No, not really. When I was in the market for a controller 6 years ago (says the Apex owner), Neptune and DA were kind of neck and neck. But the market skewed in Neptune's favor back then because of DA's absolute horrendous customer service and inability to bring out advertised/promised products to market on time. In my opinion, DA - even under new management - has not been able to dig themselves out of that hole that was created 6-7 years ago. It doesn't help that their latest product had launch issues and has taken a loooong time to finally appear to be stable. But I think the primary reason you see the haters on DA is because of how many folks they burned in the past.
Why do I see so much hate for the ReefKeeper Controller?
- Thread starter bfortune76
- Start date
No, not really. When I was in the market for a controller 6 years ago (says the Apex owner), Neptune and DA were kind of neck and neck. But the market skewed in Neptune's favor back then because of DA's absolute horrendous customer service and inability to bring out advertised/promised products to market on time. In my opinion, DA - even under new management - has not been able to dig themselves out of that hole that was created 6-7 years ago. It doesn't help that their latest product had launch issues and has taken a loooong time to finally appear to be stable. But I think the primary reason you see the haters on DA is because of how many folks they burned in the past.
Well like you I wondered the same and used mine RK Elite for 8 years with no issues! However a couple months ago the main screen died and my orp/heat and everything it was controlling got off over a weekend. I was able to manually plug everything in and get things back in check, but I contacted the Digital Aquatics Emergency line.....48 hours later nothing. So I emailed them and called them again. Well after 2 weeks of no response I went out and bought an Apex Gold. I don't have any real experience with the Apex yet, but the complete lack of customer support from DA made me swap.
ReefCowboy
New member
I'm glad you posted this, usually companies pay attention to threads and posts like this for improvement. I would say negative feedback here is a serious set back for anyone selling reef related stuff...It's unacceptable to have so long with no response when you have so much on the line trusting a business.
bfortune76
New member
See I have had no issues with customer support. Their forum does not work very well but with a little research I have found that any question I had, had already been asked and solved by someone else.
On top of that I bought a used NET module that turned out to be DOA despite the person that sold it to me swearing it worked before hand. I contacted customer support and explained the whole situation I had a new lite system and bought a used NET module that does not work. The next day I had an email back from them. They said send us your dead module and we will fix it or send you a new one.
On top of that I bought a used NET module that turned out to be DOA despite the person that sold it to me swearing it worked before hand. I contacted customer support and explained the whole situation I had a new lite system and bought a used NET module that does not work. The next day I had an email back from them. They said send us your dead module and we will fix it or send you a new one.
bfortune76
New member
Damn!! I just saw the price of the Archon head unit only! I think my RKL was $120 lol
Yea but what you get with it is well worth it. Built in Wifi, itemp, pH port, bus, 10v ports, switch ports, cloud services to access off of your home network, and accepts ip camera. And that's all right there in the base unit. I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff. I think the greatest benefit is if you have a rkl or rke all your power bars and modules work. The apex is the only thing comparable but you don't need to buy stuff because you already have it
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n2585722
Well-known member
The Archon head unit has
2 ports selectable as either pH or ORP
4 0-10 volt ports 2 have the same connectors as an APC module
2 PWM ports (these work great with Meanwell LDD type LED drivers)
4 switch inputs
1 iTemp port
3 buss ports
1 USB port
1 Network port
Has built in wifi
The closest Equivelent in the RKE would have to have an APC, ALC, SLX and another SL module for 2 more switch inputs. There is no module with PWM ports for the RKE/RKL at this time.
2 ports selectable as either pH or ORP
4 0-10 volt ports 2 have the same connectors as an APC module
2 PWM ports (these work great with Meanwell LDD type LED drivers)
4 switch inputs
1 iTemp port
3 buss ports
1 USB port
1 Network port
Has built in wifi
The closest Equivelent in the RKE would have to have an APC, ALC, SLX and another SL module for 2 more switch inputs. There is no module with PWM ports for the RKE/RKL at this time.
DamonG
New member
Well, I can for one say why I switched from the RKE, with net, with exes modules, etc(i remember I had a good 1200.00 invested in that thing).. IT DID NUKE MY TANK and therefore, I switched.. I awoke to 94 degrees, milky white tank, with no alarm, no notifications, plenty of the if then statements to protect(just like I do with my apex now), etc.. Just nothing.. I literally went to sleep with everything fine, and awoke to everything dead...
It was a few years ago, and it was the last straw for me. This was after I was going to stick it out, despite others going with the apex.. I cannot remember the exact other issues that compounded my frustration up to that point, but, just as a test,I remember,I took my same heating element out, and connected it to a stand alone controller, and it worked fine.. I then used this same heating element for two years on the re set up system after purchasing my apex.
It fried everything, and I sent it to DA(I sent them everything, from brains to float switches), whom repaired the fault in the unit(i cannot remember exactly what it was), but that was enough for me.. I do remember that I was frustrated with the forum(DA), and their customer service, as there were communication issues I was facing with the unit, and it also had simply shut off a few times on me prior to it sending the heating element sky high..
So maybe I'm a lone person with this unfortunate mishap, but it was more that enough for me at least to say I will never, ever think of digital aquatic for anything ever again..
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It was a few years ago, and it was the last straw for me. This was after I was going to stick it out, despite others going with the apex.. I cannot remember the exact other issues that compounded my frustration up to that point, but, just as a test,I remember,I took my same heating element out, and connected it to a stand alone controller, and it worked fine.. I then used this same heating element for two years on the re set up system after purchasing my apex.
It fried everything, and I sent it to DA(I sent them everything, from brains to float switches), whom repaired the fault in the unit(i cannot remember exactly what it was), but that was enough for me.. I do remember that I was frustrated with the forum(DA), and their customer service, as there were communication issues I was facing with the unit, and it also had simply shut off a few times on me prior to it sending the heating element sky high..
So maybe I'm a lone person with this unfortunate mishap, but it was more that enough for me at least to say I will never, ever think of digital aquatic for anything ever again..
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oseymour
Euphyllia Addict
Why do I see so much hate for the ReefKeeper Controller?
BulkReefSupply is doing a series on controllers. https://youtu.be/3M9y0QPRqVw
Next week Friday is a full video of them adding and programming a ReefKeeper to a 160.
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BulkReefSupply is doing a series on controllers. https://youtu.be/3M9y0QPRqVw
Next week Friday is a full video of them adding and programming a ReefKeeper to a 160.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TheFishGuy31
New member
When I was researching controllers I was originally planning to buy the RKE. But after adding up all of the modules to make the RKE comparable to the Apex it was only about $50 less & it didn't have an interface like Apex's Fusion.
The ability to log on using your phone to check your tank parameters & control equipment with your finger is pretty awesome.
Though the Apex specific equipment (feeder/dosing pumps) seem to get a lot of terrible reviews.
The ability to log on using your phone to check your tank parameters & control equipment with your finger is pretty awesome.
Though the Apex specific equipment (feeder/dosing pumps) seem to get a lot of terrible reviews.
drummerboyevil
New member
DOS gets great reviews.
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