aquarium controller

get a reef angel http://www.reefangel.com/

 

What would be your reasoning to choose a RA over the other available?

 

price and its open source

 

I am also a fan of reef angel, you no longer have to write code with the new graphic user interface RAgen! The lighting setups with dimmable LED's are very impressive.
$219 with temp, PH, ATO, Lighting, wave maker, feeding mode,and data logging are all ready to go out of the box.
Add some programming or additional modules and it will compete with any other controller. Depending on what you need this is a gret way to experiment with a controller and when your setup becomes more complex the controller is expandable.
Would you be using this on just the 58 or the breeder tank as well?

 

Does it come with probes or is it just pre-programmed? For those who are using controllers how do you manage your lights when your DT and fish room are not in the same locale? Do you need to run extension cords to the controller?

 

Just get an Apex and be done with it. You'll be glad you did.

--AJ

 

RA is too complicated, you really have to be microcontroller savvy to program those things. APEX, DONE.

 

If you don't need a ton of things to be automated/controlled, you can go with a Reefkeeper Lite, then add on modules if you need to control more things. I am not a tech person at all and have not really liked the Neptune or Digital Aquatics systems for programming in what you want. Neither of them seemed very user friendly, imo, but I have been able to do it, just not the easiest things to set up. Both sets of directions were confusing and not very helpful.......Digital Aquatics has a website with helpful ppl, that was one plus, but I feel like they wouldn't need one if they would just make their directions more understandable.

 

Reef Angel? No thanks.

 

+1 Andy

+1 phishcrazee - and for Neptune Systems, especially with the ACIII which I believe is what you're referring to. The Apex has improved this significantly, but can still be confusing for setting up some of the options.

Knowing where you're going to go for help when you get stuck on configuring your controller should be a major decision point when buying a controller. The instruction guides that come with both RK and Apex suck. One person in the Apex community organized most of the information about programming the Apex and put it in the Unofficial Apex New Users Guide. Google it. It's constantly evolving with new information being added all the time. Plus, you can get a ton of help on their Reef Central forum if you have problems with figuring out the programming. And I believe the majority of the people on this forum that use controllers on their tanks, use Neptune Systems controllers, so you will have a larger group of local people to ask questions to.

--AJ

 

Another vote for the Apex

 

Have any of them or all of them. What you put in your tank doesn't have a big impact on what controller you purchase. Any of them would control a calcium reactor

--AJ

 

Apex all the way. Runs my ENTIRE tank flawlessly. Wouldn't waste my money anywhere else. Get the full version at 500$. Ethernet capable, this thing is a beast!!

 

Looks like a two year old assembled that. Apex all the way. How good is their customer service? Reliability? Quality? Reputation?
I can stand by Apex on all of these, 100%