Ac Jr.
- Thread starter killereef
- Start date
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
Yes, he does. I was talking with him yesterday about it.
crumbletop
New member
The AC Jr. is a nice unit. The main competitors in the ~$299 price range are:
1) AC Jr. (Neptune Systems)
2) ReefKeeper2 (Digital Aquatics)
3) Premium Aquatics Lighthouse (Premium Aquatics)
The AC Jr. is the most flexible, expandable, and customizable of the bunch. Here are some of the main points:
AC Jr.
Controls up to 12 channels (8 come with the basic setup)
Complex programming capability (multiple feed timers, multiple conditional statements)
Can connect to your PC so you can view things over the web if you get the serial port option and can be controlled from your pc using the free version of AquaNotes software.
Has a digital input (also if you get the serial port option) that allows you to connect things like a float switch to shut off pumps if the water level in the sump gets too low, or to use it to drive an auto topoff pump.
You can upgrade to a more advanced unit if you ever needed to.
RK2:
Looks cool.
controls 8 channels (max)
Lighthouse:
Plug and play webserver built in. Ethernet built in.
Only controls 4 channels
Will monitor orp in addition to ph
very butt ugly (IMO)
The AC Jr. with serial port, Lighthouse, and RK2 all cost right about the same ($299). I believe they all work pretty well. I think Pickupman has an RK (original). I think several in the club have an AC Jr. I don't know of anyone locally who has a lighthouse.
As far as my AC Jr. goes, I am very satisfied with the purchase. It has done a great job of managing the temp in my tank. I have fans cut on at a certain point if the temp gets too high, and then cut the lights one by one if the temp keeps climbing. That kicked in once over the summer and I think likely saved my tank a lot of undue stress (and high temps). I also use it to monitor pH and control my lights. I don't have the serial port on mine so I don't have any experience with Aquanotes or viewing tank stuff via the web.
1) AC Jr. (Neptune Systems)
2) ReefKeeper2 (Digital Aquatics)
3) Premium Aquatics Lighthouse (Premium Aquatics)
The AC Jr. is the most flexible, expandable, and customizable of the bunch. Here are some of the main points:
AC Jr.
Controls up to 12 channels (8 come with the basic setup)
Complex programming capability (multiple feed timers, multiple conditional statements)
Can connect to your PC so you can view things over the web if you get the serial port option and can be controlled from your pc using the free version of AquaNotes software.
Has a digital input (also if you get the serial port option) that allows you to connect things like a float switch to shut off pumps if the water level in the sump gets too low, or to use it to drive an auto topoff pump.
You can upgrade to a more advanced unit if you ever needed to.
RK2:
Looks cool.
controls 8 channels (max)
Lighthouse:
Plug and play webserver built in. Ethernet built in.
Only controls 4 channels
Will monitor orp in addition to ph
very butt ugly (IMO)
The AC Jr. with serial port, Lighthouse, and RK2 all cost right about the same ($299). I believe they all work pretty well. I think Pickupman has an RK (original). I think several in the club have an AC Jr. I don't know of anyone locally who has a lighthouse.
As far as my AC Jr. goes, I am very satisfied with the purchase. It has done a great job of managing the temp in my tank. I have fans cut on at a certain point if the temp gets too high, and then cut the lights one by one if the temp keeps climbing. That kicked in once over the summer and I think likely saved my tank a lot of undue stress (and high temps). I also use it to monitor pH and control my lights. I don't have the serial port on mine so I don't have any experience with Aquanotes or viewing tank stuff via the web.
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
Does the ACjr do everthing the Reefkeeper does?
One feature I like is the wavemaking ability.
http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanotuners/product_info.php?products_id=215
One feature I like is the wavemaking ability.
http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanotuners/product_info.php?products_id=215
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
Nevermind Crumbletop, I'm trying to read them both and compare.
Here's the ACjr for comparison.
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm#SUNSIM
Here's the ACjr for comparison.
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm#SUNSIM
crumbletop
New member
yep. The AC Jr. does everything and more. It actually costs a little less than the RK2 as well.
Here is a quote from their site:
Here is the link:
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm
Here is a quote from their site:
Here is the link:
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm
crumbletop
New member
well you beat me to it 
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
It appears the ACjr doesn't have the 'night mode'.
crumbletop
New member
You can program night mode easily. Basically you can say something like:
IF LIGHTS OFF THEN xxx
or
IF TIME > xxx then yyy
and enter in what you want the pumps to do when the lights are off. Maybe you want some of them to turn off completely to calm the water. Maybe you want the cycles to tripple. Basically with the AC Jr. you have pretty much complete control.
I have my fans set to turn off when the lights go out _unless_ the temp is high.
IF LIGHTS OFF THEN xxx
or
IF TIME > xxx then yyy
and enter in what you want the pumps to do when the lights are off. Maybe you want some of them to turn off completely to calm the water. Maybe you want the cycles to tripple. Basically with the AC Jr. you have pretty much complete control.
I have my fans set to turn off when the lights go out _unless_ the temp is high.
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
I assume neither of those timers software are compatible with Mac's. : (
Here's a link the RK2's home site.
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/reefkeeper2.html
Here's a link the RK2's home site.
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/reefkeeper2.html
Pickupman66
New member
Crumble,
I dont have an RK. actually dont have any sort of controller. although they sound really cool. I basically have a timer for the lights and that is all. all bulbs on 1 timer. It owuld be cool to be able to cut back my loop pump a bit at night.
I dont have an RK. actually dont have any sort of controller. although they sound really cool. I basically have a timer for the lights and that is all. all bulbs on 1 timer. It owuld be cool to be able to cut back my loop pump a bit at night.
crumbletop
New member
Someone local does. I can't remember who it was. I spoke with whoever it was a while ago when I was looking into getting a controller.
crumbletop
New member
Ahh, it was Logman17 Sorry Pickupman.
Sorry Pickupman.
crumbletop
New member
I don't think so. I'm not aware of anyone continuously monitoring Ca. I think there are issues with the probes.
On the other hand it does monitor pH. The more senior AC models (ACIII, and ACIII Pro) can run 2 pH probes so if you have a Ca reactor you can monitor the pH of the effluent and the pH of the tank, and also use the pH info to drive the reactor.
On another side note, I think the guy at oregonreef uses an AquaController (http://www.oregonreef.com/).
On the other hand it does monitor pH. The more senior AC models (ACIII, and ACIII Pro) can run 2 pH probes so if you have a Ca reactor you can monitor the pH of the effluent and the pH of the tank, and also use the pH info to drive the reactor.
On another side note, I think the guy at oregonreef uses an AquaController (http://www.oregonreef.com/).
I have been away a couple of hours here and most of the questions that you have asked about the AC jr would be answered as affirmative. With some basic programming, available in the book or on the website you can even change the temp, moonlight intensity and duration, fluctuate temp all as the seasons would in nature. The really great thing about the AC is that I am able to control those emergencies, too hot, too cold, too much water, too... I would caution you to the fact that the AC sells the units as the controller and temp probe, the DC 8, pH probe... are all extras. Many times the people that you buy through "package" these so ask all the important questions. I got great support and price from Gal at Reeftanksupply.com.
Rob
Rob
Rob
Rob
crumbletop
New member
I'm pretty sure it would. I have T5s -- but I think TitanFan runs halides off of his. There is a vendor forum here for Neptune Systems. You can ask there to be sure. I haven't heard of anyone having problems running halides.
Similar threads
