confused on aquacontroller help me

[jsl6v8]

I'm looking at buying an aquacontroller for my new 90 gallon tank, I have a handful of other tanks and I don't really need an aquacontroller and haven't used one before but my 90 gallon is going to be my baby I'll have my black ribbon eel in there and will be running a lot of light and keeping some nicer corals so I want to have something to monitor the tank and make my life a little easier and less worrisome. Honestly I'm mainly getting this for the temp sensor and the ability to control my fans and heater and I don't trust my temp gauges nor my heater the fans are harmless enough but it would be nice if they didn't run constantly and annoy the hell out of my aunt because they are so noisey. So on to my questions.
1. What is the real difference between an aquacontroller jr and PRO and the regular aquacontrollers and aquacontroller III?

2. Now this could be a complete misunderstanding on my part but it seems like the standard packages don't include a powerstrip on them to plug my fans and heaters and powerheads and pumps into which makes me pretty confused on how its suppose to run stuff, so can I run stuff off it without a powerstrip if so how or am I missing something and they actually come with a power strip?

3. Are there good options for controllers besides the aquacontroller/neptune family?

4. Anyone know of a good place to get something that will work for me for a good price?

I am all ears for suggestions. I saw someone on ebay when I searched aquacontoller on ebay and it confused the hell out of me more than anything, as far as I see it an aquacontroller that I can't plug my stuff into is really just a waste of my money as I can just buy a handful of timers and a good ph and temp prob. I'm not looking to spend my whole refund check on this thing either lol .

 

[jsl6v8]

If anyone has one of these set up with the x10 controls and would be willing to show me around I would be most greatful, I think I could get a better grasp of how it works if I actually saw it, I'm definately a visual person reading it just isn't comprehension to me.

 

[taketz]

Check out Reefkeeper2's at Digital Aquatics

Pretty much similar to the AC products except I find they tend to include more in their controller packages.

 

[flfirefighter13]

The aquacontroller can run either a DC8 or DC4 power strip or you can run it off of the x10 devices. If you look on the site you will see a package that consists of a AQjr, PH probe, Temp probe, and DC8 that should eb all you need. If you need more circuits you can connect a DC4 or you can connect a x10 module.
DC8 and 4 work just like a powerstrip but they have a phone line connected to them from the controller to control the circuits. X10's have a device that plugs into the controller or into the DC8 as a daisy chain and then plugs into the wall. The unit that plugs into the wall transmits signals through the power line to the x10 modules that are pluged in with your equipment on them. They work rather easily but I would recomend the dc8, much simplier.

As far as the difference between Jr pro and 3 the main thing I ahve noticed is the ability to network with ethernet and the 3 I believe will allow you to send email alarms without it being hooked up to a computer. With the Jr you will need to have aquanotes software running and your computer on to send email alarms. The 3 and pro may also be accesible remotely im not a sure. with the Jr to access remotely you will need to be able to access the desktop of the computer that is running aquanotes through soem sort of remote access program, windows XP pro has one built in but im not sure about third party.

Reefkeepers are comparable but they only control 8 circuits, the AQ can control up to 12 which will help you. If you where to get a AQjr with dc8 and probes and 4 x10 devices you could have complete control over your 90 and then use the x10 to just control lights on the other tanks throughout the house. as far as best bang for your buck I recomend the AQjr. If your gonna get into spending the money for a AQ3 or anything then look into the aquatronics units sold by aquarium obsesses. They are pretty good looking units but way more expensive than the aqJr. That system invoves some thinking ahead but the guys will gladly help you decide what you need to buy. The neptune forum here is regularly checked by the guys at neptune and they can answer just about any question you have, Ive been VERY happy with their support here on RC. As far as where to get one I got my JR from Marcye and my x10 devices from ebay. hope this solved some of your questions below is a link to the comparison thread, the chart shows some of the features you will get with each controller for you to take a look at

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=997688

 

[taketz]

eefkeepers are comparable but they only control 8 circuits, the AQ can control up to 12 which will help you. If you where to get a AQjr with dc8 and probes and 4 x10 devices you could have complete control over your 90 and then use the x10 to just control lights on the other tanks throughout the house.

This is a pretty cool point with the X10's but you can get expansion circuits for the RK2 so you can control for than 8 circuits.

 

[jsl6v8]

I really don't quite understand the x10s it sounds like I would need to get a x10 receiver for every device I wanted to plug in and an x10 signal sender deal as well as the aquacontroller, are these x10 devices and signal sender things expensive, is this hard to set up, also could I have my devices hooked up to the receivers plugged into a power strip otherwise how do you get everything plugged in?? Once again if someone has a system running on x10s and you are willing to show me the system and maybe do a little explaining i would definately appreciate it.

 

[taketz]

This might help you visualize it. Its Melev's electronics set-up.

http://www.melevsreef.com/power_panel.html

Now, what a DC8 strip does is basically assign a number to each of the 8 outlets. You can program each of those outlets as a light, pump, ect. Then you can set up the system accordingly. For example...

You can set it up so that when your temperature rises over 82 degree's, it will switch on a self decided outlet which can be connected to a fan or chiller; whatever you choose to control your temperature.

This can go on to include Doser's to control PH, Light timers, Wavemaking functions, ect. I know the RK2 also comes with the option to turn off the lights if the temperature raises past a certain point.

