Aquastar iks

[catfish]

HELLO HAS ANYONE GOT ANY OF THE AQUASTAR IKS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT?OR KNOW OF ANYONE USING THEM? ONLY IVE BEEN LOOKING AT THEM AND THEY ARE RUNNING A LOAN OFFER ON THERE STUFF! AND I WOULD TO USE ONE FOR MY PH AND REDOX,IF YOU CAN SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS SUBJECT PLEASE DO, MARK... http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Paul Firth]

I would read the small print first.
I think that the controler is on loan but you may have to buy all the probes and bits as extras

[richstrat]

Hey Mark,

Easy on the caps (it signifies shouting! )

IKS from the official distributor can only be bought through a loan type system. If memory serves, it works out to be £320 ish over 4 years, after which it becomes your property. Alternatively you can buy them outright from Danny (Watford) for 'bout £200. The probes, modules and swtichable sockets are all extra! If you get it from Danny, you are looking at £340 just to control temperature!

Not got one myself 'cos of the cost, but those who do have them seem pleased...

HTH,

Rich

[reefer]

hi catfish

quiet a lot of guys off here are using an iks system http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif
the problem with leasing them is..ok the main unit works out about 30 quid cheaper but! in the contract agreement it states you but only use the add ons that buy there bits through d&d aquarium solutions...this is wear they have you by the short and curlys http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
the main unit is approx 194 from danny at watford aquarium but most off the addons are almost half the price of the lease unit....same kit, same manufacturer, double the price (almost)
if you are seriously thinking about one go to the watford aquarium site and compare the prices off the modules and plug bars etc with another site such as anglia aquatics(for example purposes only) and see the diffrence
just buying one plug bar and the main unit cost you more than the 30 quid saving
with all the bits ive bought for mine ive saved about 250 quid so far

HTH

cya http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif

[Phil Cross]

Stuart at aquaticinnovation.co.uk no longer sells the base unit but does sell the modules, he's a helpfull guy. I was lucky enough to buy mine from him before IKS came up with this leasing idea.
Phil

[Blade]

Bought my IKS system from Danny @ Watford before the product really took off, after a few a few teething problems I have never look back.

As mentioned by other members you can either buy it out right or lease the system (ex. probes) from what I gather the later option works out more expensive.

The system is extremely flexible and will ( IMO ) pay for it self over and over again. Its not the most crucial bit of kit to have, but it comes pretty close.

Blade

[richstrat]

I finally succumbed on the weekend and stumped up the cash for one... the missus was not pleased! Anyway, I had a few teething troubles - not quite understanding the instructions properly - but it seems to be working fine for now!

The capabilities of the main unit are quite incredible - if you were to buy separate units to do everything the IKS can, the cost would be many times more and still would come nowhere close to the technical functions (as an example it can calculate sunrise / set times year round by setting the longitude / lattitude of the area you are trying to simulate! )

All I've got to do now is buy the kit that can be controlled by it (clacium reactor etc)

Cheers,

Rich

[kim]

It's irritating, though, isn't it ?

For less than GBP 500 you can buy a PC that makes the computer on the shuttle spacecraft look Elizabethan. Take you up. Then around the earth. Even bring you back (if you are good).

Make a cup of tea in the meantime.

Then, how much to buy a processor to switch off your lights when the temperature exceeds X ?

Strange.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif

kim

[richstrat]

If you look at it that way, it is extremely irritating, but then if you look at industial control systems the IKS is actually very good value, especially when you consider it is pre-programmed.

The control systems I used in the chemical industry did similar things to the IKS, control level, temp, pH etc but cost many, many thousands of pounds and then you had to employ a very highly paid person to programme the basic kit to do what you want it to...

Yes a PC has way more processing power than an IKS, but it just doesn't have the capability to cope with the I/O required and we all know how much software costs!

Rich

[neilharris]

I bought one off eBay and another from a UR post in the equipment section. Probes and modules are often available from both sources

[nav jam]

If you can bring yourself to buy one then you can bring yourself to read the instructions and set correctly.

I have one, it controls my lights and the co2 for the calcium reactor. Works a treat making my calcium addition simple. Eventhen I still make the necessary ckecks on a daily basis.