View Full Version : What Computer do you have
i am after a sheer numbers poll here people to figure out exactly how many members on here have what computer, please do not spam this thread, it may be beneficial to you all in the long run :D just a simple vote and if you want to say a reason for why you chopse what you choose {except if you got it cheap that wont help at all !! }
happy to hear of other makes if i have left anyout, i know about the octopus but didnt think there were many on here :)
Neptune for the X10 to make it easy to wire in :D
Sorry, I now understand what "don't spam this thread" actually means.
Sorry (insert shame emoticon here)
Chris
So do you want the people that got there's cheap to keep quiet?
Only I got mine cheap, but if all us cheapys don't post anything it may give a false result. Especially if we're the majority ;) :D
Mine:
No name home built thingy.......got it cheap (free actually)
Next one will be a Dell though ;)
Cheers
Chris :)
no im looking for market reasearch and getting a cheap second hand one imo isnt a reason for going for a unit, if you went for one for its features i want to know about it, thanks for the first spam on the thread as well !!
i dont want to know about home made systems either !! only of the shelf products !!
Got an Aquatronica, run everything through it.
Not had any problems or issues.
Would recommend.
There is a brand new Aqua Medic computer just about to be launched in the UK suppose to be very alike to the Aquatronica.
Just bought an Aquatronica from STM. In the process of setting up a Caicium Reactor and have also set it up to control a fan via the temperature probe. So far so good.
neilharris
14-07-06, 22:20
Will,
I opted for the IKS. I was not very aware of all the features when I bought it, but Nick said it was helpful and that did it for me. Nothing like aiming high!
I am expecting a lot of members saying that the aqautronica is good, but after using the IKS, I have really been impressed by the ease of operation and now have it controlling my entire system off 3 plug bars.
My only gripe thus far - they need to get a calcium probe out there fast!!!!
HTH,
Neil
PS I am thinking of a new tank and would like to chat sometime!
iks for me , but you already know that :D
thank you people keep the votes comming, the results will be very good to know, niel i will pm you later about a few bits :D
simon garratt
14-07-06, 23:08
IKS for me Will. doesnt matter what i payed, it would allways be the IKS regardless.
The benchmark all others are judged by IMO.
reagrds
Si.
Hi,
Aquatronica for me, running 90% of my system.
Doug
MaidstoneMarine
14-07-06, 23:38
neptune for me. running near enough everything on my tank! paid 250 for it plus 11 X10 modules. X10 for me is great - doesn't matter where the socket is - I just plug the module in and it's controlled. No needing all the plugs in one plug bar.
Kevin Douglas
14-07-06, 23:58
Neptune for me. You can control other things besides the tank. Like lights on and off at certain times to make it appear you are home.
Regards
Neptune for me. You can control other things besides the tank. Like lights on and off at certain times to make it appear you are home.
Regards
now your showing off kev !!
hey you could even use it to cool your beer if the air temp gets to warm :D
simon garratt
15-07-06, 00:09
Like lights on and off at certain times to make it appear you are home
Kev, you were ripped off m8,,,,, how much for that Neptune unit, £££££
Looky here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Twin-Pack-24-Hour-Timers_W0QQitemZ180004704317QQihZ008QQcategoryZ572 15QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
;) ;)
just kidding.:)
Aquatronica for the past 6 months, though I used an IKS before that.
I find the Aquatronica 100% reliable. The IKS was only 99%, and they weren't developing or bug-fixing it. I also didn't like the fact that an alarm halted the aquarium control and it also stopped controlling in program mode (always worried I would forget to put it back in Run mode). My fish & corals deserved better so I changed.
The Aquatronica is easy to program via the PC interface, which I had from the beginning, so I never tried programming from the panel. Data logging isn't as good as the IKS, but I prefer the Aquatronica in all other aspects. The additional features, like Alarms and Agenda, make it a better product for me.
