Reefers not using a controller...

[chevyjaxon]

Originally Posted by untamed

While I do happen to use my controller to monitor tank pH, I realize that this is largely unimportant. The key here is that the controller is just monitoring...not doing anything with the tank pH. It also monitors ORP, which is also meaninglessly interesting.

What I DO use the controller for is heater and pH control of my CA reactor. If not for the controller, I would be purchasing a temp controller and pH controller anyway because I can't imagine running a tank/Ca reactor without those two things. Heater thermostats are too unreliable.

Then...since the controller is there...I also use it to control dosing pumps on the CA reactor and Kalk reactors. It also controls the lighting cycle of the refugium.

Oh yes, It also text msgs me when any parameter goes beyond limits or a power failure happens. I can also make adjustments over the web to anything the controller has control over.

I couldn't run the tank without one. I learned that briefly when mine broke. Lesson learned, I now have a backup unit in case my unit fails again.

ROFLMAO it text messages you?? does it cook dinner too? because if it does sign me up i want one I dont even have a cell phone and you bought one for your fish tank can the fish make phone calls too? maybe to let you know if their hungry, but seriously that is a real nice touch BTW who makes such a high tech gadget?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I have to admit that I was super frustrated when I posted about this. It had been a rough day so I think I was just angry at the world at that point

What I SHOULD have said was...I have used a controller for so long now that I hate the thought of going without one. Obviously I know its very possible to maintain a great, successful tank without one. I also know PH is largely unimportant to monitor in a stable system and rarely changes...mine has not changed more than .5 or so since I set up the tank but I do like to watch it each day. I like the idea that I have the monitor set up to let me know if that PH which doesn't fluctuate ever DOES. Instead of me finding out because my corals look terrible. I dose kalk in my auto top off and I have my controller set to turn OFF the ATO if the PH ever spikes too high. So all those disasters where people ATO gets stuck on and kills the tank, can be avoided with a simple controller. It saves me from having 8 different light timers in a powerbar for each of my lights. And so on and so on.

Before using one, I thought they were a waste of money but after using one, I would hate to run a tank without.

The temperature in my condo fluctuates a lot and the only way my tank stays between 79-80.5 is because my controller makes sure it does. Otherwise I have to rely on a heater that could get stuck on or fail. I don't want my fans on all the time, so the controller only turns them on when the temperature gets to 80.4, then off when it drops back to 79.1...my temperature has never gone below 79 or above 80.5. I recently set it up to dose my two part for me each day.

These are just things I don't want to have to think about all day. I like the convenience.

[untamed]

Originally Posted by chevyjaxon

ROFLMAO it text messages you?? does it cook dinner too? because if it does sign me up i want one I dont even have a cell phone and you bought one for your fish tank can the fish make phone calls too? maybe to let you know if their hungry, but seriously that is a real nice touch BTW who makes such a high tech gadget?

No..it doesn't cook me dinner. Just standard Aquatronica options, really. FYI, I can also send a text msg to the aquarium asking for info and it will respond with a complete system status text msg.