iPhone + Controller + Reef. What Works?

doch · #1 01-19-2010, 01:01 AM

You know, I stumbled on this post this morning, and thought to myself "That's #$%@ing rediculous, these guys are geeking up fish tanks". I started to think about it, realized how much time I spend out of town, and how many problems I had with my last tank while out of town, and have decided something... you guys just cost me a lot of money. Damn. LMAO I can't wait to have it all set up... my 'tank stress' while out of town will go down exponentially.

Thanks... I think.

rkelman · #2 01-19-2010, 10:04 PM

Lol I'm getting mine this weekend. My tank should be fully geeked by the end of the weekend.

PoonTang · #3 01-19-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doch

You know, I stumbled on this post this morning, and thought to myself "That's #$%@ing rediculous, these guys are geeking up fish tanks". I started to think about it, realized how much time I spend out of town, and how many problems I had with my last tank while out of town, and have decided something... you guys just cost me a lot of money. Damn. LMAO I can't wait to have it all set up... my 'tank stress' while out of town will go down exponentially.

Thanks... I think.

wish I had one last summer, a $500 controller would have saved the loss of $3000 worth of livestock.

Newbies · #4 01-20-2010, 12:13 AM

Just following your thread here and am curious how much would an Apex controller with probes and all cost to get up and running. Im doing a 245g and think this would be an awsome safty net to have.
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penny stocks to watch

whatcaneyedo · #5 01-20-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbies

Just following your thread here and am curious how much would an Apex controller with probes and all cost to get up and running. Im doing a 245g and think this would be an awsome safty net to have.

About $600 plus tax I think. $550 for the basic controller package (8 controllable outlets on the power bar), $30 for a pH probe and +/- $20 for an Ethernet cable to plug into your homes internet router.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/np...r+Package.html

Other than that I dont really have anything new to add to the discussion aside from I also have an ACIII which is presently controllable over the internet. I get a text message and an email message (so does my tank sitter) if anything is wrong while I'm away from home. Its not quite as good as being there to deal with a problem yourself but its the next best thing.

doch · #6 01-20-2010, 02:13 AM

So call this a stupid question, but what does the controller output to for control of ph and salinity? Can you have an ATO hooked up too? What about an auto feeder? I'm officially a geek! I spent a good chunk of my down time at work today planning this out in my head. LOL!

whatcaneyedo · #7 01-20-2010, 02:47 AM

You mean do? My ACIII has two pH probes plugged into it, one for the general aquarium water and the other for the inside of the calcium reactor.

If the pH in the reactor goes below 6.5 the controller shuts off the flow of CO2, if it goes above 6.6 the controller turns the CO2 flow back on.

If the tanks pH drops below 7.7 the controller shuts of the flow of CO2 to the reactor, sounds an alarm and sends me a text plus email warning. If the tanks pH goes above 8.3 the controller shuts off my ATO system (which adds water through a kalk reactor). The idea is that something must be wrong and the ATO is pumping too much kalk water into the tank causing a pH spike. While a pH of 8.3 isnt bad, its highly unlikely for my tank which usually runs between 7.8 and 8.1 depending on the buildup of CO2 in the house.

A person could easily have a controller automate their ATO system by using a small pump and a water level switch. However I already own a Tunze system so I just use it plugged into my controller for extra protection.