Controller or No Controller ??

[knetz31]

Im trying to get my tank up and going and im at a crossroads. I guess what im looking for is opinions on controllers and are they necessary? From what i understand now, they just are a fancy option that have functions that i can achieve with timers. I may be terribly wrong, but thats why im asking. All opinions are very appreciated.

 

[Raceimage]

What equipment are you planning to use? I quit using my calcium reactor because I could never get it adjusted properly. It was never consistent and I was losing corals. Everything else lights, skimmer, moonlights, and circulation pumps are either on timers or on all the time for me. I just do regular water changes to maintain my calcium levels.

 

[bmiller1234]

It all depends on what your maintenance plan is. They are nice and have a ton of features depending on what controller. I personally will be buying an apex for a few reasons. My lighting and power heads will not be run by a controller. I am going to run dosing pumps for 2 part and mag. I will have an ATO system thru controller and will have ph temp and maybe salinity monitored. I am going Apex for the Internet ability. The email alerts and ability to change thins when not at tank is a big thing for me. If it senses water outside of tank it will automatically shut off pumps and let me know why via email.

To sum it up it's alot of money to have your tank email you. It's also a nice option if your lazy you can top off your tank adjust the temp and turn off the skimmer without leaving the couch...

 

[knetz31]

My system is going to be as follows: 36 x 3watt leds (maybe a bit overkill), a rio return pump, protein skimmer, mp10, and for top off i was going to do a float valve with r/o kalk mix. i wasnt planning on dosing with anything else. in the past i kept a lot of sps and got away with frequent water changes. so i gues a controller really isnt necessary?

 

[SecGenGSX]

As everyone has stated, it depends a lot on your maintenance plan you have. I got a good deal on a reef keeper lite and decided to try it out. The 2 big things that I love about it was the heater and light control. After that, I added 2 drew dosing pumps and an ato to it and have been spoiled since. I do not think I would run another tank without at least a basic controller again.

Fran

 

[knetz31]

So, for example if im going to dose with ca and alk, will the controller control the dosing pumps?

 

[SecGenGSX]

If you go with dosing pumps such as the drew doser or BRS dosing pumps, then yes you can control them with a controller. I have mine dose 3 times a day to try to keep the parameters more stable instead of dosing one large amount all at once.

 

[acer]

I have an AC3 setup that I am not using- sell for cheap if you are interested.