dai2dai996's Biocube 32 reef

[FISHnChix]

1 hour ago, dai2dai996 said:

Thanks for the reply.  I learned alot about thermocouples today.  I also received the RTD probe.  It is working much better.  The temperature is right on and is staying perfectly steady.

Sweet!!! 🤙🍻

[dai2dai996]

13 hours ago, FISHnChix said:

Yes they are effected by ambient tempature at the "cold junction"  which is just the wire side r.. it's kinda funny bc the fact they call it "cold" junction messes people up.. so to the other question your "cold" juntion side can actually be hotter than your "hot" junction (you can read on the history of the terms if you want but it's boring lol).. I've never worked on a transmitter that didnt have a built in cold junction compensation. I would suspect your pid controller does have it too.. I have seen a transmitter that i had to go into and turn on the compensation.. but that was only once.. 

Thank you for clearing up the "cold' junction.  That did infact confuse me a bit.  I did read about the compensation on that side of the devices.  Either this PID doesn't compensate or does it very poorly.  There is no setting I see for that.  It is a very cheap PID, but does work well once setup right.  All I've got left to do now is dial in my salinity.  I want it at 1.025 and it's at 1.023 now.  I may get some live rock this weekend.

[FISHnChix]

3 hours ago, dai2dai996 said:

Thank you for clearing up the "cold' junction.  That did infact confuse me a bit.  I did read about the compensation on that side of the devices.  Either this PID doesn't compensate or does it very poorly.  There is no setting I see for that.  It is a very cheap PID, but does work well once setup right.  All I've got left to do now is dial in my salinity.  I want it at 1.025 and it's at 1.023 now.  I may get some live rock this weekend.

Nice good luck!!! 

[dai2dai996]

Update... Everything is working good.  I've got the salinity at 1.025.  I took some readings this morning.  Things are a little on the high side.

 

Alk= 11.2 dkh

Calcium 475

Magnesium 1430

 

I'm not sure if it's high because there's nothing in the tank yet or what.  The Arduino timer is working great.  I have a power strip that is controlled by a relay that the Arduino controls.  If I press the button, that power strip turns off for 10 minutes and then back on.  There's also an indicator led to show that it's off.  Here is the code for it:

 

int ten_minute_button = 2;
int ten_minute_off = 3;
int ten_minute_led = 4;
int button_pressed;
unsigned long ten_minutes = 600000;
unsigned long start_time;
unsigned long current_time;

 

void setup() {
  pinMode(2, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(3, HIGH);
}

 

void loop() {
  if(digitalRead(ten_minute_button) == LOW){
    delay(1000);
    button_pressed = 1;
    start_time = millis();
    digitalWrite(ten_minute_off, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ten_minute_led, HIGH);
  }
  if(button_pressed == 1){
    current_time = millis();
    if((current_time - start_time) > ten_minutes){
      digitalWrite(ten_minute_off, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ten_minute_led, LOW);
      button_pressed = 0;
    }
  }
}
 

I could have used a simple delay probably, but I was originally going to control temp with the Arduino and decided not to.

 

I checked live rock locally and one place has it for $7.50 a pound and the other place starts at $9 a pound.  I looked online and Gulf Live Rock seems very reasonable.  I'll just need to decide if I want to go local or pay less and have it shipped.  Decisions decisions...

[FISHnChix]

24 minutes ago, dai2dai996 said:

Update... Everything is working good.  I've got the salinity at 1.025.  I took some readings this morning.  Things are a little on the high side.

 

Alk= 11.2 dkh

Calcium 475

Magnesium 1430

 

I'm not sure if it's high because there's nothing in the tank yet or what.  The Arduino timer is working great.  I have a power strip that is controlled by a relay that the Arduino controls.  If I press the button, that power strip turns off for 10 minutes and then back on.  There's also an indicator led to show that it's off.  Here is the code for it:

 

int ten_minute_button = 2;
int ten_minute_off = 3;
int ten_minute_led = 4;
int button_pressed;
unsigned long ten_minutes = 600000;
unsigned long start_time;
unsigned long current_time;

 

void setup() {
  pinMode(2, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(3, HIGH);
}

 

void loop() {
  if(digitalRead(ten_minute_button) == LOW){
    delay(1000);
    button_pressed = 1;
    start_time = millis();
    digitalWrite(ten_minute_off, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ten_minute_led, HIGH);
  }
  if(button_pressed == 1){
    current_time = millis();
    if((current_time - start_time) > ten_minutes){
      digitalWrite(ten_minute_off, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ten_minute_led, LOW);
      button_pressed = 0;
    }
  }
}
 

I could have used a simple delay probably, but I was originally going to control temp with the Arduino and decided not to.

 

I checked live rock locally and one place has it for $7.50 a pound and the other place starts at $9 a pound.  I looked online and Gulf Live Rock seems very reasonable.  I'll just need to decide if I want to go local or pay less and have it shipped.  Decisions decisions...

Tons of people use reef Crystal's with success,  but many reefers do not like it though bc it mixes high like that.. those are pretty normal readings for reef crystals.. just find a salt with the levels you want and stick with it and it will be all good.  I used rc for about a year then switched to red sea blue bucket (red sea pro has high levels too) because I didnt want the high alk anymore.. well the red sea blue bucket mixed to low lol.. settled on fritz rpm and stuck with it.. mixes to about 9 alk and has a higher mag which I like, plus it's pretty cheap

[dai2dai996]

23 minutes ago, FISHnChix said:

Tons of people use reef Crystal's with success,  but many reefers do not like it though bc it mixes high like that.. those are pretty normal readings for reef crystals.. just find a salt with the levels you want and stick with it and it will be all good.  I used rc for about a year then switched to red sea blue bucket (red sea pro has high levels too) because I didnt want the high alk anymore.. well the red sea blue bucket mixed to low lol.. settled on fritz rpm and stuck with it.. mixes to about 9 alk and has a higher mag which I like, plus it's pretty cheap

I'll check out fritz.  I wanted to stick with rc because I can get it easy, but if I'm not going to be happy with it then I'll just have to make sure I order alot of whatever else.  Thank you again for all the help.

