Controller for My needs vs. wants.

[Gareth elliott]

Ok so looking at adding a controller.

I currently use a temperture controller and my leds are dialed in with their app that i no longer make any adjustments. My current eflux circulation and return pumps are also app controlled and on a battery backup.

Primary needs are ph monitoring and a par meter.

Possible wants, flow meters, vacation insurance.

Distant wants, expandability, tank reminders, etc.

My thoughts were

-Cheapest initial option would be the seneye.
$199-$249(what seneye is quoted at max for new coral model) requires slide purchases for ph. New coral model will have inferred alk tracking.

- next least expensive Apex junior, web module, ph module and par module. Plus control my lights through apex(future Neptune ai update), coding for failures ect.

-apex classic or 2016. Expensive, 2016 needs far less modules if i ever expanded.

-profilux, looks cleaner, no ai support listed as upcoming, almost same price as apex.

The price differences here are staggering, apex jr with modules would be starting ~$600 even at the junior level.

Is it really worth the extra expense to go full controller vs just a seneye for my needs?

 

[ndrwater]

Having a controller is nice, but not mandatory by any stretch.
My suggestion would be the Seneye because I think that would probably do what you are asking.
My second suggestion would be look to find a used APEX classic. Deals just about everywhere. The biggest drawback to the the classic vs the 2016 is the inability to run things like the Trident (whenever it makes it to actual market)

 

[Sabellafella]

Ok so looking at adding a controller.

I currently use a temperture controller and my leds are dialed in with their app that i no longer make any adjustments. My current eflux circulation and return pumps are also app controlled and on a battery backup.

Primary needs are ph monitoring and a par meter.

Possible wants, flow meters, vacation insurance.

Distant wants, expandability, tank reminders, etc.

My thoughts were

-Cheapest initial option would be the seneye.
$199-$249(what seneye is quoted at max for new coral model) requires slide purchases for ph. New coral model will have inferred alk tracking.

- next least expensive Apex junior, web module, ph module and par module. Plus control my lights through apex(future Neptune ai update), coding for failures ect.

-apex classic or 2016. Expensive, 2016 needs far less modules if i ever expanded.

-profilux, looks cleaner, no ai support listed as upcoming, almost same price as apex.

The price differences here are staggering, apex jr with modules would be starting ~$600 even at the junior level.

Is it really worth the extra expense to go full controller vs just a seneye for my needs?

They do get expensive but it's just one of those products you'll need to buy to figure out how you'll never run a tank without one. I started with a jr, still have it too for 5 years now. I use it to control temp and monitor parameters, what's cool is the extra redundancy like shutting off my uv or lights if my tank gets too hot. Or shut my doses off if the ph gets too high. Stuff like that alone can have me justify paying the 800 bucks. The jr is very cheap , even with that you have these types of features. It's all worth the money imo especially if you travel. I'm always out, so it's nice to check in once in a while. Plus you can have them shoot you a text message on basically w.e you command for.

 

[BigAl07]

I started with a Npetune Jr and moved up to a Profilux. I bought a used unit (got it for a great deal) and upgraded it 3 different times and it's rock solid. If you want to be "Future Proof" you can't beat a Profilux.

As a side note, they had a problem with Customer Service 5 years ago but they have long since solved that problem but that "reputation" is almost impossible to completely solve LOL.

Research and ask people who have ran both.

 

[mcarroll]

Primary needs are ph monitoring and a par meter.

Hm.... Seems like a weak case for a controller. The other wants listed seem pretty fluffy.

If I can't talk you out of pH monitoring altogether because no good ever came of it...

IMO get a respectable pH pen or Pinpoint monitor and keep a log. Spending too little might be questionable...not sure I'd go lower than this...

See Similar ItemsUS$38.96

Here's the Pinpoint...

• 
  Buy
  PINPOINT® pH Monitor
  $ 99.00
  

If you really need a PAR meter for something, look for a used one.

But if you just need a light meter because you have none, then maybe consider starting with a basic lux meter like my LX-1010B. It's inexpensive to get you started and can be calibrated with a PAR meter if you can borrow one.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Hm.... Seems like a weak case for a controller. The other wants listed seem pretty fluffy.

If I can't talk you out of pH monitoring altogether because no good ever came of it... [emoji6]

IMO get a respectable pH pen or Pinpoint monitor and keep a log. Spending too little might be questionable...not sure I'd go lower than this...


Here's the Pinpoint...


If you really need a PAR meter for something, look for a used one.

But if you just need a light meter because you have none, then maybe consider starting with a basic lux meter like my LX-1010B. It's inexpensive to get you started and can be calibrated with a PAR meter if you can borrow one.

