Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
Ok, I convinced myself that either one of those will be my next toy....
Who has what and why? What are the pros and cons between the two?
Who has what and why? What are the pros and cons between the two?
Reefkeeper II or Aquacontroller Jr.???
- Thread starter Speckled Grouper
- Start date
I want AC Jr. baddd!
I wonder if Mike can do a group buy if you want to get a RK2. I'm really into getting either.
Pros - AC Jr. has Perform Datalogging, Simulate a Moon Cycle and Simulate Sunrise/Sunset. RK2 - Bad *** display! But thats about it... lol
Cons - AC Jr. is just ugly, but bearable. RK2 no datalogging.
Im for AC Jr., but have yet to buy for some odd reason. If I can get a decent deal on either I will jump on it.
I wonder if Mike can do a group buy if you want to get a RK2. I'm really into getting either.
Pros - AC Jr. has Perform Datalogging, Simulate a Moon Cycle and Simulate Sunrise/Sunset. RK2 - Bad *** display! But thats about it... lol
Cons - AC Jr. is just ugly, but bearable. RK2 no datalogging.
Im for AC Jr., but have yet to buy for some odd reason. If I can get a decent deal on either I will jump on it.
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/reefkeeper2.html
RK2
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm#CONTROL
AC Jr.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=872960
Thread started by me... read on down and there are more links. After reading the link, I wanted the AC Jr. but I know there are new options with the RK2 which I have yet to read all of it.
RK2
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaControllerJr.htm#CONTROL
AC Jr.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=872960
Thread started by me... read on down and there are more links. After reading the link, I wanted the AC Jr. but I know there are new options with the RK2 which I have yet to read all of it.
Rogger Castells
New member
Andrea, I have the reefkeeper, I love it and I am looking for a rk2 for my 75 gal tank, and the 210. Both controllers are almost the same and comparable the few extra things that the ACJR can do over the RK2 are not something I need.
The reason why I like the RK2 is because of its design, it allow you to mount the unit flush in or outside your stand with out seeing any wires at all, it also allows you to install the unit on top of your tank or even remotely cause all the probes and wires connect to the dc8 remote unit and not the controller, also the controller has the one wire that connects to the remote unit coming out of the back of the unit. The other feature I like from the RK2 is that it does not have a large transformer; I hate the heavy transformers taking up 2 spaces in the power strip!
In the case of the AQJR the PH, Temp, ORP probes connect directly to the unit through the bottom of the unit making it impossible to mounted outside the tank with out having a lot of wires hanging from the unit (I am anal when it comes to wires hanging)
On the downside of the reefkeeper, it does not have an ORP controller and if you run ozone you will need one.
The reason why I like the RK2 is because of its design, it allow you to mount the unit flush in or outside your stand with out seeing any wires at all, it also allows you to install the unit on top of your tank or even remotely cause all the probes and wires connect to the dc8 remote unit and not the controller, also the controller has the one wire that connects to the remote unit coming out of the back of the unit. The other feature I like from the RK2 is that it does not have a large transformer; I hate the heavy transformers taking up 2 spaces in the power strip!
In the case of the AQJR the PH, Temp, ORP probes connect directly to the unit through the bottom of the unit making it impossible to mounted outside the tank with out having a lot of wires hanging from the unit (I am anal when it comes to wires hanging)
On the downside of the reefkeeper, it does not have an ORP controller and if you run ozone you will need one.
Rogger Castells
New member
Eric, the sunset/sunrise feature is something that both controllers can do, it is just the sequence in which you turn your light on and off, you can set up this in either of this units, have you seen the datalogging graphs on the AQjr? they are very difficult to understand and too complicated to use unless you have a pc connected to the unit permanently, makes no sence to me.
I dunno if you have, but I have played with both controllers interface and RK2 is 100% more user friendly and stray forward to set up and understand than the AQjr, they are like night and day.
I dunno if you have, but I have played with both controllers interface and RK2 is 100% more user friendly and stray forward to set up and understand than the AQjr, they are like night and day.
