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

[WallyB]

And since I am in a good mood......HERE IS THE FINISHED ALK MONITOR Controller

It will probably be placed in my office in my Desk Wall unit, or in my Fish Room as Center Piece of all my DIY controllers.

It looks great. A Mini Lab...more high tech looking/operating than a Reefbot.
I added some great Light Show Special Effects/Status LEDs too. 3 Smart Displays (one is touch screen).

There is no distance limit like a Trident. Will get perfect Fresh Water Samples from all 3 tanks, even 15 feet away.
But only draws 10.5 ml of water for each10 ml Test Sample.

Regent, Rinse Water, and Waste Level Sensor/Logic. Sound for Alarm/Alerts.

The Regent Mixer Robot Arm is a show in itself.

I'll explain/show all that and many more Advanced Features like where the Watse Water is stored locally (hint, Paper Tray), etc... when the Working Demo Video comes out.

I am just working on the Software Cosmetics, History Data Storage, Graphs, Calibration Code, and Final Computer Vision AI Logic (now that things are in Permanent Alignment)

All code is done in like puzzle pieces. I just need to stitch together.

You'll see more soon. Much more..... Things will clear up shortly.....No Need for Eye Drops.
Just Popcorn.

 

[Urtoo]

I just went through 2 cups of coffee and 75 pages. You win. I am into Home Assistant and am getting my hardware for building a reef-pi, but this, you took this to another level.
so much information in this thread, its great.
The blurry picture at the end of my long reading session was a perfect cliffhanger.

Thank you, and I am looking forward to see your work and projects.

 

[WallyB]

I just went through 2 cups of coffee and 75 pages. You win. I am into Home Assistant and am getting my hardware for building a reef-pi, but this, you took this to another level.
so much information in this thread, its great.
The blurry picture at the end of my long reading session was a perfect cliffhanger.

Thank you, and I am looking forward to see your work and projects.

Hey @Urtoo Well I'm glad you didn't decided to read the 75 Pages over Beer and Wine.

I played with Home Assistant and many Home Automation technologies, and ended up with some custom stuff with Alexa in the middle. Most important thing I learned is never Over Automate your home. What I mean is....Make sure each thing has a manual override when things are not responsive (or you or whoever will hate it. Could be dangerous too!) .

You will have fun building a Reef Pi. I always considered building one and I may now that I took a crash course in Raspbery PI, and GPIO.
I used a Rasp PI for this project (Just for the Brain, but not the HW control which is Ardiuno), and I learned a lot on the Pi side (including that I HATE Python Language).


Hang in there. I want to Focus up that Blurry image more than anyone, but this project deserves a No-Spoiler Grand Opening.
Promise to impress everyone (including myself, since I haven't actually run a full end-to-end Test Yet..Saving that for Last)

 

[WallyB]

WHOOPS!! (Refuge with Firefish was not ROCK Covered in Brown SLIME Mess) It was.......

So I removed the Refuged Rocks, and quickly dumped them into a bucket to clean Later.

I caught and Transferred the two Purple Fire fish to DT next.

And when I went to scrub the rocks.....They were perfectly clean, and Purple with Coraline.
I was stunned. They looked brown and awful thru the Glass that I never scraped. (So glass view was distorted)

Then on closer look and placing Rocks in back into Refuge....I noticed they were covered in APTASIA.
Now I see Aptasia....even in the Photo I posted before https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/★-110-gallon-in-wall-office-dream-sps-reef-tank-★-project-genesis-total-automation-diy-more-★.395704/page-75#post-6539964

In my case Aptasia is Good since the Copperband eats any that spout up in DT. (Free Food).

No Big Deal, I wanted the Firefish Transfered regardless, since one less place to feed.

I also Zapped a good bunch of the Aptasia with "Aptasia X", to reduce the infestation a bit.

The fire fish hid for a Day, but one already came out this Evening.

 

[NY_Caveman]

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.

Brilliant!

 

[WallyB]

Finally SOME LUCK (( Fire Fish in DT....Staying a Pair after Weeks alone in Refuge )

So the Purple Fire Fish found each other In DT. Picked a nice spot where I can watch them (front of Tank).

They got used to each other in Refuge and hoping they stay together.

 

[WallyB]

Man....things are getting complicated with the User Interface (to make it nice, not a hack), but I'm plowing thru things daily.

This will take a bit longer. Couple of weeks minimum, to do a good job.

I've removed all (how it's done details) in any previous posts. All Photo's too.
Only those of you who were around on this thread will know all the behind the scenes secrets.

When I show the unit, it deserves to be the final working version. Not those hacks of the past.

 

[WallyB]

DOING THE UNTHINKABLE ( Dosing Amino and B-Balance AUTO) SPS slowly loosing POP

I promised myself I would stop the Additives, but it's been 3 months DRY.

SPS are slowly loosing the Colors, and I have nothing to loose going back for a while.

However, when I did additives, I was inconsistent, and sometimes over did it (That always got me into trouble)

To be consistent and Safe I am using my Tank Mate Doser.....
And the 3rd Spare Compartment of Dosing Container.

