Aqua Controller Jr. or III???

[kretzkiller]

I am a computer geek and really want the III for the fact that it can be hooked up to my home network. I would be able to monitor my tank from anywhere. The only problem is the price. Is there some other reason that I am looking past as to why I should get the III instead of the Jr.?

[Jayreefer]

Jr is difficult to hook up to wireless network, but it can be done. I have the Jr and it works great, but it was maxed out on operation from the day I bought it. If you want the expandability to run lots of equipment on a large tank as well monitor the tank away from home.

[chris4869]

My Jr. came with a DC8 and I really need more ports, but it can only handle another 4. If you're a computer geek, go with the III.

[hyperfocal]

I have a jr, and wish I had a III. The ethernet port on the III is a great feature, plus it's a lot easier to hook up external switches to the III. The jr can't handle too long a program, either -- I maxed mine out when I added the Aquasurf module (Tunze control) programming.

The jr is really only good for the most basic tank control (lights, fans, kalk reactor).

Jayreefer, how did you connect your jr to your wireless network?

[kretzkiller]

you could do it with a serial to ethernet adapter, but those are over $100 and then you have to deal with driver issues.

[hyperfocal]

I know that, theoretically, you *could* -- I want to hear from someone who *has*

[Rouselb]

Like mentioned above, it depends on what you want to do with it. I have the Jr, and its perfect for me. I use it to control my lighting, fans, and a few heaters. I also use it as a backup for PH, so if my Ca reactor lowers my PH below 8 it will turn the reactor off. One thing to keep in mind, controllers are great, but you want redundancy. You dont want a single failure to turn off your whole tank. I run ATO by itself, and a few heaters. I also only use it for the PH fail safe.

[arod2051]

I bought an ACjr because the cost was so much cheaper than the ACIII.

I am planning on using it to control lights, fans, and doser. I bought a vortech pump and will use a ranco controller for temperature control. I also have a JBJ ATO, but I might switch that to the two external switches on the ACjr.

I am trying to avoid single point of failure.

[kretzkiller]

The more I think about it, the more I just want to buy a ph controller and leave my setup the way it is.

[hyperfocal]

If you just want to control a Ca reactor or kalk dosing and nothing else, a pH controller makes more sense imo

[maxheadroom]

Originally posted by Jayreefer
Jr is difficult to hook up to wireless network, but it can be done. I have the Jr and it works great, but it was maxed out on operation from the day I bought it. If you want the expandability to run lots of equipment on a large tank as well monitor the tank away from home.

Jayreefer, how did you hook up your AC Jr to a wireless network? My AC Jr. should be here today and I would love to be able to access it from work.

[gbreynol]

Go with the III. I have had both and the ability to access it over the internet and even on my iPhone is priceless. It gave me the ability to rescue my tank while I was on vacation in another country.

[areze]

the III gets seamless hookup, built in webserver support, iphone programs for it if you have an iphone.

plus it monitors ORP, and can be used with the PX1000 to add additional probes if you want.

I upgraded from JR to III, worth every penny.

[DaveMorris]

Check into the Reefkeeper Elite. Far more expandable than the AC3 and currently monitoring can be done via a NET module. Control is probably a couple months away when the Elite version of myReef software is out.