Reef Controller Question

R

Raven63630

New member
Hey guys and gals,

I am in the market for a controller and was wanting to get some input from others who have used them. I am looking at the ReefKeeper 2 or the AquaController Jr. I would like to get the pro's and con's of each in as much detail as possible. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Danny
 
Thanks Tyson,
That is a great site for doing comparisons, but I'm looking for more practical comparisons from people who actually use them, I would like to know whether they live up to what they say they do, what quality they are, how dependable, etc...

Danny
 
If i was in the Market for the low end, I would get A3 and i be looking at Profilux for the top end.

I think its a shame what Digital Aquatics did, releasing a cool product while still being in the beta stage, just to get into the market faster.
They are starting to get a grip on things, but still, do you really want to trust this type of behavior with a company that releases beta component for your Aquarium?
 
Re: Reef Controller Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14482150#post14482150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Raven63630
I am looking at the ReefKeeper 2 or the AquaController Jr. I would like to get the pro's and con's of each in as much detail as possible. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Danny
Click to expand...
The RK2 vs. ACJr debate could go on forever. You cant go wrong with either. I recently bought the RK2 and love it. Looks great and very easy to use and change the programming on.

The RKE has more functionality and the RK Lite is cheaper and still has the potential for upgrades. Based on my experience with the RK2, I think their products are great adn customer services seems pretty good too. Check out the RK Lite, it may be just what you want.
 
Re: Re: Reef Controller Question

Re: Re: Reef Controller Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14488302#post14488302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GatorWPB
The RK2 vs. ACJr debate could go on forever. You cant go wrong with either. I recently bought the RK2 and love it. Looks great and very easy to use and change the programming on.

The RKE has more functionality and the RK Lite is cheaper and still has the potential for upgrades. Based on my experience with the RK2, I think their products are great adn customer services seems pretty good too. Check out the RK Lite, it may be just what you want.
Click to expand...

This is the kind of info I'm looking for, first hand experience, you usually just get one sided opinions from the sponsor forums.

Keep it coming
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14489671#post14489671 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harry_Fish
I just switched from the Profilux II Plus to the Reefkeeper Elite.
Click to expand...

I am happy for you, people need to get what they want/need.

For myself, I am not willing to have beta, untested electronics run my aquarium setup.

BTW, are you selling your Profilux?
 
spent about a month looking at the RKE and ACIII,finally went with the ACIII.the RKE does offer greater expansion as of now but the ACIII has been around and pretty stable.

pricing is about the same
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14498305#post14498305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by devgru
spent about a month looking at the RKE and ACIII,finally went with the ACIII.the RKE does offer greater expansion as of now but the ACIII has been around and pretty stable.

pricing is about the same
Click to expand...

pretty much the same thing here, but I found that once I factored in the network ability, the RKE is substantially more expensive.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14487954#post14487954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luisagos
If i was in the Market for the low end, I would get A3 and i be looking at Profilux for the top end.

I think its a shame what Digital Aquatics did, releasing a cool product while still being in the beta stage, just to get into the market faster.
They are starting to get a grip on things, but still, do you really want to trust this type of behavior with a company that releases beta component for your Aquarium?
Click to expand...

As a matter of fact, yes I do want to trust DA. I was one of the first people to receive the Reefkeeper Elite. I have had no problems using it and their customer service is phenominal. The RKE was hardly in "the beta stage" at release. Are you saying that the Profilux controller was perfect in every setup from the day it was released? I doubt it. I also find it amusing that you consider the AC3 to be "low end" and the Profilux to be "high end". I know a lot of Neptune and Elos owners who would beg to differ. Why not just let the controllers speak for themselves?
 
I would say it is mostlywhat YOU are looking for and what
programming style you like.


Problem is , I'm still fairly new to the hobby and really don't know what I am looking for :p :rollface: .
Been doing a lot of reading the last few days and it seems like both are good choices depending on what equipment you have or plan on having.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14499502#post14499502 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveMorris
As a matter of fact, yes I do want to trust DA. I was one of the first people to receive the Reefkeeper Elite. I have had no problems using it and their customer service is phenominal. The RKE was hardly in "the beta stage" at release. Are you saying that the Profilux controller was perfect in every setup from the day it was released? I doubt it. I also find it amusing that you consider the AC3 to be "low end" and the Profilux to be "high end". I know a lot of Neptune and Elos owners who would beg to differ. Why not just let the controllers speak for themselves?
Click to expand...

Not sure where to start.

Just go to the RKE forums, they are full of problems from day one, they are just getting a grip of things.
RKE is not a bad product.
DID THEY RELEASE A PRODUCT BEFORE IT WAS DONE?
THEY SURE DID!
People that buy $500 plus controllers should not trust their expensive stock to something that was premature released.

There is no debate about them not being ready.
Goggle quotes:

"They're bug testing the RMK-ALC. Very beta tests showed that dimming caused electronic interferences with pH and temp readings. They've since pulled the posts from their support forums.

Check my other post in reply to your RKE post. Frustrating and disappointing are two words that come to mind when I think of the RKE."

" know a couple guys who own the RKE and the problems they had with the unit is typical of new products being released before there ready. one unit's LCD didn't display anything and he had to ship it back while another turns his halides off every so often, then 5 mins later turns them back on. plus the unit itself is made out of a plastic that feels toy like. imo if your planning to buy this wait until they correct these issues."

You got to update all those modules? Those are not only features updates, lol.

Do you really want trust your stock to this?
How long has RKE been out?

Updates.

This is just a small snapshot.

When ever you are comparing anything in life. you take snapshots of the past, present.
And from that you can get hopefully a clear picture on whats going to happen, that the best anyone can do.

