OK you lucky SOB's.....

[Neptune777]

Those who were able to attend MACNA can you give the rest of us bums some tidbits from the show? What was the coolest new gadget revealed there...? Anything create a buzz like the Vortechs did previously?

:bum:

 

[Angel*Fish]

Vortechs still buzzing - I even bought one!

The LEDs were kind of cool but the tank they displayed them on were like infinity pools and you could only see well from the top of the water -

Oh and there was that little salt study by Eric Borneman & Kim Lowe where at least INITIALLY it looks like Instant Ocean salt isn't so great - it INITIALLY came in ummmm..last out of 10+ brands (but they made up for it with their Reef Crystals rating at the top)

However the results are not all compliled and the reports will not be finished for a long time so we cannot draw conclusions

And at the raffle a guy, famous now, named Dirk won like 7-9 of the 55 Euroreef skimmers they gave away

 

[cward]

The new Tunze nano stream was pretty cool. It was interesting to see all of the new controllers that are about to hit the market from different people.

 

[ducati1212]

does anyone know the salt brands rank.? I use coralife just wondering

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8220398#post8220398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angel*Fish


And at the raffle a guy, famous now, named Dirk won like 7-9 of the 55 Euroreef skimmers they gave away

He won a bunch of stuff at IMAC, and I'm pretty sure he won a ton at the Boston Macna.

I'm pretty sure hes reselling the stuff.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

anybody famous there? Was Randy HF there? Or anyone else

What a lucky guy to win. He won 7 skimmers?


Nevermind, i found all the people there on the website

 

[Waxxiemann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8220456#post8220456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cward
The new Tunze nano stream was pretty cool. It was interesting to see all of the new controllers that are about to hit the market from different people.

Can you elaborate on the controllers? Total system controllers or wavemaker type controllers. Got any links?

Cheers

 

[cward]

They were total system controllers. I still have to dig thru all of the literature that I picked up from everyone, but as soon as I do I will post the companies.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8220684#post8220684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
He won a bunch of stuff at IMAC, and I'm pretty sure he won a ton at the Boston Macna.

I'm pretty sure hes reselling the stuff.

Turns out I underestimated - they are saying he won 14 of those skimmers :eek1:

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8223430#post8223430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angel*Fish
Turns out I underestimated - they are saying he won 14 of those skimmers :eek1:

Every conference I've been to, hes been like that. IIRC, he's got a store, and he drops a couple hundred bucks in raffle tickets.

Its a smart move, but i can't honestly say I approve.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8223726#post8223726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Every conference I've been to, hes been like that. IIRC, he's got a store, and he drops a couple hundred bucks in raffle tickets.

Its a smart move, but i can't honestly say I approve.

I agree , it doesn't seem very tasteful.

 

[dhoch]

Boy the controllers was the thing that surprised me... seemed like everyone and their brother had one...

Of course the standards were there:
Neptune
Aquatronica
Reefkeeper

Then there was a new one that had a big flashy display... geared towards tank maintance companies (but not near as flexible commands as the above units, nice user interface though): Boimatrix Systems (eAquatix AUtomation)

There were at least 1 other, but for such a niche market I was surprised to see so many competors for the existing products.

Dave

 

[afex]

best of show imo was the profilux controller. http://www.afex2win.com/photos/albu...253003538/macna_2006-profilux_controller.html

currently in germany, there is only one in NA so far i think (canada). its biggest selling point (for me) over the competition is its inclusion of wireless ethernet access along with both web and windows app interface. that is the main reason i have yet to buy a controller; anybody using a controller that uses a serial port is living in the stone age.

only downside personally is that it is focused on T5 lighting control (dimming, etc). guess thats b/c its from europe. it obviously can still control MH or any other lighting, so its just a downside for me b/c i dont run t5's! one neat thing they showed me was the different weather modes (imagine one called "lightning storm", it was pretty cool)

also pretty sure it is tunze controllable, which i suppose means you wouldn't need a tunze single/multi controller if you had this. not sure about that tho.

it also has a seperate screen (extra $) which is display only and meant to be mounted in sight while viewing the tank. that way you can easily scan over your tank params without having to open your stand or anything.

another cool feature is the expansion card capability. so things like redox and conductivity cards/probes can be bought and added to the system later without having to buy an entire new unit.

heh, didn't mean to go on like this but i just cant find anything wrong with the profilux other than the fact that its not in america yet!

 

[dhoch]

Also wanted to add I took a look at the PFO LED lights not bad... but not a TON of PAR for so expensive a fixture... A lot went into the controler...

Dave

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8223959#post8223959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhoch
Boy the controllers was the thing that surprised me... seemed like everyone and their brother had one...

Of course the standards were there:
Neptune
Aquatronica
Reefkeeper

Then there was a new one that had a big flashy display... geared towards tank maintance companies (but not near as flexible commands as the above units, nice user interface though): Boimatrix Systems (eAquatix AUtomation)

There were at least 1 other, but for such a niche market I was surprised to see so many competors for the existing products.

Dave

Maybe one of the easier start-ups for your average engineer?

 

[FMarini]

Marie-
actually i think the reason why NOW all these controllers are hitting the market is -its time. For many yrs there have been 2 or 3 impotent controller that cost alot and did a little. So the hobby stood clear of the controller concept. You didn't get much control for the $$$.
Lets face it many people have thousands of dollars in invested in their tanks, so why not take charge of it and allow all the simple and complex interactions to be monitored and automated (lights, pumps temps, ORP, etc). The engineering and electronic components are available, so its time.
Time for aquarist to wrap their heads around getting a device that monitors their systems, reports it too them in real time and controls/automates many of the components of our tanks; lighting, pumps, water volume etc. If you can stabilize your day-to-day tank operations you increase your chances of success
So while it might be an easier start up for average engineers, I don't believe its the main reason why you see so many of these devices now.

 

[dhoch]

Frank,

I'm not arguring with you, but as I saw the devices that I looked at (especially the one with the big flashy display...) they didn't offer anything other than what was allready there, and the price point was similar... Now I know that there were 2 there I didn't look at....

I do agree that many people are looking this way, and I think the one unfortunate thing is that the market doesn't seem to have the device that will meet the average persons needs as well as the advanced.

i.e. when I looked at the big flashy display one, it's not programmable in the way that I would like... I can set time points, and device points, but not complex statements involving multiple devices... a serious drawback in my mind.

Dave

 

[FMarini]

Hi Dave-
I understand what your saying, and there probably will be NO one perfect controller. You have to remember that the builder/engineers of these controllers take what are common tasks and work w/ this as a starting point, then compromise in regards to what can be done at a certain price point. As for the super advanced hobbyist or computer programmer type- it will be a while for devices to allow complete control and code.
Given this, I don't understand your complex statment involing multiple devices. I played w/ all the units and a couple of them allowed high/low temps to intiate secondary and tertiary devices, such as high temps- triggered fans, turned on pumps. Monitor chiller out put, etc. Are you asking about a whole chain of events? maybe you can accomplish what you ask by thinking less complex.
Anyway- I'm happy these devices are finally hitting the market- its about time