experience w/ timers?

[microbubbles]

hi everyone-
i'm almost finished w/ my build and was wondering if you people can sound off about your various experiences w/ timers-
before i got out of the hobby, i always used the cheap intermatic timers for my lights. i would get the grounded $0.69 adapters at home depot so i could use them w/ the 3 prong plugs that usually come w/ halides/fluorescents... never had any problems going that route.
this time around i was looking at some of the digital timers out there so i have the option of controlling my lights down to the minute- (using 1 superactinic vho, 1 daylight actinic vho, 2 x 350 14k phoenix DE halides) i wanted each light to be controlled independently so i could stagger the lights to come on one by one and turn off vice versa.

i looked at this one...
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-DT...ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1219896701&sr=8-1
and while the features sound great, the user reviews are less than confidence inspiring.

i picked up a couple of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-Di...ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1219896701&sr=8-7
better ratings, kinda lame how it requires batteries when IT'S PLUGGING INTO THE WALL. i'm not planning on using this because we all know what one day of equipment failure can do to our tanks.

so it looks like i'm at an impasse or i'm going back to the low tech intermatic. any suggestions?

 

[randomworker]

I used to have an Intermatic Wall Timer for my porch light. Something like this http://www.intermatic.com/?action=subcat&sid=112

It needed a AA battery to operate a small replay inside the switch. The first timer I bought lasted about a year then failed. I replaced it and the second one ran for >4 years with no problems. The timer does stop when the battery is dead, but you can tell the battery is dead because the light is out.

I personally use a cheapo ($10?) mechanical timer with a dial for my tank. It has little pins that can be moved in 15 minute increments.

 

[ostrow]

.

 

[ostrow]

I use several of the first one in your post and really like them.

 

[cnaegler]

I use the Intermatic timers with the little "pins" that you can raise or lower. Never had a problem with those. They switch on my powerheads and closed loop pump seperately.

 

[BigJay]

I'm using a pair of intermatic timers, but I don't care for how terrribly hot they get. I use one for actinics, and another for my refugium light.

Is there a better/safer option out there?

 

[microbubbles]

bump... anyone else w/ their experiences? i know the "good" alternative would be to just buy a controller, but i'm not ready for that jump yet. kinda waiting on availability for the RK elite... posssssssibly a profilux.

 

[J.russell]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13245645#post13245645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cnaegler
I use the Intermatic timers with the little "pins" that you can raise or lower. Never had a problem with those. They switch on my powerheads and closed loop pump seperately.

Im not trying to sound like a smart a$$ but why do you have your closed loop and powerheads on a timer? Im asking because I dont why you would do that.

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13247352#post13247352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J.russell
Im not trying to sound like a smart a$$ but why do you have your closed loop and powerheads on a timer? Im asking because I dont why you would do that.

For somewhat random flow I imagine. Different powerheads and the CL pump turn on for 15 minute increments at random times throughout the day depending on which pins are pressed in. It's a DIY-wavemaker, and honestly it's not a real bad idea.

 

[bristle]

I've always disliked those spinning timers with the pegs. I service about 30 aquariums with those timers and there is always something wrong with a few of them. The pegs sometimes pop up, allowing the lights to stay on or off indefinitely. The dial can sometimes be impeded from moving by fallen objects.

I like digital timers...any really. I keep it so that one day a week the aquarium doesn't have lights on. This reduces my light bill by 1/7th, but also reduces algae/diatom growth and heat. The corals have been fine like this for a year

 

[atvdave]

I had good luck with this timers from Lowe's.

 

[cnaegler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13247352#post13247352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J.russell
Im not trying to sound like a smart a$$ but why do you have your closed loop and powerheads on a timer? Im asking because I dont why you would do that.

No offense taken. Well, i have four 2100 GPH maxi-jet mods and a dart pump with an ocean motion 4-way. Two of the mods stay on continuously. The other two are on the Intermatic timers set to come on at 8 am, off at 8 pm. I have the closed loop/ OM 4-way timer set for 10 am to 10 pm. Theres a lot of flow in there, the fish are constantly having to swim. I don't believe in having all my flow running all night because i think the fish should have a little time to relax. Plus it doesn't hurt the power bill either.

 

[J.russell]

Cool. thanks guys. I think I will do that with my closed loop. Have it off at night and on during the day.

How would that affect SPS's though?

 

[bristle]

Corals use flow for gas and waste exchange with the water. If you reduce the flow at night when they are trying to breathe, it might cause issues. But then again, people use a ton of flow as it is.

 

[cnaegler]

Yeah, during the day theres 10,900 GPH flowing through the tank, not including the return of 1,000GPH. The polyps on my SPS at night are really extended.

 

[cnaegler]

At night i still have approximately 5200 GPH.

 

[J.russell]

Holy crap! I only have 1400 gph total Ofcourse my tank isnt long or wide, just deep. I have good flow at all levels in the tank just not alot of it.

 

[cnaegler]

All that's on a 72 x 24 x 30, 180 bowfront.