1500ml of Water.....PLUS MIXED IN (The Junk I have left over)

-> 60 Drops of Coral Essentials Grow
-> 30 Drops of Coral Essentials Amino
-> 30 Drops of AquaForest Amino
-> 60 Drops of Zeo Vit B-Balance

Dosing 50ml a day so that will last me exactly one Month. (It equates to about 2 Drops of each Additive per day)

 

[WallyB]

Cool (One FireFish is already out for Evening Swims) Getting Along with Other Fish (Zero Aggression Both Ways)

At first the Blue Green Chromis went NUTS when Fire Fish went in.
I actually called @tenurepro to borrow his Fish Trap Again.

Today...The Chromis doesn't even notice the Firefish anymore. Back to Fighting with the Wantabei Angel.

The Other Fire Fish, does come out to eat, but still a bit shy.

 

[WallyB]

NOW THIS IS LUCK ( Bubbe Tip Anemones Transfer = Instant Clown Host )

I bought the Bubble Tip Anenome for the Frag Tank with Hope the Two Picasso Clown would host it.
NOTHING, not a thing for months.

Wanted to Transfer the Anenome, but it was stuck to rock.
Couple of Days ago, Anenome started moving.....And it moved into a PVC PIPE.

Right Away I got the Pipe out, Cut it....And moved the Anenome to my Other Tank with another Pair of Clowns.

Not only did the Aneome move off the Pipe to a Perfect Rock Position....One Clown discovered it and won't leave it alone.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

NOW THIS IS LUCK ( Bubbe Tip Anemones Transfer = Instant Clown Host )

I bought the Bubble Tip Anenome for the Frag Tank with Hope the Two Picasso Clown would host it.
NOTHING, not a thing for months.

Wanted to Transfer the Anenome, but it was stuck to rock.
Couple of Days ago, Anenome started moving.....And it moved into a PVC PIPE.

Right Away I got the Pipe out, Cut it....And moved the Anenome to my Other Tank with another Pair of Clowns.

Not only did the Aneome move off the Pipe to a Perfect Rock Position....One Clown discovered it and won't leave it alone.

I love it when things come together so quickly!

 

[WallyB]

ALK MONITOR Update ((( COOL new Feature I came up with )))

Running Simulation Testing (( Will post soon. Really Excited )). I can show this since it doesn't spoil things.

I keep getting distracted during the "Icing on the Cake" development stage.
I could go on forever, but this feature is last, before I fully bring things together.

RIGHT NOW.....
The Raspberry PI BRAIN is ALIVE, and Talking to the Aruino SLAVE Controller (which now controls all the moving parts and)
I now have full control over the Controller and can do anything Remotely (Laptop, Touch Screen, even Phone).
So it's coming together exactly as planned.

I still haven't run a real ALK test, since that will be the Grand Finale.

But this new Feature is going to be Special.

This Controller isn't going to Replace my Apex.....It's going to make my Classic Apex Better (and vise versa)
Better than the New Apex (which is why I decided to do this Project).

If if wasn't for Neptune dragging out Trident so long, and making it dependent on Apex Replacement I probably would have bought one. Never would have done this project.
Now that I see the limitations, costs, maintenance, of a Trident, and other Alk Monitors....
I Thank Neptune Systems for putting me on the right track. (And for making a Fantastic Original Controller ages ago Built Solid, Reliable components, and open design for creativity)

I've always been Very Proud/Happy to own an Neptune Apex (Classic Sys and Jr). Nothing has changed.

 

[WallyB]

THE LAST FEATURE ( ALK MONITOR )

I was thinking of build a PH Probe Meter interface for the Alk Monitor......BUT I DIDN'T (Maybe someday).

Instead.....I made the Opposite (when researching how PH probes work)

A PROBE Emulator (Simulates the voltages and behavior of a PH probe)
....that hooks up to Apex, so Apex can also get ALK readings from my Alk Robot Lab.

Might come in handy. VERY HANDY. To do stuff between Alk Controller and other Stuff Apex Does.
Plus it works with Fusion so even more Remote Access Power.

I never threw out my old PH Probes, so cut off the probe. Hooked in the Tank Mate Emulator into Apex ORP/PH Port.

Calibrated it like a PH Probe, but values are ALK, not PH.

The ALK values will come from my Tests.

 

[Janci]

Man, I was away for a couple of weeks and things got really out of hand in Canada.
I am glad to read your mom is better. The eye drop smart box is genius. I would patent is right away.

The alk monitor is coming along nicely. I am not sure how many miles you are away now fro the final product, but you must be seeing it somewhere at the horizon.

I love it when someone puts Neptune on its place!

 

[WallyB]

Man, I was away for a couple of weeks and things got really out of hand in Canada.
I am glad to read your mom is better. The eye drop smart box is genius. I would patent is right away.

The alk monitor is coming along nicely. I am not sure how many miles you are away now fro the final product, but you must be seeing it somewhere at the horizon.

I love it when someone puts Neptune on its place!

Thanks @Janci

Not sure how many miles left. I keep going off on Feature Tangents.
I could finish tonight (since I Developed a very important Piece of Code (THE DASHBOARD/COCKPIT, and it works).
But I want this to come out really nice (All the Bells and Whistles since this will be my DIY Center Piece).