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
Looks is not so important to me as is user friendlyness. I am sick and tired of my multiple timers crapping out on me and being inaccurate all the time. For the money I spent on timers, temperature devices, etc, I could have bought one of each by now. Live and learn.....
ek9vboi what is the cheapest you found them at?
ek9vboi what is the cheapest you found them at?
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
You too!
thesaent14
In Memoriam
i feel so bad to be the only one i guess to like the octopus from aquadine
cschweitzer
New member
AC jr. all the way!! The fact you can plug into a stand alone computer and log every event that occurs in your tank is reason enough. Who really cares about user friendliness if you don't have a clue as to what's going on and what needs to be done to fix problems while you're gone?
Let's say a spontaneous 15 degree rise and drop occurs at exactly 2 pm every day and you are at work. Every day you get home and see your tank, and every day you're wondering why it is diminishing and why all your fish are sick or dead. ACjr is there to save the day. You can look back at your log and see when any fluctuations occur and pinpoint a remedy much quicker. Obviously this is an exaggeration, but when even a two-three degree change can mess with your fish, why risk anything to chance. Log it and look back later.
Let's say a spontaneous 15 degree rise and drop occurs at exactly 2 pm every day and you are at work. Every day you get home and see your tank, and every day you're wondering why it is diminishing and why all your fish are sick or dead. ACjr is there to save the day. You can look back at your log and see when any fluctuations occur and pinpoint a remedy much quicker. Obviously this is an exaggeration, but when even a two-three degree change can mess with your fish, why risk anything to chance. Log it and look back later.
Rogger Castells
New member
I haven't changed my mind in regards of the RK2; however, you’ve got a good point.
Let me give you another scenario that actually occurred to me this past week, I left on vacation and had a friend look after my tanks, on the second day of the vacation there was a large storm and my house had a strong power surge, everything lost power for approx 4 hours, my friend called me that night and told me that the lights of the small tank (RK2 tank) were off and that all the other tanks appeared to be off. I suspected that it was a lost of power situation and instructed him to reset the GFI's on the other tanks and sure enough they turned back on, no major damage, then he went to the tank that had the RK2 and noticed that all the pumps were working but there was no lighting apparently the Clock had reset when the light were out and it need it to be re-program, I was afraid of asking him to touch the controller as he has never seen it nor he is acquainted with computer controls, plus I had not had to touch the controller for months so I did not remember how to reset the time.
I asking anyway to try to input the correct time on the controller with me giving him instructions over the phone, he did it in about 1 minute he had successfully reset the clock on the unit and the light s were back on no problem.
In this case the fact that the unit was user friendly did save the day, as I said at the begining both units are good it is a matter of preference.
Let me give you another scenario that actually occurred to me this past week, I left on vacation and had a friend look after my tanks, on the second day of the vacation there was a large storm and my house had a strong power surge, everything lost power for approx 4 hours, my friend called me that night and told me that the lights of the small tank (RK2 tank) were off and that all the other tanks appeared to be off. I suspected that it was a lost of power situation and instructed him to reset the GFI's on the other tanks and sure enough they turned back on, no major damage, then he went to the tank that had the RK2 and noticed that all the pumps were working but there was no lighting apparently the Clock had reset when the light were out and it need it to be re-program, I was afraid of asking him to touch the controller as he has never seen it nor he is acquainted with computer controls, plus I had not had to touch the controller for months so I did not remember how to reset the time.
I asking anyway to try to input the correct time on the controller with me giving him instructions over the phone, he did it in about 1 minute he had successfully reset the clock on the unit and the light s were back on no problem.
In this case the fact that the unit was user friendly did save the day, as I said at the begining both units are good it is a matter of preference.
Good news Rogger... the RK2 has the batt. back up.
Internal backup battery for clock and settings
The internal battery will last for years keeping the time and settings of the ReefKeeper. The battery also allows power interruptions to have little effect on the system which is especially important when you are gone for days at a time. A power outage will not require the adjustments that to traditional light timers need after the power is restored.
