Looking for suggestions on a controller

[chrismhaase]

Guys,

I have gathered a lot of stuff for my 90 I am setting up, but I am still lacking a controller. I am trying to get rid of power strips and timers and making the move to the a all in one controller. I am looking for suggestions. I was considering the Aqua Controller Jr, but I am not set. Also in mind is the Reef Kepper.

Input please, especially if you are using a certain setup. Also, package suggestions and any things you might change on a second go around.

Thanks, Chris

 

[reefrubble]

If you have Ice Cap Ballast , The X10s wont work .

 

[mflamb]

I'm going to use a RK2 on my 390.

 

[chrismhaase]

ReefRubble- I just bought 2 Ice Cap ballast for my 250 MH. So what are you saying, they dont work with the X10 outlets?

 

[chrismhaase]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957409#post9957409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
I'm going to use a RK2 on my 390.

If I may ask what you got in your package and where from?

 

[chrismhaase]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957383#post9957383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble
If you have Ice Cap Ballast , The X10s wont work .

Why? http://www.digitalaquatics.com/reefkeeper2.html
What would prevent this from happening?

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957449#post9957449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismhaase
If I may ask what you got in your package and where from?

http://www.reefexotics.com/reef_keeperII.htm

 

[chrismhaase]

Another question; what exactly are x10s? Is this just the power strip?

 

[brucem]

I have icecap ballasts and they work with my x10s. I bought mine used and they are modified. There is a simple wire to be cut and they work just fine. The x10s I have are the outlet kind

 

[griff609]

I just ordered a reefkeeper2 for my 60g from

http://www.twopartsolution.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=40&products_id=76

I checked about a dozen websites and this was the lowest price, I also ordered a Ph probe from them.

here is a link to a list that compares them

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=997688&highlight=controller

 

[makdoogle]

I have a brand new reefkeeper 2 w/ph probe and 2 expansion sockets in the selling forum if interested.

 

[reefrubble]

If you use Ice Caps , you have to hard wire them . I have an AC II ,and I run my Ice Caps on Timers . I use the AC II with the X 10s for my chiller , ph control for my calcium reactor ,and my heaters . The Ice Cap ballast mess up the X 10 signal .

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957534#post9957534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by griff609


here is a link to a list that compares them

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=997688&highlight=controller

That's a great thread. I read that before I bought.
Reef Central is full of great info like that.

 

[griff609]

Yeah I read it and decide on the RK2 it does everything I need gets good support from the company and won't break the bank!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=329

I'm sure the Aqua Jr is great too! I'm sure if you chose either you would be happy.

 

[chrismhaase]

Guys thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it. Reef- so am I to assume that you should NOT hook up Ice Cap ballast to a controller and plug them into their own outlets with timers? Sorry for all teh questions, I guess I just got confused. I am off to go read that thread you all suggested. Be back in a few.

 

[jsl6v8]

Electronic ballast of all kinds, not just ice caps produce what they call electronic noise interference, the X10s sometimes don't work due to this, the way x10 works is kinda like the internet except instead of sending messages via phone or cable it sends messages to receivers via a router of sorts through your power line. Another problem is if you are are trying to control stuff with the controller from a different outlet, in some cases, in most houses the power goes to the breaker box and splits into 2 legs, basically 2 different sectors of power, and if you are trying to control something that is on a different leg sometimes the signal won't read then you need to get what they call a signal bridge. X10s are great don't get me wrong but they do have some problems. ACJR is pretty cheap right now with the dc-8 at neptunes offical webpage. RK also looks really nice but I remember there was something I didn't like about it compared to the acjr but I don't remember what it was. Jsl6v8's opinions are his own and are not necissarily the opinions of any logical person nor are they always correct, I am not a professional in this area and will not claim to be.

 

[brucem]

I have the little the little box that is plugged into the outlet and connected by phone cord to the controller. I don't what you mean by hard wired

 

[jsl6v8]

brucem they are talking about pluging the unit directly into the wall outlet. the little box connected by the power cord sounds like the x-10 sender to me.

 

[chrismhaase]

So is the x-10 just for sending info to other devices like a computer for the aqua notes?

 

[jsl6v8]

no no no, lol for that you need a modem to send things from the controller to the computer. X10s are specifically for sending signals to things connected to power lines. Ok basically you have an x10sender (I believe aquacontrollers have these built in) and you label all you pumps and power head an address a-o 1-9 (I think thats the correct things) then you have an x10 receiver which you plug that unit into with that address. So say you want your lights to come on at 1am, you would go into the controller and select an address for the lights for simplicities sake I would set all lights to L and a number so L1 would be the lights, then you go into the settings area and tell the controller L1 is to come on at 1am then off at blah. Then you would set the x10receiver thats plugged into your light to L1, when 1am comes around the aquacontroller would send a message through your power line inside your house to all L1s (you can set multiple things to the same address) and tell the x10receivers to then allow power to these devices. I hope I didn't confuse things more with the internet analogy (I just have a good understanding of how it works and so its what finally made this make sense to me)