Revive an old Aquacontroller Jr?

techdef · 10/30/2015, 02:47 PM

Hello all, just getting back into things seriously and picked up a 120 tank that came with some nice old-school goodies, one of which appears to be an intact AC Jr & 8-port power bar. I remember when they were hi-tech but never had one... documentation available is pretty slim now too for obvious reasons.

Seems that the default program might do what I want for now, ie temp & feed timers. Will upgrade probably to a new one in a few months when the tank's established & done leaking from my shitty plumbing :-). Found the factory reset, and re-itialized the Jr, have it connected to powerbar, powerbar DIP switches are all "up" in what seems to be the default config. Set the time, and hit run program. None of the outlets go hot.

Any advice? Throw it away is fair game, but getting even a few months would be sweet.

Vinny Kreyling · 10/30/2015, 04:18 PM

If you don't have the manual try a search for it.
I also have an old one but not that model, still going strong.

laverda · 10/31/2015, 01:22 AM

You just need to do a little programming it sounds like. The Jr is a very good controller and should be able to do most of what you would need. I believe neptune has all the old manuals on their web site. I know they used to. I have 4 of their older controllers, including two Aquacontroller 2s which still work great.

Mr. Brooks · 10/31/2015, 01:48 AM

There's nothing wrong with the old controllers. They just take a bit more time to program and lack some of the new bells and whistles.

I run an Apex now but I kept my aqua controller Jr. to run my QT.

drauka99 · 10/31/2015, 09:55 AM

Aqua Jr is running my tank right now.

techdef · 11/13/2015, 08:59 PM

OK, thank for jumping in folks. Seems to be working just fine-ish. Found the manuals on Neptune's website - what I was missing is that the factory reset in the manual shows a default program which doesnt really exist... a few beers in I figured out how to recreate it and things are looking great now.

Except I cant get the feed timer to work. Tried the code right out of the manual, but somehow when I press "down" from the home screen it shows Feed A but nothing happens. Any thoughts there would be cool, but not completely necessary since I plumbed the thing with DC pumps and all have their own controllers... mostly it'd just be nice to know what I'm doing wrong :-/

moondoggy4 · 11/14/2015, 10:45 AM

Tip I put my skimmer on MH so when the power goes off the skimmer goes for 15 minutes that way it will not overflow.

laverda · 11/14/2015, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techdef

OK, thank for jumping in folks. Seems to be working just fine-ish. Found the manuals on Neptune's website - what I was missing is that the factory reset in the manual shows a default program which doesnt really exist... a few beers in I figured out how to recreate it and things are looking great now.

Except I cant get the feed timer to work. Tried the code right out of the manual, but somehow when I press "down" from the home screen it shows Feed A but nothing happens. Any thoughts there would be cool, but not completely necessary since I plumbed the thing with DC pumps and all have their own controllers... mostly it'd just be nice to know what I'm doing wrong :-/

You need s comand something like "if feed then pm1 off" It had been s long time since I have done sny programming on mine so I may not be exactly correct

10/30/2015, 02:47 PM	#1
techdef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: LA Posts: 97	Revive an old Aquacontroller Jr? Hello all, just getting back into things seriously and picked up a 120 tank that came with some nice old-school goodies, one of which appears to be an intact AC Jr & 8-port power bar. I remember when they were hi-tech but never had one... documentation available is pretty slim now too for obvious reasons. Seems that the default program might do what I want for now, ie temp & feed timers. Will upgrade probably to a new one in a few months when the tank's established & done leaking from my shitty plumbing :-). Found the factory reset, and re-itialized the Jr, have it connected to powerbar, powerbar DIP switches are all "up" in what seems to be the default config. Set the time, and hit run program. None of the outlets go hot. Any advice? Throw it away is fair game, but getting even a few months would be sweet.

10/30/2015, 04:18 PM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	If you don't have the manual try a search for it. I also have an old one but not that model, still going strong. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

10/31/2015, 01:22 AM	#3
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	You just need to do a little programming it sounds like. The Jr is a very good controller and should be able to do most of what you would need. I believe neptune has all the old manuals on their web site. I know they used to. I have 4 of their older controllers, including two Aquacontroller 2s which still work great. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

10/31/2015, 09:55 AM	#5
drauka99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: at the Beach in Fl Posts: 792	Aqua Jr is running my tank right now. __________________ "Aliie, Eat a Snickers, you're "HANGRY" - me "I sometimes enjoy watching shadow puppet shows" - jpfelix "Bacon is Love." - Fat Man Current Tank Info: 240 Algae Farm System Running

10/31/2015, 01:48 AM	#4
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	There's nothing wrong with the old controllers. They just take a bit more time to program and lack some of the new bells and whistles. I run an Apex now but I kept my aqua controller Jr. to run my QT.

11/13/2015, 08:59 PM	#6
techdef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: LA Posts: 97	OK, thank for jumping in folks. Seems to be working just fine-ish. Found the manuals on Neptune's website - what I was missing is that the factory reset in the manual shows a default program which doesnt really exist... a few beers in I figured out how to recreate it and things are looking great now. Except I cant get the feed timer to work. Tried the code right out of the manual, but somehow when I press "down" from the home screen it shows Feed A but nothing happens. Any thoughts there would be cool, but not completely necessary since I plumbed the thing with DC pumps and all have their own controllers... mostly it'd just be nice to know what I'm doing wrong :-/

11/14/2015, 10:45 AM	#7
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Tip I put my skimmer on MH so when the power goes off the skimmer goes for 15 minutes that way it will not overflow.