As for the X10 devices, I think that each one used would basically equate to another outlet on a DC8 device. If thats wrong though, I'm sure someone will correct me...

 

[flfirefighter13]

Ill take some pics of my setup when I get home. The x-10 will require one of the "signal sender deals" and as many x-10 modules as you need circuits controled. You turn 2 knobs on the front to address them a letter and number and then you use that letter and number in the program you are writeing for the aquacontroler. Really not that bad to do. They are to large to plug multiple x-10s into one power strip though, you would need either short jumpers or to build a custom power distro of some sort, hence the reason the DC8 would be much easier. x-10 modules are not that costly if you can find them on ebay or something, just make sure to get the heavy duty ones that accept a grounded plug. I think they are 15 dollars new but im not 100% positive.

As far as the Reefkeper goes I was told they can not control more than 8 circuits, if they ahve the ability to be added to I would imagine that would be a comaprable unit but check into first. Im pretty sure the expansion madules are only for higher power draws. IIRC to use them you plug the item into the Expansion socket, then plug the expansion socket into the wall for power and into one of the 8 circuits on the reefkeeper for control. This means you can control 8 circuits total but can increase your power draw and spread it out amongst a few circuits.

 

[Lutefisk]

If you're looking for more circuits than the Reefkeeper (and the ability to space them out) but don't need internet accessability I have an Octopus 3000 and a bunch of X-10's that I replaced with an AC III I'd let go for a reasonable price.

Paul

 

[jsl6v8]

umm wow I just read somewhere that if you have your aquacontroller or your x-10 sender thiny plugged into a UPS then anything that is not plugged into the same UPS may not get the signal as UPS block the signals.

 

[jsl6v8]

ok I'm begining to understand these x-10 things after reading the user manual on the octopus 3000, its kind of neat but at the same time kind of annoying, I would need to dedicate another plug for the x-10 signal sender deally but after that there is no reason why I couldn't control all of my lights and pumps and stuff for all my tanks on one controller as they can handle I think I saw like 256 x-10 devices, correct me if I'm wrong here please.

 

[jsl6v8]

if only I could have the thing read remote probes for temp and have it understand which temp probe and temp relates to which fans and heaters and lights.

 

[flfirefighter13]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9768681#post9768681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsl6v8
if only I could have the thing read remote probes for temp and have it understand which temp probe and temp relates to which fans and heaters and lights.

That my friend is how they get you to buy the 600-1000 dollar units

 

[jsl6v8]

I mean really how hard would it be for them to make remote ph/temp units that sent information to the mother unit? Hey could you send me pictures of your x-10 unit and what nots, you have my email still i hope.

Hey do you know of any units that work like that?

 

[flfirefighter13]

Ill send some pics but it wont be till tommorow, send me an email her with your address, or a PM

The aquatronica units are able to control multiple aquariums as are several others, check the sheet done by robbyG at www.aquariumcontrollers.com it should have a category for multiple aquariums. Im sure with time all the units will eb able to handle it, but not just yet.

 

[atvdave]

Sorry to intrude on your thread but I too and trying to understand the x10 controls.

This thread really helped me understand how to hook up the x10 modules.

I recently purchased a used ACjr and now I'm looking into setting the x10 portion of the unit. I did find some very cheep cm466 (am466) modules on e-bay for around $7.00 each.

However I couldn't find the IM513 module, (which I think I only need one right?).

Must I use the IM513 with the ACjr or is there a different model I can use that will also plug into the ACjr?

 

[bill-e]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9768580#post9768580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsl6v8
umm wow I just read somewhere that if you have your aquacontroller or your x-10 sender thiny plugged into a UPS then anything that is not plugged into the same UPS may not get the signal as UPS block the signals.

That's true but not a problem. The only thing that needs to be plugged into a UPS on the AQ is the power supply...and that has no effect on the transmission of signal. The Line Interface unit (IM513) and each and every module need to be plugged into non-ups power.

 

[bill-e]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9827588#post9827588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by atvdave
Sorry to intrude on your thread but I too and trying to understand the x10 controls.

This thread really helped me understand how to hook up the x10 modules.

I recently purchased a used ACjr and now I'm looking into setting the x10 portion of the unit. I did find some very cheep cm466 (am466) modules on e-bay for around $7.00 each.

However I couldn't find the IM513 module, (which I think I only need one right?).

Must I use the IM513 with the ACjr or is there a different model I can use that will also plug into the ACjr?

IM513...at X10.com for 19.99.

 

[bill-e]

I would need to dedicate another plug for the x-10 signal sender deally but after that there is no reason why I couldn't control all of my lights and pumps and stuff for all my tanks on one controller as they can handle I think I saw like 256 x-10 devices, correct me if I'm wrong here please.
X10 can control 256 unique addresses but the AQ is limited to the number of device names it can control depending on which model. My AQ2 is 16 I think.

But you can have unlimited modules set to the same address. Let's say you have 10 tanks and you want the main lights to come on at sunrise. You assign a device name to an address. Lets say LT1=A01. Then you program the AQ to turn on LT1 at sunrise. Next you plug each tank Light into a separate module but all modules are address the same A01. Now when the AQ issues the command "on LT1", all 10 modules will turn on.