GHL Mini 4 Debate

[Camaronero]

Hey everyone¡ Alright so I have a mini showing up at my house next week and after reading more about it; I’m debating returning it.
25 Gallon WaterBox aquarium with a 75W heater from eheim, Tunze Turbelle Nano Controllable power head, AI lights, Tunze osmolater.
Is it worth it’s money and do I have to little tech that can actually be controlled¿
Have a great rest of the day¡

 

[Rtaylor]

Obviously it’s up to you. I think it’s unnecessary. Just get an inkbird for the heater, the lights already have Wi-Fi controls I believe, and get a few smart plugs for anything else that just needs timers or on/off controls.

 

[Breadman03]

If I was looking to dip my toes in automation and monitoring, I'd be giving the Coralvue Hydros a solid look.

 

[Camaronero]

Obviously it’s up to you. I think it’s unnecessary. Just get an inkbird for the heater, the lights already have Wi-Fi controls I believe, and get a few smart plugs for anything else that just needs timers or on/off controls.

Bruh looking at reviews is going to be the end of me LOL. I would go with a Neptune or Hydros but those reviews make me run to GHL... then back.

 

[FishyFishFish]

I have GHL and Hydros. I’m looking at getting rid of the Hydros and switching that to GHL.

The big flaw for the mini, as far as I am concerned, is that if the head unit loses connection for whatever reason (a power or hardware failure) then all of the sockets turn off. This might be rare but I did have this happen to a Profilux 3, and I’ve just had something similar happen to my Hydros.

I would look for a used Profilux 4e if you can afford it, rather than the mini. I haven’t used Neptune so I can’t comment on that. I’m not a huge fan of Hydros.

 

[jcolliii]

Return it. Headache to setup - if you have it easy. No data storage - so no graphs at all to see pH or temp swings throughout the day. You get a speedo type display for both, and all you can see is the current vale of both sensors. They have been promising to fix this with a firmware update for more than a year. If you want a slightly better temp controller that will have three additional outlets for other stuff, then that's a good use I suppose.

 

[Camaronero]

I have GHL and Hydros. I’m looking at getting rid of the Hydros and switching that to GHL.

The big flaw for the mini, as far as I am concerned, is that if the head unit loses connection for whatever reason (a power or hardware failure) then all of the sockets turn off. This might be rare but I did have this happen to a Profilux 3, and I’ve just had something similar happen to my Hydros.

I would look for a used Profilux 4e if you can afford it, rather than the mini. I haven’t used Neptune so I can’t comment on that. I’m not a huge fan of Hydros.

Thanks for the highly valued info¡¡ Gonna pull through with the return. Thank you for the heads up I’d rather be extra cautious with a power bar that has multiple individual switches, than hoping the mini doesn’t jeopardize my tank with that worrying flaw. I’ll save up for a Profilux 4e thank you again¡

 

[Tankkeepers]

Return it. Headache to setup - if you have it easy. No data storage - so no graphs at all to see pH or temp swings throughout the day. You get a speedo type display for both, and all you can see is the current vale of both sensors. They have been promising to fix this with a firmware update for more than a year. If you want a slightly better temp controller that will have three additional outlets for other stuff, then that's a good use I suppose.

Well this right here awnsers my question I'll pass in the mininand possibly ghl altogether

They say they will relese data logging but they won't otherwise why relese the 4e model which is basically a mini with data logging for 300 more

Kinda makes me want to say pass on ghl altogether

A software update to add logging should of been done already

They are just saying this to get people to buy them

 

[Tankkeepers]

By the way I'm looking for a controller tester doser the entire system

I was leaning towards ghl as I like the foot print but how well is there service if they can't even do an update they said they would

 

[FishyFishFish]

The 4e is not a mini with data logging; it is a far superior system.

 

[Tankkeepers]

The 4e is not a mini with data logging; it is a far superior system.

What else can it do vs what the mini can do it has the ability to control more plugs I know but what else

And if this is the case then why have they not added data logging to the mini when they said they would

I'm still almost certainly going to get the entire ghl setup

But it just brings up a few questions

I plan to get the 4e as the controller but I would prefer the mini over the 4e honestly it would fit my biocube 32 better and I only need data logging and 4 controllable plugs

And I want all 1 brand system and I'm getting the kh director and ion director when avaliable

Aka robocube hehe


So I'm paying 300 more just to get data logging honestly as I won't use any of the other features this is kind of a put off honestly but it's a 1 time buy so it's fine

 

[FishyFishFish]

Just because you don’t want more features doesn’t mean it doesn’t have them.

Unfortunately, GHL is quite slow to bring out updates, and I do find that frustrating, but if you think the 4e and Mini are similar then you need to look into their specs a bit more.

One of the big differences is that the 4 and 4e have PAB, whereas the Mini does not. This means that the can use the superior 6E-PAB power bar and can control other devices such as dosers, the KHD and IOND. The mini won’t control the KHD and IOND.

You mention the ability to control more plugs. With the mini you are limited to 4. With a heater, light, return pump and one other (flow pump/ATO) you are already out of sockets and you can’t add any more. The 4e has the ability to control up to 64 sockets, which is a big difference.

The powerbar with the mini isn’t ‘programmable, whereas the 6E-PAB is. If the mini loses connection with the PowerBar then all of outputs turn off. You can tell the 6E-PAB what outputs to turn on or off in the event of a communication failure with the controller. And the 4/4e also has the ability to monitor for power failures and go into a customizable power fail mode.