Internal backup battery for clock and settings
The internal battery will last for years keeping the time and settings of the ReefKeeper. The battery also allows power interruptions to have little effect on the system which is especially important when you are gone for days at a time. A power outage will not require the adjustments that to traditional light timers need after the power is restored.
cschweitzer
New member
Same with the ACjr and it will alert you(with the aqua notes pro) through your e-mail, cell phone, or pager that your system has restarted and tell you the problems still occurring. With the aquanotes upgrade, you can also monitor everything online through a web page with all your info. Lights turn on and off automatically and will wait for ballasts and bulbs to cool before restarting, as all mh users know, the bulbs will not fire hot. Also, if your tank is overheating, it will turn lights off for you in emergency situations. With proper chiller and heater, your tank can stay within .3 degrees of optimal range at all times. ACjr can be set up to warn you when outages or any range becomes unreliable. Computer monitoring and alerts(with an upgrade to comp software) allows you to vacation without worry.
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
I think the RK2 has that same capability.
And vacation without worry, that doesn't seem to exist......Isn't it that the tank always waits for you to leave and then something goes wrong?
Rogger Castells
New member
I just lost power for about 2 hrs now, this is sad, we haven't even gotten the hurricane yet! my only issue with having to purchase the aquanotes ($150 extra) to have the computer email me would be that if the lights go the computer goes too! and the modem and the router and .........The hot water!!! I should have waited for the power to come back on to take a shower!
in any case my point is that when the power goes (in my case at least) nothing else works
in any case my point is that when the power goes (in my case at least) nothing else works
thesaent14
In Memoriam
lol i stand along in this one but all those options the octopus have an all those are copys of the octopus sorry guys but i have computers conected i am able to control and wach my tank opnline the same of to see whats going on with everting just tink about all the money you have invest in you'r tank i you are here deabting on whats more and lest lol
btw
it all depends on the person and how much they willing to spend
here is some comperecy
Monitor: pH, and Temperature
Control: pH, and Temperature
Optional Computer Interface - works With AquaNotes NOW!
1 Optional External Switch Input
Timers
Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
Simulate a Moon Cycle
Control Powerheads/Pumps (Wavemaker)
Hardwired or X10 Control Options
Programming Language
Alarms
Perform Datalogging
Flash Memory for easy Firmware Upgrades
LCD Display
Display Lock with password protection
Battery Backed Real Time Clock
they all have this options
when you go and try to have orp you have to opay more this is a extra option
this is somting i have not see in the other concutivity wich is standar in the octopus somting ells is a intel chip this is what the other tell you they have a chip but wich one
somting i don't see is dosing i can have and control in difrent time or simultaniesly cal,kalk,co2,and more options wich i don't remeber from the top of my head
so that why i stand alon with my octopus for the money and for how long i have see this company around i am not trying to sale or tell any one to buy this but just to see the options and why i like it thanks
manny
btw
it all depends on the person and how much they willing to spend
here is some comperecy
Monitor: pH, and Temperature
Control: pH, and Temperature
Optional Computer Interface - works With AquaNotes NOW!
1 Optional External Switch Input
Timers
Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
Simulate a Moon Cycle
Control Powerheads/Pumps (Wavemaker)
Hardwired or X10 Control Options
Programming Language
Alarms
Perform Datalogging
Flash Memory for easy Firmware Upgrades
LCD Display
Display Lock with password protection
Battery Backed Real Time Clock
they all have this options
when you go and try to have orp you have to opay more this is a extra option
this is somting i have not see in the other concutivity wich is standar in the octopus somting ells is a intel chip this is what the other tell you they have a chip but wich one
somting i don't see is dosing i can have and control in difrent time or simultaniesly cal,kalk,co2,and more options wich i don't remeber from the top of my head
so that why i stand alon with my octopus for the money and for how long i have see this company around i am not trying to sale or tell any one to buy this but just to see the options and why i like it thanks
manny
Rogger Castells
New member
Manny post a picture of your octopus on your set-up for us
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