Had a problem with AC Jr. or Reefkeepr II? Totally satisfied? Vote!!

Mr. Brooks · 10/20/2008, 09:18 PM

Seems like people have had problems with both controllers. Its difficult to make a decision as to which one to get. Please vote for the option that applies to you. Thanks!

..wp.. · 10/20/2008, 09:34 PM

I own a aquacontroller jr. one of the best pieces of equipment I've gotten for my tank...once I figured out the program there has been no problems...

Ehaze · 10/20/2008, 09:40 PM

AC jr is better, go look at the side by side,

More plugs you can add / you can connect it to your computer.

Mr. Brooks · 10/20/2008, 09:57 PM

I was reading this thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1338261

It's full of some really good info, but I wanted to get a number as to where the majority of people stood. Thanks again guys!

shag26272 · 10/21/2008, 12:16 AM

AC Jr. is better. Just dont get the Neptune probe. Get Milwaukee.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 12:20 AM

Does Milwaulkee make a temp probe as well as a PH probe? Do they use the same connections?

shag26272 · 10/21/2008, 12:22 AM

Im sorry. The temp probe works fine. I was talking about the Neptune PH probes.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 01:07 AM

Funy, most of the problems I've heard about are with the temp probe.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 03:20 AM

It's a little expensive, but what do you guys think of the Reefkeeper Elite? I went on their site, It's a little difficult to discern what it can and can't do.

Here's what I want to do:

Control temp with two heaters, two different sets of fans, chiller, ability to turn lights off if it gets too hot.

Control PH with a solenoid on the CO2 supply to a calcium reactor and the fuge light.

control lights, fuge light, moon lights

show a graph of temp and ph

Soft start a Dart on a closed loop during the day, turn it off at night. Still not sure whether I want to do this but I'd like to have it available just in case.

I don't care about mounting. It will be inside the stand.

I think I'd like more than 8 outlets.

I'd also like to split the outlets on two or three circuits. Lights and a Vortech on one, chiller and another Vortech on another, and everything else on a third.

I don't mind doing some programming but I hate to think that I could screw it up and have lights start turning on at 2 a.m., BTW this will be going on a 225 in my office. I'm there 8 hours a day, rarely at night and almost never on the weekend. I need to depend on the controller to keep the temp cool during some very hot summer weekends.

newmoon · 10/21/2008, 04:43 AM

Happy AC JR owner here

madadi · 10/21/2008, 05:02 AM

i have a first gen AC that is more then 10 years old. works flawless. i would never try another controller. their customer service is second to none.

madadi · 10/21/2008, 05:05 AM

everything you mentioned is possible on the AC. not sure about the soft start though because it was never important to me. it might be a feature though. id ask in their forum.

Quote:

Originally posted by thechad21
It's a little expensive, but what do you guys think of the Reefkeeper Elite? I went on their site, It's a little difficult to discern what it can and can't do.

Here's what I want to do:

Control temp with two heaters, two different sets of fans, chiller, ability to turn lights off if it gets too hot.

Control PH with a solenoid on the CO2 supply to a calcium reactor and the fuge light.

control lights, fuge light, moon lights

show a graph of temp and ph

Soft start a Dart on a closed loop during the day, turn it off at night. Still not sure whether I want to do this but I'd like to have it available just in case.

I don't care about mounting. It will be inside the stand.

I think I'd like more than 8 outlets.

I'd also like to split the outlets on two or three circuits. Lights and a Vortech on one, chiller and another Vortech on another, and everything else on a third.

I don't mind doing some programming but I hate to think that I could screw it up and have lights start turning on at 2 a.m., BTW this will be going on a 225 in my office. I'm there 8 hours a day, rarely at night and almost never on the weekend. I need to depend on the controller to keep the temp cool during some very hot summer weekends.

Megabite · 10/21/2008, 06:40 AM

AC JR fan. Works perfect and I haven't had any issues. Haven't had a problem with the PH probe either. I purchased their lab grade one. Been running it for about 8 months.

my2girls · 10/21/2008, 06:46 AM

I've had both. Less problems with AC jr.

Nanz · 10/21/2008, 07:10 AM

I use a reefkeeper 2 and have it connected to a computer to gather data for graphing. I have no complaints or problems. I have owned the unit for 10 months.

hermitage · 10/21/2008, 07:48 AM

I have an ACJR..I love it. The only thing that dissapointed me was plugging in the serial port into my CPU. It caused all kinds of eratic PH readings. they said the only way to fix it was to buy some adapter that they sold for $45..or something like that. Since my cpu only has USB ports..like most computers have today..I had to buy a USB Serial connector ($40) + Adapter from Neptune ($45) for a total of $85.

In the end..I am happy with the product.

atvdave · 10/21/2008, 07:56 AM

I had a ACjr, and replaced it with a RKE. If I had to choose between just the ACjr & RK2. I would give the RK2 a try. I wasn't very happy with the ACjr.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 09:42 AM

So far I have way more satisfied AC Jr. customers than RK2. And more dissatisfied customers with the RK2.

