easy controller to use

[phk36]

Hi all, I want to buy a controller for my tank. I have never used one and i just wanted to ask which one is easy to use. I want to keep a mixed reef on a 200 gallon tank. I also want to be able to watch all my levels on the web.
Thanks, Pete

 

[snorvich]

I have and love my two Profilux. Expensive but superb.

 

[tkeracer619]

Do you have an iphone or android?

 

[USC-fan]

I would look into the Profilux or RKE.

RKE is what I use and very easy to set up. No coding or anything like that. Its does PH, ORP and temp out the box. If you want remote access you need the net module. It will do everything you want. It more basic so setting it up is easy but doesnt do everything the high end controller do.

Profilux is more high end and built like a tank. No problem with parts failings like you hear about on some controllers.

I have read many reports lately of the apex system failing. They do have great customer service but you have to shipped everything back to then to get it fixed. Here is a good thread about this and comparing it to the Profilux. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2138163

If you go high end I would go Profilux over Apex... IMO.

 

[phk36]

Thanks, wow more to think about.
I have andriod for a phone for now but may go iphone.

 

[James77]

The Apex is a great controller, has a web server built in out of box. Profilux is the only other controller I would consider at this point. It can be quite a bit more pricey as you ad and expand, but great quality. The vast majority of Apex owners have no problems. I did have one, but it was back in my hand in a week. A problem with DA left me controllerless for 3-ish weeks.

Soem of the more advance programming can be difficult. The majority of programming is simple and can be done through a computer. Simple meaning only having to enter temperature or pH trigger points, times you want things to go off and on at, how long you want dosers to run etc....all can be done with a simple menu. Adding additional things to the menu can be tricky, but is easy after a learning curve or there are tons here on the Neptune thread that iwll help.

Great post, and I agree with him 100%:

Just thought I would add my experience.

I have/had a RK2, two RKLs, two RKEs, and two Apex units.

From my experience...
with DA:
(1) The RKEs units were full of bugs from the start
(2) The company never even produced some of the promised modules.
(3) Their customer service was horrible.
(4) They were even outright rude to me at times.
(5) They still don't have Vortech support, nor have announced it.
(6) It took them what? 3 years to produce the Tunze module? Lets not even start on the other constant 'delays' with both modules and software.
(7) I remember when the SL2 module that controls Salinity came out, then they announced the probes were defective and it took them MORE THAN A YEAR to produce functional ones for all the people who sank over $200 in their faulty design. That is just one example of several design flaws in my opinion.
(8) I also hated having to completely disassemble the system to update each module individually in hopes they would finally have a working firmware without bugs. I should also mention their software usually crashed during the updates and it had to be repeated several times to get it to work.
(9) Not being able to program it from the web interface meant I had to use the tiny head unit LCD and few buttons on the front for setup. So much more difficult in my opinion than point and click web setup. Programming via the head unit versus a nice web interface (like the Apex) is like comparing web surfing on your cell phone to your computer. You can do it, but it takes forever, and gets annoying after a while.
(10) I also really didn't appreciate the way the company 'manages' itself. They would frequently delete critical threads, or whitewash their own support forum to make it look like everything was ok. They even removed the entire sub forum of threads about the myReef software it got so bad, (hundreds if not thousands of bug reports, irate customers, and general complaints about their bad business practices).

The MyReef 2.0 software release was just one example. They waited until the last minute at the end of the year, knowing full well months before they were never going to make their end of the year deadline, and deceived people into believing it was coming right up to the end. Then they missed their next projection, and finally released a buggy failure in May (initially it was due out 'sometime' 2010, then late 2010, then April 2011, finally released with limited functionality and chocked full of bugs in May 2011, and not really functional or useful until sometime around August or September 2011). I think they are still trying to integrate features mentioned back in 2009 or 2010. Did they ever add a backup feature? I really hated having to reprogram EVERYTHING after a firmware update. With the Apex you don't have to reprogram it after a firmware update, and you can backup your setup with just a few clicks.

