Equipment - AUTOMATION - controllers, powerheads, auto-top off

AUTOMATION - controllers, powerheads, auto-top off

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Forum Name: Equipment
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59718
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Topic: AUTOMATION - controllers, powerheads, auto-top off

Posted By: Bryce
Subject: AUTOMATION - controllers, powerheads, auto-top off
Date Posted: October 15 2012 at 10:18pm

Hello, I am in the middle of a 65 gallon reef build and this will be my 1st "larger" tank, I have already purchased, the tank/stand, a 20 gallon high sump/refugium, a Lifegard Aquatics Quiet One Pro 3000 (rated at 819gph at zero head), a Ecotech Radion LED light, all the plumbing, skimmer, and I'll be running a Herbie overflow.

Anyway, I have researched/ considered getting two Ecotech mp10w es, or one mp40w es, or two Tunze Nanostreams 6055, and I will also end up getting the Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 Auto Top Off, and a BRS carbon/gfo reactor, a heater, a sump light (sorry trying to list anything that might be "controllable").

I am totally lost at what controller will be the most useful to me. It seems the Radion and Votechs have controllers so would I need another controller such as these Neptunes APEX I'm always hearing about? My tank will be within an ear shot of my bedroom so I am leaning towards getting the Tunze Nanostreams 6055's as I have read a lot about the humming of Votechs and from what I can tell the only communication between a wireless Votech and Radion is a Feed and Nite mode.

What controller will allow me to control the most items and be the most versatile and yet not redundant? If I get one of the Neputunes would that allow me to control the Tunze Nanostreams without me needing to get the Tunze Multicontroller 7096? I would rather spend the extra money to get a versitile controller than buy a seperate controller just for my powerheads then find out that if I want to control other items I need to get yet another controller that makes the one I just bought rundndant/ not needed. Sorry for the long post. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated, would love to hear some..."well if I was building a 65 gallon mixed reef, I would go with X controller, X wavemaker/powerheads/ because...."

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65g Reef

Replies:

Posted By: Fatman
Date Posted: October 15 2012 at 10:25pm

Apex seems to be the king. I don't have one, I bought a Reef Angel and have been very happy with it. On the powerheads you need to check to see what type of signal they require to know if they will work with the controller you select. The LEDs are a bit trickier. The Reef Angel can be purhase with an analog or PWM signal for the LEDs depending on the type of driver you have. But it also can be adapted to the other type driver with a module. Would I recommend the Reef Angel for you? Not sure, you have to be patient and do a bit of tinkering to get it to operate, however the support is excellent.

If you are not a computer tinkerer maybe the APEX is for you. I'd check them out and see if you can use that for your power heads and not pay for a powehead controller.

Fat

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February 4: Winter Banquet at the Living Planet Aquarium
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Posted By: Molli
Date Posted: October 15 2012 at 10:31pm

I have a new 65 gallon tank. Have an apex controller. Also have one mp40, which is placed high on the back wall of my tank (my aquascape is pretty open). The mp40 is only at about 40% I think and I have lots of flow. My mp40 is silent -- only reason you will get a hum is if it is not seated properly (and by the way that will end up damaging it and will void your warranty). You are welcome to come over and listen to my mp40.

Posted By: Dionysus
Date Posted: October 15 2012 at 10:46pm

I love my tunze 6105 powerhead that I have

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AquaMedic 250 Watt XM 20k
2 420s Vhos
29 DT SPS Dominant
20 G Long Frag

http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56607&title=dionysus-tank-build" rel="nofollow - My Tank Progress =)

Posted By: jcoulter17
Date Posted: October 15 2012 at 11:02pm

If your about to buy a controller wait for the Vertex Cerebra aquarium controller.