Controller thoughts

[vid151]

I am looking to purchase an aquarium controller and was wondering what everyone else uses and what they think of the one they have ..... maybe why they decided to get that one?

I just relize that the next upgrades are going to start to require better controll of the aquarium.... reactors and chillers etc.

thanks ahead of Time for ANY info you guys can offer.

 

[glaspie69]

I'm looking into a reefkeeper 2, they had one set up at IMAC and it looks be a pretty good unit. Has the temp, ph, wave maker, and timer built in and you can control a calc reactor

 

[slovan]

Hi Dave,
I've always read the Reefkeeper II or the Aquacontroller Jr is the best value wise. A lot of it will depend on what you are wanting it to do. You could go all out and get yourself an AC III Pro or an Aquatronica too.

I took a different route and went with a Premium Aquatics Lighthouse controller. It does everything I need it to do plus it has a built-in web server so you can monitor it from the web. You can't change any parameters but you can watch it.

I believe the only other controller that has a built in web server is the AC III Pro and that was a little pricey for me. I think you can change paramters on it too.

The Aquatronica might have one out now too but I haven't been checking since I'm no longer in the market for one. HTH.

 

[RobbyG]

I use an Aquatronica. I find it to be very reliable and it is very expandable. The company is adding new features about every 2 months and they listen to what customers want.
take a look at
www.aquariumobsessed.com
www.aquatronica.com

 

[vid151]

the Web interface is important to me as I travel....

and I am a Computer geek also so any time I can interface things with my PC makes me happy.

< Maybe I can interface a controller with my Asterisk Phone system an then I could dial in and have the voicemail read me the status of my tank >

 

[Roll221]

I have an Aqua Controller 2 and I watch mine throughout the day on my Blackberry. If I would ever need to change anything I could! I love it

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7584745#post7584745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Roll221
I have an Aqua Controller 2 and I watch mine throughout the day on my Blackberry. If I would ever need to change anything I could! I love it

This has to be be a case of someone else logged onto someone else's computer.

 

[Bullet]

ooooppppps...that was my last post. My brother is visiting and I see he was logged in on my computer!

 

[Coralfreak]

You may have a hard time finding an AC2 as its been replaced by the AC3(they are still out there). The AC3 has a built in webserver and can send out emails to let you know something is wrong. It connects via an ethernet connection, mine is directly networked and can be accessed anywhere, makes setup very easy. It also allows for two pH probes(nice to have when running a Ca reactor) and soon will have probe expansion modules to allow some 21 extra probes to be connected!! You can run several tanks with one controller, its also very easy to upgrade the firmware. I could go on and on, its a very versatile controller. The only downside is its a little more $$, the AC Jr is also a good controller, it just lacks a few of the bells and whistles of the AC3.

Personally I would not go with the AC3 Pro, it is much more expensive and really only adds the ability to connect a cond. probe and a $450 dissolved oxygen probe and from what I have read, they are not all that accurate, better things to spend that much $$ on.

Allen

 

[RobbyG]

Aquatronica is releasing an Ethernet module next month and a SMS module in September.

 

[leeweber85]

I know there is a new aquacontroller JR that has the serial interface... I'm not sure if that is what you need for the webserver or not but it's a great value none the less... I don't think I will ever run a tank again with out a controller.

 

[Covey]

I have a AC Jr. and love the thing. If you add up the separate pieces 3 digital timers,temp controller, pH controller, wavemaker, and etc... would cost far more. Plus since you can reprogram the whole thing you can use any of the outlets for a anything.

The AC Jr. doesn't have the ethernet setup. The serial jack is used to connect the DC8 control module.

 

[vid151]

you add up the separate pieces 3 digital timers,temp controller, pH controller, wavemaker, and etc

dont I know that

I have 3 inwall timers GFCI some 10 outlets 10 plastic boxes witertight flex between them all etc .... it would have been cheeper to get the controller ..... and I wouldnt have "saved so much" DIYing it .....






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