With Neptune:
(1) The Apex has a more full featured web interface (and for the record you have to setup DNS for the RKE as well. There is no difference in setting up the external access, just that the Apex has a more functional interface.
(2) You can program it from the head unit just as easily, if not easier than the RKE (THERE IS NO NEED TO PROGRAM UNLESS YOU WANT TO).
(3) It worked with my AI lights immediately, and my Tunze pumps, minimal setup, mostly point and click.
(4) Their customer support is awesome, I got responses within hours, and on weekends, with DA I wouldn't hear from them for weeks, and then they would just say they lost the email or some other excuse.
(5) The system doesn't have to be touched for an update, just point and click, no disassembly required (A huge plus feature for people who don't feel like tearing down their entire electronics tangle to update).
(6) The software is not full of bugs like the RKE, no late night shutoffs, or constant email bombing, or any of the other problems with the RKE.
(7) It actually costs LESS to get MORE features with the Apex. A similar RKE setup costs $100-200 more, and you still get less software wise.
(8) Bug fixes (the few needed) come in a timely fashion, the firmware updates are more frequent, and usually contain new features, and the products come out as promised in a timely fashion. I believe the Vortech module was 6 months from announcement to market. (Still no word on one for the RKE, and the Tunze one took what? 3-4 years?)

USC-Fan you may have your preference, but if you look around on RC you will see about 30 or so people who USED to own an RKE and dumped it for the Apex. The inverse of this is that I have only seen one person who actually sold their Apex for an RKE. If someone reading this doesn't believe what James77 or I have to say, let the collective mind speak for you. In 95%+ of the cases where someone has owned BOTH the RKE and the Apex, we pick the Apex (and usually dump the RKE altogether).

And for the record, my two Apex units are currently running my systems, with an RKL on a side tank that only needs some basic stuff. I put the RK2, an RKL, and an RKE in the closet, and sold the other RKE. When I get home from medical school this summer, the rest of my RKE/RKL equipment is going as well. Anyone interested in both controllers should do themselves a favor. Go ahead and get an Apex, or you will be upgrading to it later.

Hope this helps,
Landon

Thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1711947

 

[phk36]

wow I am in the service line of work and we do above and beyond for every one. I guess price is a factor in al things we buy but if the service is bad and new controllers come out of the box bad and have bugs than paying more is worth it.

 

[James77]

Profilux is bug free, and they are very high quality so failure is extremely rare. From what they say, pretty much none have gone back to them. I did use their controller very briefly, but need very limited control so I switched. One thing I really like about theirs is the Tunze control....it can constantly randomize the pumps, where te Apex is limited to set profiles, although there is a ramp feature Im not sure if they have added to.

Neptune is pretty bug free as well, I have never had an issue with any of their controllers. Any bugs are frequently addressed from what I have seen. Quality is still very good, they are a nice middle area between price and quality. I have used their controllers for something like 8 years, and only had one failure over the course of 4 or 5 controlelrs.

 

[USC-fan]

Profilux is bug free, and they are very high quality so failure is extremely rare. From what they say, pretty much none have gone back to them. I did use their controller very briefly, but need very limited control so I switched. One thing I really like about theirs is the Tunze control....it can constantly randomize the pumps, where te Apex is limited to set profiles, although there is a ramp feature Im not sure if they have added to.

Neptune is pretty bug free as well, I have never had an issue with any of their controllers. Any bugs are frequently addressed from what I have seen. Quality is still very good, they are a nice middle area between price and quality. I have used their controllers for something like 8 years, and only had one failure over the course of 4 or 5 controlelrs.

I seen 2 bugs just posted this week with the neptune that are still not fixed.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2097951&page=3
Losing connection to Apex

Daylight saving time killed the logging.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2144242

The crazy thing about the neptune board here is that neptune dont even post on it and it just full of people with problems.

Something you do not see with the other controllers forums. Many problem of people having to send unit in.
like other have said:

My decision to get a Profilux was based not needing to return it for service, and not how fast I can get one back.

I guess people see things different, that is why it caught my attention.

I just got a RKE and have not run into any bugs with the system or problems. Nor do i see any posted on the forum everyday like the Neptune product. Funny "people" keep posting things from 2009... its 2012.

 

[James77]

-----

 

[James77]

I just got a RKE and have not run into any bugs with the system or problems. Nor do i see any posted on the forum everyday like the Neptune product. Funny "people" keep posting things from 2009... its 2012.

Neither have I run into ANY problems with ANY Neptune product in ANY of the years I have kept them. This has been with controlling things ranging from lights, to reactors, to ozonizers and dosers, calcium reactors. NO BUGS.

