reef keeper lite in transit

[mike_dani]

Well, 4 months in and a RKL is now on the way.... I got the RKL package that has everything except the Net module as I have no idea how to do that... Maybe some day I will learn. I also got the SK2 with Salinity probe. I will keep yall posted on the setup and how I like it......

 

[BigRed]

Pretty good piece of equipment... I have had my fair share of issues with mine... the price cant be beat! However, every other controller I have ever owned has blown this thing out of the water...

 

[AZDesertRat]

I love mine. It replaced a Milwaukee pH controller, 2 or 3 outlet strips, a Ranco temperature controller and a mess of timers. Best thing I have done in a long time.

 

[king fish]

why has every other controller you have used blown the lite out of the water.

is it just the amount of features or actual performance.

 

[Ike]

For the money they're pretty tough to beat, you should be happy with your purchase.

 

[BigRed]

is it just the amount of features or actual performance.

I have had some bad performance issues regarding both of my PC4's. 3 of the 8 outlets have had issues with the given device "sticking on" as well as firmware updates not working. While I agree for the price it cant be beaten, the reason I ended up buying it was because I was able to essentially get a top off very cheap via the additional module.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You'll love it!

 

[sciknen]

For the money not bad. But 100 bucks more you have a lot nicer piece of equipment

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

I love mine. It replaced a Milwaukee pH controller, 2 or 3 outlet strips, a Ranco temperature controller and a mess of timers. Best thing I have done in a long time.

Thank you for posting this...

I am very similar to you in our reefing mindsets and trust what you would have to say about this kind of thing... especially still sticking with power strips and what not.

I owned a Profilux a while back and the stupid thing made my ehad spin, let alone had major issues multiple times.

 

[Elan]

mine comes in today

 

[mike_dani]

Mine will be in tomorrow, I think I have figured out a way to have all of my probes inline on the return side of the pump. I fit works well I will post my first DIY on this great forum.....

 

[mike_dani]

Ok so let me say I love this awesome piece of equipment....

I took me two hours to install and program I have the following being controlled:

Power Strip 1
Ch 1 is heater
CH 2 is hood fan
CH 3 sump light
CH 4 Skimmer

Power strip 2
CH 1 MH
CH 2 Korilia #1
CH 3 Korilia #2
CH 4 T-5's

A SL2 monitoring Salinity, PH and Temp
A MLC controlling the Moon lighting and this thing is cool, It illuminates per the moon cycle so the intensity changes daily as it goes from dark to max and back down again.

I am running my Korilia's alternating in 5 Min intervals for now might change later but I like it.

My favorite part is that fan in the hood turns on and off using the itemp as a controller, I also have my lights set up so if the tank gets to hot it will first shut down the MH then the T-5's. I also have set up the heater the same way, so say my heater goes out and the tank starts to drop in temp the RKL will turn on the MH and T-5's to help warn the tank with the fan off.

The only thing i didnt connect is my main pump for two reason:
1. it is the most important and if the RKL fails the pump will continue to run
2. I never turn it other than during H20 changes and I can do that manualy.

If anyone ever needs a SL1 I have an extra as DA doesnt sell a level 3 package with the SL2 so I have one that will never be used. I truly like this equipment and it is very easy to program. I have built a manifold for my PH and Salinity probe after the return pump that I will plumb into my carbon filter and do a DYI Friday for it. I found all of the parts at lowes and it maybe cost me 20 bucks........Stay Tunned

Thank you for posting this...

I am very similar to you in our reefing mindsets and trust what you would have to say about this kind of thing... especially still sticking with power strips and what not.

I owned a Profilux a while back and the stupid thing made my ehad spin, let alone had major issues multiple times.

 

[mike_dani]

here is my first DIY

Ok so I said if it works I will do a DIY on how to do this Probe holder…. I had two main concerns, keeping the probes up and out of the way so they don’t bet broken and having great water flow over the probes. This is how I did it.

The Digital Aquatics probes have an outside diameter of .480 so just under a half inch. I went to Lowes looking for the parts, I found some John Gusset fittings that you have to drill out for the probe to go through. I was not all that excited about that so I continued to look. I found some cord stain reliefs but they were metal and not knowing what kind I quickly ditched that Idea. I remembered reading about CPVC adapters and fond them.
They are the perfect fit a ½ female adapter fits the probe snugly and has a flat rubber washer in it that when tightened swells around the probe body. Nice and tight.
So here is my parts list:
1. 1 ea 1â€x1â€x3/4â€slip tee
2. 2 ea 1/2â€x1/2â€x1/2†tees
3. 3 ea 1/2" CPVC female adapter
4. 1 ea 1/2" male thread x3/4†female slip adapter PVC
5. 2 ea 1/2†Treaded female x 3/4" male slip adapter PVC
6. 2 ea 3/4" Threaded female x 3/4" female slip PVC
7. 2 ea 3/8†John Gusset shut off valves (Part# PL-3041)
8. 3 ea 3/8†x 1/2" MIP threaded John Gusset adapters (Part# PL-3027)
9. 1’ 3/4" PVC pipe
10. 1 Roll of 3/8†Tubing
1 Roll of thread tape
1 bottle of rain and shine PVC glue.

I started by cutting 5 pieces of 3/4" PVC to approximately 1 inch. I glued the 3/4" tees (#2) together then glued the 1/2" Threaded female x 3/4" female slip PVC (#6) to the ends of the tees using two of the pre cut PVC pipe. I then glued the /2†Treaded female x 3/4" male slip adapter PVC (#5) using the final two pre cut PVC. You can lightly install the 1/2" CPVC probe holders (#3). I then wrapped two 3/8†x 1/2" MIP threaded John Gusset adapters ((Part# PL-3027) #8) and threaded them into the assembly you have just built.

PH Probe

Salinity Probe

This will give you the Manifold assembly and it is up to you how you install it into your system. I did the following, I added on each end of my manifold a 3/8†John Gusset shut off valves ((Part# PL-3041) #7) on each end the incoming side is so I can remove it and clean my probes or calibrate them the output side I will use for flow regulation. I also added on the incoming side a 1â€x1â€x1/2â€slip tee (#1) with a 1/2" male thread x3/4†female slip adapter PVC (#4) to install into my return line after the pump.