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Controller advice needed


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  1. #1
    BEETLE60 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    60
    First Name
    Bruce

    Default Controller advice needed

    Hi guys, I have a big problem, my job now takes me away from home for weeks at a time and my tank is suffering,my wife does a wonderful job while I'm gone ,water changes ,manual doseing ,feeding etc but she's not up to speed with all the testing and the rest of the tank management that needs doing so, I was after some advice as to how to combat this problem,I'm going to build a new sump and add an ATO ,thats ok but can you get controllers and probes that will monitor levels like PO4 etc that I can monitor over the internet? I have no experience with controllers,I'm reasonably computer savy and I know it will cost a bit but I think I have no choice
    If anyone can give me some info on what sort of gear I should be looking at my fishies will really love that
    p.s I work wacky hours midday till midnight but I will check in every day and reply to any info needed to shed some advice this way
    Thanks guys regards Beetle

  2. #2
    binford4000 - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    farmington hills mi
    Posts
    2,214
    First Name
    Old man
    Awards Tank of the Month - May 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    I don't know of a controller that reads Po4 but the apex controller will allow you to monitor Ph ,temp and orp. The Apex also allows you to control it very easily via the web,it will e mail you alerts even of temp issues and whatever else you program it,you can also control it with your cell phone from anywhere in the world.In my opinion it's the best you can do.The reef keeper elite also has the same ability. Here's some links.

    Neptune Systems APEX Aqua Controller - AquaCave.com

    Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper ELITE V2 System - AquaCave.com

    Hope it helps.

  3. #3
    BEETLE60 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    60
    First Name
    Bruce

    Default

    Sure does help,with so much stuff on the market it helps to start looking at gear that other people rate so highly,
    now to get to work on the new sump first(when I get home) I might even do a build thread on the revamp of my system and maybe pick up some more advice along the way
    Thanks ,Bruce

  4. #4
    Tom@HaslettMI - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    East Lansing, MI
    Posts
    2,144
    First Name
    Tom
    Awards Yugo Award - For helping with the CR Booth at MCES Monthly Giveaway Winner Monthly Giveaway Winner Photo of the Month Tank of the Month

    Default

    A controller is a nice piece of equipment to have. I'll second Binford's recommendations. I'll add that I run a ReefKeeper lite, which is good for temp and lighting control but needs additional modules to connect to the internet or monitor other parameters (pH, ORP). It does the minimum I need it to do but I would like to upgrade to an APEX... eventually.

    Also a controller can use float switches to control pumps... which means it can also be your ATO. So, buying a separate ATO is not necessary.

    Tom

  5. #5
    BEETLE60 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    60
    First Name
    Bruce

    Default

    Thanks for the tip Tom, I think the fewer plugs the better so if a controller do the ato then cool ! I will definatly need a net connection to monitor as much as I can then control ato and doseing from my computer or at least be able give advice to my better half and she can do what needs to be done

  6. #6
    binford4000 - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    farmington hills mi
    Posts
    2,214
    First Name
    Old man
    Awards Tank of the Month - May 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BEETLE60 View Post
    Thanks for the tip Tom, I think the fewer plugs the better so if a controller do the ato then cool ! I will definatly need a net connection to monitor as much as I can then control ato and doseing from my computer or at least be able give advice to my better half and she can do what needs to be done
    You can doase with the apex and do top off. I have done it but found it very hard to be vary accurate with the delay of the switching unit in the dc8. It did work but have found the spectra pure doaser and ato to be so accurate that it was money well spent. The Apex does do a great job of pump control and light control as well as things on timers and alarm set points such as a fan for blowing across the fuge to control temp swings and Ph swings such as off hour fuge lighting. I think the Apex is the best for the money to be honest and the 32bit processor allows you to do allot with it. Good luck

  7. #7
    BEETLE60 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    60
    First Name
    Bruce

    Default

    Alot of food for thought Chris ,it seems like the RA or Apex are the choice of guys in the know so I will research both prodcts and see what I come up with, first off I need to see if they on the market over here in OZ,if not I'll just use a voltage inverter and get my stuff from the states !
    I had a look at the spectra pure ato and it looks like a good unit so I think we've solved one thing ,now to check otu the controllers
    Thanks guys you really have set me on the right path here so I'll keep up dates on my progress and I got the ok from the boss to set up a new tank so now it's a whole set up not just a sump.... COOOOOOL !!
    the trade off is the old tank is to be turned into a seahorse only tank ...the sacrifices we make ......

  8. #8
    BEETLE60 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    60
    First Name
    Bruce

    Default

    Thanks to all for your input, I've had a chat with Roberto from RA and I think an RA unit is the go for me
    I will post some pics once the tank is under control

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