Hi Hackaday readers,

Over the past year I’ve been developing Buce, a compact open-source LED controller for aquariums. Built around the ESP32-C3, it was inspired by my own DIY reef light projects, and I finally decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to make it available to others.

What Buce does
Buce can drive 6 independent PWM channels with high-resolution dimming and supports multiple dimming curves for realistic lighting. It connects via Wi-Fi and can be controlled through the Android app I developed (iOS version in progress).

Open Source
All hardware design files and firmware are fully open-source and OSHWA certified. If you prefer, you can skip the crowdfunding and manufacture the PCB yourself. The firmware supports OTA updates, over-temperature protection, and over-voltage protection.

Why crowdfunding
Launching Buce via Crowd Supply allows me to gauge interest, fund the first production run, and make it easier for others to get started without having to build everything from scratch.

If you want to try your hand at a DIY aquarium lighting controller, or simply want to support open-source ESP32 hardware, you can check out the project here:
https://www.crowdsupply.com/borneo-iot/buce-aquarium-led-controller

Cheers!