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

[WallyB]

I like where this is going.

Nice to see someone make a comment.
I assume you came along after I removed the Photo of the Alk Monitor Built.

I'll am thinking of posting of Photo of it NOW 100% HW complete with the Camera Installed.

Or maybe (these itty bitty updates) are of not interest to anyone....and best to finish it completely and do a Working Video.

I get the feeling folks don't think it will work. Trust me....I am worried a bit myself (things could go wrong that I didn't anticipate).

I'll never know, it I hook up the dosing line tubes, and give it whirl on a real tank, or two, or three.

 

[Fudsey]

I want to see.... I did see the removed photo and it looked good too

 

[WallyB]

I want to see.... I did see the removed photo and it looked good too

ok. Then I might do a photo of all the details (mechanisms, electronics, etc)

Once I cover things up and seal, it won't be something I can show in the working Demo video.

Like this.....

I really struggled with the Computer Vision Camera. The Hanna window kept causing reflected light and interfered with the Digit pickup. Nothing big, but it annoyed me to not get a Near perfect image.

Even when I created the Black Box to cover up Room Light interference. The LED FLood light still was causing a bottom reflection.

Last night I started zooming in during the Camera mount, and discovered this.

SOLVED IT (With a Piece of Black Electrical Tape)

 

[WallyB]

Tank Mate - Alk-RoBOTIC Update ( The Backside )

So I've been working a lot of late nights and didn't want to disturb the fish (So I covered up the Tank , Desk facing)
BUT IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.



Tonight I'll removed the board and see how the Tank is doing.

In that Photo you can see the Curved/Foam Covered Camera Box mounted on the Front of the Monitor. More on this Later.

Thought I'd share what will make this Bot Work.

It's all at the back.

I could have used TWO micro Computer components like these two boards below. (That was the original plan)

Shown compared to size of and Camera SD card.

However much easier using the Larger easy to wire boards. Makes changes and upgrades much easier.
Jumper and Glue (vs wire cutting and Solder) Also makes debugging possible.

THE PRINTER (with guts removed) has plenty of space so I went spread out.

THIS IS THE BACK OF The Monitor Controller





All will be hidden and protected with a Cover.

I barely used the capabilities of the controllers, since I used only used about 10% of the circuitry.

This isn't for the NON-TECHIE, but if you read my Wiring Diagram Component Labels,
you will kind of understand it has and what it will do. How will be in the future demo.

A TOP DOWN PHOTO

I designed it for Expandability...... It Can do anything I dream up with.

I already am thinking about other Water Tests. Just ideas. I actually only want Phosphate to be Happy.

Now it's time I put away my Glue Gun/Wire cutters, and Hit the Keyboard and Mouse and code it together.

 

[WallyB]

50,000 Miles to Go ( All SW Modules Coded ) Robot is Fully Alive!!

It's Beyond Amazing, now that it's Mechanically Working in Perfect Alignment (EVERYTHING!).

I'm dying to show it (working), but so close to completion....Couple more days.

All I have left to do is sequence Everything for a Start-To-Finish ALK Test (Totally Automated by the Secondary Controller).
Then run Water Lines to Tanks, Calibrate, and HIT START.

It can run tests on up to (3 Tanks), or (2 Tanks and A-La-Cart-Testing from a Jar Sample)....EXPANDABLE with by adding more mini-dosing-pumps.

Once that is done, the Last big effort will be to work on the Primary Controller (The Brain).
For the User Interface for Scheduling, Capturing and Storing Test Results and Display etc
Which I will do once the Alk Monitor is installed on my Tanks doing testing.

Exhausted, but now really Excited......
Since the Real Reason I built this.......Is to Buy Some NEW Frags for my SPS Tank (with more Confidence Going Forward)

 

[NY_Caveman]

Excellent, Wally. Cannot wait to see it in motion!

 

[WallyB]

I actually had to write a program that wrote the program to do it.
The Robot glides the STIR STICK in PERFECTLY without touching the sides of the Vial (SPINNING!!)

 

[WallyB]

25,000 miles to go.....

 

[WallyB]

10,000 miles to go.

