How do you roll, controller or no?

[Reefnjunkie]

I used to just run a PH controller for the Calcium reactor (which I swear by, I am not a 2 part doser) but I know roll with an APEX and would not have it any other way.
I love it, except for the price tag.

I am a huge proponent to Ca Rx's but I have an SPS dominant tank-oh and I should a Ca Rx WITH a controller-:wink:

 

[Breakin Newz]

Apex here! Well worth it!

 

[divewsharks]

I dont have one but am looking into the Apex once med school starts next august. Do you love it? I should also have an I phone or droid by then too so I will be able to access it regularly, between my lifeless existence in the library for the next four years lol

I do love it actually. i'm sure i'll love it even more once the ipad app comes out. I think i've only ever touched the actual head unit once. I do all configuring even the initial from my laptop or some device.

 

[divewsharks]

I am using a RKE and I couldn't live without it honestly! LOL! The thing that its more than just something that keeps me from having to turn lights off and on. My controller has saved my butt a few times already. The main reasons I use a controller is as follows.

1. Turns off the heater and lights in separate order if the tank get's to hot (if heater sticks, chiller quits working, or if it's just to hot in the house)
2. Turns on the chiller (fans) if the tank gets to hot
3. Turns my skimmer off if the collection jug gets full so there is no overflow
4. Controls my Calcium Reactor
5. Lights off and on
6. Turns on the heater if thank gets to cold

These are the main reasons I use my controller but there are many more.

What/how are you using to detect if/when your skimmer collection jug is full?

 

[Kbra]

Yup, APEX. Getting a second the the new tank also

 

[Troylee]

Why not Troylee? Grab an RKL for the heater - or get a Ranco at least. That is the ONE thing I do not trust at all. Seen too many posts of, "my heater stuck on, water is cloudy, all fish and coral dead!!"

Cheap insurance.

Could it fail too? Sure, but that extra layer of protection is nice.

don't run a heater and never will.....i live in the desert...lol
the worst that could happen is my light's don't come on or get stuck on but i have never been away from my tank...lol i don't get out much or travel since my tank and 3 kids eat up all my spare cash.... funny part is after i posted that i saw a reef keeper 2 for sale with the dc8 new ph probe etc for sale for 60$ shipped so i bought it!!!!!lol.... ill give it a shot seeing how popular they are and let you know what i come up with...

 

[ronnie]

That is a smokin' price!

I think you will be happy with it. Now find me a Quiet One 3000 for $25 shipped....LOL

You find a killer bargain and aren't looking and I'm looking for a week and a half now and haven't came up with anything....

 

[Troylee]

my whole thing was i needed a ph probe for my pin point monitor... i haven't checked my ph in a year and never got around to buying one... i saw that and jumped since it is practically the price of the probe it's self.... :xd:

 

[seafansar]

Technically I don't have it yet, but I should be getting it Wednesday! After my heater went crazy and cooked everything in my 20 gallon, I decided I really needed one. Once I save up some more money, I'm going to get one for my 12 gallon too.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

would love to have one, just havn't found one I like or one I can trade for, would like to have a lighting controller, and also one to override the heater, had a problem last year heater stuck and killed a lot of the stony corals,

 

[solitude127]

I got 2 RKLs. For $99, it's a tough deal to beat.

 

[Murfman]

Yep, AC JR controls LEDs, heater, Ca Reactor, Two Waveboxes, as well as some other stuff I can't remember right now......All 8 plugs are full though.

 

[AZDesertRat]

With the price of controllers today, it was an easy decision to make. One RKL Level 3 with an added MLC module replaced two outlet strips, 4 or 5 digital timers, a Ranco dual stage temp controller, a Milwaukee pH controller, a chiller, multiple moonlight pods and much more. I actually pocketed money on the sale of all the old equipment.

 

[Harry_Y]

A controller while not 100% necessary sure does make life easier

I have done it with timers etc but in the end a controller is nicer because it all ties
together, but then again it does produce a single point falure so it is a trade off.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Grab an RKL for the heater - or get a Ranco at least. That is the ONE thing I do not trust at all. Seen too many posts of, "my heater stuck on, water is cloudy, all fish and coral dead!!"

Cheap insurance.

I agree. I use a controller for heater/chiller redundancy but that's it. I have a seperate ATO controller.

 

[LILBUDDHA]

I have never used one . I had a Vortech with it's own controller . Now again Tunze with it's own controller . An ATO for water evaporation . My lights have their own computer /controller . I saw no need for 1 .
Until someone mentioned heater redundancy . I always used a EBO jaeger but since they are pyrex I switched to a VIA Aqua titanium heater . I cannot find a single written item by the manufacturer on the safety features . I mean nowhere . I just figured it had a run dry/ shut off safety feature .
I guess that means in the near future I will be getting a RKL and upgrade later to a Apex .
TIA