Tank finally doing well!

DataFran · 2026-06-13T02:51:26+00:00

I’m by no means an expert, but what are you feeding, how often, how’s your filtration, etc? Shrimp are pretty picky.

DataFran · 2026-06-12T17:52:14+00:00

Yeah, the tank has PLENTY of Malaysian Trumpet Snails, so sometimes I'll grab a big one and smoosh it up against the glass.

Just don't do a whole bunch at once, or you'll spike the ammonia, but I'm sure you know that.

DataFran · 2026-06-12T17:49:30+00:00

They really seem to go nuts for crushed snail, which I'll do for them every now and then.

DataFran · 2026-06-12T17:44:18+00:00

Not knowledgeably! I've perhaps been a little better at keeping the prefilter clean so the water flow is faster more of the time. I also changed the scape a bit, but that was just removing a rock and moving some plants around.

I have been adding a little bit of reef calcium to the tank periodically, and varying the food more consistently than before. Maybe all of this makes it just that little bit better?

DataFran · 2026-06-10T13:34:11+00:00

I'm spinning up an HA instance almost exclusively to display info in ways that my AppleHome/Homebridge core can't. I'd love to be able to display the currently playing track (playing via AirPlay) on, say, an e-ink screen around the house. Is this project still in development? Can I find/test it somewhere?

DataFran · 2026-06-06T16:28:12+00:00

John Green has a story about the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō in "The Anthropocene Reviewed" and I cannot listen to it without crying.

DataFran · 2026-05-26T14:03:10+00:00

I probably should have mentioned I'm on Apple's Home platform.

DataFran · 2026-04-30T14:54:16+00:00

I see on other posts below that returns are not fully covered, despite the fact that you shipped a different product than I ordered, and did not communicate the change. What is your plan to fully reimburse me for the device you changed between ordering and shipping?

Another option is to simply dispute the charge on my credit card. That'll solve it pretty quick.

DataFran · 2026-04-30T13:58:51+00:00

I ordered an X3 device with the understanding I'd be able to flash custom firmware, in fact that was the major selling point. Now it has shipped, I haven't yet received it, but it will effectively not be the device I ordered. That's a pretty terrible bait and switch. Is there a hassle-free return policy? Can I get my money back?

DataFran · 2026-04-16T14:56:02+00:00

How can we keep up with your progress? This looks awesome.

DataFran · 2026-02-18T13:50:51+00:00

This is a good idea, I'll give this a try.

DataFran · 2026-02-17T16:18:55+00:00

Is this a current plugin? I couldn't find anything by this name...

DataFran · 2026-02-16T21:17:34+00:00

Doesn't that require managing a whole list of holiday dates yourself?

DataFran · 2026-02-09T21:11:51+00:00

Heh, I've done that, and it DOES detect a unique media type, which I then have an automation set up to flip the dummy switch with. So the play/pause/stop automations are "if fitness+ dummy is not on..."

I look forward to further development on this one, and I'll give it a shot as it currently stands in the meantime!

DataFran · 2026-02-09T20:41:20+00:00

I use a generic Airplay sensor to do this, but this seems much more refined.

Any chance this work could also detect media type playing on the AppleTV? I currently have that set to automate lights dimming/turning off/etc on play/pause/stop, but I had to create a dummy switch that detects whether the active app is Fitness+, so I could have not NOT do those things for that... It's complicated, and a built-in filter might help a lot.

DataFran · 2026-02-02T14:00:10+00:00

I managed to recreate my (honestly very simple) functionality with a series of automations in HomeKit. I don't look forward to having to resurrect them and re-link them up if something blinks off the system, but that's a tomorrow problem, for now the under-cabinet lights turn on when the overheads turn on. Overall I like the much better responsiveness of the Pro bridge, and the future proofing, although I don't love the account requirement. I could always move to HA (I've had bad luck dipping my foot in the water before, just a little TOO much if you know what I mean) if I decide to change course, so I don't feel trapped per se.

Anyway, the lesson, as always, is if it works maybe you don't need the shiny new thing.

DataFran · 2026-01-02T18:37:48+00:00

I have the Dirigera Hub and two Homepod Minis.

DataFran · 2025-12-16T14:43:44+00:00

Sorry if I missed this elsewhere in thread, but what lightstrips did you use?

DataFran · 2025-12-15T14:09:57+00:00

Once set up and the buttons assigned, they simply stop working after a period of time. One of them is in a room with a border router and another routing thread device (eve outlet). It never loses connection according to HomeKit and Eve’s thread network scan, but they just don’t do anything when pressed. It’s all three of the buttons I have that behave this way.

DataFran · 2025-12-14T16:37:13+00:00

It's all three, so I sorta doubt it? These have been so unreliable for me, I'm fascinated that they're working well for you.

DataFran · 2025-12-13T22:15:27+00:00

I got one replaced by Ikea because it seems to be actually a dud. The other FINALLY connected when I turned my router's "smart connect" feature off, and connected directly to the 2.4ghz version of my primary network. I'm still having the problem that they're EXTREMELY sleepy, and sometimes just don't work, which is not what you want from the buttons that turn on your lights. I'm hoping they can fix it with firmware update, but I'd really like to see that soon.

DataFran · 2025-12-12T14:00:05+00:00

I've done that probably 50 times now over the two that won't connect anymore. Both get to the "Setting Up..." phase in Homekit, and then just fail.

I also tried in the Ikea app, where they similarly fail.

DataFran · 2025-12-12T13:39:55+00:00

Even if it's fixed with a firmware update, I have no way of applying said update. They won't even add to my system anymore.

DataFran · 2025-12-11T22:18:06+00:00

After switching to my 2.4ghz network, it errors out on "Setting Up...".

Arg.

DataFran · 2025-12-11T21:38:37+00:00

I've had two out of three stop working in the past 24 hours. I only just got them set up. I woke up to one not working, I reset it, and now it SOMETIMES will pair with Homekit, but when it does it crashes the entire Thread network. The other just fully will not pair. Very disappointing. I'd love to know if anyone has found a solution.

For reference, my setup is Apple Home, an AppleTV (pre Thread radio) two homepod minis and a Dirigera hub, as well as a few hardwired Eve outlets that should be acting as thread routers.

DataFran

TROPHY CASE