Maybe you should check Digital Aquatics forum for problems. If you are checking here it is laughable.....theat forum is dead since they respond to it maybe twice a month and tell people to post to their support.

Its 2012? Really? I had no idea....but several of ReefKeepers/Digital Aquatics problems seemed to have carried over. Thank god, because I am a nostalgic type person .

I think Shard covered that comment of yours already on criticism being outdated.....

I just updated some modules before I left. MyReef still crashes, and some of the modules take several attempts to actually properly load the new firmware.

Other than bugs there is the lack of features or inadequacies. Did they ever add the promised backup feature? Did they ever figure out a way so you don't have to reprogram the entire system when you update it? Can you update it without tearing it apart? The answer to all of these is no.

But I do recall several bugs on the RKE, one I recall was crap loads of odd characters all over the display screen, that took about ahlf a dozen emails for a response. Then there was the intermittent non responsive PC4s that would just have LEDs blinking and no connection. Why? By the time I tried to figure it out it would seem to solve itself. Have they corrected all these problems? Dont know, I threw the towel in on that nonsense. But I have been keeping an eye on that hilarious debacle that was the salinity probe problem....then the SL2 problem. Let me know when they even make a commetn on Vortech control something the competetion has had for years. I'd hazard to guess they cannot handle it? Even ReefAngel has it.

You've got yourself a RKL....:dance:.....but you also have not owned any type of Apex. Shard in his infinite wisdom....well maybe just wisdom, and thats a stretch possibly ....also posted how the controller has changed from the previous Neptune controllers. Just to nip that one in the bud.

I don't dismiss your ownership of the ACIII, but it was a major update. I used to be a CS/CE guy so I understand how these are designed. The system is an entire overall, new architecture, new bus system, etc. They did however add a port so you an use your old ACIII modules, which was nice of them to consider their previous customers who may still want to use modules from an older system, DA didn't do that for the RK1 or RK2 (to be fair it isn't really possible the way their system is designed, kind of like how you will never be able to remotely update it and will always have to break it apart to update the firmware, but anyway, back to topic). Saying it is only a minor update from the ACIII to the Apex is like saying the RK2 to RKE was only a minor update.Hope this helps,
Landon

The crazy thing about the neptune board here is that neptune dont even post on it and it just full of people with problem.

Full of posts with problems that are solved by other members. Curt does post here and there. I'll also point out that the Digital Aquatics support forum in nothing but the same, but at least Neptune problems get solved.

But the crazy thing about Curt is that if you email him or Neptune, you will have a reponse usually within minutes, always within the day.

Try that with Digital Aquatics. I know I am still living in 2009, but it took me probably a dozen emails total just to get a RMA on their produnt. Neptune took an hour and one email.

Have they changed? Not from the reviews i have read recently. Good luck finding 2 or 3 of them in their froum here on RC though, they regularly delete negative threads here and on their support board. Its called magical customer reviews.....Hmm...they all seem to be positive

 

[wolfador]

Hi all, I want to buy a controller for my tank. I have never used one and i just wanted to ask which one is easy to use. I want to keep a mixed reef on a 200 gallon tank. I also want to be able to watch all my levels on the web.
Thanks, Pete

Look into the ReefAngel. Depending on what you want to do you could get away with the simple code pre-loaded and have it up and running in 15 minutes.

If you want to get more advanced it may take an hour to get everything up and running. Has full web support, iPhone, iPad, Android. Very active forums. New stuff coming out every week.

 

[USC-fan]

Neither have I run into ANY problems with ANY Neptune product in ANY of the years I have kept them. This has been with controlling things ranging from lights, to reactors, to ozonizers and dosers, calcium reactors. NO BUGS.

Wait didnt you just post... now I quotes you from in this same thread,

"I have used their controllers for something like 8 years, and only had one failure over the course of 4 or 5 controllers."

The reason I sold my neptune controller was because their temp probe were terrible and a know problem. I could not trust it to run my system. Now i see post everyday with apex system failing. Just look at the support forum.

Maybe you should check Digital Aquatics forum for problems. If you are checking here it is laughable.....theat forum is dead since they respond to it maybe twice a month and tell people to post to their support.

neptune NEVER responds to their forum and DA does all the time. Even through they say post in there support forum. And they have another support forum set up.

