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

[Kraig]

So it's probably just a matter of how patient and lucky I am as to what I get.... At least I've learned a little patience since being in the hobby.

 

[bishoptf]

So it's probably just a matter of how patient and lucky I am as to what I get.... At least I've learned a little patience since being in the hobby.

If you are just going to run reef-pi then any version will work, but if you run the desktop image and want to run the desktop or a GUI vs CLI then you will need a higher end model. I have reef-pi running on the original zero w just fine, but its all CLI access based and browser for reef-pi access. It comes down to what you want to run on the rpi, the more stuff you want to run on it the more hardware is needed.

 

[GaryE]

If you are just going to run reef-pi then any version will work, but if you run the desktop image and want to run the desktop or a GUI vs CLI then you will need a higher end model. I have reef-pi running on the original zero w just fine, but its all CLI access based and browser for reef-pi access. It comes down to what you want to run on the rpi, the more stuff you want to run on it the more hardware is needed.

Since learning how to setup an SD card for headless startup without connecting to a keyboard, mouse or monitor, I have no need for a CLI or GUI on my pi's other than an SSH from my Linux work station. That little trick saves quite a bit of time when setting up a card.

 

[bishoptf]

Since learning how to setup an SD card for headless startup without connecting to a keyboard, mouse or monitor, I have no need for a CLI or GUI on my pi's other than an SSH from my Linux work station. That little trick saves quite a bit of time when setting up a card.

Exactly, how I have always done them. I helped @robsworld78 update the script that they are using for robotank and it walks you through setting up your pi for reef-pi for robotank OR any reef-pi and it's really easy to do now. Tools are out there that really makes it much easier to get things going...

 

[GaryE]

Exactly, how I have always done them. I helped @robsworld78 update the script that they are using for robotank and it walks you through setting up your pi for reef-pi for robotank OR any reef-pi and it's really easy to do now. Tools are out there that really makes it much easier to get things going...

Care to share that script?

 

[bishoptf]

Care to share that script?

Not sure they will let me link to the google docs page - https://www.robo-tank.ca/reef-pi_Related_User_Manuals the top link from that page from google docs has the installation manual and link to the script, the script is for robotank but also can be used for any installation, pretty slick and the document walks you through the whole headless stuff.

 

[GaryE]

Not sure they will let me link to the google docs page - https://www.robo-tank.ca/reef-pi_Related_User_Manuals the top link from that page from google docs has the installation manual and link to the script, the script is for robotank but also can be used for any installation, pretty slick and the document walks you through the whole headless stuff.

Awesome.. I'll check it out when I get home.

 

[robsworld78]

Care to share that script?

I'm also planning on creating a thread so people can find it, IMO there's no better way to setup.

 

[GaryE]

I'm also planning on creating a thread so people can find it, IMO there's no better way to setup.

I got caught going down the prometheus / grafana rabbit hole last night, didn't get a chance to dig too much into the script...

 

[GaryE]

Speaking of Grafana, it'd be interesting to see what others have setup.. I'm in the process of rebuilding mine.

I'm thinking of integrating some basic raspberry pi data into it just to make it a bit more complete..

 

[GaryE]

Adafruit has Rpi 4 2gb right now

***currently getting their butts kicked..

 

[Ranjib]

Speaking of Grafana, it'd be interesting to see what others have setup.. I'm in the process of rebuilding mine.

I'm thinking of integrating some basic raspberry pi data into it just to make it a bit more complete..

I wish I could do a dedicated blog/docs on this, but here is the tldr version;
- I have one dashboard each for individual tanks. That shows ato, ph, temp, light etc.. whatever that build has
- I have a global dashboard that consolidated all key parameters (ph, temperature, ato) and some ambient readings (temperature for example). I use this as Home Screen, to get a glimpse of fleet wide stats
- I have the stock node exporter dashboard , imported from grafana community hub that shows low level system metrics (it requires node exporter installed and running on all pi )

Other than these keyed dashboard I also use a whole bunch of adhoc dashboard to test things like light profile, psu setup (under voltage detection ).
I do use alerting from several of these dashboard

 

[GaryE]

I wish I could do a dedicated blog/docs on this, but here is the tldr version;
- I have one dashboard each for individual tanks. That shows ato, ph, temp, light etc.. whatever that build has
- I have a global dashboard that consolidated all key parameters (ph, temperature, ato) and some ambient readings (temperature for example). I use this as Home Screen, to get a glimpse of fleet wide stats
- I have the stock node exporter dashboard , imported from grafana community hub that shows low level system metrics (it requires node exporter installed and running on all pi )

Other than these keyed dashboard I also use a whole bunch of adhoc dashboard to test things like light profile, psu setup (under voltage detection ).
I do use alerting from several of these dashboard

I've been playing with variables and whatnot to setup some "template" type dashboards.. It's coming along pretty nice for someone who never heard of prometheus or grafana two years ago..

 

[GaryE]

@Ranjib how difficult would it be to expose the "name" of the reef-pi install via prometheus??

 

[bishoptf]

@Ranjib how difficult would it be to expose the "name" of the reef-pi install via prometheus??

I have multiple and what I have learned to do in order to make it easier in grafana is I include the name in each of the function. For example I have a coral QT tank and I include coral in each of the name like this...

repeat for ato etc, just include the name in the object that you are defining then it will show up that way in grafana.

 

[GaryE]

I have multiple and what I have learned to do in order to make it easier in grafana is I include the name in each of the function. For example I have a coral QT tank and I include coral in each of the name like this...

repeat for ato etc, just include the name in the object that you are defining then it will show up that way in grafana.

Yeah, I do that too, but I want the name of the device running for something else...

 

[GaryE]

This is my current dashboard, in progress of course.. I have it setup to be somewhat dynamic.. I need that "hostname" to be emitted from prometheus so that I can replace the IP address with the hostname..

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib how difficult would it be to expose the "name" of the reef-pi install via prometheus??

Prometheus is a metric system , hence it only supports numeric values. We can use the labels feature for this instead.

I configure Prometheus config with the job name same as the reef-pi controller name , and then use the built in “job” label to display the controller name as job label value

 

[bishoptf]

Looking to get some of @Michael Lane goby hat boards made up and looks like pca9685pw are OOS everywhere, I assume @robsworld78 you are seeing the same thing, where are folks ordering from etc...just thought I would ask.

 

[GaryE]

Looking to get some of @Michael Lane goby hat boards made up and looks like pca9685pw are OOS everywhere, I assume @robsworld78 you are seeing the same thing, where are folks ordering from etc...just thought I would ask.

Mouser has them in stock

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NXP-Semiconductors/PCA9685PW112?qs=6YAT8rHPFU9wZqiAeiOMZw%3D%3D