Interesting Things to do With AquaControllers

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey All

My original AquaController V1 finally gave up the ghost. I just ordered the V3. There's all the obvious stuff like control lights, heaters, wave makers. What have you done with your Neptune AquaController (V1, V2, V3, Jr, Pro, etc) that is unusual?

I attached the serial input on mine to the water level sensors in my sump to top off with Kalkwasser at night.

I attached the serial input on mine to two lead wires to detect leaks.

I use mine to control my calcium reactor.

I use mine to turn the lights and wave makers off when the the tank is too hot.

I use mine to turn fans on when the tank is too warm.

I use mine to oscilate a solinoid driven pellet feader (1 min off, 120 off).

I used mine to oscillate a single spead dosing pump (1 min on, 5 off).

 

[jlfnjlf]

Brian,

I just ordered my AC Jr with DC8 today.

I plan to:
Use mine to control my calcium reactor.
Use mine to turn the lights and closed loop off when the the tank is too hot.
Use mine to turn fans on when the tank is too warm.

This is my first AquaController, so I am sure I will come up with more as I become more familiar with it.

John

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey John

They are cheaper and more reliable than the collection of timers, controllers, probes, etc, we usually end up with when we piece meal it.

The programming is a little weird if you are used to computer programming. They use a last-in-wins paradigm. If you have three instructions in a row the last one to trigger wins.

 

[plankton]

Brian,

> I use mine to oscilate a solinoid driven pellet feader (1 min off, 120 off).

Not a bad idea. I think I'll do the same thing so the next time I go on a long vacation at least the fish will get some pelleted food (just in case).

Separately, I purchased a dedicated 2-channel aquamedic reefdoser for $$$, but now thinking about it I could have used a reefkeeper I or my old aquacontroller v1 to drive 2 peristaltic pumps. Hmm, next time...

Scott

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Scott

I bought some cheap single spead dosing pumps at HSC and used my V1 to control them. I had nice control over my calcium reactor effluent until the cheap pumps did what cheap pumps always do