[FISHnChix]

14 minutes ago, dai2dai996 said:

I'll check out fritz.  I wanted to stick with rc because I can get it easy, but if I'm not going to be happy with it then I'll just have to make sure I order alot of whatever else.  Thank you again for all the help.

nothing wrong with rc but they do run high levels.. with me I dose so if the doser is off a bit the alk will go into dangerous levels, that's why I switched.. 

 

If you don't want the higher levels I have heard of people mixing reg io with the rc,  but that sounds like too much work for me lol.. as for access to salts well I use amazon and get everything either 1 day or 2 day shipping.. cant get easier than that 😉🤙

[dai2dai996]

A small update... I simplified the Arduino code.  Not for any good reason.  Just to do it.  Lol.  Here is the new code:

 

#define blu_led 9
#define btn_pin 10
#define led_pin 11
#define rly_pin 12
#define rly_pwr 13

 

void setup() {
  pinMode(blu_led, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(btn_pin, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(led_pin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(rly_pin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(rly_pwr, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(blu_led, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(rly_pwr, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(rly_pin, HIGH);
}

 

void loop() {
  if(digitalRead(btn_pin) == LOW) {
    digitalWrite(led_pin, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(rly_pin, LOW);
    delay(300000);
    digitalWrite(led_pin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(rly_pin, HIGH);
  }
}

 

I set a couple of pins to constantly output for power to the relay and temp high or low led.  This keeps all the wiring on the same side of the board.  I've decided to go with Gulf Live Rock.  40lbs of their coralline rock and 40lbs of their sand.  I have no idea if 40lbs of rock will be enough.  I do plan on gluing the rock to give plenty of openings throughout.  I'll be ordering it next week.

[dai2dai996]

Update... Had difficulty getting live rock and sand at a decent price.  Tried 2 places and they can't keep up with their orders.  I'm going with Caribsea rock and sand.  I've read alot of good stuff about it.  There are people who have had issues, but there's plenty of people who have issues with live rock too.  The tank has been running flawless.  I think I've got all the bugs worked out.  The only thing I can't do is calibrate the heater.  I'm using the PID to control it so it's not a big deal.  It's just I like to set the heater a degree or 2 above my desired temperature in case the PID fails.  I may contact eheim about it.  I'm sure they'd replace it.  I was also looking at skimmers.  The tunze fits right in, but would be after the media basket.  Seems kinda backwards.  I'm hoping I won't need one anyway, but I want to be prepared.

[dai2dai996]

Update... I've got the sand and the rock will be in today.  So now starts the testing.  I'll post a chart of the test parameters each time I take them so we can watch the tank cycle.  I'm using API test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and phosphate.  I'm using salifert for calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity.  The first chart includes the first test I took in September right after I added saltwater to the tank using reef crystals.  Some of these parameters are known, but I figured I'd get in the practice of testing everything again.

[dai2dai996]

Here is a pic of the bag of sand.  I got Fiji pink.  I was surprised that there's water in the bag.  I guess I was expecting it to come dry.  This is all interesting to me.  I've only set up 1 reef tank before and that was over 15 years ago.  

[dai2dai996]

Update... Got the rock delivered.  It's mostly good.  Some spots broke that show white.

[dai2dai996]

Got the rock and sand in... Lol.

[dai2dai996]

Didn't have any shrimp on hand, so in goes some ahi.

[Wonderboy]

Nice! Glad to see the cycle starting!

[dai2dai996]

4 hours ago, Wonderboy said:

Nice! Glad to see the cycle starting!

Thank you.  It'll be interesting to see if the Caribsea stuff helps the cycle.  

[banasophia]

Nice start! Excited to follow along... super happy with my biocube 16, hope you enjoy your 32. 

[dai2dai996]

24 minutes ago, banasophia said:

Nice start! Excited to follow along... super happy with my biocube 16, hope you enjoy your 32. 

Thank you.  Both of your tanks look awesome.  I do like the biocube because its all enclosed.  You certainly have that 16 full of beauty.  Love the mandarin.

[dai2dai996]

Test results.  Seems quick for an ammonia reading, but I'm getting one.

[dai2dai996]

Update... I'm going to test every day for nitrite.  Once it shows a nitrite reading, I'll post a complete water test.  I've filled the whole intank media basket with polyfil to help clear the sand dust.  That seems to have helped alot.  I'm also going to stir the sand every day to get it as clean as I can.  Here's a pic before today's stir.

[dai2dai996]

Update... Today is the first reading of nitrites.  

 

[dai2dai996]

Update... I am getting a nitrate reading already.  I don't have time to get a complete water test right now but will get it tomorrow morning.

[dai2dai996]

Here's the water test for today.  The ammonia is dropping and I've got a nitrate reading.  This cycle seems to be going fast.  

[dai2dai996]

Update... I've got a zero reading on the ammonia today.  Things are moving right along.  

[dai2dai996]

Update... I've got a zero nitrite reading this morning so the cycle is complete.  Here's a summary of it:

 

1 day show ammonia
4 days show nitrite
6 days show nitrate
12 days 0 ammonia
14 days 0 nitrite

 

My cycles usually take about twice this long, so I'm thinking the Caribsea rock and sand had something to do with the faster cycle.  Now for a water change to get the nitrates under control and then add the filter media.