McPuff
New member
So is this one for dosing? Or is it designed for continuous use? Appears to be the former. Have you created a new pump for your calcium reactor as well?
Looks really good!!
My rendition of 300
- Thread starter Sisterlimonpot
- Start date
So is this one for dosing? Or is it designed for continuous use? Appears to be the former. Have you created a new pump for your calcium reactor as well?
Looks really good!!
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Ideally this will be for the calcium reactor. Right now it's programmed to dose continuously at a rate of 0.1ml per minute to 120ml per minute. however with some work in the code you can have it do what ever you want. I'm trying to add 2 other features, 1: to work with the OSC code for the apex (on for XX:XX off for XX:XX) for dosing, and 2: have it as a stand alone unit, so that you can dose a total of XXXX ml over the course of 24 hours. That way there are options.
My coding is sub par at best, and I've been trying to take the current code and try to reverse engineer it but I'm not having much luck. At the same tie trying to remove a lot of the coding that isn't necessary. I will eventually get it right, it's just taking a lot longer to learn new tricks.
halmus
New member
My rendition of 300
Incredible work with the peristaltic!
Interfacing with the Apex: I'm working on a side project right now that will use an outlet from the Apex to simply close a relay which will be the low-voltage interface to my aftermarket device. It's just a simple low voltage control signal (ON/OFF) at that point with isolation between the two. Is that similar to what you're trying to do?
It would require a little bit of circuitry for the pump to look for that "œinterrupt" but fairly straight forward.
Did you ever make progress on your automated light rack? Let me know if I missed that and I'll dig back through the thread.
EDIT: after reading back over your post, my suggestion doesn't make sense. I guess your problem isn't turning on the pump with the Apex, but the multiple modes you hope to implement through Apex. Sorry for the confusion.
Incredible work with the peristaltic!
Interfacing with the Apex: I'm working on a side project right now that will use an outlet from the Apex to simply close a relay which will be the low-voltage interface to my aftermarket device. It's just a simple low voltage control signal (ON/OFF) at that point with isolation between the two. Is that similar to what you're trying to do?
It would require a little bit of circuitry for the pump to look for that "œinterrupt" but fairly straight forward.
Did you ever make progress on your automated light rack? Let me know if I missed that and I'll dig back through the thread.
EDIT: after reading back over your post, my suggestion doesn't make sense. I guess your problem isn't turning on the pump with the Apex, but the multiple modes you hope to implement through Apex. Sorry for the confusion.
Last edited:
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Hey halmus,
I have been fumbling through arduino for the last few weeks and finally got a working pump to do everything that I set out for it to do. I wanted it to
1. Be calibrated
2. Stand alone to continuously dose specific amounts 1-48 times (every 30 minutes) a day from 0.1-999.9 ml each time.
3. Stand alone continuous flow anywhere from 0.1-80ml per minute
4. Used with Apex to dose precise amounts
Here is the latest video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E2heGxBwVOo" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Unfortunately, I haven't made much progress with the automation of the light rack, with my new found knowledge of stepper motors, I feel a little more at ease with how to make it work.
It's not at the front of the list but it's on the list.
What is this aftermarket device that you speak of? You definitely peaked my curiosity.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CumSA1RnuKQ" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
halmus
New member
So, you're using arduino to control the stepper for the pump? You've got a lot of the brains in place then. I suspected that.
If you want any help or tips with the Arduino code, let me know.
I don't want to derail your thread. I should update mine soon. Basically, I'm finally getting around to measuring volume of water in my RODI tank as well as my fresh water top-off reservoir. Those two tanks will talk together and interface with the Apex. So, I'll be able to top off my fresh water top-off remotely and know it's idiot-proof from overflowing. (Since this idiot has done that twice now and my wife I've had done it once)
I'm using this sensor to which provides variable resistance based on water depth:
https://milonetech.com
I really wish the Apex would open up a module with variable voltage input (0-5VDC) which we could map to a graph based on our needs! It's totally doable from a technology standpoint and should be trivial for them. It would be an awesome interface for your project and mine. I need to yell at them again.
If you want any help or tips with the Arduino code, let me know.
I don't want to derail your thread. I should update mine soon. Basically, I'm finally getting around to measuring volume of water in my RODI tank as well as my fresh water top-off reservoir. Those two tanks will talk together and interface with the Apex. So, I'll be able to top off my fresh water top-off remotely and know it's idiot-proof from overflowing. (Since this idiot has done that twice now and my wife I've had done it once)
I'm using this sensor to which provides variable resistance based on water depth:
https://milonetech.com
I really wish the Apex would open up a module with variable voltage input (0-5VDC) which we could map to a graph based on our needs! It's totally doable from a technology standpoint and should be trivial for them. It would be an awesome interface for your project and mine. I need to yell at them again.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
A month ago, I was looking for someone who was an arduino coding expert, and I ended up spending weeks in a frustrated and confused state to get where I am... someone like you would've achieved a better product in an afternoon hehe. The take away from the project, I learned that no matter how hard I try, I will only be able to scratch the surface with coding... there's a disconnect in my brain to figure out how to get from a carefully planned out vision to the final product.