I am not going to trust unpolished equipment to my stock, just because its the fad to have it.
Maybe in a couple of months they have a solid product.

People that buy $500 controllers do more then have it watch the temps of their tanks.
AC3 is a great and tested controller, but it does not have conductively, nor does RKE at this time, You got to move up to the A3pro or to a Profilux for the more advance features.

Controllers are suppose to make decisions when you are not around!
Maybe it can patch itself with the next patch.

Hmm..... Paradox.
 
Well, my RKE system does far more than watch the temp in my tank. I have a 300g display tank (mixed reef), 25g frag tank, 100g sump, 60g fuge, and an underground saltwater reservoir that is an additional 165g cycling through my whole system. My RKE does the following, and has for some time:

Turns the lighting on and off as I programmed it
Maintains tank temp to 78 +/- 1 degree
Monitors ph, ORP, and temp in two places
Controls my ozone generator based on ORP
Monitors two float switches to run my auto topoff
Turns on my RO/DI system when my topoff reservoir is low
Turns on my dosing pumps every day
Sends me an email when something is out of my chosen parameters
Continuously sends out an RSS feed of all of the parameters that I have it set up to do.

Probably does a few other things that I set up, but can't remember off hand. With the exception of the networking stuff, all of the above has been setup from just about the first day I got the system probably six months ago. Have people had problems? Yes Are some people still having problems? Yes Are they being addressed quickly? Absolutely

There are several things that I really wish the RKE system could do right now. However, this is a product that has only been out for less than a year. Every controller out there continuously has new features, new software updates, new modules, etc. released as they are developed. You can look at any company's support forum, if they have one, and find people having problems with things. That is why every technology company out there has a support system of some kind. Personally I would not spend the crazy money that it costs to buy a Profilux controller. And yes, I know they have a model that is around $500, but it can't do everything. I also prefer buying one that is made in the USA, but I guess that is just me.
 
RKE is not a bad product, but the company releasing things prematures is troublesome for me.

More Google Qoutes :

"This unit is horrible. As for the last review, it stated how the user is till waiting for bugs to be worked out. This unit was released with horrible research and develoment. DA will get back to you on your issues...but it takes quite a while. I suspect their workload has increased with all of the issues. Having to load and reload firmware because the unit wasn't built correctly is horrible. How would you feel if you bought a car and had to take it back to the dealer every time it broke because of MANUFACTURER defects!!!! I'm with the first review and use the money on another controller. All I have encountered are issues. Mine is for sale on CL "

"What a bad experience. I purchased without doing my research. I had a RK2 with little problems so I decided to upgrade to the RKE. Disaster!!! Customer service is a joke!! You have to keep upgrading firmware..that means disconnecting everything and taking it to your computer..and then it still doesn't work. As I browsed the forums, I realized I wasn't the only one having problems. $500 can be spent in so may better ways!!!"

"I had the MH issue that a lot of people had at first. But I have to disagree with the other reviewer on service! Now that they have fixed the issue with the a firmware update I'm flying high! This thing rocks and 1.07 fix almost all my issues! I think with new stuff it takes a bit of patients. DA seems fairly quick to update and fix bugs and they are always posting on their support forum. There are a couple other little issues that I'm hoping get worked out but from the sounds of it, there's another firmware update coming down the road that should improve graphing, (the only little bug that I'm dealing with.) It can be a hassle doing updates BUT I would rather buy from a company that releases them more frequently then not."

Keyword, is updates and a lots of them.

I say this again, are you going to trust your expensive stock to company that releases thing that has tons of bugs?
I am not saying RKE is a bad product, but the philosophy of releasing electronics too early is very troublesome.

Maybe they learn their lesson.
We can only judge the past and present.
My 2-cent.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14500993#post14500993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveMorris
Personally I would not spend the crazy money that it costs to buy a Profilux controller. And yes, I know they have a model that is around $500, but it can't do everything. I also prefer buying one that is made in the USA, but I guess that is just me.
Click to expand...

The Profilux II plus EX, is the same price as the RKE when you consider the extra module your going to need to add to compare it.

RKE does not have conductivity module, the Profilux II plus EX does have it.
If you compare apples to apples the Profilux wins.

The RKE is a new line for them, the Profilux III is around the corner with features that Aquarium Reefer hasn't seen before.
Thats a claim I am going to hold them true. :strooper:

All Profilux controllers boards are replaceable, so any controller you buy today can be upgrade to the P3. Thats a very strong point to consider. Take the old board out, Ebay it, and buy the newer board for a discount.
For me that future proof equipment FTW !
 
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I have the aquatronica. I've had the ACpro. Both are good units. Apparently there were issues with the old aquatronica, but I'm using the new one and it seems solid. A tad pricey, but I like the option to monitor salinity.
 
When someone buys an item, they want to feel they got a good deal or brought something worthwhile.

After you get it most, will defend on what they just brought, its part of the reason why we brought it in the first place.
Also will make them feel like they made a mistake in buying in the first place if they don't.

Then you got those that get frustrated easy and go to the other spectrum of things. They think what they just brought is junk and feel the only way to solve the mistake they made is to think its junk and move on.

I am no means saying this is what happen to you. But I do not see Profilux having the reputation that your are claiming it has.

From all my research Profilux has great products and they are considered to be the high end controllers with great support.
I been following every thread at their forums and they answering very fast, they got some knowledgeable players in there.

Has RKE catch up to them, yes that have.
But RKE releasing products unfinished is very troublesome, something to consider when owning expensive stock.

The price difference are not that far off, if your a smart buyer you can them for the price of RKE.

P3 is around the corner they will surpass RKE with their known robust design and support.
Remember snapshot of the past and present tells a lot about a company and where they stand at.
 
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