Aquarium Controllers

[kgeorge]

I'm looking in to getting one. I'm interested in the Reefkeeper 2 and then I've heard a little about the Ocelot. I'm not looking to spend a lot and one of the key components is that I can monitor/control via the internet. Give me some opinions that y'all have on controllers and what I need to look into.
And anyone that knows about the Ocelot, tell me a little about it!

Thanks!
Kyle

[rjs5134]

Kyle,

I've been following the development of controllers for some time now and think we're probably not quite at the point your looking for. Controllers are still expensive, at least for a complete, expandable controller that can be monitored "real time" on-line and controlled on-line. I'm pretty sure most if not all need another application like "PC Anywhere" to access and modify the controller.

There is a thread on another forum that discusses them in detail and the thread creator did unbelievable research, interviewed manufacturers and users and created a spreadsheet for comparison. I'll look for it later, when not at work, and try to post the link.

If your hoping to control lights, heaters/chillers, pumps(dosing/cirulation), auto top-offs, wavemakers, ph, etc. you better plan to spend well more than a few hundred dollars.

From what I've seen, the Reefkeeper II appears to be a good middle of the road controller. Some do alot more, some alot less and like I said, I don't think they can be viewed and modified real-time online.

HTH

[Samper]

DonW may chime in here on the Ocelot. He does some crazy things with his. I believe he said that for around $500.00 you could get the controller and the needed modules to do what you want.

[kgeorge]

I PM DonW a few days ago and he hasn't got back to me yet.. Hopefully he will. I appreciate it rjs5134 and can't wait to get that link from you. I know that the lighthouse controllers from MCU research is able to be controlled online and it does not have a bad price. I don't like the looks of it though! LOL. Here's the link to that website if you're not familiar with it.....
MCU Research - Lighthouse Aquarium Controller

Anyway, keep the info coming guys. I appreciate it!

[Papa Doug]

Kyle, I have a RK2 and very happy with it. I,m only using the heater controller and a couple of channels for regular things.

It will eventually run my lights & fans, plus I will make use of the wavemaker. It eliminated several power bars & timers.

[120gallons]

I have an MCU, nice but one downside is you can control ORP or PH not both at once, though it can read the levels of both simulataneously.

[rjs5134]

Here you go Kyle:

Aquarium Controllers: Home

HTH

[Nitrx11]

yeah kyle i never did tell you what dad said he said you could get ocelot and the stuff that you needed for about 300-400 and be set to do what you needed

[kgeorge]

I've crossed that site a few times but never read through it. Appreciate it rjs5134... Papa Doug and 120gallons, thanks for your input on both the systems. They both have pro's and con's. I wish DonW would get on here to tell me about the Ocelot!!!

Kyle

[kgeorge]

Is he gonna get that from his friends in Germany??

[kgeorge]

DonW!!!!!! Where are you!?!?!?!?

[kgeorge]

DonW?!?!?!?!

[DonW]

DonW?!?!?!?!

Sorry I didnt see this. I have a very low opinion of aquarium controllers. But for the little money I guess they are not that bad. My biggest gripe is the manufactures utter lack of regard for your reef and concern of profit. What I mean by this is all the issues with temperature control. One sure way to kill a tank is for it to get cold or hot. Ive heard of more tanks being destroyed by a Aquacontroller temp probe failure than those junk won brothers heaters.

If you do decide to use any controller stick with a real/industrial temp controller like the Ranco or Johnson.

The Ocelot is whole other subject. It abilities are limitless as far as control. With the right hardware it will control anything and everything you could imagine. Its not a tank controller so needs additional hardware to handle things like ph but the ability of what you can do is unreal.

Don

[kgeorge]

How much work is it to program and get it set-up? The Ocelot that is....

[Ninong]

Here's something to consider but I believe it's kinda pricey. Invincible569 (Edward Anzaldua) has one on his new tank.

[DonW]

How much work is it to program and get it set-up? The Ocelot that is....

It can be alot of work and you have to have a pretty good basic electronics knowlege.

For example you cant just hook up a temp probe. You would connect a ranco then watch the ranco and act on the ranco via an IO. What you do with what the ocelot sees can be anything. Its a automation system not a aquarium controller so it pretty much limitless. Its not for some one that wants plug and play.

Don

[kgeorge]

The tank Edward Anzaldua has is incredible. I think that controller is way outta my league. Part of me wants plug and play the other wants to be about to do just about anything. I have really been keeping up with digital aquatics new controller due out in couple months. They just released the info.... Thanks for the help guys. Here is that controller if you guys want to look at it if you haven't already....

Digital Aquatics 2008 - ReefKeeper Elite

[DonW]

I dont know anything about the RK but will be testing them when I'm done with the Neptunes. The Neptunes are sort of a dissapointment due to the outdated technology. On the other hand you can take a inexpensive AC Jr. and use that outdated technology to your advantage. They in all reality are still x10 without the powerline interface. Meaning the dc8 functions using x10 serial data before its convered to powerline data. This means you can take an inexpensive ac Jr. and couple it with a real controller like the ocelot and they will work seamlessly giving you unlimited IO instead of paying the high price of the AC3 for just a few extra IO's. You would then use the JR for basic tank functions and the ocelot for the advanced functions and they would see each othere and can act of each other. If the rk is using the same technology to do the dc switching then it will be the same.
Both of them need to step up the temp control reliability but thats easily overcome.

Don