AquaController Jr.

[crumbletop]

I recently got an aquacontroller Jr. with an 8-outlet strip, ph and temp probes. This thing is really nice :D I was looking at the ReefKeeper 2 and the AquaController Jr. and I got a great deal on the AC so I went that route. I mainly wanted it for temp control, and it is doing a fine job of that. I have it set up to cut on a fan if the temp gets too high, then cut the lights if it gets higher still.

Jack

[TitansFan]

Very Nice! I have been considering a controller myself. Is it your great deal the only reason you went with the AC Jr? I saw the premiumaquatics group buy and thought about getting in on it..

[Stinky2426]

How much did u pay? Was it expensive?

[crumbletop]

I decided to go for the AC Jr. over the RK2 because of features, and the price sealed it. The AC Jr. can independently control up to 12 outlets. It also is able to be customized rather extensively -- beyond what the RK2 can do. You can control each outlet based on time, temp, ph, or any combination. I got in on the premium aquatics group buy, and paid $282 (shipped) for the AC Jr, the DC-8 (8-outlet box), and a pH probe. I think there might be a cheaper deal going on at another place right now (maybe $20 cheaper). Considering the price of a dedicated temperature controller comes in at around $160 or so, I thought that the pH probe, and the ability to do multiple timers, made this a good deal. As an example, I have mine set up to turn on the heater when the temp is less than 78.4, turn off the heater when the temp is greater than 78.6, turn on a fan if the temp is > 81, and turn off the lights one at a time if the temp continues to rise. I've only had it for a few days, but it seems to work great :)

Jack

[Mikeyjer]

I would like to know how it would be able to turn on and off each individual switch when everything is connected with one plug in. I've been looking for a multi-timer so I can remove ALL my timers, it's a pain in the #%#@$ and takes up too much room. Let me know, thanks!

[crumbletop]

It has a control unit that connects to a special power strip (the DC-8) via a phone cord. The power strip contains the electronics to allow individual control of each outlet. You program the control unit to tell the outlets what to do. So as an example, I have programmed it to tell it that outlets 1 and 2 are the lights, and to turn on outlet 1 at 9:00 and turn on outlet 2 at 9:30, then to turn outlet 2 off at 21:00, and outlet 1 at 21:30. That turns on my actinics 30 minutes before the main lights, and then it delays turning off the actinics by 30 minutes at the end of the day. They also sell a DC-4 (4 outlet unit) and a DC-4HD (a high curruent 4-outlet unit). You can daisy chain the control of each unit with simple phone cords. The AC Jr. I have can control up to 12 outlets. The more expensive models can control more (up to a max of 30, I think). So far it has done an amazing job of controlling my temp. It used to vary a bunch when I depended on the thermostats in the heaters.

Here's their website:

http://www.neptunesys.com/

Jack

[TitansFan]

Does the one from premium aquatics come with the serial port?

[crumbletop]

Mine didn't come with a serial port. The nice folks at neptune systems will upgrade me for $28, but I'm not sure I'll do that (I'm thinking about it). With the serial port you can run the aquanotes lite software and even control functions on the power strip from your pc (Like changing the longitude/latitude settings for the sunrise/sunset program -- things like that). Here is a link to the group buy that is a little cheaper than what I paid (about $20 or so). You can get the serial port as an option.

http://www.thereefstop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=55_87_126_165&products_id=398


Jack

[TitansFan]

Yes, it would be nice to be able to control from my laptop. Also to just have all the recording ability to keep track of stats. Wow.. you have me wanting one of these. Now I need someone that can order it for me with their credit card and I pay them cash. Maybe then the wife aka the accountant won't bust me on the purchase ;)

[anthony34]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6994024#post6994024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
I decided to go for the AC Jr. over the RK2 because of features, and the price sealed it. The AC Jr. can independently control up to 12 outlets. It also is able to be customized rather extensively -- beyond what the RK2 can do. You can control each outlet based on time, temp, ph, or any combination. I got in on the premium aquatics group buy, and paid $282 (shipped) for the AC Jr, the DC-8 (8-outlet box), and a pH probe. I think there might be a cheaper deal going on at another place right now (maybe $20 cheaper). Considering the price of a dedicated temperature controller comes in at around $160 or so, I thought that the pH probe, and the ability to do multiple timers, made this a good deal. As an example, I have mine set up to turn on the heater when the temp is less than 78.4, turn off the heater when the temp is greater than 78.6, turn on a fan if the temp is > 81, and turn off the lights one at a time if the temp continues to rise. I've only had it for a few days, but it seems to work great :)

Jack

I see the group buy has gone up a bit, when I got mine about 6 or 7months + ago the group buy with temp controller and DC8 was $180.00

[crumbletop]

Nice :)

[fishdoc11]

Anybody have problems with the DC 8's and starting MH ballasts? I have read they are a bit "squirrelly" and don't allways start them well. What type of ballasts are you guys running with the DC 8? That is the main reason I have shyed away from buying a Neptune unit. The RK II's have two outlets designed to overcome this. Of course the heavy duty DC4 is an option but that's more $ in addition to a DC8.
thanks, Chris

[crumbletop]

I'm running PC's, so I don't know about how it would work with the MH ballasts. I have seen other people's programs posted on RC who use MH lighting. Basically they set the program to delay turning back on MH lights for 20 minutes (or some such delay) before trying to turn them back on after a power outage. I'm not sure how well it works, though. You might try asking on their vendor forum.

Jack

[anthony34]

I run both VHO 165W x 2 and MH 400 x 2, skimmer, close loop, fan, chiller, moon lights, heater with my Jr + DC8, everything works fine with it, and the MH only takes about 10mins or less to come back on when a power outage, I am running the 400W M155 with Pulse Start

[fishdoc11]

Thanks guys.

[TitansFan]

I ordered one with DC8 and I use MH fired by icecaps. I will let you know how it works.