Im in the research phase of an aquarium controller purchase. Im looking for some feedback on:
o systems that might meet my needs (see below);
o peoples experience with those systems; and
o feedback on options I should consider in the evaluation.
Something to keep in mind is I dont have a clue on this stuff
I find it really cool what some of these systems claim they can do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. To date I have done some reading on the Reefkeeper Elite, Profilux and Aquacontrollers. One of the challenges I am having is what products from each vendor are required and what will the total cost be.
Current System Components - Some background information on the system I want to control
Two 400 watt metal halides (75G DISPLAY TANK)
One 250 watt metal halide (40G FRAG TANK)
Two 65 watt power compacts on one power cord (also on the 40G FRAG TANK)
Top off is running an aqua lifter pump, controlled by a simple float switch setup (design curiosity of Melevs reef)
Kalk reactor is running a mj400 for stirring
Fans are old pc fans, run off an old computer power supply (they are in a DIY canopy on the display tank)
Skimmer is a Euro Reef RS180
Display tank return pump is a Quiet One 4000
Frag tank return pump is a Mag 2 or 3
Sump is a 25 gallon tank
Top off reservoir is a 33 gallon tank
Display flow two Hydor Koralia 3 and two Sure Flow 1600 upgraded maxi-jets
Four simple timers are used to controller lights and kalk stirrer
Future
May go with a bigger display 200g-250g (other equipment maybe upgraded accordingly)
Ballings method maybe adopted may want dosing pumps in the future
Looking to add some battery backup on the flow maybe a computer UPS
Controller Requirements current thoughts
1. Turn on lights at a specific time
2. Turn off lights at a specific time
3. Shutdown lights when tank temperature reaches a certain temperature
4. Turn on fans when temperature reaches a certain temperature
5. Turn off fans when temperature reaches a certain temperature
6. Turn off skimmer when skimmer cup is full
7. Turn off display tank return pump when display tank reaches a certain level
8. Turn off frag tank return pump when frag tank reaches a certain level
9. Turn on/off top-off pump when sump reaches certain level
10. Turn on/off RO/DI unit based on level in top-off tank
11. Turn on/off kalk stirrer at predefined times
12. Track/graph PH
13. Track/graph temperature
14. May want to track/graph other things in the future
as I learn more
15. Alarm when power goes out
16. PC / web access to control and to view status.
Notification Requirements: For many of the above actions I would also like the ability to send an email to one or more addresses at the time of the event.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