The mini can control 4 1-10v interfaces; the 4e can control 30.

You can also add expansion cards to the 4e, which means that if you want additional sensors/in in the future then that is no problem. You can’t expand the mini.

The mini doesn’t currently have the capability to use level sensors; the 4e does.

If the mini works for you then that is great, as it is quite a bit cheaper, but there is a reason it is quite a bit cheaper.

 

[jcolliii]

The mini also doesn't need to control either the IOD or KHD - for like $40 more you can get the standalone doser for either of those that will control them. IMO, saying you need a much more expensive controller to control those devices is bunk.

I went with the Mastertronic for testing. Can test the parameters I need without having to rely on ion-selective probes. I use ISP's in the lab, and I can tell you that they are very expensive, and have a quite limited lifespan. I think the IOD will be problematic.

 

[Tankkeepers]

The mini also doesn't need to control either the IOD or KHD - for like $40 more you can get the standalone doser for either of those that will control them. IMO, saying you need a much more expensive controller to control those devices is bunk.

I went with the Mastertronic for testing. Can test the parameters I need without having to rely on ion-selective probes. I use ISP's in the lab, and I can tell you that they are very expensive, and have a quite limited lifespan. I think the IOD will be problematic.

This was exactly my thought I don't need any of the other stuff on my biocube 32 I need 4 outlets and reporting on ph

I don't need the controller to control anything else as I was planning to get the 2.1

And them being slow to release updates is troublesome to say the least

This feature should of been added from the start not as an addon they promise and then never deliver on cuz it'll cut into 4e sales to much

To many ppl like myself the mini is exactly what I need but I need the reporting so now iv got to pay for the 4e just for reporting

Not to mention the 4e might do alot of other stuff but it won't stay connected via wifi and if you slave the 2.1 to the 4 or 4e you lose the wires Lan port and have to rely on wifi for control which you then lose making the 700 dollar control a paperweight

HUGE OVERSIGHT ON THEIR PART

 

[Tankkeepers]

Amd since I have no plans to let it control my heaters or use an auto tip off I don't need any if the other this the 4e can do I need exactly what the mini can do

Plus the features they promised a year ago

I only want it for the ability to remotely watch and log ph

And the mini should have data logging and alerts which it does not

 

[FishyFishFish]

The mini also doesn't need to control either the IOD or KHD - for like $40 more you can get the standalone doser for either of those that will control them. IMO, saying you need a much more expensive controller to control those devices is bunk.

I went with the Mastertronic for testing. Can test the parameters I need without having to rely on ion-selective probes. I use ISP's in the lab, and I can tell you that they are very expensive, and have a quite limited lifespan. I think the IOD will be problematic.

Where did I say that you ‘need’ the more expensive controller to control the KHD and IOND? I just said that the mini can’t.

Sure, you can spend more on a SA doser rather than a slave, but that still wouldn’t give you all of the functionality that you get when controlling them with a 4/4e. In fact, even the doser capability is improved if you connect it to the 4, you don’t even have the option to connect it to the mini.

I’m not sure what you mean about losing LAN. The dosers connect to the 4 via PAB.

It was said earlier that the 4e was just a mini with data logging but that just is miles away from being true. I looked at the mini but it is very limited as to what it can do, so I bought the 4e and I’m very happy with it. I only have a 13g Evo tank but I’m already using loads of functions on the 4e that don’t even exist on the mini.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Where did I say that you ‘need’ the more expensive controller to control the KHD and IOND? I just said that the mini can’t.

Sure, you can spend more on a SA doser rather than a slave, but that still wouldn’t give you all of the functionality that you get when controlling them with a 4/4e. In fact, even the doser capability is improved if you connect it to the 4, you don’t even have the option to connect it to the mini.

I’m not sure what you mean about losing LAN. The dosers connect to the 4 via PAB.

It was said earlier that the 4e was just a mini with data logging but that just is miles away from being true. I looked at the mini but it is very limited as to what it can do, so I bought the 4e and I’m very happy with it. I only have a 13g Evo tank but I’m already using loads of functions on the 4e that don’t even exist on the mini.

If you connect the doser to the 4 or 4e unit you loose the hardwire Lan port on the 2.1 doser limiting you to wifi only threw the 4 or 4e huge oversight and pretty stupid design

They included Lan on a doser but not on the controller

Then on top of that not releasing the furtues they said they would

I'm just stating really dumb designs that were done to save a few dollars on their end and limiting what these unit can do

Every single unit iv found losses wifi on occasion some worse then other aka very expensive paper weight

 

[Tankkeepers]

I was about to pull the trigger and spend 2500 now and over 1000 more in the next month to get a complete ghl system but that one design flaw in there mainline controller makes it useless to me

It has to have a hard line in my house with the problems everyone already has mine will drip once a day like everything else does I got bad interference nothing can be done except move

 

[HuduVudu]

GHL WiFi has a serious problem with wireless networking. I don't remember if this controller has a spot for a physical ethernet connection, but if it does then use that. Do NOT use the WiFi it is seriously a PIA. I went away from GHL for this reason. Sadly GHL hardware is the best that I have seen on the market, but the WiFi issue is infuriating.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Going to order an entire apex system instead for just over 2000

All becouse both do what I need but one can be hardwired vs the other

Just goes to show its the little things that you think save you on manufacturing that ends up costing sales and driving people to competition