Ehaze · 10/21/2008, 10:14 AM

yea, the acjr is better hands down...

you can have way more addons.

Bri Guy · 10/21/2008, 10:47 AM

Heard the saying
"If your VCR is blinking 12:00, get a RK2, if its on time get an AC Jr."?

Well, if your VCR is blinking 12:00, you shouldn't have a reef tank!

AC Jr. was the best piece of equipment I ever bought for my reef!!!

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 11:36 AM

This is really interesting. So far, 33% of the people who've owned RK2's are dissatisfied while only 13% of AC Jr. owners are dissatisfied.

Again, the main problem that I've heard of with the AC Jr. is the temp probe. Anyone know if you can buy a better temp probe that will work with the AC Jr.?

I know that at least with the AC Jr. you can program fail safes into it. Might take me a while to wrap my head around it but it seems like that would handle most of my concerns.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 11:38 AM

BTW I don't own a VCR lol.

Mr. Brooks · 10/21/2008, 11:48 AM

Dissatisfaction with the AC Jr. is now down to 12%

DaveMorris · 10/21/2008, 12:48 PM

I think the comparison between the ACjr and RK2 is fine, but the RKE is more along the lines of an AC3. Personally if I was buying a controller today, I would buy an RKE, hands down. It lacks a few of the features of the Neptune controllers, but they will have that taken care of in the next few months. When it is all said and done, you will spend far less money on the RKE than the AC3. I guess you really need to narrow down your budget as well as what it absolutely has to be able to do. I do not know of any controller that will "soft start" a Dart. I do not think it is necessary either. A Dart pump won't chatter like a powerhead does.

thor32766 · 10/21/2008, 01:06 PM

I have an ac jr and love it.

View Poll Results: Please choose the option that applies to you, thanks!
I own an AC Jr. and I'm completely satisfied, couldn't be happier.	28	53.85%
I own an AC Jr. and have had nothing but problems, wish I bought a different controller.	5	9.62%
I own a Reefkeeper II and I'm completely satisfied, couldn't be happier.	15	28.85%
I own a Reefkeeper II and have had nothing but problems, wish I bought a different controller.	4	7.69%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

10/20/2008, 09:18 PM	#1
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	Had a problem with AC Jr. or Reefkeepr II? Totally satisfied? Vote!! Seems like people have had problems with both controllers. Its difficult to make a decision as to which one to get. Please vote for the option that applies to you. Thanks!

10/20/2008, 09:40 PM	#3
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	AC jr is better, go look at the side by side, More plugs you can add / you can connect it to your computer. __________________ 75g SPS tank, 30gal sump/refuge. Melev RO/DI, Coravue duel calc reactor, MSP 200 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40, Mag drive 9.5 return, autotopoff.com ATO, 2 CoralVue 250W SE finished pendants(with 20k Radium bulbs), powered by 2x Icecap ballasts, controlled by a ACJR.

10/21/2008, 12:16 AM	#5
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	AC Jr. is better. Just dont get the Neptune probe. Get Milwaukee. __________________ .

10/21/2008, 12:22 AM	#7
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	Im sorry. The temp probe works fine. I was talking about the Neptune PH probes. __________________ .

10/20/2008, 09:34 PM	#2
..wp.. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 36	I own a aquacontroller jr. one of the best pieces of equipment I've gotten for my tank...once I figured out the program there has been no problems...

10/20/2008, 09:57 PM	#4
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	I was reading this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1338261 It's full of some really good info, but I wanted to get a number as to where the majority of people stood. Thanks again guys!

10/21/2008, 12:20 AM	#6
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	Does Milwaulkee make a temp probe as well as a PH probe? Do they use the same connections?

10/21/2008, 01:07 AM	#8
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	Funy, most of the problems I've heard about are with the temp probe.

10/21/2008, 03:20 AM	#9
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	It's a little expensive, but what do you guys think of the Reefkeeper Elite? I went on their site, It's a little difficult to discern what it can and can't do. Here's what I want to do: Control temp with two heaters, two different sets of fans, chiller, ability to turn lights off if it gets too hot. Control PH with a solenoid on the CO2 supply to a calcium reactor and the fuge light. control lights, fuge light, moon lights show a graph of temp and ph Soft start a Dart on a closed loop during the day, turn it off at night. Still not sure whether I want to do this but I'd like to have it available just in case. I don't care about mounting. It will be inside the stand. I think I'd like more than 8 outlets. I'd also like to split the outlets on two or three circuits. Lights and a Vortech on one, chiller and another Vortech on another, and everything else on a third. I don't mind doing some programming but I hate to think that I could screw it up and have lights start turning on at 2 a.m., BTW this will be going on a 225 in my office. I'm there 8 hours a day, rarely at night and almost never on the weekend. I need to depend on the controller to keep the temp cool during some very hot summer weekends.