That water level sensor that you told me about with the etape is a great idea... I would love to use it for my two 55 gallon barrels. Before going with float switches I looked for tape that was the proper length and I couldn't seem to find any... plus the special sizes were so expensive. you got lucky with getting the lengths that you have.
I don't begin to know the vision or direction that Neptune systems is going, but I would love to have them offer an expansive module that allows sensor capabilities outside of "open" and "close".
Have you considered using a temp sensor port? Theoretically you could use that port to sense (I'm assuming) a range of resistances. It wouldn't be hard to figure that out. The reason why the temp sensor would be great is because we have the ability to manually calibrate it in fusion. I think all the PM modules have a temp sensor port and they can be renamed.
Anyway... just thinking out loud. I can't wait to see the progress you made with the etape. I'll be watching for it.
Edit: I just looked at the link you provided, looks like they have a wider range of sizes, I'm definitely anxious to see what you come up with now!
That water level sensor that you told me about with the etape is a great idea... I would love to use it for my two 55 gallon barrels. Before going with float switches I looked for tape that was the proper length and I couldn't seem to find any... plus the special sizes were so expensive. you got lucky with getting the lengths that you have.
I don't begin to know the vision or direction that Neptune systems is going, but I would love to have them offer an expansive module that allows sensor capabilities outside of "open" and "close".
Have you considered using a temp sensor port? Theoretically you could use that port to sense (I'm assuming) a range of resistances. It wouldn't be hard to figure that out. The reason why the temp sensor would be great is because we have the ability to manually calibrate it in fusion. I think all the PM modules have a temp sensor port and they can be renamed.
Anyway... just thinking out loud. I can't wait to see the progress you made with the etape. I'll be watching for it.
Edit: I just looked at the link you provided, looks like they have a wider range of sizes, I'm definitely anxious to see what you come up with now!
halmus
New member
I had a chance to talk to a Neptune representative at a local show (Reef Stock) today. He said that the ASM module does allow for this type of application even though it's designed for the PAR monitoring.
He said it would accept the variable input voltage and that it could just be calibrated to represent the range desired. Similar to the temp port you mentioned. I might play around with all of that down the road.
He also mentioned ultrasonic sensors that could be used for water depth. (I think that's what he called them). Anyway, he said they're >$300. So, not a cheep toy to experiment with. But, compared to the typical Apex module, I guess cheep is never an option.
He said it would accept the variable input voltage and that it could just be calibrated to represent the range desired. Similar to the temp port you mentioned. I might play around with all of that down the road.
He also mentioned ultrasonic sensors that could be used for water depth. (I think that's what he called them). Anyway, he said they're >$300. So, not a cheep toy to experiment with. But, compared to the typical Apex module, I guess cheep is never an option.
houstonreefer
New member
Thanks for sharing
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
It's been a while since I have posted anything, I figured that it's time to do some sort of update. The tank has been on the slow path to stocking with live stock. For a long time the only fish that I had in there was small fish, and most weren't herbivores, so the algae got way out of hand. Hair algae was at least 6-9" tall and I couldn't even see the rock. It looked like I had a fresh water planted tank, Having almost every issue under the sun with QT, I'm finally starting to see the fruits of my labor.
Here's what I have in the tank right now:
Blonde Naso
Powder Brown Tang
Fox Face (doesn't like his picture taken)
Solar Wrasse (my wife's favorite)
If you look on the left there's a lubbock wrasse
Lemon wrasse (one letter away from greatness [Limon])
Purple Tang (another of my wife's favorites)
Pair of clowns (as of yesterday the male is on the other side of the tank, which I can only assume is that there might be eggs in the tank somewhere)
Lawnmower Blenny (Gramps)
Six Line wrasse (can't get him to stay still)
Not in the photo's is:
mandarin goby,
2 [of the 8] chromis,
& Diamond Goby
I also have 3 more fish in the QT:
Hippo tang
Copperband butterfly
Hawkfish
I also had a powder blue and yellow tang but they didn't make it through the QT process. Funny that those 2 fish have been in every reef tank that we ever had, and to not have them in this set up feels weird.
The tank isn't completely stocked yet, there are a few other fish that we want.