Have you used the ph controller from pinpoint? The question is regarding my co2 injected planted not my reef.
Currently it is just an electric solenoid on the regulator on a timer, and a bubble counter.

Would a ph control in this application lead to more stability?

Back to my reef lol.
i have a lux meter, and my corals are growing. But i am a curious person; i want the par meter to measure an exact placement spot, if i make a light change do so with more than a ballpark surface measurement.

I have also moved to a much lower wc schedule, the par meter might give me better insight when my gac is exhausted. Instead of the arbitrary schedule I am currently replacing it on. I use gac for organics removal that might interfere with light penetration.

Very simple filtration setup, a filter sock for large detritus collection and biopellet reactor plumbed to skimmer; along with the gac reactor. Macro and micro nutrients are ati essentials on a dosing pump.

If i wait for the seneye coral i can also time my dosing schedule around alkalinity consumption.
Cost for this option.
$199 -$249 seneye coral
$100 windows tablet(i use a mac)
$11.66/month for slides.

Apex par module alone is $299.

 

[mcarroll]

Would a ph control in this application lead to more stability?

A pH controller would allow you to set upper and lower limits for the system's operation. You'd have to know what levels the tank hits to know if that's needed tho. And whether the tank would benefit from changing the current trend is another question.

My guess is that it would not be worth the cost. "Better" is still uncertain as well.

At the same time I'm not sure what your budget priority is. If money is no object all of the options you are considering are fine. You can easily spend $300 on the par sensor and another 300 on the controller though. Let me know on this front.

i have a lux meter, and my corals are growing. But i am a curious person; i want the par meter to measure an exact placement spot, if i make a light change do so with more than a ballpark surface measurement.

Subsurface measurements are mathematically related to surface measurements and thus predictable, so there's no absolute need for them in most cases. A lux meter fits nicely into a ziplock baggie if you feel that underwater measurements are a must though.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Think you have talked me out of any controller for awhile [emoji23]

Going to keep my aquarium budget for livestock. Could buy quite a few frags for the price if only marginally beneficial for me.

 

[mcarroll]

Putting off decisions that can be put off is usually a good move IME.

That said, similarly with your lux meter, perhaps an inexpensive pH monitor (controller) might be an interesting enough place to start with some of the ideas you had. It's simple to deploy and use, and easy to log manually.

With the data you could gather, maybe other ideas will make even more (or less) sense to attempt.

2¢

 

[Gareth elliott]

Did order instead a new automated misting system for my terrarium. This will actually reduce my maintenance time [emoji23]

 

[mcarroll]

Link?

 

[Gareth elliott]

https://www.joshsfrogs.com/mistking-starter-misting-system.html

 

[dimidragos]

Im sure that seneye work with mac now!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SENEYE-SWS...nkw=seneye&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

 

[Gareth elliott]

Im sure that seneye work with mac now!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SENEYE-SWS...nkw=seneye&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

For $285 extra id rather just buy a windows 8 tablet for less[emoji23]

 

[dimidragos]

For $285 extra id rather just buy a windows 8 tablet for less[emoji23]

That thrue...

 

[mcarroll]

AKA...
http://www.mistking.com/Misting-Systems.html

Very interesting!

 

[mcarroll]

For $285 extra id rather just buy a windows 8 tablet for less[emoji23]

I'd rather be stuck in the eye... ;Blackeye

 

[Reefcowboy]

Apex all the way. Floor leak detectors, flow meter emergency drain. Get notifications, prevent accidents. Pays for itself

 

[Talo’s Reef]

Side note. What battery backup do you have for the efflux pumps

 

[tiggs]

The biggest factor in me going the controller route was adding extra failsafes and redundancy to my system. Don't get me wrong, I love the automation/monitoring/control aspects as well, but having something in place that will quickly automatically make potentially system-saving actions when something goes wrong makes me sleep better at night (or really, work with ease during the day). I was on the fence for a long time on the need vs want road, but the redundancy factor is what made me realize that for me personally, it was more of a need if I wanted to start adding more expensive coral. The way I look at it is an insurance policy that costs a few hundred dollars to protect an investment worth thousands.

At first, I wanted the Apex Jr, but then realized it would end up costing $600+ by the time I added what I wanted and I'd be capped at how much I could expand. Then, I decided on the 2016 Apex, but last minute I found a screaming deal on a lightly used Apex Classic gold edition that came with a ton of extra stuff and went that route. Ultimately, I'll probably end up upgrading my head unit to the 2016 when the Trident releases, but even then, I can sell my Classic head unit and PM2 module and still end up spending a few hundred less overall. Deals are definitely out there if you look. Here's one that's on Craigslist right now that's even cheaper than I paid..

https://ventura.craigslist.org/for/d/neptune-systems-apex-gold/6621636954.html