reef keeper lite

[jon1985]

So I am considering picking up an Reef Keeper Lite. I have a few questions:

If you have one, how long have you had it?

What do you have plugged into it?

if you didnt have it now but know what you know now about them would you get one?

anything else?

Thanks

[chimmike]

i had a controller before. I wouldn't run an aquarium without one now. Too much insurance those things can provide!

[Phisher]

I just set one up a few weeks ago. There is a bit of a learning curve to see what these can really do but once you get an understanding there isn't much you can't do with it. I run everything off mine, lights, CaRx, pumps, ato, etc.

The only regret I have is not getting the elite. DA is developing a software for RKE so you can use your pc for set up rather than the units interface, which I love.

I also wish I had the internet monitoring, never thought it would be important to me but it is. My wife calls me and says, the tank is beeping and flashing alarm, but I cant see whats up. I think some smart phone apps are in the works as well.

[jhoff]

I had mine for about 4 months now. I use it for my lights dusk till dawn also run the fans for my ATI sunpower.Got rid of all my timer's & digital therm that was off by 4 degrees great product + you can't beet the price...

[sfboarders]

I have had mine for a couple of weeks. IMHO I think Neptune's are better and have more features. Might wanna look into them. But it does the job. I use it for my lights and heaters monitor temp and ph.

[chimmike]

I had the ACJR and really liked it, but for the high end equip, the Apex is great looking but right out of the box standard package i think the RKE does more.

[cody6766]

I only have mine running my lights, heater and fan, but I wouldn't run a tank without a controller of some sort again; at least not beyond the general softie/easy LPS tank

[jb61264]

I've had mine for about 3 months now and consider it absolutely essential...I run two Koralias with it as a wavemaker, monitor and control temp, monitor and control pH in my tank and Ca reactor, lights, auto top-off...it is great and I actually think programming was very easy to pick up

[mnchartier]

Originally Posted by Phisher

The only regret I have is not getting the elite. DA is developing a software for RKE so you can use your pc for set up rather than the units interface, which I love.

They released a beta version last week that is compatible with the Lite, but its is still in Beta.

I've had mine for about a year now and I am upgrading to the Elite, I just need more modules than the 4 that the Lite can handle. The good thing is DA has a trade in policy on the upgrades.

As for Internet monitoring (and control in a future firmware release) the Lite is now able to handle this with the Net module, but it does count against the 4 module limit of the Lite.

You should look at the DA forum on RC and also their own forum so you can see more prospectives from other users.

PC4 #1 2 250w MH lights, 1 set of moon lights, 1 MP40, PC fans
PC4 #2 1 Aqualifter for ATO, Mak4 return Pump, heater #1
PC4 #3 Skimmer, Heater #2 & #3, iTemp Probe
SL1 - pH Probe and 2 float switches for ATO and low sump warning

i want to add 2 dosing pumps so that is why I need to upgrade to the Elite

[wilsonreef]

I have a RKE (Reef Keeper Elite) I think it is the best controller ever. Very versatile, easy to use...
Carl

[jubjub]

i have a RKL i use it for my lights(2*250w mh's) i have a fan, my ato pump, and a pump that stirs up my ato water(i dose kalkwasser in there which its just turned on)

now the only thing i really am not a big fan of is the pc4. port 1 and 4 are mechanical switches while 2/3 are electronic switches, the electronic ones have problems shutting off sometimes is what i found when i had my ato pump on port 3 sometimes it'd shut off sometimes it'd empty out my ato (20gals or so).....

other then that great product i'd buy another one

[jon1985]

sounds like its probably worth it. next time Im out to the LFS I will be asking him a few questions and probably pickin one up.

[tibob32]

running powerheads (standby mode's useful), lights, -->HEATERs<--. Soon to plug in dosing pumps and aqualifter

[Just2Many]

I'm also looking at the lite. If I'm running just a FOWLR do I need anything more?

[cewoodall3]

How long does it take to set a simple controller up? Is it an afternoon thing or a 15 minute thing? I'm reasonably good at this stuff, just when I look at them there's only ever really a picture of the box and not much else online.

[ShallowC's]

They are really easy to set up. I have the RKL and it took me about 15 minutes to set it up. I run my heater, lights and cooling fan. I've never had one before but it was super easy. I love it and wouldn't set up another tank without one!

[serum153]

I love mine and am about to upgrade to the elite. There is absolutely no comparison for the price range of the RKL especially since you can grow into the system. Neptune has the edge for now, but again in the price range, Neptune comes no where near competing with it.

[kylesmoney]

I love mine. With the newest firmware a monkey could program them. Function:Heater>Temp:78>Save I have everything plugged into it from heaters, powerheads, to dosing pumps for my two part.