO for Lower/Stable Phosphates

Aminos give me Cyano, and not much more (Proven after over a year of use). Feeding Fish is Better Natural Coral Food.

Folks argue against use of GFO.....IT'S the BEST THING I EVER DID (When Changed Regularly) for SPS Health and Growth.

Of Course, Daily Regular Water Change, vs Sporatic Monthly also Helps.

Here is the Observation that Convinced me....

Sorry....No update on the Alk Robot (Back at work, so less free time)
This is less Electronic Tech, and more Colorful.

 

[WallyB]

Carriage Assembly Is COMPLETE.
VERY SOLID and PERFECTLY Aligned (wasn't easy, but got it eventually since Glue Gun lets you do trial and error)





Moving on...To program the Fine/Accurate motions for the various Cycles.
Then it goes onto the Motor Track (I have some ideas how it will all come together)

 

[sam.veilleux30]

Man, this seem to be one of a kind setup!
Really like the pics of your papi chulo with the corresponding parameters.
I saw something similar last week and it give good ideas as to how coloration can change depending on the chemistry. I might start to include such info in my pics for coral progression.
How does the scorpion frag from fragbox fare? Holding it's coloration? The pieces on the site always seem interesting.
Also any advice for cyano? The problem is recurrent in my tank.
Thanks!