Controlling a remote/basement sump.

Akronviper

New member
I'm designing a new AGA 75gal RR. I want to place a sump and ref in my basement. What I cant seem to figure out is how to controll every thing from the tank. I going to use DJ strips and am thinking about a AC jr. I dont want to have to wire my pump and skimmer to switches up stairs.

So I was thinking if I get an AC jr I can controll them with x-10 devices. Has any one done this, is it worth it and does it work good. I'm thinking that by doing this I cant use any of the probes in my sump they will have to be in the tank? Can the DC 8, probes.... be ran long distances?

Or is there a better way I just havnt thoght of. My sump will be on the same wall as the tank 10' of head and 15' horizontal. I'm almost done with the stand and trying to get a grip on stage 2 electrical and plumbing.
 
I use a RK2 to control my basement sump. The "controller" unit that connects to the probes is located in close proximity to the sump with the remote display/input unit near the tank.
 
So what do you have running your lighting, power heads, fans...? And do you just use a long serial cable to connect the two.

Maybe these are dumb questions. I just haven't seen a unit up close or in use.
 
I have a aqua controller ... use the x10 to control everything.... basically got the x10 boxes and the transmitter .... plugged it all in and it worked....

just had to make sure that there was no feedback from the MH lights...(put them on a surge suppressor) reason being was when they would turn on my PC lights would shut off, once that problem was fixed all was great.

also had my christmas tree upstairs set to turn off using the Aqua Controller.
 
Barry,
Got your PM but I'll just give you some feed back here. My tank sits 15' above and 50' ,yes feet, from my sump. I have an AC Jr. located next to the tank that controls the lights, PH, Fans, monitors temp, & tem. The unit is controlled via ethernet directly to my PC which sits in the same room as the tank. I have (2) American DJ powe strips under the tank one connected between my DC8 and the other is a stand alone unit.

In my basement where my sump is I have (2) more American DJ power strips all running independently. I have a Kalk Reactor, Calicum Reactor, ATO, Frag Tank, Fuge, Skimmer all running independently from my AC Jr. So far so good. I think the only advantacge I could have hooking things up to the ACjr would be additional control of PH in relation to ATO and Kalk, but as of yet I dont think thats necessary. Your more than welcome to swing by to see my setup. I've learned a lot of lessons moving my sump so far away from the tank.

Brian
 
To give you a visualization of my system, the "remote" for the RK2 which is the unit on the upper right is mounted on my tank canopy.

DSCN4105.jpg


The control base unit, is located near my sump in the basement.
DSCN4104.jpg
 
I should mention, as bosworth stated, the ACjr's X10 capability will give you much more option as far as where you locate your sump. The RK2 requires a direct connection via Ethernet cable.
 
Cool, thanks every one. This gives me a good idea of how to attack this. I was thinking that the DC-8's could only be placed very near to the display. I think I will get the AC jr w/DC-8. Possibly putting the DC-8 with the sump to control the important things like temp, pump and skimmer and possibly go x-10 to run less criticle things such as lights, power heads, fans.. but could always daisey chain another DC-8 for that also.

Two weeks till my doors for my stand come in then I will be busy messing with this.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12127413#post12127413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Akronviper
Possibly putting the DC-8 with the sump to control the important things like temp, pump and skimmer and possibly go x-10 to run less criticle things such as lights, power heads, fans.. but could always daisey chain another DC-8 for that also.

The ACjr has capabilities to control up to 12 channels so if you paid for another DC8 you could only use half of it anyway. If you used all of the first DC8 then you could control four x10 modules if you invested in the control unit.

Thought you might like to know that so you can plan things accordingly.

-- Kevin
 
Oh yea, dont know how I missed that. I guess possibly a AC3 or RK elite for me. I just dont want to spend $300 and get stuck with no room for expansion. Man the more I get into this hobby it more it keeps costing me :)
 
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