Temperature regulation

[Leadfootedracer]

ReefKeeper is what I will be getting. Like you all said, it's just for light and temperature control. The plan is, once I buy a house, to setup a big mixed reef and turn this one into an aggressive tank, so the ReefKeeper would stay with it.


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[ShelleyBoston]

You might want to get rid of that powerstrip with the timer built in. They are famous for catching fire. A club member just had a house fire caused by one of those back in October.

Here's one story about a all in one power strip, this was the mechanical timer type, but there are similar horror stories out there about the digital ones as well;
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=584645

Are all timers a fire hazard or just the powerstrip kind? I am using an old Radioshack not digital but the type that has a big wheel, only turn on/off refugium lights.

 

[JohnK]

Anything overloaded is a hazard, but for whatever reasons the powerstrip timers are the ones you hear horror stories about.

I have a couple of old intermatic timers that were overloaded and ended up discolored around the outlet(s) showing obvious signs of alarm before anything happened. I don't think it's quickly obvious with the power strip timers in that same way, but otherwise it's hard to say. If nothing else, having 4 or more plugs on one timer tempts one to overload them, wheres regular timers only have one or two plugs so it's a little less tempting. Also, as with a lot of things sold in the pet trade, the timer/powerstrips sold by pet suppliers may be lower quality than the off the shelf stuff from HD or other sources.


Good call on getting the RK controller. Pricy, but system controllers are way worth it IME.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

I will ride the current setup out till the end of the month when some money will free up and I can get the cheapest of the ReefKeeper options to control my heaters and lights. Still contemplating a reefbrite 50/50 to add to my t5ho setup. Who knows


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[USMC2897]

I use a STC-1000 for a temperature controller. It is a DIY project but is very easy and cost me next to nothing. The controller cost $10 on Ebay and came with a temperature probe and I made it look good with a project box from Radio Shack. all together it probably cost me $20-$30.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

Well, after 12 hours of the heaters being unplugged, the tank temp came down to 77 degrees and the room stayed at 73. Another 12 hours later the tank is still 77 and the room is also still 73.

I am going to continue to leave them unplugged and take the experiment a little further. I have plugged my fuge light into its timer and fired it back up. It runs 10 hours over night. I fear this will raise the water temp a few degrees.

If the water won't naturally come down to room temp, and stay there, then I am left to assume I need to be running a chiller. Am I wrong?


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[nemodan]

77 degrees is OK. I run my tank at 78. I do have a chiller but because in summer it goes to 80 + in a blink of an eye.

If your tank, with the standard equipment and with lights stays at 77, that is great.

Just get the controller for the heater and enjoy the tank. I will setup the tank Temp at 78.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

77 degrees is OK. I run my tank at 78. I do have a chiller but because in summer it goes to 80 + in a blink of an eye.

If your tank, with the standard equipment and with lights stays at 77, that is great.

Just get the controller for the heater and enjoy the tank. I will setup the tank Temp at 78.

That is also my concern. Right now, with a 73-74 degree room, it maintains 77 degrees. When the room exceeds the tank temperature, I fear it would cause it to climb in to an uncomfortable zone.

I will continue on as planned and get the controller and set it up for 78 degrees. With winter upon us, I'm in no rush to worry about 80 degree room temps.



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[JohnK]

This is where the system controller gets really useful. Set the heater temp at 78, at 79 have it turn on a fan blowing across the water's surface (evaporative cooling works surprisingly well), and at 80 it can start shutting lights and other heat generating equipment off.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

Are all of those features are available in the ReefKeeper Lite? I do not have a fan setup, primarily because I run glass tops on the display. I can look into setting something up though. I may have to get an extra pc4 to get everything on one controller


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[nemodan]

Remember I wrote :

1 plug for the heaters
1 plug for white lights
1 plug for Actinics
1 plug for whatever.......Here you have your FAN connected.

1 PC4 to start the basics is OK .


The fan works perfectly. I had for 2 summers a fully enclosed 14 G biocube. In summer I placed a standing fan beside the tank and kept the Lid open 1" with a small piece if wood.....Perfect !!! Temp always at 78.

Do the same and keep your glass cover open in the same way.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

I would want to put the main light, fuge light, skimmer, UV light, and reactor pump on it for an emergency temperature shut off in case of too much heat. Heat to 77/78, turn on fan(s) at 79, and shut down non-essentials at like 80/81 as an emergency backup plan.

Does the "Lite" model have those features inside the controller? BRS doesn't offer much of a description from what I see and I have ZERO experience with one. Never even seen one before. I didn't know if you could program outlets to not only operate on a time schedule but to also turn off with a temperature setting.

The sump cabinet has room for fans, and has a decent opening in the back that I could put an exhaust fan or two.


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[nemodan]

The RKL has all the same functions as the RKE.

BUT !!!! Only have capacity for 4 modules ( whatever they are ) and DO NOT have internet capabilities.

I have 5 RKL in 5 tanks and had a RKE in my reef SPS tank that I later replaced for an Apex because of my travel schedule and how easy is to control things with the Cloud Software (Fusion) of the Apex from any place around the world.....if you have Internet signal .... LOL

CHeers

Ps: search the PDF RKL manual on Internet

Here you go,,,,,

http://www.digitalaquatics.com/downloads/RKL User Guide 2_0 - Web.pdf

 

[Leadfootedracer]

So if I understand this correctly, 2 pc4's, temp probe, and one other module and it would be at capacity.

I went through all the modules they offer and didn't see anything that jumped out at me, outside of the temp probe and 2 pc4's.

Maybe someday I will look into getting a 4th.

 

[nemodan]

So if I understand this correctly, 2 pc4's, temp probe, and one other module and it would be at capacity.

I went through all the modules they offer and didn't see anything that jumped out at me, outside of the temp probe and 2 pc4's.

Maybe someday I will look into getting a 4th.

NOPE..... The temp probe isn't a module !!!

The pc4 are modules. There are many more. At this stage you probably do not need any of those modules.

 

[Leadfootedracer]

Oh. I misunderstood that. I thought it was. They have a ton of modules, but like you said, I probably don't need any of them. It's not a reef tank. It's a fowlr with some easy corals. I check all my parameters manually, and am ok with that. When I set up a big reef tank, I will want all those modules.

Now, other than the 2nd pc4 what's the difference between the rkl plus and the rkl basic? The pc4 is only $80 yet there is a $150 price difference.


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[nemodan]

The PH monitoring and the extra PC4 if I am correct.

At this point you need just to sit in front of your computer and compare the diferentes sets that DA sell and you will get all the answers.

Cheer....by.by !!