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

[bishoptf]

Talking about temperature sensors.. I am doing some experiments with the heaters internal thermostat vs reef-pi controls and I am not very happy with the heater's internal control. Particularly for pico tanks this might be a problem. I am observing almost 1 degree temperature swings in 30 min period

I wanted to observe the results for several days before posting here. This is the dashboad of my 29G biocube, with a Eheim 100W jaeger heater in it. It was controlled by reef-pi till 1st Feb. Initially I played with reef-pi's internal temperature controller to check if i can dial down exact temperature (79.5, 79.6, 79.3 etc) and then with reef-pi configured to only monitor and let the heater's internal control do the on/off. The results are not very satisfactory. I'll be using the the heater's temperature graph to implement hysteresis in reef-pi (sane defaults).
Here is the dashboard of my pico tank (3.7G, with 25W aqueon heater)

Irrespective of the observations, I am excited about this data, I think we can pin down such behaviors across tank volume and heater types (wattage and brand) and hopefully push the boundary of what temperature stability means in reef tanks

Here are my heater outputs look like little waves, 2 aqueon pro's (100W) and one aqueon preset heaters (50W). It gets cold here and my house sets back at night, 68 in the daytime and 64-65 at night. Temps in the tank I want around 78-79 deg, thought I would pass my data along.

 

[bishoptf]

@theatrus @Ranjib , it seems as though pH functionality is right around the corner. Should I assume that it's safe to move forward with purchasing a double junction pH probe?

DirtDiggler2823, next on my list will be a PH probe, I saw your post and was looking for additional information on the new software vs the old software. Can you point me to the information/discussion to try to come up to speed, I would like something reliable for monitoring co2, kind of a failsafe like the temp probes.

Thanks

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

DirtDiggler2823, next on my list will be a PH probe, I saw your post and was looking for additional information on the new software vs the old software. Can you point me to the information/discussion to try to come up to speed, I would like something reliable for monitoring co2, kind of a failsafe like the temp probes.

Thanks

Like an orp probe?

 

[bishoptf]

Like an orp probe?

Not sure still need to come up to speed on co2 probes, just saw the postings and was trying to gather more information, appears there are a lot of options and some work better than others, need to come up to speed.

 

[b4tn]

Here are my heater outputs look like little waves, 2 aqueon pro's (100W) and one aqueon preset heaters (50W). It gets cold here and my house sets back at night, 68 in the daytime and 64-65 at night. Temps in the tank I want around 78-79 deg, thought I would pass my data along.

@Tom Bishop what check interval are you using for your temp probes?

 

[bishoptf]

@Tom Bishop what check interval are you using for your temp probes?

oops I meant to post that info, all of mine are set to 60sec intervals.

 

[daveCB]

oops I meant to post that info, all of mine are set to 60sec intervals.

Tom. When I was set at 60, that’s was causing bad results about once per hour or so with both sensors. As soon as I changed to 30 seconds, all issues went away.

 

[Ryan115]

Since upgrading to reef-pi 2.2 memory has been really low, I raised some of the default setting but memory is still running very low. At this point I am leaning towards your thought that it was simply recording too much information and running out of memory vs memory leak.

On this note, I still have not upgraded to 2.2, however I did stop leaving a browser window open with the reef-pi dashboard, and my usage has leveled out.
Interestingly, one day a window was left open on the ATO tab, and it had no affect on memory usage.

 

[dmolavi]

Here's a prelimary front panel design for my enclosure. I'm using this enclosure from Amazon. I need to double check the mount hole locations. The large opening to the right is for the power button. I don't have CAD software to directly view the DWG file, so I'm relying on AutoDesk Viewer to get the locations....

 

[bishoptf]

Tom. When I was set at 60, that’s was causing bad results about once per hour or so with both sensors. As soon as I changed to 30 seconds, all issues went away.

Even with the frequency set to 60 I do not see any wild swings, what I think I am seeing is just the repitition of the heater coming on and off. They all appear to be about a degree or so swing, the preset heater appears to be the smaller swing. Keep in mind these are all small tanks, 10g, 5g and 2.5g.

