Help Selecting a Controller

[druluv]

I'm looking to fully automate my tank as much as possible. I'm interested in the dimming feature of the controller, and the storm functions the controller can do. Since I'm planning to use Zeovit or Fauna Marin, I would also be interested in the dosing functions of the controller.

Tasks
Full Lighting Dimming
Dosing
Top-off
Storm Functions - Tunze Wave Box, Tunze Nano Streams

So which controller and add-ons do I need to accomplish this tasks?



I know the controller can dim t5s, but I'm using an Ice Cap 430 ballast, can these be dimmed by the controller.
Are there any dimmable metal halide ballast on the market or in development?

Thanks

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hiya

Good to see you have discovered profiLux, welcome.

The kit you require basically depends on how much you want to achieve from the out set. So lets start with a mid range kit, the ProfiLux Advantage Plus

This gives you pretty much all the automation you have mentioned above with the exception of the add ons required for dimmable lights and dosing.

So as a check list I recommend

1 x profiLux Advantage plus
1 x 2 or 3 pump dosing station (depending on how many things you are wishing to dose) each station can be upgraded to a max of 4 pumps per station.
1 x Simu-L LED effect stick, for sun , moon and storm functons

Now for the dimming!

The GHL will control ANY ballast that has a 1-10V control line interface, at present the only decent dimmable ballasts on the market are 54W and T5 only. For MH dimming, this is something that is still way in the future for various reasons and to date we are not aware of a manufacturer releasing any to the market, although i am sure it will not be long.

So sticking with present times and what is available at present, you can only have full dimming with 54W T5, this is one of GHL profiLux's key areas and is simply achieved by interfacing the ballasts with the profiLux and then controlling them via the ProfiLux software.

If you can go down this path you then can have the following control when LED effect ligths are also used

Full sun rise and sunset control based on your current location
Full moon rise and set and moon cycle based on your current location
Dimmable lighting which creates
Cloud pass overs
Cloudy days
Can be programmed with oncoming storms
Storm effect - Fully programmable for various storms and intensities set daily or weekly.

With regards to tunze control, again a huge area that ProfiLux has covered, the profiLux can and will control up to 4 variable tunze's whether wavebox or pumps, the amount of control given is beyond that which you would get from a Tunze controller on its own.

I think that covers everything but please drop me a line at sales@aqua-digital.com or drop me a pm and I will provide you with our telephone number for more personal support and advise, being the North American and canadian distributors, we have numerous retailers in the USA now also.

Regards

 

[druluv]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Firtly what is the recommend dimmable ballast for the controller? I'm using 8 - 48" 54Watt t5.

I have two 250MH as well as 8 HO bulbs for my lighting. Is there a way to automaticlly turn off MH lighting during a storm and then dim the t-5 lighting. My thinking is that the coral reef doesn't get intense sunlighting everyday. So in storm conditions the MH lighting should be off.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hiya

The recommended ballasts are sylvania. To control 8 lamps you would need 4 ballasts and two external interface cards.

Yes you can easily program the ProfiLux to turn your MH lighting off in a storm, but remember they would have to be off for at least 15 minutes before being switched back on due to the cool down period required for MH ballasts.

The new ProfiLux software also comes with a storm surge function for Tunze's i think this has been released or at least will be soon

 

[druluv]

Wow, I'm getting hot & sweaty now. Is there an instruction manual I can read. I would like to know how easy it is to set up this functions like this:

1) If Storm, turn MH lights off
15 Minutes after storm turn MH on

2) When Dosing ZEO VIT additives turn skimmer off
Skimmer back on 1 hr after

3) MH lighting only on sunny days for 4- 5 hrs

4) On Automated water change, turn off top off function

How would you set up your controller to do this? I just need to know how flexible the unit is.

Can this unit also control two ph probes (one for CA Effluent & Tanks ph)?

Thanks Again

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hiya

here is the link to the latest manual,

http://www.ghl-kl.de/Produkte/Aquaristik/Download/Manual_ProfiLuxII_V308.pdf

it does take some reading and becomes more apparent when you have a profilux in front of you.

Simple answer to the above, yes in all cases these are simple timing set ups, providing you are not dosing Zeo VIT 10 times a day or anything like that!

Yes you can have two pH's you just need one further expansion and probe

 

[druluv]

One more thing, is it possible to start with the GHL Profilux Plus II Advanced Plus then upgrade to the GHL ProfiLux Plus II EX Professional Plus WLAN without purchasing a new unit? Thanks for your help!

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi
Basically yes, you can purchase the EX upgrade kit that converts the profiLux plus II to a profiLux Plus II EX.

The other parts that are included in the WLAN kit that are not in the advance plus can be purchased seperatly

Everything is available independantly you can even talk to your retailer about building you a kit that suits your needs 100% you are not restricted to the kits only

 

[AQD_ottawa]

If you would like a retailer list let me know

 

[druluv]

From briefly reading the manual, its not clear that you can turn off non-dimmable lights during a storm, cloudy weather, or rainy day.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

You would implement one of the timers to run in conjunction with this

In the Illumination menu you have many timing options.

It will not automate with it but can be pre programmed, so the days you select as cloudy or times you set as stormy, you can then use an illumination cycle to coincide with this.

Logic functions (and OR) is coming as well, this is a further advancement of GHL

 

[MSHUR]

Hey Drew,
I am glad you deciding on Profilux. You will be very happy with this controler. If you like to see all options in peorson you more then welcome to come over and check out my set up..I have pretty much all you are looking for.


mike

 

[druluv]

Thanks MSHUR,

will do I also want to check out your ELOS tank too