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Aquarium Controller Reviews?

D

Dave

I am thinking about getting an aquarium controller, but before I do I wanted to see what controllers others are recommending.

Right now I only have one tank 60 gallons. Nothing fancy

I imagine there will be a time when I upgrade to a 120 or 180 gallon.

I anticipate I would need 8 sockets minimum, but maybe I am wrong.
 
M

Mbodell

I have really liked my reefkeeper elite. It has 8 controllable sockets, which you can add to and also it has switch ports which are great for controlling an autotop and you can use a flip switch on one port to shut off pumps and such when you are doing maintenance. They are promising a lot of new features as well. The apex also seems like a nice controller when I was looking at it at Macna.
 
G

greg 45

Dave it all depends on what you want to control. Pinpoint marine has single controllers or monitors. I waited a long time before purchasing. Talked to vendors at macna. To suit my needs I purchased a profilux/GHL . This seemed to suite my needs.
LOL GREG
 
radiata

radiata

NJRC Member
Dave,

I won a Digital Aquatics (http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/)ReefKeeper Lite (Level 1) at MACNA. So far I like it - the system in nice and modular and you can add more modules as you want to expand the capabilities. They have a trade-in upgrade path to the Elite head from the Lite head. For $100 you can control 4 outlets. For another hundred you can add 4 more outlets. So far I'm only using mine to time 3 sets of lights on my big tank, but I will be expanding. Marine Depot has a pretty good listing of the modules:
http://www.marinedepot.com/controllers_digital_aquatics_reefkeeper_elite_lite-ap.html
Everyone seems to stick to the list prices. DIYReef is discounting some of the modules they have left in stock.

Regards,
Bob
 
D

Dave

Thanks for the input. I frankly want to control as much as possible.

That said, my initial focus was on pumps/lights, and a way to have the system detect water on the floor shut down the pumps and send an alert.

Also the standard PH and Temp probes.
 
G

Gonzapa

Dave said:
Thanks for the input. I frankly want to control as much as possible.

That said, my initial focus was on pumps/lights, and a way to have the system detect water on the floor shut down the pumps and send an alert.

Also the standard PH and Temp probes.
Click to expand...
I got the NEW apex from neptune.
I have seen the Reefkeeper and the apex and Like the Apex much better
I bought it and I am controlling my 2 tanks with one controller. I can't compare it to the profilux as I have no experience with it
 
R

ReeferNets

I just had a brush with profilux controller and WOW.

It literally controls everything including my new lights fixture woot woot. Check out the specs it controls koralia pumps tunze and now vortech pumps.
 
Tazmaniancowboy

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
ReeferNets said:
I just had a brush with profilux controller and WOW.

It literally controls everything including my new lights fixture woot woot. Check out the specs it controls koralia pumps tunze and now vortech pumps.
Click to expand...

I think you may be mistaken. It can not control vortechs yet, Ecotech just announced and released the developement kit and they need time to test it and work out bugs. Evidentally they are not too far from releasing for full production in the first quarter of 2010

From Reef Builders
"Neptune Systems has announced that they are well underway in using the newly released development kit for third party aquarium controllers to get jiggy with wireless VorTech pumps. Curt Pansegrau, president of Neptune Systems had this to say:

The feature rich interface module allows for the market leading VorTech pumps to be used to their fullest potential. With development underway and prototypes already running in the lab, we are pleased to be the first controller company to utilize this versatile wireless interface technology. The AquaBus based VorTech interface module will allow for the independent control of multiple pumps. In addition, firmware updates of both the interface and the VorTech pumps as wells as reporting of pump status and diagnostic information is possible. Like all Apex accessories the VorTech Interface Module is also plug-n-play, so setup and configuration is extremely easy. Internal development has already begun with working prototypes running in the lab. Beta testing will begin shortly with full production scheduled in Q1 2010."

Taz
 
R

rafal07013

Taz - you are correct - Vortech is being developed since the code was released about a week ago. But Profilux III capabilities are truly amazing. sure the price is steep.

and if you add the dosing unit or LED strips for random thunderstorms or add watet level control - fun begins.

Tazmaniancowboy said:
ReeferNets said:
I just had a brush with profilux controller and WOW.

It literally controls everything including my new lights fixture woot woot. Check out the specs it controls koralia pumps tunze and now vortech pumps.
Click to expand...

I think you may be mistaken. It can not control vortechs yet, Ecotech just announced and released the developement kit and they need time to test it and work out bugs. Evidentally they are not too far from releasing for full production in the first quarter of 2010

From Reef Builders
"Neptune Systems has announced that they are well underway in using the newly released development kit for third party aquarium controllers to get jiggy with wireless VorTech pumps. Curt Pansegrau, president of Neptune Systems had this to say:

The feature rich interface module allows for the market leading VorTech pumps to be used to their fullest potential. With development underway and prototypes already running in the lab, we are pleased to be the first controller company to utilize this versatile wireless interface technology. The AquaBus based VorTech interface module will allow for the independent control of multiple pumps. In addition, firmware updates of both the interface and the VorTech pumps as wells as reporting of pump status and diagnostic information is possible. Like all Apex accessories the VorTech Interface Module is also plug-n-play, so setup and configuration is extremely easy. Internal development has already begun with working prototypes running in the lab. Beta testing will begin shortly with full production scheduled in Q1 2010."

Taz
Click to expand...
 
Tazmaniancowboy

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
ReeferNets said:
not to nit pick here man but that still means it can control vortechs.

Maybe not yet but it can.
Click to expand...

Sorry to nit pick, and I have heard and now reading that it is a great controller, but didn't want to see somebody pick one up and find out that it can't yet. It is really cool how they are on top of it though.

Taz
 
R

ReeferNets

The only reason why i am considering profilux is because of the light fixture i choose, Aqua Illumination LED fixture.

I also use tunze pumps as well so it rid of my tunze controllers too.
 
R

rafal07013

we can compare leds when you get them. let me know i will get one of my modules and stop over.

ReeferNets said:
The only reason why i am considering profilux is because of the light fixture i choose, Aqua Illumination LED fixture.

I also use tunze pumps as well so it rid of my tunze controllers too.
Click to expand...
 
Tazmaniancowboy

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
ReeferNets said:
The only reason why i am considering profilux is because of the light fixture i choose, Aqua Illumination LED fixture.

I also use tunze pumps as well so it rid of my tunze controllers too.
Click to expand...

Nice fixture! Do they already control the tunze? What about the Koralia pumps, It controls the 12v ones? I have the Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite. Very soon they are releasing the Tunze controller. I sure they follow suit and release a module for the vortechs. I would love to control the 2 that I have, but I'm not going to hold my breath, They are a little slow!

Taz
 
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