Why should I get a controller for my tank

[theshaman]

Hi reefcentral! I've been in the hobby for a while but never really considered getting a controller till recently. The problem is I don't think I would even know what to do with it if I had one. It seems so complicated.
My tank is a 90 gallon 36x24x24, 36 inch ati powermodule, omega 180I skimmer, tunze ato, eshoppes 2 part doser, mostly lps and some softies, planning on getting some sps.
How would a controller help me out with my tank?
Thanks!

 

[mcgyvr]

Nope... you don't need one..
Their functions are clear.. If you can't see a need for those functions then you are fine as is..

 

[2000se]

Looking at what you have now - I too feel you don't need one. How are you controlling your temperature? Other than that, you're good.

 

[daquan44]

Depending on what controller you get, it can help you in various ways. The most important way that my controller has helped me was disaster prevention. I had pumps fail, and my controller alerted me. I had heaters fail and my Apex alerted me. My sump began to leak, and my ATO replaced the saltwater that leaked out. Because I have a conductivity probe, I noticed something was not right. There is nothing more devastating than to come home to a crashed reef aquarium. I GUESS; because my Apex has saved my tank on numerous occasions, and thus far have not had a crash. It can also automate many functions for you. For example, I live alone and serve in the Navy. I have been out to sea now for a couple weeks, and I can monitor my Reef from here. My controller feeds the tank and even does auto water changes. No more carrying 5 gallon buckets. Its not that you need a controller, but it will take your enjoyment of the hobby to the next level. They are more simple to use than you think.

 

[d0ughb0y]

if you are running now without a controller, then you are not missing anything.
once you fork out the money to get one, you will then be like everyone else with a controller, rationalizing / justifying how is it money well spent, etc etc.

 

[ca1ore]

There are many threads on this topic. Is a controller necessary ..... certainly not. I ran big tanks without tone for 20 years. Is it a 'nice to have' ..... I'd argue yes, at least for more complex tanks.

 

[theshaman]

Ok. Thanks for the help. I think I will be ok without one.

 

[mako61]

Do I need full coverage insurance on my car, nope its paid off. Do I have it yip. I see a controller as insurance as well as very very helpful.

 

[kurt_n]

Ok. Thanks for the help. I think I will be ok without one.

You'll be fine without one. The very fact you're saying that you don't think you *need* one says it all... you don't.

On the flip side... if you get one, you'll probably wonder why you didn't have one all that time! It's kind of like when I switched from DSL to broadband for internet. ["Why did I wait sooooo looooong!"]

 

[tom obrecht]

I've been in the hobby for 25 years. I continue to use some "older" technologies that were developed many years ago. I have used controllers in the past and found them more frustrating to program than what I personally found helpful. I'm not good with technology but certainly not horrible with it. I think for the price of a new controller I can buy more coral or fish! I think if you travel a lot and don't have a good tank sitter it will give you peace of mind and perhaps run things. Other than that I personally would pass.

 

[oseymour]

I like my controller. I got it because it made having my wife and 9 year old son manage the tank in my absence. So when they need to feed, do a water change, turn someone off - they don't fumble with plugs, and they hear alarms when something is out of whack.

It's not necessary but it makes my life and situation easier.

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

Do I need full coverage insurance on my car, nope its paid off. Do I have it yip. I see a controller as insurance as well as very very helpful.

Interested in this thread. With so many things automated now or wifi capable, I have yet to take the plunge. But I had a heater malfunction that was 9 months old, and if I didn't happen to check the temp that night, everything would have been absolutely fried by morning. Still don't have a controller, but for insurance/disaster Mgt and being able to shut down plugs/devices, I can see where it would certainly help.

 

[ktownhero]

Peace of mind, time saving and fail-safes. I use a new Apex with the following:

Kessil AP700
Fuge Light
Vertex Omega 150
2 x Vortech MP40
Eheim 1262 return pump
Tunze ATO

Coupled with the salinity, ph and temp sensors (ORP whatever), I have peace of mind everywhere I go. And even with products that aren't specifically Apex compatible, you can still come up with cool things. For example, I monitor the wattage on my AP700 to determine when the Fuge light goes on/off. My Tunze ATO is switched off at the outlet if my salinity drops too far or PH goes too high (running Kalk). My skimmer automatically goes on/off with my return pump. Temperature is kept dead-stable, and I monitor the "health" of my heaters and get alerted if one is not functioning (i.e., the Apex turns it on but it draws less power than it should be). Feed modes are useful. And then stuff like the MP40s that are 100% Apex compatible, man it's awesome... The pumps are so much more useful with the WXM module. And I get email alerts for a variety of other reasons.

