Leishman
Premium Member
Anyone use this?, Lighthouse Controler (from PA)
- Thread starter Leishman
- Start date
clkwrk
Active member
Cheap imitation of an aquacontroller.
You are so limited with that thing its crazy .
Check this out http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm
and heres a link to a whole package deal. Minus ph probe which when added brings you just above the controller you posted and you get more
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=NS1163
You are so limited with that thing its crazy .
Check this out http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm
and heres a link to a whole package deal. Minus ph probe which when added brings you just above the controller you posted and you get more
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=NS1163
clkwrk
Active member
Sorry I haven't tried one . I own 2 aquacontrollers and by the description of everything that the light house can do it doesn't come close to the aquacontroller.
I will give it 1 up an the acjr for the webserver deal but come on you are paying 300 and you still have to buy your probes which will put it over a aquacontroller 2 .
Plus it is no where near as programmable as an aquacontroller.
If my tank hits 85 degrees and some how the chiller failed my aquacontroller will shut down my lights, if temp still rises it will shut down my closed loop next and if all else fails all goes down except a return pump.
Can the lighthouse do that ? I think not since you only have 4 outlets to controll. Heck I use 4 just for my lights since they all come on seaperate. Not including ozone control . heater control, moonlight control and the list goes on .
I will give it 1 up an the acjr for the webserver deal but come on you are paying 300 and you still have to buy your probes which will put it over a aquacontroller 2 .
Plus it is no where near as programmable as an aquacontroller.
If my tank hits 85 degrees and some how the chiller failed my aquacontroller will shut down my lights, if temp still rises it will shut down my closed loop next and if all else fails all goes down except a return pump.
Can the lighthouse do that ? I think not since you only have 4 outlets to controll. Heck I use 4 just for my lights since they all come on seaperate. Not including ozone control . heater control, moonlight control and the list goes on .
I guess you just have to decide what's important to you. If the Aquacontroller Jr. has what you want then I would buy it instead.
For me, I was looking for the simple features like monitoring my ph and orp. I control my heater and have the option to control a chiller if I wanted to purchase one in the future. My MH lights are timed including my VHO actinics. It also has a daylight cutoff feature that will turn off my daylight MH if the temperature rises above my set point.
Plus it has a built-in web server. Granted you can't control it but you can monitor it from anywhere. I like knowing that I can check it even when I'm at work to see what's going on with my tank.
As far as lacking features like the wavemaker, it's not a big deal to me anyways since my Tunze 6080 and Seio 1500 cannot be controlled.
Sunrise, sunset and moon cycle simulation? Are you kidding me? Give me proof that a tank actually does better with this and I will gladly sell my lighthouse.
Granted the controller isn't 'sexy' like an Aquatronica or some others but it fits the bill for me. Just my 2 cents.
For me, I was looking for the simple features like monitoring my ph and orp. I control my heater and have the option to control a chiller if I wanted to purchase one in the future. My MH lights are timed including my VHO actinics. It also has a daylight cutoff feature that will turn off my daylight MH if the temperature rises above my set point.
Plus it has a built-in web server. Granted you can't control it but you can monitor it from anywhere. I like knowing that I can check it even when I'm at work to see what's going on with my tank.
As far as lacking features like the wavemaker, it's not a big deal to me anyways since my Tunze 6080 and Seio 1500 cannot be controlled.
Sunrise, sunset and moon cycle simulation? Are you kidding me? Give me proof that a tank actually does better with this and I will gladly sell my lighthouse.
Granted the controller isn't 'sexy' like an Aquatronica or some others but it fits the bill for me. Just my 2 cents.
clkwrk
Active member
I own the aquacontroller 2 and an aquacontroller . IMO the value isn't there. Especially only to control a total of 4 things at any given time. Thats it no expansion.
BTW I use tunze 6100's and their not controlled by the ac2 or ac. I am also not saying anything about dayligh,sunset or moonligh cycles . I just said I control my 3 halides, vhos, and moonlights via the controller, Plus I control my ozone, ph tank monitoring,heater, chiller , fans, closed loop, yes my streams are on the ac but only so they can be turned off in the event of rising heat, I also have a float switch attached to it for a double safety on the tank for overflow protection(if the water in the display's overflow gets too high it tells my ac to turn off my return pump ). Plus in the end I can still acess my ac from the web to do things .
I am not saying the lighthouse doesn't work but its very limited for the price IMO
BTW I use tunze 6100's and their not controlled by the ac2 or ac. I am also not saying anything about dayligh,sunset or moonligh cycles . I just said I control my 3 halides, vhos, and moonlights via the controller, Plus I control my ozone, ph tank monitoring,heater, chiller , fans, closed loop, yes my streams are on the ac but only so they can be turned off in the event of rising heat, I also have a float switch attached to it for a double safety on the tank for overflow protection(if the water in the display's overflow gets too high it tells my ac to turn off my return pump ). Plus in the end I can still acess my ac from the web to do things .
I am not saying the lighthouse doesn't work but its very limited for the price IMO
SunnyX
New member
I received a Lighthouse Controller as a gift.
It is simple to use and works great.
I have never owned a controller so I have nothing to compare it to.
I had it setup in minutes and have had no problems.
It does more than enough for my needs.
Monitors my Ph, OrP and temp.
Controls my Moonlights,refugium light and heater.
Plus the online server is great.
It is simple to use and works great.
I have never owned a controller so I have nothing to compare it to.
I had it setup in minutes and have had no problems.
It does more than enough for my needs.
Monitors my Ph, OrP and temp.
Controls my Moonlights,refugium light and heater.
Plus the online server is great.
phatstanley02
New member
the lighthouse also includes a direct connect module which is almost another $200 added for an aquacontroller. I wish i would have found the lighthouse before i bought the aquacontroller 2, i would have bought it instead!
Clkwrk,
Sorry those comments weren't aimed towards you. I was just comparing the two units side by side and seeing what the Lighthouse was lacking.
The Aquacontroller is a very nice unit and I would've bought one but price was an issue. By the time you buy it with aquanotes and the interfaces, the price was just too much for me.
Sorry those comments weren't aimed towards you. I was just comparing the two units side by side and seeing what the Lighthouse was lacking.
The Aquacontroller is a very nice unit and I would've bought one but price was an issue. By the time you buy it with aquanotes and the interfaces, the price was just too much for me.
h20cooled
Premium Member
I have to agree that it does not have enough outlets for me and you have no way to add more. I have the aquacontroller JR and I love it, I have 8 outlets that I can completely control, I do wish that it had the ORB and a web server. But I would be lost with only 4 controlable outlets.
Rich
Rich
One big advantage over the AC J is that the LA has an ethernet port and you can monitor it on your pc. It will cost you a minimum of 500.00 to get an AC with an ethernet port. The AC are more complicated to setup. I own an AC III and AC III pro and I can see this device would be good for someone who isn't technical and does't want to spend alot of $$$. Its got good reviews on the site.