Tony
philworrall
15-07-06, 06:51
Apple.
instantsquid
15-07-06, 08:01
Another Aquatronica here.
Lights, temp and top-up are currently controlled - sure I could have done those for a hell of a lot cheaper with a few timers, Habistat, etc.
But I will soon be setting up a Calcium reactor, so the Aquatronica will be controlling that too. I will also be buying the web interface module when it comes out.
Aquatronica appear to be developing their product and I like that.
- Ian
Would I be able to use the IKS midi to control lights, top up, heater, chiller and calcuim reactor via the ph probe? or would I need to go for the IKS Pro
Thanks Danny :)
Would I be able to use the IKS midi to control lights, top up, heater, chiller and calcuim reactor via the ph probe? or would I need to go for the IKS Pro
Thanks Danny :)
Yes, you can. Only limitation is 2 plug bars/eight sockets. Plus if metal halides, only one lamp per plug bar. I have a Ph midi, but I need a denitrator and to automate it I need the Redox probe and not the PH. So basically, have a think on the long term requirements. I am now looking to upgrade to a Proff. unit.
Does that mean you have one for sale? :)
Silverreef
24-07-06, 14:02
Hi Will,
Neptune for me, I bought Kevin's old one, only trouble is, he switches my lights on and off all the time.
:rolleyes: :) :D :D
Regards
Steve
Seperate mix of kit, tunze auto top up, aquamedic redox control and aqua medic's largest ozone generator, habistat cool stat and built in timers for my halides (arcadia s3).
I feel safer knowing that if there's a "bug" it should not effect all my control systems.
Aquatronica is not 100% reliable, I know a few people who have had trouble with it including a LFS. It's Italion and it will break down, :D sooner or later it will happen.:p
I heard that the Aquamedic unit has had some of the design done by the same people/person who was invloved with the Research & Dev of the Aquatronica.
come one peeps need more votes please
I have a couple of iks aquastar professional units.
The have been very reliable, and easy to program once you get the hang of them.
however I agree with Tony saying that the alarm is a nuisance as it also stops control.
Aquatronica for me :)
Excellent bit of kit and cheaper than the other systems.
Its easy to program with more features than most.
Plus as said above they are developing it all the time, we were asked for features and they appeared in the next software release, cant go wrong with that :)
An X10 mudule for it would be good tho :D
Aquatronica for me, does everything I need the only gripe I have is I wish they would of spaced the sockets singilar and not in doubles
Just a bit of a pain in the arse with some of the moulded plugs it can be impossible to plug some of them side by side due to the size of the plugs
i have none, partly coz i cant afford anything else and partly because i wouldnt trust my tank to a circuit board or piece of software!
Hi Danny
Just read your post. you cannot control topup with the midi it will however do the other things you asked.
Phil:)
Thanks Phil :)
I am currently using it for my Chiller and soon for a calcium reactor.
I'll just add that I voted IKS, but that was before my second IKS failure in under two years. The first one nearly boiled my stock, this time round the unit nearly froze it. Both units were bought brand new, and were run on a protected power supply (UPS) and protected from surges, etc. IKS will go in the bin just as soon as the individual Aqua Medic control units I've ordered turn-up...
I'll just add that I voted IKS, but that was before my second IKS failure in under two years. The first one nearly boiled my stock, this time round the unit nearly froze it. Both units were bought brand new, and were run on a protected power supply (UPS) and protected from surges, etc. IKS will go in the bin just as soon as the individual Aqua Medic control units I've ordered turn-up...
Shocking. What a bad advert for IKS and yet another example to go seperates!
IMO all-in-one controls like IKS and Aquatronica are like an "Argos hifi" and yes they'll do what it says on the box and it's cheaper than seperates..... however..... as with hifi you're better off going for seperates, yes it's more expensive but you get what you pay for....imo ;)
instantsquid
13-09-06, 10:46
Hmmmm.... I don't agree Tony, sorry.
