Controllers, and radion questions

[jimbo78]

so Ihave zero eexperience with controller's. What do they do. Are they just a glorified powersstrip timer or is there way more to it. I know most have a temp prob but what's the advantages?

Also I have a radion gen 2 that I will be using for my new tank. Do they work best with controller's or just a timer and the right program. Can you control them wireless with a ipad /tablet?

 

[mrx66699]

How many questions can be loaded into two questions lol

1. What do they do.....control of outlets, timers, functions for lights and pumps....they also monitor and can notify of parameters

2. Whats the advantage of a temp probe ....control of temp by turning off/on outlets or functions or notification of temp parameters

3. Lights dont work best or not with any specific controller or not, lights are controlled by the computer chip thats built in and the programming.....in regards to a controller its just a matter of how you can access it....do you want to program things by walking over to it and plugging in the usb (radions) or buy their wireless controller to access them .....or very soon access the chip on the light wirelessly through the apex

4. Lights are not controlled by ipad/tablets or laptops/desktops .....a chip built into the light device will do the controlling of the light device......laptops, desktops, or tablets access the chip (wired or wirelessly) and then set or adjust the programing that the chip is using to run the programming that is controlling the light....

 

[jfuka78]

Just get an apex and you will not be sorry. The best saftey gaurd you can hqve, and now can control your radion with your smartphone tablet from in front of your tank or anywhere.

 

[jimbo78]

So matt, sell me on one, cause for my situation cost doesn't justify. Right now I have a 8g nuvo. I don't run a heater or chiller, and my temp barley changes.
The tank I will be running soon will be 60g with a radion led. My house stays constant at 78, maybe 77/76 on a weekend. I don't think the temp prob will ever be needed. Maybe as a backup for a cold miami winter night.
I'm not exactly sure how a ph prob helps , I really don't know what you could turn on or off to adjust ph(I'd actually really like to know) other than a reactor which I have no plans for yet.

I plans on having a Dj strip and timers.

Is there really that much difference? Do they have built in features that I would need? Controlling ATO, dosing pumps or the like? Is it basically a power supply with each outlet being controllable / timed

 

[AquamanE]

Jimbo- Its a little more than a glorified powerstrip with timers. Is it essential if the budget it tight, NO.

I use mine to turn the lights on and off. When my tank temp gets to 76 it turns on the fans. If the temp goes above 83 it shuts off the MH.

My ATO is hooked up to it although it runs a aqualifter to feed the ato of all evepoated water with KALK. The controller comes into play if one of the ato switches gets stuck it will prevent an kalk overdose because the apex shuts off the ato if the Ph is >8.6.

I also use it to run my 2 part dosing with BRS 1.1ml/minute pumps. The are connected to controller and since the pumps do 1ml/minute i simple dose based on minutes. If i want to dose 20ml of each i put it on for 20 minutes at whatever time i want. I would not dose two part with a kitchen timer, they just are not accurate enough. I have however dosed 2 part manuall in the past for years before i got the controller.

And yes its cool to monitor your tank while you are away from house, youll get notifications when something is off, and even make canges to programming from phone while away from house.