What would you buy next?

[Doubledown]

I have some $ in my paypal account that I was going to use on my tanks. Can't decide what to buy.

1. Change out lights from 250 HQI to 400 electronic (requires new ballasts/pendant/bulbs).

2. Get a tank controller (ReefKeeper2 or Aquacontroller - not sure which one).

3. Buy up enough tank supplies (GFO, DI Resin, Mg suppliment, etc) for next year or so.

4. Get a LitreMeter for topoff.


1. I have a 24" tall tank and would really like to go with 20K bulbs for color, but I also want the higher par values for growth. I was leaning toward the Galaxy ballast w/Lumenmax pendants, but the Coralvue ballasts are much cheaper and the Lumenarc reflectors are really nice as well. End result would be a sale of my current 250 HQI set-ups.

2. I have been wanting a controller for some time now, just considered it a luxury item for the tank. I can replace all the timers and pH controller on the Ca reactor with either of them, it might be nice to have a few less of these items around.

3. I need to order these things anyway, why not buy in larger bulk to save $.

4. Currently I use a ReefFanatic level controller and an Aquamedic dosing pump for top off. It works fine, just that Rod has always preached about the effectiveness of a stable dosing pump.


So what would you do?

 

[little_squid]

2 or 4 be my choice

 

[Larry Waughon]

I would get the ReefKeeper2. I love mine and don't know how I would do with out it,

 

[BlakDuc]

Definatly the controller.

 

[BenjieC]

Get an AC III

 

[BenjieC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10847024#post10847024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BenjieC
Get an AC III

or better yet a generator if you don't have one.

 

[SlowCobra]

Get an AC III if you are going to get a controller. If you ever want to control more than 1 tank you will kick yourself for not spending the extra money up front. You are welcome to come over and take a look at my brand new one and peruse through it and the web software to see if you like it.

There is nothing wrong with the 250 HQI on a 24" tank. PLENTY of light. I put my 250 HQI's on a kill a watt and they actually run at 330 watts. My 400 standard magnetic run at 400 watts. I guess the plus to the 400's is that the bulb selection is better and they actually last longer due to not being over-driven.

On a side note can anyone with electronic ballasts confirm the power level they run at? Are the only advantages to them, firing of any bulb as well as running cooler? Obviously huge advantages but is it worth the upgrade cost?

Get the lumenarc or Lumen brite reflectors and make it a night and day difference for minimal investment.

 

[PSam]

Any choices are good. I love the litermeter 3. Love AC3. I'd buy a LM3 before a controller. The thing is a workhorse.

 

[little_squid]

slowcobra if you have a killa watt tester i have two different elec ballast you could check
2 ev tech and 2 coralvue ballast
i would love to test my sendra pump as well

 

[jjjimmy]

even though it is not on your list I have to second the generator. Other than that I would opt for bulk supplies. I had a controller at one time and became less happy with the complacency that I felt towards the tank thinking that everything is OK because it is on the controller. I personally do not like the feeling of being that displaced from the system as a whole (maybe that is just me).

I keep myself more in check and more "in tune" with my system now that I no longer have the controller on the system.

The lighting that you have now is plenty for a 20" deep tank.

As far as #4, I find it rather hard to disagree with Rod.

 

[karenL]

acIII, it's next on my list

 

[Napervegas]

litermeter its priceless

 

[DarkLordCoral]

I second Benjie on the generator. It's the most overlooked piece of equipment.

If your going to look into a controller, look into the Aquatronica. There are no limits and it's infinitely expandable.

 

[aiko670]

All are good choices! I went with a reef filler on Rod's recommendation and love it! I have an ACIII and it rocks, there's nothing it can't do...

I think your lights are fine but 400's never hurt....

Generator....It saved my lilly white..... during the last storm.....24hrs no power.... I had my whole tank running, fridge and TV....

 

[Doubledown]

I hadn't thought about the generator - that is an excellent suggestion.

DLC - I tried looking at the Aquatronica site but could not make heads or tails of it. I am not very techy so I was leaning toward the RK2, but I like the idea of having an ORP/2nd pH controller of the ACIII. you run the Aquatronica, is it easy to use?

 

[canar]

If your going to look into a controller, look into the Aquatronica. There are no limits and it's infinitely expandable.

Don't they use USB cables to connect their equipment together? If so there is a huge limitation of distance with multiple tanks.

 

[DarkLordCoral]

They do use usb cables and all you have to do is plug in a usb extension so multiple rooms with multiple tanks is quite simple. Also every device is plug and play and the possibility for expansion is endless.
Temperature Sensor
Water Level Sensor
PH
Redox
Salinity
PC Interface
Dosing Pump
Ethernet Module
Water Leakage
Calcium (In the works & it will work unlike others)
SMS Module for cell phone
Dimmer for T5's

It's really quite simple.

 

[canar]

Not as simple as you think. Take my house for instance. My controller handles multiple tanks in different rooms. It also handles the sump in the basement. I will quote some of the issues below this that using USB to connect the devices together creates.

Q1: How long of a cable can I use to connect my device?
A1: In practice, the USB specification limits the length of a cable between full speed devices to 5 meters (a little under 16 feet 5 inches). For a low speed device the limit is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches).

Q2: Why can't I use a cable longer than 3 or 5m?
A2: USB's electrical design doesn't allow it. When USB was designed, a decision was made to handle the propagation of electromagnetic fields on USB data lines in a way that limited the maximum length of a USB cable to something in the range of 4m. This method has a number of advantages and, since USB is intended for a desktop environment, the range limitations were deemed acceptable. If you're familiar with transmission line theory and want more detail on this topic, take a look at the USB signals section of the developers FAQ

 

[DarkLordCoral]

It still is quite simple the info you posted is a little out of date.

For runs over 16ft you use an "active" extension cable (not expensive $15 from most online computer stores). 4 of these USB Active Extension cables can be linked together to extend up to 80 feet. If you need further than that you go with a Super USB Extender to extend up to 150 ft.

 

[canar]

I spoke to their support when I was looking for my controller and they told me USB extenders would not work and they were limited to the 16 feet. Thats why I went with the AC3. Maybe they fixed that now?