I sealed the Robot Alk Monitor today. Last layers of Hot Glue. Impossible to take apart anymore.
Cover made. Touch up Paint.
Finally landed on a Name for it. So it's labelled.
Ran tubes, syringes. Will be Calibrating and then first Test Run (With Liquids)....Soon.

I checked my First Post when I came up with the Idea. Aug 15th.
So this has been a Month and 5 Days.
It all comes together with the Real Tank Water test.

I'm terrified, and kind of procrastination (doing anything but the BIG "real" TEST).
I'm scared it won't work.
Not kidding. Actually scared.

More Scared then looking into my Tank, and examining SPS Coral Frags (which I haven't looked at closely for a Month and 5 days).
They have either Grown a bit, or are Dead/Damaged.

 

[WallyB]

15,000 miles to so...… SMALL Setback.

So I tested with liquids and learned that the Dripper Line Syringe tips, look nice but don't work well.
They are fine for water sample/rinse, but not for Reagent since they would waste regent, and also expose to air.

The tip also doesn't allow me to reservse the Dosing Pumps, to return Reagent to BOttle
The issue is the tips creates a pocket of air inside. Even when 100% sealed.
It would take some kind of Priming to eliminate the air pocket.

Should be easy fix, and I'm looking to improvise a better Dosing Line Tip. (or just No tip).

 

[WallyB]

I just answered my New Problem with the Last Post. (PRIMING THE TIP is a great Solution).
Really helps to Think Out Loud.

I simply reverse the DOSER Pump FLOW but With a container of Reagent at the TIP. It sucks in liquid, so no Air is in the TIP.
Just Once when changing out the Reagent Bottle.

This actually makes ALL the Liquid lines Air Bubble Free.
NO NEED TO TAKE ANYTHING APART

 

[WallyB]

CURIOSITY ONLY ( DIY Reagent for Alkalinity)

At $14 for 25 Tests, the Hanna Reagant will be fine (since I'm only plan on testing weekly)

However I looked into making my own Alk Reagent (Maybe someday).

The Test Chemistry is Something like this...


Using these two common chemicals.
THE BLUE COLOR PH INIDCATOR:

Amazon product

and

Diluted Hydrochloric Acid:
Amazon product

Those two bottles would make like a ton of Reagent.

All I would have to do, is figure out the proportions for the Hanna Egg Tester Color levels.

 

[Fudsey]

Way over my head

 

[WallyB]

Back here for some distraction ( SERIOUS ISSUE going ON with Mom after Eye Surgery ).

Lots of great progress on the Code/HW/Everything for the Alk Robot, and then everything SLAM STOPPED yesterday.

Maybe I'm over reacting, but right now I'm just seriously concerned. (even though Doctors say all will be ok).
Basically my mom age 85 had Cataract surgery on one eye yesterday morning. I was so excited her vision would improve big time as promised.
But shortly after return from Hospital she called me to tell me she lost all vision in the Eye with Surgery. No Pain.
I freaked, drove back to her place.... but acted calm in front of her.....
Long story short...back an forth to hospital, specialists over last 24 hours. No sleep for me.
Watching mom and giving eye drops every two hours.
They say it's post op swelling and that causes serious blurriness. Mom says she see nothing but doctors say it's temporary.
Every minute feels like 10 hours.

 

[Fudsey]

Sorry to hear of your mom's issues.... Hopefully get sight will return in a hurry.

 

[WallyB]

Back here for some distraction ( SERIOUS ISSUE going ON with Mom after Eye Surgery ).

Lots of great progress on the Code/HW/Everything for the Alk Robot, and then everything SLAM STOPPED yesterday.

Maybe I'm over reacting, but right now I'm just seriously concerned. (even though Doctors say all will be ok).
Basically my mom age 85 had Cataract surgery on one eye yesterday morning. I was so excited her vision would improve big time as promised.
But shortly after return from Hospital she called me to tell me she lost all vision in the Eye with Surgery. No Pain.
I freaked, drove back to her place.... but acted calm in front of her.....
Long story short...back an forth to hospital, specialists over last 24 hours. No sleep for me.
Watching mom and giving eye drops every two hours.
They say it's post op swelling and that causes serious blurriness. Mom says she see nothing but doctors say it's temporary.
Every minute feels like 10 hours.

