The Big Controller Comparison Chart.
- Thread starter RobbyG
- Start date
reefkeeper1
Member
J.D. Power is able to provide customer satisfaction ratings based on various criteria for automobiles because they can survey thousands of people among millions of owners. This would be very difficult with controllers because of the relatively small market and sample size for controllers. You could possibly put together a poll, but I think most of the customer service feedback you'll receive regarding a controller will have to be anecdotal from places like this board.
I went with the LightHouse Controller since Premium Aquatics puts their name and support behind that controller. Their customer service has been unparalleled for me since I've started buying from them almost 10 years ago, so the controller is receiving a halo branding effect from PA. What really won me over to the LightHouse is its built-in webserver. Now, whether I'm at work or on a trip, I can check up on the status of my tank.
RobbyG
Active member
The problem is that only about half the controllers listed will have a high enough number of users to get real results, so the others would have nothing displayed, it's just going to be a whole lot of work with numbers that have no real meaning. For now it's just best for potential buyers to just ask other owners what they think.
RobbyG
Active member
In Case you dont have Microsoft office Installed and you need to view the Chart, you can download this viewer from microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...f4-996c-4569-b547-75edbd03aaf0&displaylang=EN
Big hanks to Wiszmaster for the link.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...f4-996c-4569-b547-75edbd03aaf0&displaylang=EN
Big hanks to Wiszmaster for the link.
Fraggle Rock2
New member
Not to sidetrack again, but figured I would mention this also:
You can also use Open Office to view the MS Office Documents - free from here:
http://www.openoffice.org/
BTW nice work on the table! I was just looking at the Profilux II five minutes ago and was wondering how it compared. Thanks for doing all that leg work!
Cheers
You can also use Open Office to view the MS Office Documents - free from here:
http://www.openoffice.org/
BTW nice work on the table! I was just looking at the Profilux II five minutes ago and was wondering how it compared. Thanks for doing all that leg work!
Cheers
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Thanks Man for all your hard work and dedication to helping other Reefers! The head Reefer in charge will bless you and yours! We have all been searching for this comparrison and I thank you VERY MUCH!
RobbyG
Active member
Yes the IKS and many of the European controllers took a lot of digging to find the info. The IKS does have SMS but if you look at there web page you could hardly tell 
Here is a link to what I found.
http://www.iks-aqua.com/html/engl/fernueberwachung.php
Thanks for the thumbs up
Here is a link to what I found.http://www.iks-aqua.com/html/engl/fernueberwachung.php
Thanks for the thumbs up
Many thanks on the super work Robby!
There is one controller that I did not see listed, that I use myself. It's the Solar1000 currently sold by BlueLine Products (they have it listed in their "Dimmers" section, but it's really a controller).
http://www.bluelineaquatics.com/products/dimmer/1000.html
It's not as sophisticated as the others on your chart, but a couple things that I think set it apart are its ability to dim up to 8 VHO bulbs using two Icecap 660s, and it has a 110v moon port that directly drives an incandescent load to follow the lunar cycle (day and night). Maximum intensity of the lunar bulb can be software-controlled (this is different than other controllers with lunar ports). It has pH, ORP, and temp probe ports. It uses X10 to control these along with dosers, wavemakers, and 4 light timers (in addition to the 2 dimmable Icecap 660 ballasts.) Also has a feed timer mode. It is programmable to follow seasonal variations in both photoperiod and temperature. It can do seasonal weather changes by varying wavemakers and lighting on certain random days. The manual in the website's support section covers the features in more detail.
It has no sort of data logging port or remote access ability. I purchased the unit ~1998, and it has had some issues with being sensitive to electrical noise. I needed to put power filters on all ballasts and the controller's power cord, or the X10s didn't always work right, and sometimes the controller would get corrupted and need to be reset. It works fairly reliably since I've done that though. Maybe the newer ones aren't as sensitive. If dimming VHOs, it works best with an even number of bulbs and a ground plane kit on the bulbs.
Thanks again!
There is one controller that I did not see listed, that I use myself. It's the Solar1000 currently sold by BlueLine Products (they have it listed in their "Dimmers" section, but it's really a controller).
http://www.bluelineaquatics.com/products/dimmer/1000.html
It's not as sophisticated as the others on your chart, but a couple things that I think set it apart are its ability to dim up to 8 VHO bulbs using two Icecap 660s, and it has a 110v moon port that directly drives an incandescent load to follow the lunar cycle (day and night). Maximum intensity of the lunar bulb can be software-controlled (this is different than other controllers with lunar ports). It has pH, ORP, and temp probe ports. It uses X10 to control these along with dosers, wavemakers, and 4 light timers (in addition to the 2 dimmable Icecap 660 ballasts.) Also has a feed timer mode. It is programmable to follow seasonal variations in both photoperiod and temperature. It can do seasonal weather changes by varying wavemakers and lighting on certain random days. The manual in the website's support section covers the features in more detail.
It has no sort of data logging port or remote access ability. I purchased the unit ~1998, and it has had some issues with being sensitive to electrical noise. I needed to put power filters on all ballasts and the controller's power cord, or the X10s didn't always work right, and sometimes the controller would get corrupted and need to be reset. It works fairly reliably since I've done that though. Maybe the newer ones aren't as sensitive. If dimming VHOs, it works best with an even number of bulbs and a ground plane kit on the bulbs.
Thanks again!
flfirefighter13
New member
Thanks for this thread, just took a ton of research time off my plate!
Good Job!!!! One controller I am considering purchasing, which I do not see in the chart, is the IKS Aquastar.
http://www.iks-aqua.com/html/engl/aquastar.php
Is this the big brother to the Midi? Or is it a more compact version of the same controller?
http://www.iks-aqua.com/html/engl/aquastar.php
Is this the big brother to the Midi? Or is it a more compact version of the same controller?
Ok I am going to sound really stupid here but one very important item that I feel should be added to this list for people such as myself and we can all help each other here is how much or the best prices for these. I know I am looking for a controller to monitor and control PH/TEMP/ORP and it would be a plus if it removes stray energy. I really like and want a Neptune aquacontroller II but they don't make it and the III is way higher in price and the JR isnt to my liking soooooo Anyone know of prices for something like this cheap is the name of the game or maybe has a aquacontroller II they don't need anymore???????