10/21/2008, 04:43 AM	#10
newmoon Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: N. Miami Beach Posts: 1,622	Happy AC JR owner here __________________ "But you have heard of me."

10/21/2008, 05:02 AM	#11
madadi ReefOG Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Morton grove, IL Posts: 3,976	i have a first gen AC that is more then 10 years old. works flawless. i would never try another controller. their customer service is second to none. __________________ -~adrian~- LETS TRADE YUMAS Current Tank Info: Glass box.

10/21/2008, 06:40 AM	#13
Megabite Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 702	AC JR fan. Works perfect and I haven't had any issues. Haven't had a problem with the PH probe either. I purchased their lab grade one. Been running it for about 8 months.

10/21/2008, 06:46 AM	#14
my2girls Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 2,293	I've had both. Less problems with AC jr. __________________ Always downsizing...

10/21/2008, 07:10 AM	#15
Nanz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,389	I use a reefkeeper 2 and have it connected to a computer to gather data for graphing. I have no complaints or problems. I have owned the unit for 10 months. __________________ S.G. = 1.025, Temp = 78.5, pH = 8.00 Ca = 550 ppm, Alk = 176 ppm (9.85 dKH), Mg = 1300 ppm NO3 = 0.97 ppm, PO4 = 0.07 ppm Nuvo 30, Razor Nano LED, Tunze ATO, Tunze 9004 skimmer, Vortec mp10,

10/21/2008, 07:48 AM	#16
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	I have an ACJR..I love it. The only thing that dissapointed me was plugging in the serial port into my CPU. It caused all kinds of eratic PH readings. they said the only way to fix it was to buy some adapter that they sold for $45..or something like that. Since my cpu only has USB ports..like most computers have today..I had to buy a USB Serial connector ($40) + Adapter from Neptune ($45) for a total of $85. In the end..I am happy with the product.

10/21/2008, 07:56 AM	#17
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	I had a ACjr, and replaced it with a RKE. If I had to choose between just the ACjr & RK2. I would give the RK2 a try. I wasn't very happy with the ACjr.

10/21/2008, 09:42 AM	#18
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	So far I have way more satisfied AC Jr. customers than RK2. And more dissatisfied customers with the RK2.

10/21/2008, 10:14 AM	#19
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	yea, the acjr is better hands down... you can have way more addons. __________________ 75g SPS tank, 30gal sump/refuge. Melev RO/DI, Coravue duel calc reactor, MSP 200 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40, Mag drive 9.5 return, autotopoff.com ATO, 2 CoralVue 250W SE finished pendants(with 20k Radium bulbs), powered by 2x Icecap ballasts, controlled by a ACJR.

10/21/2008, 10:47 AM	#20
Bri Guy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin Posts: 2,995	Heard the saying "If your VCR is blinking 12:00, get a RK2, if its on time get an AC Jr."? Well, if your VCR is blinking 12:00, you shouldn't have a reef tank! AC Jr. was the best piece of equipment I ever bought for my reef!!! __________________ For my birthday i got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. (Steven Wright) Current Tank Info: 40BR w/ 250w 14K Phoenix + 192w PC, 10g fuge w/ 55w PC, 10g sump, Eheim 1250 return w/ SCWD, ASM Mini G skimmer, Gravity fed ATO, Kalk doser, 1/10 HP chiller, 1 Vortec + 3MJs, all on an AC Jr. - Born on date 8-06 Pics in gallery! + 55g FOWLR w/ macro

10/21/2008, 11:36 AM	#21
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	This is really interesting. So far, 33% of the people who've owned RK2's are dissatisfied while only 13% of AC Jr. owners are dissatisfied. Again, the main problem that I've heard of with the AC Jr. is the temp probe. Anyone know if you can buy a better temp probe that will work with the AC Jr.? I know that at least with the AC Jr. you can program fail safes into it. Might take me a while to wrap my head around it but it seems like that would handle most of my concerns.

10/21/2008, 11:38 AM	#22
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	BTW I don't own a VCR lol.

10/21/2008, 11:48 AM	#23
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	Dissatisfaction with the AC Jr. is now down to 12%

10/21/2008, 12:48 PM	#24
DaveMorris VP, SDMAS Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,309	I think the comparison between the ACjr and RK2 is fine, but the RKE is more along the lines of an AC3. Personally if I was buying a controller today, I would buy an RKE, hands down. It lacks a few of the features of the Neptune controllers, but they will have that taken care of in the next few months. When it is all said and done, you will spend far less money on the RKE than the AC3. I guess you really need to narrow down your budget as well as what it absolutely has to be able to do. I do not know of any controller that will "soft start" a Dart. I do not think it is necessary either. A Dart pump won't chatter like a powerhead does. __________________ Dave My 130g tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2387989 Current Tank Info: 130g build in progress

10/21/2008, 01:06 PM	#25
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	I have an ac jr and love it. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!