Its 2012? Really? I had no idea....but several of ReefKeepers/Digital Aquatics problems seemed to have carried over. Thank god, because I am a nostalgic type person .

What problem have carry over?

I think Shard covered that comment of yours already on criticism being outdated.....
You've got yourself a RKL....:dance:.....but you also have not owned any type of Apex. Shard in his infinite wisdom....well maybe just wisdom, and thats a stretch possibly ....also posted how the controller has changed from the previous Neptune controllers. Just to nip that one in the bud.

that is even funnier you keep quoting this guy. He doesnt have a clue about any ACIII. He doesnt have a clue at all. Did you even read that thread?
"I'm sure they used different chips and new buses to make people buy the new stuff[power bars]. Still doesnt change the fact there were really no new features in the APEX compared to the ACIII. Comparing rke from rk2 to apex from ACIII makes me doubt anything you say.... "

That kid was like 15 when the acIII was out. Doesnt have a clue what he is talking about....wow i still cant believe you keep quoting this kid.

Then is goes on to say the APex can control tunze but the ACIII couldnt? hello aqua surf was out years before the apex. But again I doubt you know that either and that is why you are quoting you friend. And i brought a RKE like I have already posted.

But I do recall several bugs on the RKE, one I recall was crap loads of odd characters all over the display screen, that took about ahlf a dozen emails for a response. Then there was the intermittent non responsive PC4s that would just have LEDs blinking and no connection. Why? By the time I tried to figure it out it would seem to solve itself. Have they corrected all these problems? Dont know, I threw the towel in on that nonsense. But I have been keeping an eye on that hilarious debacle that was the salinity probe problem....then the SL2 problem. Let me know when they even make a commetn on Vortech control something the competetion has had for years. I'd hazard to guess they cannot handle it? Even ReefAngel has it.

Full of posts with problems that are solved by other members. Curt does post here and there. I'll also point out that the Digital Aquatics support forum in nothing but the same, but at least Neptune problems get solved.

But the crazy thing about Curt is that if you email him or Neptune, you will have a reponse usually within minutes, always within the day.

Here we go about un-announce products. I would stop drumming that beat because neptune is getting left behind by the other high end controllers. Profilux is coming out new modules all the time.

I just set up my RKE and didnt run into any problems or do i see any problems posted on the forum. Where are all the bug you keep talking about? I sure just posted 2 from this week for the neptune. Goodness just take a look at the neptune forum here....that neptune doesnt even support.

Try that with Digital Aquatics. I know I am still living in 2009, but it took me probably a dozen emails total just to get a RMA on their produnt. Neptune took an hour and one email.

Have they changed? Not from the reviews i have read recently. Good luck finding 2 or 3 of them in their froum here on RC though, they regularly delete negative threads here and on their support board. Its called magical customer reviews.....Hmm...they all seem to be positive

Wait you just said YOU NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH YOUR APEX. What is it?

What reviews? I am on the forum all the time and dont see where you get your info for. But dont let facts get in the way. Like i just said last week when i order a bad temp probe of BRS. DA has great customer service. Reply to email in minutes and even took my call at 7:30pm.

 

[phk36]

wow I think I will stick to the timers and test and dose my self !!!

 

[James77]

Wait didnt you just post... now I quotes you from in this same thread,
"I have used their controllers for something like 8 years, and only had one failure over the course of 4 or 5 controllers."
.

Are we talking BUGS?! I was referring to BUGS in my last post, but either way, the Neptune still kicks the crap out of the RKs.

The reason I sold my neptune controller was because there temp probe were terrible and a know problem. I could trust it to run my system.
.

OK, I'll post it YET ANOTHER TIME. You have never owned an APEX controller.

neptune NEVER responds to their forum and DA does all the time. Even through they say post in there support forum.
What problem have carry over?
.

Maybe you have instant amnesia? The post right before yours...MINE...quoted Shard with the current problems. I will not quote it again, you seem to liek to completely and totally ignore all info that is against DA and post the same repetitve crap.

DA does NOT respond to the forum here on RC all the time. That is flat out BS. Do they respond to their support forum? Yes, they do.

that is even funnier you keep quoting this guy. He doesnt have a clue about any ACIII. He doesnt have a clue at all. Did you even read that thread?
"I'm sure they used different chips and new buses to make people buy the new stuff[power bars]. Still doesnt change the fact there were really no new features in the APEX compared to the ACIII. Comparing rke from rk2 to apex from ACIII makes me doubt anything you say.... ".

