nkd5024
New member
Hello Everyone,
I have been in the process of building a DIY reef controller that I have been working on pretty frequently over the past week or two. I have posted a thread on a local reef club page and didn't get to much interest, so as I am mainly posting my progress to get insight and ideas as well as to help anyone who wants to give this a go for themselves I have decided to post this in the general forums.
I would like to start out by saying that up to about 3 months ago I barely knew anything about electronics, although I did have some basic understanding of programming. So if you don't have any/much experience with electronics don't dismiss the idea if your interested.
So to start off with, my controller will be running off of an arduino mega 2560. I will be using a 3.2" Touch Screen LCD screen for the user interface.
As for the functions of the controller, I will be adding:
1) temp, ph, and ORP monitoring,
2) 5-channels of led dimming for a DIY led fixture
3) Moon phase cycle & rise/set across the tank using 4 moonlight leds,
4) Control over 8 SS Relay outlets and 8 TRIAC outlets
5) A Solid state ATO control (No floats of moving parts)
6) Basic alarm system
7) Incorporating of Reef Angels Vortech module so I can talk to mine Vortech.
I will also be use a Real Time Clock (DS_1307) for keeping time, even through power outages, a Micro SD card reading to store the data logging info for temp, pH, and ORP as well as to store settings, and images.
I am planning to make very sleek looking acrylic boxes to put the project into once I am done. I am hoping to make this look as nice as possible, by using headphone jacks and other common plugs for temp probes, ato, etc. I will also be learning how to print my own circuit boards at home for this project, so I don't have to use tons of wires everywhere.
As of right now, I have the mega 2560, sd card reader, RTC, and the touch screen up and running. I am using my own created images for buttons/icons for the display but am a bit limited because of the processor speed for updating the images. So I can't nicely add things like sliding buttons to unlock screen, depressed buttons, etc.
Here what I have so far,
Lock Screen
Sd card reader and RTC
Nick D.
I have been in the process of building a DIY reef controller that I have been working on pretty frequently over the past week or two. I have posted a thread on a local reef club page and didn't get to much interest, so as I am mainly posting my progress to get insight and ideas as well as to help anyone who wants to give this a go for themselves I have decided to post this in the general forums.
I would like to start out by saying that up to about 3 months ago I barely knew anything about electronics, although I did have some basic understanding of programming. So if you don't have any/much experience with electronics don't dismiss the idea if your interested.
So to start off with, my controller will be running off of an arduino mega 2560. I will be using a 3.2" Touch Screen LCD screen for the user interface.
As for the functions of the controller, I will be adding:
1) temp, ph, and ORP monitoring,
2) 5-channels of led dimming for a DIY led fixture
3) Moon phase cycle & rise/set across the tank using 4 moonlight leds,
4) Control over 8 SS Relay outlets and 8 TRIAC outlets
5) A Solid state ATO control (No floats of moving parts)
6) Basic alarm system
7) Incorporating of Reef Angels Vortech module so I can talk to mine Vortech.
I will also be use a Real Time Clock (DS_1307) for keeping time, even through power outages, a Micro SD card reading to store the data logging info for temp, pH, and ORP as well as to store settings, and images.
I am planning to make very sleek looking acrylic boxes to put the project into once I am done. I am hoping to make this look as nice as possible, by using headphone jacks and other common plugs for temp probes, ato, etc. I will also be learning how to print my own circuit boards at home for this project, so I don't have to use tons of wires everywhere.
As of right now, I have the mega 2560, sd card reader, RTC, and the touch screen up and running. I am using my own created images for buttons/icons for the display but am a bit limited because of the processor speed for updating the images. So I can't nicely add things like sliding buttons to unlock screen, depressed buttons, etc.
Here what I have so far,

Lock Screen

Sd card reader and RTC

Nick D.