Thanks @Fudsey

I reacted fast to get mom back to hospital/specialist.
The Inflamation eye drops they gave with an aggressive dose did wonders in one day.
She is already starting to see (close up) and pharmacist says in a week she will see Great Far too.

So I build this (in few hours) for Mom/Me or anyone doing her Drops.

Quite the complicated schedule for the drop as shown on left side.
Different Drop cobinations, and Changes every few days.
Even hard to me to digest.

This is a Color coded Eye Drop Bottle SMART Storage box with Switches on each compartment.
-> Each Compartment matches the color of bottles I cover in colored Tape (no mistakes).
-> 3 Click Lock Compartments light up according to next combo drops needed (at proper time of day)
-> If no response to take drops, it starts to beep after 30 minutes. Louder and Louder.

-> When compartment is opened, it stops blinking the LED. And LED goes SOLID.
When Bottle put back (Assumption is drop was taken), light goes off and Beeps
When All drops taken....
Beeps positive acknowledgement. BOX GOES DARK.

Tracks when drops were taken in Computer memory and I can check LCD for history.

My Mom will do well.

Now I can get back to the Alk Monitor. It's almost 100% done.
At it will blow you away.

 

[Fakegolfnews]

Thanks @Fudsey

I reacted fast to get mom back to hospital/specialist.
The Inflamation eye drops they gave with an aggressive dose did wonders in one day.
She is already starting to see (close up) and pharmacist says in a week she will see Great Far too.

So I build this (in few hours) for Mom/Me or anyone doing her Drops.

Quite the complicated schedule for the drop as shown on left side.
Different Drop cobinations, and Changes every few days.
Even hard to me to digest.

This is a Color coded Eye Drop Bottle SMART Storage box with Switches on each compartment.
-> Each Compartment matches the color of bottles I cover in colored Tape (no mistakes).
-> 3 Click Lock Compartments light up according to next combo drops needed (at proper time of day)
-> If no response to take drops, it starts to beep after 30 minutes. Louder and Louder.

-> When compartment is opened, it stops blinking the LED. And LED goes SOLID.
When Bottle put back (Assumption is drop was taken), light goes off and Beeps
When All drops taken....
Beeps positive acknowledgement. BOX GOES DARK.

Tracks when drops were taken in Computer memory and I can check LCD for history.

My Mom will do well.

Now I can get back to the Alk Monitor. It's almost 100% done.
At it will blow you away.

Those boxes are genius.

 

[WallyB]

Sliming Down 4 Tank Setup ( In Preparation for Alk Monitor and Near Total Automation)

Well after that Brush with Reality and my Mom's health, it changed my priorities.

Plus it's time to move on from my too Large Setup.

-> I Tried to keep the Pair of Purple Fire Fish in Sump Refuge. Getting worse and worse.
------> It's actually feeding/seeding my SPS Tank with Cyano (since it drain into overflow not Skimmer area)

I'm removing the fish and they go into DT.

-> But my Frag Tank which was doing lousy before....Just on it's own and the Auto Water Changes, really cleared up.
-------> If things continue to improve I may consider Frag in there. It's aged a ready.

The DT SPS tank looks so-so, but no attention. Corals doing well with none of my Abuse.

 

[Fudsey]

Nice work on the eye drop boxes ! !

 

[WallyB]

Those boxes are genius.

Thanks. They are great. My Frustration/Concern for Mom got me inspired.
Plus explaining which tiny bottle to take (tiny print I can't even read), each bottle is white and same shape.
Definitely not made for Senior who just had eye surgery. Duhhhh!.
She actually likes the box, and having a bit of lacking memory at age of 85, she kept misplacing the bottles.
Now she knows exactly where to store bottles.

I actually LIED and told mom it was provided by Hospital so she feels they are important.
She was resisting the eye drops at the beginning, saying they ruined her vision.
Now she knows DROPS work after things got better. Kind of eager to take them now.
I'll tell her later, that box is DIY.

I do plan on taking the Smart Box to the Eye Specialist on Follow up visit Tuesday.
Maybe something like this would be good for all the Senior Patients getting Cataract Surgery.
Not going to make them these, but give them the Idea.