Is any of this stuff *needed*? Absolutely not. But now that I have one I can't imagine doing another reef without it.

 

[mako61]

Heater overrun is one reason I got one. Looking at cost alone, how much are all the things in your tank worth to you. There is also an emotional value to a crashed tank. Are you will to pay $$ to possibly prevent failures than can kill them all? Is a controller a sure fire prevention - nope. Does it give you a chance to catch an issue before it get serious - most defiantly yes. Its all about your personal risk aversion. That said I mostly have a controller to make life easier. It defiantly does that.

I completely agree a controller is not needed. I just dont think that is right question to ask yourself. Based on how much time and money you spend on a tank is a controller worth the cost in time and money for the benefits gained. There is only one person that can answer that.

 

[BlueRoofTang]

It's really handy being able to get alarms on your phone if something goes out of whack on your aquarium.

I just got my first controller recently and I love it.

Things I have done:
1) With one button on the phone, I pick feed mode. The return pump turns off for 5 minutes. The skimmer turns off, because I don't want the increased sump depth to cause it to overflow. The WP40 changes to nutrient transport mode, to help keep food stirred up instead of settling in the tank. After 5 mins is up, the return pump turns on. 20 minutes later, when the sump water level is normal, my skimmer turns back on.
2) I have a fan that comes on if temp gets high.
3) Heaters are controlled much more accurately than before.
4) PH is monitored and charted out, as well as ORP, temp, and salinity.
5) Since ATO goes into the sump, if salinity gets too low, the return pump shuts off, preventing it from basically converting the tank to freshwater.
6) Many parameters are alarmed.

....and much more..

It's amazing how easy it is to set up the new Apex, as well as tweak settings.

 

[mike810]

There is an infinite amount of things you can do with a controller. Like set it to automatically turn off your skimmer when your return pump is off to avoid a skimmer overflow. Delay the skimmer from turning on right away when the return pump is turned back on.

Add magnetic doors switches to turn on lights when a door is open. Fail safe for a heater if stuck on, your controller turns it off. Tank too hot? Have it turn on a fan or turn off the main lights on your PM and only have dawn/dusk on. The possibilities are endless. I didn't want to fork out the money when I first started the hobby but after getting the controller, can't say I'd go back to not having one.

Sure you can get away with using timers and what not but you can't be away on vacation and check on your tank with your phone without a controller. Having a controller brings peace of mind.

Also, everything bluerooftang said and there's plenty more but you should get the idea.

 

[Rilelen]

I haven't bit the bullet because of the price, but the primary reason I would want a controller is because (as some folks have mentioned), I'm frequently out of town for long stretches of time. I have friends that check on my tank at work and at home once or twice a week, but boy, would I appreciate that peace of mind of knowing that there's no leaks, the sump hasn't run dry, ATO hasn't gone whack, heaters are working properly, etc.

When I'm home, no problem to check on all those things myself - I do it almost automatically when I check the tank first thing in the mornings. But when I'm gone for a 3-4 week stretch? With non-reefers watching over my tank? I get nervous.

 

[allicassydanny]

My Apex saved my coral and fish last week. It text me about my tank temperature, my heater failed off, temperature got down to 75. I left work and put my spare heater on.

 

[exsequor]

My Apex saved my coral and fish last week. It text me about my tank temperature, my heater failed off, temperature got down to 75. I left work and put my spare heater on.

My temperatures commonly fluctuate from 75 to 78 degrees, and sometimes even much more extreme. Never an issue. Obviously you don't want your water temp to drop below 72 or above 86, but beyond that I feel like it's being a little dramatic to say it SAVED your tank in this instance. 75 degrees is not radically cold, and any fish or coral we keep could probably handle this shift if it was a gradual as 1-3 hours.

I mean for gosh sakes have you ever felt micro current temperature spikes and dips while swimming / snorkeling / or diving in the actual ocean?

 

[mike810]

My temperatures commonly fluctuate from 75 to 78 degrees, and sometimes even much more extreme. Never an issue. Obviously you don't want your water temp to drop below 72 or above 86, but beyond that I feel like it's being a little dramatic to say it SAVED your tank in this instance. 75 degrees is not radically cold, and any fish or coral we keep could probably handle this shift if it was a gradual as 1-3 hours.

I mean for gosh sakes have you ever felt micro current temperature spikes and dips while swimming / snorkeling / or diving in the actual ocean?

Pretty sure he meant the apex notified him when temps got to 75 degrees and he intervened before it could get any lower.