It's NOT at all like going for hifi seperates over a cheapo music centre. Firstly, I simply don't believe it is cheaper to buy an Aquatronica, couple of plug bars, probes, interfaces, leads, etc. - it's quite an investment and it would certainly have been cheaper for me to buy some timers, a Habistat thermostat, and a pH controller.
Secondly, when you buy an all-in-one music centre, you don't get continuous upgrades and improvements to the product over it's lifetime. In fact, you don't get that with seperates either. Aquatronica are constantly developing their product and bringing out new additions all the time, with the controller software able to be updated by downloading from the internet. Nothing else does that - period.
JMHOOC.
- Ian
Agree with Ian, Aqua Medic are shortly to launch there Aquatronica all in one rival, they have already let slip about concerns over the support for the unit and don't hold your breath for any updates either.
The great thing about the tronica is it is constantly being developed.
maybe aquamedics will be better from the start so wont need lots of bug fixing downloads.
Any new product has teething issues.
I have had my Tronica unit and two plug bars that I purchased from a sponsor over a year ago, to date no faults or bugs and yet I have still not downloaded a single update, it is exactly as it was out of the box.
So thats two posts you have made now on an item that you don't own that are both wide of the mark.
Hmmmm.... I don't agree Tony, sorry.
It's NOT at all like going for hifi seperates over a cheapo music centre.
- Ian
Ian,
Oh but there are similarities; if the main circuit blows on your Argos hifi then your amp, cd, and radio could all be gone. If there's a bug/software problem you run the risk of loosing control of a lot of your system..... or all of it. It's highly unlikely for this to happen with well chosen separates, I just cant imagine my halide timers, tunze top up, aquamedic ozone generator and heaters etc all getting stuck on, or off.
There has been quite a few reliability problems with the Aquatronica - even a tank wipe-out that was caused by this unit.
I don't like slagging off the Aquatronica:( , especially because Ian (Wavey) is such a great guy:) and he does provide excellent support and then there is product development, which is a major plus:) .
However.... this is a debate and the facts are for the good of the hobbyist - this is what takes priority for me.
Just to add some balance IKS is IMHO worse; out dated, very poor support and bad development and costs to buy.
I know some Aquatronica owners will be fond (maybe biased of their kit, perhaps the same could be said for me as I favour separates) and if it has served them well, the user(s) will be happy with it.
I'm sorry if my post makes unpleasant reading, but lets be honest and discuss facts and document information that other people could find useful when they are making a very important decision - what they choose to run their aquarium.
My grievance with this product (and others, IKS for example) is there are numerous cases of poor reliability.
I am half tempted to start making a note of all the problems I come across associated with Aquatronica (and IKS) and then paste the links to these type of threads so there would be some catalogued record of failures.
Overall I do think the Aquatronica is cheaper than buying separate top branded controllers - I can't be bothered to list all the costs to draw a comparison but I think you will find it is cheaper when compared to TOP BRANDS. Just the purchase of my aquamedic redox controller and ozone generator comes to £453.71
Aquamedic 300 Ozonizer £217.00
Aquamedic Redox Electrode (Plastic) £69.94
Aquamedic Digital Redox Controller £166.77
Ozone kit = £453.71
Ultimately I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to my tank and like things to be VERY safe and then have a failsafe too, I just would not be comfortable with one unit controlling so many functions, not even if it had 100% reliability - and the current aquarium "all-in-ones" are far from 100% reliable. ;)
instantsquid
13-09-06, 13:21
Not wishing to appear pedantic, but your example of the cost of adding Ozone to your tank is not a good one - simply because whatever mechanism you choose to monitor the redox, you'd still need an Ozone generator, and a probe! Therefore your AM controller looks like a bargain at £166, compared with the £300 the Aquatronica plus plugbar would set you back :D
You are correct that there have been a number of threads recently along the lines of "my Aquatronica is stuck on" - I posted one last night! However I cannot fault the service provided by Ian (wavey) at Aquatronica in sorting me out, at 10:00pm on his birthday! There have been many, many more posts such as "my heater stuck on and fried my tank", or "my auto top-up failed and flooded the lounge". If you're going to start cataloging the problems with tank computers, make sure you do both sides of things...