Plus, I'm making this more than a Monitor or Controller.
A fully configurable LAB (for more Water tests develop later). And also to figure out my Own Regeants (maybe).

Here is another pre-release TEASER (without spoiling the Ending).

It's the 5" LCD Touch Screen. One of 4 displays, but this is the Heart of the LAB.

NOT.....The the final Layout Graphics, or actual Buttons. Just prototyping Menu, and submenus, etc
Those buttons, work. Color Coded status changes, Dimmed Lockout features, and Simple Animations.

Got this working last night, so with this developed, I just need to Code in What I want.

Maybe 5000, miles to go. AND I just revealed A Possible Name for this Controller. (like it?)

 

[WallyB]

PURPLE FIREFISH ( Pair Again, and Friendly with All Other Fish)

Boring stuff.....but INITIALLY the Firefish Separated and found different parts of tank as homes.

They found each other again, and are paired up. New swim spot is front view from my office desk.

I never spent so much time looking at Firefish closely.....
.......but now I see with their mouth shape curvature, they kind of always look AnGRY.


All the fish are really getting Along more than before (Including the Damsel)

That Left Front Corner get's good flow to catch food, since the MP60 at the back is a vacuum.

I like the CONCEPT of More Smaller Fish, and a Few Bigger ones now that I see it.

 

[WallyB]

BAD IDEA!! ( Amino/ Additive Mix Daily Dosing ) SHUT OFF

How many times do I need to learn the Lesson that (Additives are not for me)!!

I've been running the Daily Amino AUTO dosing for 8 Days.
Today I notice all my SPS lookrf noticeably DARK. Not brown buy Close, not damaged, but Really Dark not Bright (Even the Green SPS, looked Brownish).

That got my attention and I checked the Dosing Container with the Additive mix (Which I diluted in water).

It had a SMELL that wasn't pleasant. So that proves why my my Amino bottle and contents should stay in Fridge.

Lesson learned, no significant damage done (THIS TIME)

 

[WallyB]

THE "ANTI VENOM Dosing" from Additives (Coral Snow)

After cleaning out the Amino Tank Mess, I got a GREAT IDEA what to do with the SPARE DOSING HEAD!!

When I built my DIY Doser a few years ago, I build a Magenetic Stirrer Feature into Doser that could run on the Mix schedule.
I never used that Feature Ever, since never got into AUTO additives till a week ago.

I have used Coral Snow in Past, and too lazy or forget to do it weekly. Bottle collecting dust on shelf.

I just found a perfect way to Add something Good to my Tank, AUTMOATICALLY.

Picture says it all, but basically before I dose the Coral Snow diluted in water I stir it up.

-> That 500 ml Flask has 60ml of Coral Snow added and rest is water to Dilute things.
-> JUST ENOUGHT FOR A MONTH (30 days) @ 2ml a day (1/2 Recommended Dose)
-> I dose 16 ml a day of Mix, broken up into 12 Doses (Midnight till noon, No Cloudy water during viewing time

Finally, I got the Doser's Pre-mixing Feature put to good use. ** AND I'm adding Something Good to my TANK **

Just in time before the AqaMon Water Testing Lab is Finish and Installed.

 

[Janci]

Thanks @Janci

Not sure how many miles left. I keep going off on Feature Tangents.
I could finish tonight (since I Developed a very important Piece of Code (THE DASHBOARD/COCKPIT, and it works).
But I want this to come out really nice (All the Bells and Whistles since this will be my DIY Center Piece).

Plus, I'm making this more than a Monitor or Controller.
A fully configurable LAB (for more Water tests develop later). And also to figure out my Own Regeants (maybe).

Here is another pre-release TEASER (without spoiling the Ending).

It's the 5" LCD Touch Screen. One of 4 displays, but this is the Heart of the LAB.

NOT.....The the final Layout Graphics, or actual Buttons. Just prototyping Menu, and submenus, etc
Those buttons, work. Color Coded status changes, Dimmed Lockout features, and Simple Animations.

Got this working last night, so with this developed, I just need to Code in What I want.

Maybe 5000, miles to go. AND I just revealed A Possible Name for this Controller. (like it?)

Nice.
LAB sounds like a good name... but what else will be in the name?

Bummer on the amino dosing.... the only solution is to dose directly from the fridge.

 

[WallyB]

Nice.
LAB sounds like a good name... but what else will be in the name?

Bummer on the amino dosing.... the only solution is to dose directly from the fridge.

Funny, I guess it never Stood out Enough.

I call all my DIY Projects "Tank Mate"....Like a Brand Name.

And each one has a complete Name for what it does.

This Alk Monitor may do more than Alk.

So it's called Tank Mate "AQUAmon" LAB

AQUA=Water
mon=Monitor

I still have mixed feeling about the Name, since it sounds like "Aquaman", but hey, this is for my Basement, not Market.

Yeah, I thought of Fridge thing for Aminos. Too much work, no room for my mini fridge, cost.
The harder it is for me to Add Aminos, the better.