Aquacontroller JR. worthless or workhorse?

[Bri Guy]

Well, what do you think of it, Is it work the money? I would get there 8way outlet jack with it. But was pondering geting the computer jack upgrade, is that worth it?

I was going to buy a....

Temp controller (turn on fan and heater at right temps)

Wave maker (turn powerheads off and on)

PH controller (was thinking of getting one down the road)
or
PH monitor

This would solve all that, in one small box and controll other small extras (moon phase, seasons, etc)


Again is it worth the money, or junk?
And is the computer jack upgrade worth bothering with?

Thankx in advance

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

Are tunzes worth the money? maybe or maybe not, but there definatly not junk. The aquacontroller is in the same boat. There fantastic devices, overpriced, but definalty not junk. If you like top of the line equipment, then get one, if not, there are other alternatives that cost less with less features. I run the aquacontroller 3 and its probably the single best pice of equipment that i own.

 

[Kayadad]

Never having owned one, i cannot say for cetrain but there are many upon many of posters who have said it Aquacontroller is/was their best purchase for their reefs.

 

[Kayadad]

Check out the deal premium aquatics has going on for the AC Jr.

 

[h20cooled]

I have a ACjr and AC3 on my 2 tanks are they are the best thing you could put on your tank. It controls my temps, lighting, and everything else automatically.

 

[Bri Guy]

Anybody have theirs hooked up to their computer?

How about that program, worth the extra bit?

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

yes i have it hooked up to my laptop, and the lite version of the software is free. You download it.

 

[Bri Guy]

ya, how is it? do you even use it?

Im just wondering if i should even worry about getting the extra port on it and never hooking it up to a computer, or do you think it would be worth getting put on for down the road?

thankx by the way, thats a tasty nice lookin fish in your avaitor

 

[Laakmann]

I have an ACjr. love it, I would never run my tank without an AC product from here out. Unfortunatly something went wrong with the temprature probe though, it always reads out 123 degrees.

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

Thanks!
I do use the software.. i like the graphs ot produces. The graphs show me when my Kalkwasser reactor is getting low, and other intresting data. I download the logs to the software weekly and use the data to fine tune the aquarium.

 

[Bri Guy]

I was just wondering that, they say nothing about probe replacement, do you have to replace the PH, and the Temp probe? or neither, and how often?

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

I have no idea about the temp probe. but if you take care of the ph probe it can last up to two years. I take mine out once a month, soak it in vinegar, and re calibrate it. It seems to hold up better then the one i just left in the tank, after about a year it pooped out on me. I also only by the lab grade probes.

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

Dont forget to include the dc8 or the dc4, there one of the best reasons to chose a aquacontroller.

 

[jag1979]

I can't imagine running my tank w/o the acjr. I know a lot of people say that but its true

 

[Laakmann]

I have an ACjr. love it, I would never run my tank without an AC product from here out. Unfortunatly something went wrong with the temprature probe though, it always reads out 123 degrees.

 

[sodaman]

Yes, make sure you get the serial port option so you can upgrade the firmware with new revisions. I love my Jr!

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

does the ac jr use a serial connecton or a ethernet connection? my three uses standard cat 5 network cable....

 

[HippieSmell]

I've got the ACII, and I would never have a tank without a controller after having it. Well worth the money.

 

[dougchambers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8980291#post8980291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrokeColoReefer
does the ac jr use a serial connection or a Ethernet connection? my three uses standard cat 5 network cable....

The ACJr uses a serial connection. The AC3 and AC3Pro will use either. Regardless, spend the extra couple of dollars and get the serial connection option and the serial cable for the ACJr. It makes programming and monitoring much much easier.

While I don't own an ACJr, I do have an AC3 with two DC8s and and DC4HD. It has been one of the single best purchases for my tank. The primary reason we went with the AC3 over the ACJr was for the Ethernet and webhosting. When I'm at work or traveling, I can hit the controller from anywhere in the world. It sends me a page once a day every day with a status update. If I get a page any other time, I know there is a problem.

-Doug

 

[MJAnderson]

I have the Jr. and love it. It replaces:

2 powerstrips
4 timers
heater controller

Plus gives me the ability to do things like run my ATO spread out over 8 hours at night, helping keep my PH from 8.2-8.4, versus 8.0-8.5 when it ran 24/7. Plus the feed feature is a lifesaver since it turns the skimmer and most of my pumps off for 45 minutes while I feed. Nice when I don't want to stick around to turn them back on manually.