Back to the algae problem, the tangs made short work of the algae, it look less than 2 days for them to completely rid the rock of all of it. I was extremely pleased with their work ethic.
Here's what I have in the tank right now:
Blonde Naso
Powder Brown Tang
Fox Face (doesn't like his picture taken)
Solar Wrasse (my wife's favorite)
If you look on the left there's a lubbock wrasse
Lemon wrasse (one letter away from greatness [Limon])
Purple Tang (another of my wife's favorites)
Pair of clowns (as of yesterday the male is on the other side of the tank, which I can only assume is that there might be eggs in the tank somewhere)
Lawnmower Blenny (Gramps)
Six Line wrasse (can't get him to stay still)
Not in the photo's is:
mandarin goby,
2 [of the 8] chromis,
& Diamond Goby
I also have 3 more fish in the QT:
Hippo tang
Copperband butterfly
Hawkfish
I also had a powder blue and yellow tang but they didn't make it through the QT process. Funny that those 2 fish have been in every reef tank that we ever had, and to not have them in this set up feels weird.
The tank isn't completely stocked yet, there are a few other fish that we want.
Back to the algae problem, the tangs made short work of the algae, it look less than 2 days for them to completely rid the rock of all of it. I was extremely pleased with their work ethic.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
All the while I have been slowly stocking the tank with little frags of SPS and LPS coral which means that I had to start watching and maintaining alk and calc.
My intentions from the beginning was to have a calcium reactor supplying the essentials to the tank but every time I got around to take inventory and get everything needed it would fall by the wayside and I'd kick the can down the road. In the mean time I was relying on 2 part dosing and kalkwasser to maintain the levels but it always seemed that I'd forget to refill one or the other and the alk would swing stressing the corals to the point that they stop growing get burnt tips or they stn.
Now that I have a few coveted coral in my tank I needed to kick myself in the butt and get the CaRx on line and get stabilityin the tank. So, today I got up early and got started. The good thing is that with all my procrastination and failures to start, I had accumulated all the pumps, parts and plumbing needed to get it going. I just needed to put it all together.
I know this is a lot over kill but I have a Vectra S1 supplying water to the reactor. I made a manifold with 2 other ports just in case I needed something to flow water through in the future.
Being that this is my first time incorporating a CaRx I did a lot of research trying to use the most up to date practices to get it right. I leaned a lot on [MENTION=287514]tmb[/MENTION] (Tom) experience, It didn't take much convincing to set it up so that the Vectra will pressurize the reactor and using the peristaltic pump on the backside to regulate the flow out the effluent.
Up there on the top is the DIY peristaltic pump. I calibrated it for this configuration and have it constantly running at 20ml per minute. I also programmed the Apex to control the pH inside the reactor to run between 7.03-7.08.
Hopefully this will give me a good starting point, I tested the effluent after the pH dropped to 7.03 and the c02 solenoid cycled 3 times and it was 9.3.
Hopefully that is a good starting point, now comes the constant testing to dial it in.
My intentions from the beginning was to have a calcium reactor supplying the essentials to the tank but every time I got around to take inventory and get everything needed it would fall by the wayside and I'd kick the can down the road. In the mean time I was relying on 2 part dosing and kalkwasser to maintain the levels but it always seemed that I'd forget to refill one or the other and the alk would swing stressing the corals to the point that they stop growing get burnt tips or they stn.
Now that I have a few coveted coral in my tank I needed to kick myself in the butt and get the CaRx on line and get stabilityin the tank. So, today I got up early and got started. The good thing is that with all my procrastination and failures to start, I had accumulated all the pumps, parts and plumbing needed to get it going. I just needed to put it all together.
I know this is a lot over kill but I have a Vectra S1 supplying water to the reactor. I made a manifold with 2 other ports just in case I needed something to flow water through in the future.
Being that this is my first time incorporating a CaRx I did a lot of research trying to use the most up to date practices to get it right. I leaned a lot on [MENTION=287514]tmb[/MENTION] (Tom) experience, It didn't take much convincing to set it up so that the Vectra will pressurize the reactor and using the peristaltic pump on the backside to regulate the flow out the effluent.
Up there on the top is the DIY peristaltic pump. I calibrated it for this configuration and have it constantly running at 20ml per minute. I also programmed the Apex to control the pH inside the reactor to run between 7.03-7.08.
Hopefully this will give me a good starting point, I tested the effluent after the pH dropped to 7.03 and the c02 solenoid cycled 3 times and it was 9.3.
Hopefully that is a good starting point, now comes the constant testing to dial it in.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Some tank shots.
Nice, bommie style aquascape. Plenty of room for the fish to swim, and corals to grow.
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