ACIII? Last I checked we were debating controllers NOW.

Again, I am not going to get into some nitpicking thing with you, someone that has NEVER owned an Apex- over past and present features.

That kid was like 15 when the acIII was out. Doesnt have a clue what he is talking about.

:lol:

Here we go about un-announce products. I would stop drumming that beat because neptune is getting left behind by the other high end controllers. Profilux is coming out new modules all the time.

If you had any idea what you were talking about you'd know that Neptune had Vortech control well before Profilux. Within DAYS of EcoTech announcing 3rd party control of their pumps, Neptune isued a statement they would have full control within months and stuck with it. Profilux? Right behind Neptune.

Now....DA. They will not even comment on the stupid thing. Again....they will not even comment on it. Reef Angel, a very new and unknown controller can do it. But Digital Aquatics cannot even comment on if they will pursue it. Judging from their failures on the SL2, SID1, and salinity probe, they are scared to even try. I could care less of Vortech control since I do not use it, but it is such a JOKE the way they handle it


Speaking of getting left behind.....you are supporting THE controller that is eating the dust of EVERY other one.

Wa
I just set up my RKE and didnt run into any problems or do i see any problems posted on the forum. Where are all the bug you keep talking about? I sure just posted 2 from this week for the neptune. Goodness just take a look at the neptune forum here....that neptune doesnt support..

Just look at the Digital Aquatics support forum. I ahve already told you- i know it has fallen on deaf ears- that they do NOT provide real support here.

I have setup all my Neptune products with minimal problems. Yes, i needed programming help, just like I did with DA.

W
Wait you just said YOU NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH YOUR APEX. What is it?

What reviews? I am on the forum all the time and dont see where you get your info for. But dont let facts get in the way.

Sigh. Sad.


I ahve NEVER said I had zero problems with hardware on Neptune products. Same with DA. But what matter most is the support I received from either.

The reviews that you cannot read because they deleted them? Did you really just ask that? They are CONSTANTLY deleting threads they deem negative on their froum.

Any one with any type of honesty can see the Neptune is FAR more popular. Anyone with any sense can see hobbyists are always switching from DA to Neptune. There is a reason why.

For whatever reason you are a DA fan....great. Good fro you. It does not change the blatant differences between the 2 controllers. Again, you have ZERO experience with Neptune Apexs. I know you like to ignore comments on it, but it is different form ACIII. I know I may as well say that to my chimney, but it is a fact.

I am done on this subject with you, it is ridiculous trying to debate you. It is just irritating to watch your BS claims of the Neptunes being difficult to program, despite its use of an interface simple enough for a child to use. Yes, I know you will post the threads of those that cannot comprehend it....but the FACT still stands that it remains the most popular controller for a reason. If it was that difficult to program it would go the way of DA controllers.....

 

[USC-fan]

What is different with the ac3 vs apex? I don't know why I keep asking BC you don't have a clue.

Shard post was talking about 2009 problems not current.

I did not know da had such control they can deleted thread on RC....

Neptune may be popular I dunno. I know my lfs and brs only sell da products. On brs it one of the top selling products.

Reefkeeper 2 vs aciii and Rke vs apex is a lot closer. It laughable that you still on this apex is easy to problem thing lol.

I not a fan of anything. I have used them all and they all work well. I just don't like that some posters just post wrong info all the time and give bad advice.

 

[Shard]

that is even funnier you keep quoting this guy. He doesnt have a clue about any ACIII. He doesnt have a clue at all.

Again you resort to personal attacks, I really wish you would stop with it.

Anyway, even you have acknowledged bugs still exist in basic features after the software has been out for years and through multiple revisions.

http://www.forum.digitalaquatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11875

Let me quote you directly from the DA support forum

"Also notice the time on the graphs are a day off. seems there are a lot of bugs with the graphing in myreef 2.0."

As for the Apex vs RKE argument here on RC, it has been beat to death. Of the people who have owned both everyone I have seen comment prefers the Apex to the RKE except for 1 person. For a measurable example of the general RC consensus of which controller is preferred by the average RC user, see here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2029200&page=5 Neptune wins with about double the vote or more, for both the product and CS.

Hope this helps,
Landon