How do controllers work?

Well, for example, calcium reactors add calcium automatically by liquefying calcium carbonate media kept in a reactor. This is done by injecting CO2 into the water in the chamber, lowering the pH enough to dissolve said media. This happens at a certain pH, and the controller is used to turn on a solenoid valve to the CO2 bottle. The controller not only senses the pH, but is programmed to take a certain action when the pH reaches a target point.

Another example is the ORP control when you use ozone. This is triggered by a sensor, and likewise controlled by the controller.

Also, the controller is more likely to turn on a chiller, rather than turn off lights if the temperature hits a certain point.

Stick around and you'll become familiar with all these bells, whistles and toys.

Controlers are popular with SPS dominated tanks that need a lot of calcium, and where parameters must be controlled without a lot of variation, lest the corals die.

 

I wish i had the money for all that...if only!!

 

Controllers are basically small microprocessors that have a programmable powerstrip they are connected to. The attached powerstrip has a certain amount of outlets. Let's take for example the Aquacontroller Jr:
It can handle a DC8 (8 outlets) and a DC4 (4 outlets). Each of these outlets are given a unique address that it will respond to. The DC power blocks are connected to the AC Jr via an RJ6 (phone cord). When certain events get triggered, like when the time is 8am, the Jr will tell the address (on the power block) to turn the tank light. Let's say you have your tank light on outlet 1, and it is addressed A1 (powerblock A, outlet 1), the Jr will tell address A1 to energize, which will cause your light to power on. This is just an example for the lights. Controllers are very flexible and makes things very easy to handle.
Some controllers can have wavemaker functions, but dimmable lights is a whole different beast. I hope this helps.

 

Well, I'm a glutton for knowlegde and you guys don't seem intent on letting me down So I'm gonna be around for a while!

Now that you mention the calcium reactor functions and whatnot it seems to make more and more sense. I'm not into that high level stuff yet, (price point, necessity , power consumption, etc...) but I'm looking into the quality of what I get now, so I can future proof, anything I have now, I intend on riding it out, as we all know, nothing that has anything to do with this hobby is realistically priced, especially the equipment, so I want to buy so it will last when I upgrade my tank.

I think the controller would be a cool addition, and most likely would give me a peace of mind, and if I upgrade to addtional equipment, would become a greater necessity .

LOL @ reefsparky teaching me how a reactor works. I honestly was wondering that a couple hours ago. Thanks.

sigh... man! It's tough being young, on your own, and in NY with an average job. Tis hobby was the best and worst thing that could have happened to me.

 

One other thing about PH is that I've found the test kits to be almost worthless, they are so imprecise and the colors are so hard to tell apart (at least for me) that I never felt like I had any idea what the ph actually was. Maybe I could tell it was within 7.8 to 8.3 somewhere.

Also your ph constantly fluctuates over the course of the day so depending what time of day it is your ph could swing from 7.9 to 8.1 easily. So on top of controlling calcium reactors/kalkwasser additions etc to me its' the only real way to get a good feeling for what your ph in your tank REALLY is.

The email/SMS alerts are pretty priceless too, nothing makes me feel more comfortable investing a lot of money in livestock than knowing the tank will notify me if a heater is running away, or the room is getting too hot in the summer etc. I'm considering getting a float switch and wiring it to the digital input on my AC3 too and putting it in the sump so I know if the water level goes too low like if there's a leak, some sort of flood or my autotopoff stops working or something then it can email me and let me know.
It's so cool being able to control your tank from your phone too, I love gadgets.

 

My sentiments exactly.

I was going to look into whether or not Salifert carries a pH test.

 

This is true...

 

Where are the pros?

 

I think you already got your answer