Controllers???

[CKreef]

IS anyone using a controller for their tank? If so what kind? Pros and cons? Thanks Chris

 

[crumbletop]

We've got a wide variety around the club. I think we have folks in town with the Premium Aquatics Lighthouse, and the ReefKeeper. I think Brandon has an Aquatronica. The one that is most popular around the club are the Neptune Systems controllers. There are several with AquaController III's and also several with the AquaController Jr. I've got one of the AC Jr's and it has worked very well for me for about 2 years or so. Right now it is probably the cheapest one out there, and is reasonably expandable up to 12 controlled channels. I use mine to dose 2-part, control my lights, control my temp (heater + fans + lights), monitor pH, etc.

 

[teamreefers]

We have a couple of the AC JRs but I'm not too happy with them right at the moment. They are flexable and easy to use but ours are only about 4 months old and we've had some problems.

For some reason channel 4 on the DC8 takes a notion to stay on. We have two and both of them do the same thing. Then for no reason they start working again.

Yesterday the temperature probe stopped working on one unit. It was reading around 95 which caused the fans to turn on and heaters off. Luckly I caught it before the tank got too cold.

Jack

 

[SoundsFishy2me2]

I have the reefkeeperII on my display tank. I've been happy with the functions. If you can afford to pay more for the newest reefkeeper it's going to be really good and more configurable. If you buy one used, check on the age of the PH probe and if it's been kept properly stored (tip wet in water) or you could be out additional $$.

 

[Angela Short]

I just got a ACIII pro with a lot of the cool gadgets from the selling forum and have no clue how to use it.... I just plugged it all up tonight and it seems pretty cool but I have no clue what all the things do like conductivity and oxygen probes! It says my PH is 8.2 and temp 80.2 which is good to know since the fish are being neglected in a 100 gallon rubbermaid in the garage for now. I need to do a lot of reading up on them I guess before I can actually use it for anything. I am just glad the unit fired up and seems to be in good working order. I am always scared to buy used from the selling forum but almost everything for the new tank has came from there.

 

[NeveSSL]

I have an Aquatronica and absolutely love it. I got a really good deal on mine (slightly more than an AC Jr.) used or I wouldn't have been able to afford it, though. They're a bit on the expensive side, but they can control up to like 256 tanks and outlets... WAY more than I'll ever need, but I'm definitely wanting to take advantage of controlling more than one tank eventually. There are also dosing pumps available that will dose exactly how you tell them to, an Ethernet module for remote access and monitoring, and one user wrote some AMAZING software that you can check out here for the Aquatronicas. If you would like more detail, I can certainly go into it.

The ACIII is pretty close to the Aquatronica. The AC Jrs are a GREAT value. Sorry to hear about Kathy and Jack's experience, but Curt with Neptune systems always seems to provide great customer service. So does Aquarium Obsessed for me and my Aquatronica.

We may have a club meeting coming up with a presentation on controllers if all goes well. We'll keep everyone updated. Its very unofficial at the moment but shouldn't be too hard to make happen.

Brandon

EDIT: Check out aquariumcontrollers.com. They have an excel spreadsheet you can download and pick which controllers to compare. You'll probably be surprised at how many their are!

Speaking of such, the Profilux controllers are pretty awesome, too.

 

[crumbletop]

Jack -- your odd channel things and even the temp probe thing could be because of electrical interference. If your AC Jr. wires run with ballast wires, etc, that can be an issue. I think they have a cable with twisted pairs (just ordinary ethernet cable), or you can make one that eliminates the interference problems. I'd contact Curt at neptune systems about the issues. FWIW, I had some problems early on because of electrical interference and Curt sent me a twisted pair cable and things have been fine since then.

 

[Angela Short]

I read on line last night I can get a break out box for $40 and hook up a ATO to mine with just the cost of some electric floats which are cheap which is cool and way cheaper than a tunze I was planning. Also I can get water on the floor detectors which we all know I need!!! :lol: Check out water bugs they seem like a necesity for people like me who tend to have lots of accidents involving water... I need the 800 with like 8 sensors all over my house I think!!

 

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12568542#post12568542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
Jack -- your odd channel things and even the temp probe thing could be because of electrical interference. If your AC Jr. wires run with ballast wires, etc, that can be an issue. I think they have a cable with twisted pairs (just ordinary ethernet cable), or you can make one that eliminates the interference problems. I'd contact Curt at neptune systems about the issues. FWIW, I had some problems early on because of electrical interference and Curt sent me a twisted pair cable and things have been fine since then.

You reminded me, Jack...

Also, if you guys have your AC hooked up to a computer over the serial interface without a ground loop isolator, there can be interference that will cause things to go a little goofy.

Brandon

 

[crumbletop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12569237#post12569237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angela Short
I read on line last night I can get a break out box for $40 and hook up a ATO to mine with just the cost of some electric floats which are cheap which is cool and way cheaper than a tunze I was planning. Also I can get water on the floor detectors which we all know I need!!! :lol: Check out water bugs they seem like a necesity for people like me who tend to have lots of accidents involving water... I need the 800 with like 8 sensors all over my house I think!!

I can see you now, Angela -- on vacation somewhere with the family and you get an email alert from your ACIII that water is on the floor

Ooops -- time to call the neighbor to turn off the RO/DI :lol:

 

[Angela Short]

:lol: If you only knew.......

Sold the house, they are keeping one room of carpet in the basement and where did my NEXT TO LAST RO flood flood? Yep that room... I did it not once but twice in the last month! First time a tube in a jug and a forgetful gal got just about 3-4 gallons on the floor, through the wall on the carpet... doable with a fan and towels.... THEN I pulled the RO tube out to the garage next time I ran water thinking how safe I was gonna be since I was going away for the day and couldn't keep an eye on my big mixing container....... Little did I know I had inadvertently pulled the D%#@* discharge tube out of the tub!! Yep full blast discharge water from a 75 GPD RO for about 4 hours.... Straight through the wall to the one room of carpet they wanted to keep! Can we say squish, squish I think I need to cry now? Shop vac got about 40 gallons up. Huge industrial fans, a heater and the carpet being rolled back and then re-stretched after dry got the rest. So Jack, your joke is much more true than you even knew!

For anyone else who doesn't know my track record with water lets just say there has been hardwood involved, sheetrock damage repairs and now major carpet soakings all to my resume'. And thease are just the ones I couldn't hide from my hubby!! :lol: And to think I am still alive and still have a tank. I am moving in a brand new house hence the waterbug 800 hooked to the ACIII I wonder if they just make water detecting carpet for folks like me If there is a way to spill it I can find it!

Sorry for the hijack!!

 

[NeveSSL]

Cory has a ton of patience, Angela! :lol:

I have an easy solution that has saved me numerous times.

I fill my buckets on top of our washer. If I forget and it overflows, it just goes straight down into the washer... no harm done!

Brandon