How beneficial would adding an Aquacontroller 3 to my tank be?

joem1cha3l · 11/20/2008, 01:37 PM

Would this make my life alot easier and also help maintaining the tank easier?

wshfulthkn · 11/20/2008, 02:09 PM

You have a 29g tank, I would say save your money for now. if you find that you are unable to attend to the tank for weeks at a time or are overstocked then maybe it would help.

if you are looking to upgrade to a larger tank then one would be good for the future.

rezaktp · 11/20/2008, 04:27 PM

Do a cost comparrison if you need various timers for lighting, dosing pumps, top off, a thermostat for a chiller & heater, ph meter, etc., it may be cost effective to go with a Aquacontroller Jr.

Other wise invest in corals!

Tswifty · 11/20/2008, 04:43 PM

The major benefit the ACIII has IMO is the ability to control/monitor certain things on your tank via the internet.

So as stated above, if you're not going to be away from your tank a lot, or aren't crazy strict about knowing everything that's going on in your tank then it may not be the best option for you.

It's not a cheap updrade in price either... the jump from the ACjr to the AC III is around $200 or more I believe.

Also, you need to check out all the various functions of each unit to see if in fact you will be utilizing enough of them to make it worthwhile. Otherwise you'll just end up with a very expensive powerstrip.

There's a comparison spreadsheet floating around here somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig it up.

thuddly · 11/20/2008, 05:15 PM

I would go with reefkeeper or something else. AC III was/is a nightmare.

wshfulthkn · 11/20/2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8

There's a comparison spreadsheet floating around here somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig it up.

here is a website that I have seen

http://www.aquariumcontrollers.com/

Tswifty · 11/20/2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thuddly
I would go with reefkeeper or something else. AC III was/is a nightmare.

Now you know you can't just skate by after making a ridiculous statement like that... care to elaborate?

crvz · 11/20/2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
Now you know you can't just skate by after making a ridiculous statement like that... care to elaborate?

Agreed, I've loved my AC3 since day 1. Why did you find it a nightmare?

11/20/2008, 01:37 PM	#1
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	How beneficial would adding an Aquacontroller 3 to my tank be? Would this make my life alot easier and also help maintaining the tank easier? __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

11/20/2008, 02:09 PM	#2
wshfulthkn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 120	You have a 29g tank, I would say save your money for now. if you find that you are unable to attend to the tank for weeks at a time or are overstocked then maybe it would help. if you are looking to upgrade to a larger tank then one would be good for the future. __________________ -- Brandon Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon

11/20/2008, 04:27 PM	#3
rezaktp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 1,407	Do a cost comparrison if you need various timers for lighting, dosing pumps, top off, a thermostat for a chiller & heater, ph meter, etc., it may be cost effective to go with a Aquacontroller Jr. Other wise invest in corals! __________________ Happy Reefing! Current Tank Info: 180g. Reef w/8-80w t-5's, 70g. Rubbermaid basement sump w/10g. fuge, APEX, Reef Octopus SRO 2000 Skimmer, 1/3hp Aqualogic chiller, 57w Aqua Ultraviolet UV, BRS 2-part w/2-Drews Dosers, 4-MP40wES

11/20/2008, 04:43 PM	#4
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	The major benefit the ACIII has IMO is the ability to control/monitor certain things on your tank via the internet. So as stated above, if you're not going to be away from your tank a lot, or aren't crazy strict about knowing everything that's going on in your tank then it may not be the best option for you. It's not a cheap updrade in price either... the jump from the ACjr to the AC III is around $200 or more I believe. Also, you need to check out all the various functions of each unit to see if in fact you will be utilizing enough of them to make it worthwhile. Otherwise you'll just end up with a very expensive powerstrip. There's a comparison spreadsheet floating around here somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig it up. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

11/20/2008, 05:15 PM	#5
thuddly Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 53	I would go with reefkeeper or something else. AC III was/is a nightmare.