Digital controllers

Freddie · 10/03/2009, 06:15 PM

What brands are out there?

There is the reef keeper lite and elite. Is there another

rbnice1 · 10/03/2009, 06:24 PM

Neptune systems : AquaControler Jr/2/3/3Pro/APEX
Reefkeeper : Lite/Elite
Prosumething. Cant think of it at the moment but I think someone in the club uses it(Chadfarmer maybe?). Suppose to be pretty good. Little more expensive.

Beware the supposed "deals" out there. Like the reefkeeper lite has a few deals out there but you will have to spend a lot on other stuff to really get use out of it.

Depending on what your wanting to do/control/monitor/mess with. You may be better off looking in the used section. Or you may be better off with something new.

rbnice1 · 10/03/2009, 06:26 PM

There are a bunch of us in slash running controllers, and most that do will agree that they cant imagine runnign with out it now.

BTW im in Houston and my Current tank temp is 79.2, pH is 8.15. And my lights are on my fan is on, and my sump power is on using 2.8amps of power and my last power outage was yesterday at 1:15.pm yesterday.

I have not added the water on the floor sensor or the sump high and low sensor yet. :P

Freddie · 10/03/2009, 06:31 PM

Well quite frankly I would love to see live monitoring of parameters. And if I am doing that I might as well do everything

rbnice1 · 10/03/2009, 06:42 PM

By live monitoring do you mean from any computer in the world or just at home? What do you want to monitor? pH, Temp, Orp, conductivity, O2?

Do want/need data gathering and graphing?

geoxman · 10/03/2009, 08:00 PM

PM rs2208
he has a really nice AC-Jr controller with a bunch of modules that he had FS a while back...if you can do drywall seams, it might be free for work

Freddie · 10/03/2009, 09:02 PM

Well geo I am just reasearching before I buy

Freddie · 10/03/2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

By live monitoring do you mean from any computer in the world or just at home? What do you want to monitor? pH, Temp, Orp, conductivity, O2?

Do want/need data gathering and graphing?

I just want to walk up to the controller and be able to go thru the menu to see where my parameters are.

geoxman · 10/03/2009, 09:11 PM

Well geo I am just reasearching before I buy

good for you! If you can drywall then you can get one for free/work...good luck!

rbnice1 · 10/03/2009, 10:00 PM

What probes are you wanting. If it s just pH and and temp you can go with a Neptune AC jr. with a DC8 and a pH and temp probe.
Or the same with the reefkeeper lite.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...y_Code=Neptune + a pH probe

Or

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=digitalaqua

Or something used. You can find AC jr used on here for about 220ish ready to go.

twizzlerman77 · 10/03/2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

Prosumething. Cant think of it at the moment but I think someone in the club uses it(Chadfarmer maybe?).

profilux??

rbnice1 · 10/03/2009, 11:18 PM

prob.

Freddie · 10/03/2009, 11:57 PM

The expandable ones seem cool, but always seems like you never get everything you need when you buy anything expandable or universal.

Freddie · 10/04/2009, 12:02 AM

I want to be able to control all functions lights powerheads etc. Want to monitor kalk,cal, for sure temp would be cool also but not completely nessecary unless it controls temp also. If kalk and cal are good ph should show good. I not sure if it would be worth monitoring nitrate

Wile E Coyote · 10/04/2009, 05:55 AM

I did not want to buy a controller head and then end up spending another grand for all teh parts and pieces to make it work, so I got the Reef Keeper Elite. It came with all the basics to control the tank is is expandable enough I can tie my 150 into it to. The only extra module I have purchased is the network module so I can graph my temp and PH levels over time. I know the aquacontroller is programmable, but I am not that good and the software is like another $80 or so. With the RK line, they have promised their software for over a year now and it will be free, but it is not out yet. They are now saying Christmas. The RKE also only has one "Phone Line" cord to the head, the Aqua controller had all the probes plugging into the head. It looked messy. Pay attention to the cost of the add on parts. The cost of those will make a difference if you decide to expand later. The dollar difference can be pretty high. You will be better off getting a "Package" with everything you want to start instead of trying to piece meal it together as you go. The up front cost is more, but it will save you some bucks later.

rbnice1 · 10/04/2009, 07:42 AM

Actually you can get the free aquanotes. It allows you to graph/control/program it all from a PC. It works with the AC Jr as long as it has the serial interface.

chadfarmer · 10/04/2009, 12:45 PM

i have a profilux and soon upgrading to the new model

it all comes down to what you want to do with it

10/03/2009, 06:15 PM	#1
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	Digital controllers What brands are out there? There is the reef keeper lite and elite. Is there another

10/03/2009, 06:26 PM	#3
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	There are a bunch of us in slash running controllers, and most that do will agree that they cant imagine runnign with out it now. BTW im in Houston and my Current tank temp is 79.2, pH is 8.15. And my lights are on my fan is on, and my sump power is on using 2.8amps of power and my last power outage was yesterday at 1:15.pm yesterday. I have not added the water on the floor sensor or the sump high and low sensor yet. :P Last edited by rbnice1; 10/03/2009 at 06:31 PM.

