Neptune AC JR/DC-8 Questions

[FastUno]

I have the following I need to control, do you see any limitations?

1-MH & hood fans at same time
2-Supplemental lighting
3-Moonlights
4-future fuge lights
5-heater
6-IceCap fans in sump, possibly 2 fans. One turns on at certain temp & 2nd turns on if exceeds great temp than 1st.


Some general questions:
-I have a Milwaukee PH monitor & probe with standard connections. Can I use this same probe on the ACJR? The ACJR does not look like it has a standard connector for the probe?

-I don't have a CO2 injector nor do I use a calcium reactor, is there any other use for PH control, other than reading/display?

-Can you control a Tunze 6060 with this unit or a Seio 820?

-Can you upgrade the firmware in this unit?

-I know you can monitor on LCD for PH & Temp, but can you graph on PC. No online connectivity, web server...etc, right?

-I am debating between this unit & the Reefkeeper. The only substantial difference that I see is the ability to shut off MH if temp gets to a certain level. If this happens is there any way of the unit telling you it happened? If no notification from unit, this could have an adverse effect on corals over time, without user knowing exactly what happened. What other advantages do you provide over the RK for my purpose in mind?

 

[johns]

Fast Uno-

Curt will probably chime in to answer most questions, but I can probably take a shot at a few of your general questions.

ACJr has the standard BNC connectors I've seen on pretty much any pH meter (the one with 2 little metal pins that you slide over and then do a quarter turn or so). I dont know how Neptune feels about using another manufacturers probe on their unit, but I plugged the pinpoint probe into mine for a while and used it and it seemed to work fine.

Some people without Ca Reactors are using pH to control auto top-off addition of kalk solutions via a nilsen reactor. There doesn't seem to be any perfect way to do this, but there are some interesting suggestinons out there if you look. Here's very simple idea right here that I might try:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=689701

I dont think you are supposed to control a Tunze with these (ask Roger in Tunze forum). The SEIO would be fine - I mean I guess as fine as any other powerhead, but you will still be turning on-off continuously, possibly burning it out sooner. But this is what I do currently.

Dont think you can graph anything to PC with the Jr or get any notification other than audible alarms.

 

[clp]

The Milwaukee pH probe will likely work, however, we only officially support Neptune Systems brand probes. I believe that Tunze recommends only turning on/off the stream pumps once an hour if using a 3rd party controller. I don't think Seio's like to be turned on/off at all; you'll have to check with Taam. Yes, the firmware can be upgraded in the controller. A special cable (part # SERPCJR $9.95) plugs into the serial connector on your PC, and into the temperature connector of the Jr.
Other then the upgrade feature, there is no connection to a PC on the Jr. No serial port, No graphing, no AquaNotes support, etc.
You can have an audible alarm plugged into one of the outlets turn on if the temperture and/or pH goes out of whack. From my understanding there are many features present in the Jr that are not present in the Reefkeeper. Here is a list from memory:

Seasonal Temperature variation
Seasonal Lighting Variation.
Multiple on/off times per day.
Very configurable via programming language
i.e. Shut off lights if temperature gets to high
Monitor/Control pH
Expanded to control up to 12 devices.
Lunar simulation
Datalogging of pH and temperature
Display Lock w/ password protection if desired.
Firmware upgrades

Curt

 

[Sparkss]

Fast Uno-

I dont think you are supposed to control a Tunze with these (ask Roger in Tunze forum). The SEIO would be fine - I mean I guess as fine as any other powerhead, but you will still be turning on-off continuously, possibly burning it out sooner. But this is what I do currently.

Actually I think I recall reading that Seios are not meant to be used with a wavemaking device (such as using a controller to turn them one and off rapidly). They (Seio themselves) stated that they should not be used this way. I think I may have read it on the Marine Depot web site when looking at the Seios, but I could have read it elsewhere.

 

[johns]

Sparkss -
Yes. That is what I meant by 'as fine as any other powerhead' In general I dont think any powerhead is supposed to be turned on and off rapidly. I'm sure it will decrease the life of the pump. But with these cheaper pumps some people are doing it anyway. I have had 2 SEIOS turning on and off back and forth every 10 to 15 minutes for the past 6 months or so without a problem. But I do agree that it is probably not great for them.

 

[Sparkss]

I actually thought I read about some powerheads that were better suited for wavemaking.... and they were not terribly expensive... but for the life of me I can't find the thread (or even remember what forum it was in ) and can't recall the manufacturer.. but I know that there are some out there .

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

MaxiJets are pretty popular used as powerheads for alternating currents.