 

[b4tn]

Even with the frequency set to 60 I do not see any will swings, what I think I am seeing is just the repitition of the heater coming on and off. They all appear to be about a degree or so swing, the preset heater appears to be the smaller swing. Keep in mind these are all small tanks, 10g, 5g and 2.5g.

I have 70 gallons total water volume and currently have mine set to check every 60 seconds as well. I have mine set to activate the heater at 78.5. This My temp drops to 78.47 heater turns on till 78.57 then back down to 78.47 and up to 78.57, its pretty consistent.

 

[Ranjib]

On this note, I still have not upgraded to 2.2, however I did stop leaving a browser window open with the reef-pi dashboard, and my usage has leveled out.
Interestingly, one day a window was left open on the ATO tab, and it had no affect on memory usage.

I hate to say this ...but gremlins are a thing when it comes to software engineering ..
Joking ... I am not going to drop the ball on this and follow up with data

 

[bishoptf]

I have 70 gallons total water volume and currently have mine set to check every 60 seconds as well. I have mine set to activate the heater at 78.5. This My temp drops to 78.47 heater turns on till 78.57 then back down to 78.47 and up to 78.57, its pretty consistent.

Are you using reef-pi to control the heaters, I'm currently using the heaters internal thermostat and reef-pi is setup to turn the heaters off if they climb outside of the normal range, basically I'm using reef-pi as a failsafe from a stuck on heater.

I've thought about using reef-pi as the control but for right now I'm rolling with it as a backup.

 

[b4tn]

Are you using reef-pi to control the heaters, I'm currently using the heaters internal thermostat and reef-pi is setup to turn the heaters off if they climb outside of the normal range, basically I'm using reef-pi as a failsafe from a stuck on heater.

I've thought about using reef-pi as the control but for right now I'm rolling with it as a backup.

Right now I am using reefpi to control the heater. I have my heater set to go off around 79ish IIRC. I have thought about swapping so the heater does the work switching on and off vs the relay but have not decided which way is better.

 

[crusso1993]

I have bin reading all can find on the reef-pi and ordered all the parts just like to ask is any new sketches for the builds as they don't match the pictures as for layout. Trying to read through all 480 plus pages is taking a long time to see if any have bin added. I'm building 3 of these. And I would like to say thank you for all time you have put into it, and for sharing it

Welcome aboard! You're going to like it here!

 

[crusso1993]

what I have is 3 touch screen case with raspberry pi 3 b in each I'm going to make a cable to go a build box with the proto board mounted.
I started to build on a breadboard for now have, temp-prob, 4 power on 8 relay, the green and red led lights are on gpio 18 & 19 just to the dimming waiting on the pca9685 boards to come. the yellow led to going to show the heater coming on&off by the temp-prob just need to pick a gpio pin for it.
I still need to find how many gpio pins I can use.
my main tank is a 300gal reef I have 5 Kessil a360, 6 mars black box led lights to add more blue, 2 T5s in front & 2 T5s in back. still need to put some night moon lights in.

@lotus02

Nice looking tank!

If you have not done so already, please start a reef pi build thread of your own and document your 3 builds so we can all follow along! There is always much to learn from each other.

 

[Ryan115]

I hate to say this ...but gremlins are a thing when it comes to software engineering ..
Joking ... I am not going to drop the ball on this and follow up with data

No problem.
Have we been able to confirm whether 2.2 supports non-default PCA9685 i2c address?

 

[lotus02]

@lotus02

Nice looking tank!

If you have not done so already, please start a reef pi build thread of your own and document your 3 builds so we can all follow along! There is always much to learn from each other.

thanks just trying get it back moved here a couple years ago lost all my sps coral in the move going soft coral this time, here are some pics of old tank

 

[lotus02]

thanks just trying get it back moved here a couple years ago lost all my sps coral in the move going soft coral this time, here are some pics of old tank

I sold the clams before the move I did not want to try and move them. I ran with fish only for the most part until just a little while ago as i was a little upset over all the loss.

 

[bishoptf]

thanks just trying get it back moved here a couple years ago lost all my sps coral in the move going soft coral this time, here are some pics of old tank

That looks awesome, just beautiful.