10/03/2009, 08:00 PM	#6
geoxman Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my office Posts: 3,818	PM rs2208 he has a really nice AC-Jr controller with a bunch of modules that he had FS a while back...if you can do drywall seams, it might be free for work __________________ "Why do you necessarily have to be wrong just because a few million people think you are?" F-Zappa Current Tank Info: an ice cube tray with brine shrimp in each cubicle

10/03/2009, 09:11 PM	#9
geoxman Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my office Posts: 3,818	Well geo I am just reasearching before I buy good for you! If you can drywall then you can get one for free/work...good luck! __________________ "Why do you necessarily have to be wrong just because a few million people think you are?" F-Zappa Current Tank Info: an ice cube tray with brine shrimp in each cubicle

10/04/2009, 05:55 AM	#15
Wile E Coyote Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, Il Posts: 977	I did not want to buy a controller head and then end up spending another grand for all teh parts and pieces to make it work, so I got the Reef Keeper Elite. It came with all the basics to control the tank is is expandable enough I can tie my 150 into it to. The only extra module I have purchased is the network module so I can graph my temp and PH levels over time. I know the aquacontroller is programmable, but I am not that good and the software is like another $80 or so. With the RK line, they have promised their software for over a year now and it will be free, but it is not out yet. They are now saying Christmas. The RKE also only has one "Phone Line" cord to the head, the Aqua controller had all the probes plugging into the head. It looked messy. Pay attention to the cost of the add on parts. The cost of those will make a difference if you decide to expand later. The dollar difference can be pretty high. You will be better off getting a "Package" with everything you want to start instead of trying to piece meal it together as you go. The up front cost is more, but it will save you some bucks later. __________________ If you fixed it and you ain't bleedin', it won't work

10/03/2009, 06:24 PM	#2
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	Neptune systems : AquaControler Jr/2/3/3Pro/APEX Reefkeeper : Lite/Elite Prosumething. Cant think of it at the moment but I think someone in the club uses it(Chadfarmer maybe?). Suppose to be pretty good. Little more expensive. Beware the supposed "deals" out there. Like the reefkeeper lite has a few deals out there but you will have to spend a lot on other stuff to really get use out of it. Depending on what your wanting to do/control/monitor/mess with. You may be better off looking in the used section. Or you may be better off with something new.

10/03/2009, 06:31 PM	#4
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	Well quite frankly I would love to see live monitoring of parameters. And if I am doing that I might as well do everything

10/03/2009, 06:42 PM	#5
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	By live monitoring do you mean from any computer in the world or just at home? What do you want to monitor? pH, Temp, Orp, conductivity, O2? Do want/need data gathering and graphing?

10/03/2009, 09:02 PM	#7
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	Well geo I am just reasearching before I buy

10/03/2009, 10:00 PM	#10
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	What probes are you wanting. If it s just pH and and temp you can go with a Neptune AC jr. with a DC8 and a pH and temp probe. Or the same with the reefkeeper lite. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...y_Code=Neptune + a pH probe Or http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=digitalaqua Or something used. You can find AC jr used on here for about 220ish ready to go.

10/03/2009, 11:18 PM	#12
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	prob.

10/03/2009, 11:57 PM	#13
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	The expandable ones seem cool, but always seems like you never get everything you need when you buy anything expandable or universal.

10/04/2009, 12:02 AM	#14
Freddie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caseyville Il Posts: 1,924	I want to be able to control all functions lights powerheads etc. Want to monitor kalk,cal, for sure temp would be cool also but not completely nessecary unless it controls temp also. If kalk and cal are good ph should show good. I not sure if it would be worth monitoring nitrate

10/04/2009, 07:42 AM	#16
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,917	Actually you can get the free aquanotes. It allows you to graph/control/program it all from a PC. It works with the AC Jr as long as it has the serial interface.

10/04/2009, 12:45 PM	#17
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 10,983 Blog Entries: 1	i have a profilux and soon upgrading to the new model it all comes down to what you want to do with it __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys