What to buy and where is USA?

[pyton]

I have been using an Apex and I have not been too happy with it.

I have a 240 gallon tank and have the following equipment.

240 LED DIY system powered by 3 drivers that are dimmable.
2 tunze 6105
1 Koralia the random to come on.

1 skimmer
1 fuge power head
1 fuge light

1 return pump

1 Kalk reactor
1 CA Reactor

2 float switches (low and high monitoring)
1 ATO switch

I want to monitor
pH (maybe 2 probes)
ORP
temp
conductivity

What unit do you have that will cover all this and what is the best way to connect my lights to your system? Just a normal 0-10v like it is on the Apex or is there something better to get the random weather affects?

Finally where can I buy one of these set ups?

I want to have internet access so I can build a app for my smart phone to talk to the controller and be able to get to it while I am on the road traveling. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give to me so I get this right the first time.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

Your best system then would be the ProfiLux 3EX beginner pack which you cna then add extra bits to as you wish, this has full webserver capabilities and of course Profilux's global renowned reliability pedigree.

To connect to 0-10V you have a couple of options, there is the cheap interface box that comes with the connection cable and right terminals to wire your ballasts into. Or you have the EVG PCB (and this is where GHL starts to leave the competition behind) The EVG card not only acts as the interface between the controller and the ballast but also senses 0VDC and turns the mains power off the ballasts, this means you dont have to have any timers operational or the ballasts connected to the power bar. Just plug directly into the wall socket

You best place of purchase is the GHL USA based website www.ghl-direct.com shipping is within 48 hours and you should receive your order within 5 days typically.

 

[pyton]

how many controllable outlets does this come with?

Do they ever go on sale?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

yes
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2007473

or call 1866 997 7333 and ask for Gareth

 

[Pro_Reef]

The PIII Beginner pack comes with 6 controllable outlets, but you can always add more pretty easily with an additional PAB power bar.

These do go on sale periodically, but we just recently had a sale so the next one wont be for a while. Usually there is a sale twice a year on Profilux equipment, with occasional product specials or introductory pricing for combo packages or new products.

For controlling your LED's are you using 1-10V drivers or PWM? GHL has a solution for both.

Im curious how you were able to get 240 LED's running off of 3 drivers, are you running fused parallel strings? Sounds like an impressive LED build (you'll really see it shine when you add a controller to the mix for cloud simulation and dimming).

 

[snorvich]

Gareth and Michael really know their stuff! I am a newbie to Profilux and they sure got me going quickly.

 

[pyton]

I am using the Thomas Research Drivers that are 0-10v dimmable.
There are three strings of 80.

I used a 6 rail system that have the outside rails connected and each rail has 40 LED's on them.
The ratio is 3 white to 1 blue. These are the last lights to come on and first to go off during the day.

The 4 rails in the middle have a 1:1 ratio of white and blue 80 of each and each color is powered by its own driver.

Blue start up around 8am and ramp up until noon at which time they stay at this level until 2pm and they ramp down to 50% of the level they were at until 4 pm and stay at this level until 10pm at night.

Whites start up at 9 amd ramp up until noon also from noon to 2 they are the highest I want to let them go for now and then they ramp down from 2pm to 5pm until they are off.

Finally at 10 pm my moon lights (5 leds) come on and stay on until around 3am

Now the outlets, 6 does not seem like a lot to begin with. I think I am using 20 with my Apex (of course that is when it is working) so that might be a little expensive for me to move everything over to them.

Does this unit measure the Amps of the power bars like the Apex does?

Really wish there was some software I could test drive and a manual some where so I can read up on it? I think I am going to have to wait for the next sale but I am very interested.

The PIII Beginner pack comes with 6 controllable outlets, but you can always add more pretty easily with an additional PAB power bar.

These do go on sale periodically, but we just recently had a sale so the next one wont be for a while. Usually there is a sale twice a year on Profilux equipment, with occasional product specials or introductory pricing for combo packages or new products.

For controlling your LED's are you using 1-10V drivers or PWM? GHL has a solution for both.

Im curious how you were able to get 240 LED's running off of 3 drivers, are you running fused parallel strings? Sounds like an impressive LED build (you'll really see it shine when you add a controller to the mix for cloud simulation and dimming).

 

[pyton]

Also will my lab grade ORP and pH probe from Neptune work with your system? I guess I cannot return the probes when I return this unit.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

the pH should but the orp might be of a different ohms so you may have trouble with calibration, best to try and see then in a year switch out to the GHL ones.

Yep the profilux 3 reads amps

talk to Gareth about a deal

 

[pyton]

put an email into Neptune Systems to find out what ohms they are running at. Hopefully they are the same so I can cut down on the cost and not have to just throw things out.

 

[Specialtang]

Another question on what to buy that was never answered. hey pyton, did you ever call and get a price quote? I bet they offered your about $150.00 off. Did you ever get the help you were looking for?

 

[pyton]

I called and got a price but that did not include everything I needed. the savings was not as much as I thought it would be by the way they stated above.

I tried to figure that out on my own. I emailed sales a couple times and sent them a PM last week. I never got a reply, so I did not follow up after that. Lately everyone seems to be lacking customer service, I am just tired of dealing with the lack of customer service.

I am the customer I should not have to chase people down for sales.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Hi

I am sorry as posted here on this forum I have been out the country for a week and just got back now.

Where are you located?

 

[Pro_Reef]

I was just going through our emails and I found your original message. Unfortunately it came in on my days off and had been flagged as read and was missed, my apologies for not following up on that, I didnt realize you had attempted to contact me after our phone conversation.

As per your email regarding LED's, if you use drivers that have a 1-10v interface on them you can easily dim them and provide most simulation effects of the profilux. However, if you want "lightning" effects you will need to use PWM capable drivers and a module called the LED Control4. This might be a bit overfly complicated though as you may have to build your own pull up resistor to make this work (most PWM drivers I have used are not open drain and require a 10V powered PWM signal).

If you have an existing Auto Top off system, I dont belive you will be able to connect it to the profilux for proxilux control. Usually for ATO using a profilux you would simply use One or Two GHL level sensors (either optical or floats) and a pump/powerhead to act as your ATO pump.

 

[Pro_Reef]

In the future just so you know, I am out of the office on Tuesday and Wednesdays. We are also a retail store so we are often dealing with over the counter sales and may not respond to E-mails immediately if we're tied up with in store customers.

We are open 7 days a week however, so don't hesitate to phone us for pressing questions. Tuesdays and Wednesdays may be difficult to get GHL questions answered if they are of a more technical nature, but I'm more then happy to get back to you on Thursday-Monday.