At the end of the day we can have this discussion until we're blue in the face, we are both entitled to our opinions. Nothing is 100% fail-safe that's for sure. However I think the number of people buying into the Aquatronica speaks for itself (something like half the mod team currently run one!)
- Ian
Tony you point about discussing facts is a very valid one.
Too often on here people jump on a bandwaggon without facts and that distorts the picture.
Just the purchase of my aquamedic redox controller and ozone generator comes to £453.71
Aquamedic 300 Ozonizer £217.00
Aquamedic Redox Electrode (Plastic) £69.94
Aquamedic Digital Redox Controller £166.77
Ozone kit = £453.71
ouch!!
i just bought a redox controller, probe and ozone generator (with built in air pump and timer), whole lot cost me £99 from monitors direct and it works a treat
At the end of the day we can have this discussion until we're blue in the face, we are both entitled to our opinions. Nothing is 100% fail-safe that's for sure. However I think the number of people buying into the Aquatronica speaks for itself (something like half the mod team currently run one!)
- Ian
You right we can have this discussion till we're blue in the face.
Seriously though, I think there will (is) two camps - it's clear you're a fan of the Aquatronica and it's as clear I am not. There is good reason to buy and not to buy.
I just would like to point out to any potential buyer of the Aquatronica (or IKS et al) that they ARE NOT 100% reliable and there are many cases of problems, some major (wipe out) and others not so major. Period.
ouch!!
i just bought a redox controller, probe and ozone generator (with built in air pump and timer), whole lot cost me £99 from monitors direct and it works a treat
Well done ;)
I'd rather go for quality and a brand that has a good reputation in that area - I wont tell you how much my watch is but I bet you could have got another watch that would have done the same for A LOT cheaper.
Any new product has teething issues.
I have had my Tronica unit and two plug bars that I purchased from a sponsor over a year ago, to date no faults or bugs and yet I have still not downloaded a single update, it is exactly as it was out of the box.
So thats two posts you have made now on an item that you don't own that are both wide of the mark.
you may not have had any problems or downloaded any updates, but many have, so not sure why you say this post is wide of the mark?
just because everything is hunky dory for you it certainly doesnt mean it is for everyone else, i read yet another post on reef cove this morning about someone else having major issues with aquatronica.
i doubt it was their fault though (aquatronica), probably user error eh? :rolleyes:
you may not have had any problems or downloaded any updates, but many have, so not sure why you say this post is wide of the mark?
just because everything is hunky dory for you it certainly doesnt mean it is for everyone else, i read yet another post on reef cove this morning about someone else having major issues with aquatronica.
i doubt it was their fault though (aquatronica), probably user error eh? :rolleyes:
Wide of the mark?
Your earlier post;
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maybe aquamedics will be better from the start so wont need lots of bug fixing downloads.
Bug fixing downloads what do you base this information on?? Has the product also not evolved with new features being added by the updates?
On the last thread about Aquatronica where you made a post that bordered on liable, and in that same post Wavey gave you and the others HARD NOSE FACTS in % terms of the amount of units that had suffered problems and that % was tiny.
You don't own the thing, have no intention of ever doing so but seem hell bent on slagging the thing off by posting comments that have no form of substance.
From a post by Wavey in the last thread.
"Wont get involved in the stats, well OK less than 3% for the controllers, and that includes things like clock speed out of cink with PC(hardly life threatening) or a dark screen."
[
Bug fixing downloads what do you base this information on?? Has the product also not evolved with new features being added by the updates?
so are you saying that the updates have not had bug fixes in any of them?
yes obviously the product has evolved.
but the more addons added, as far as i can see the more problems will arise.
On the last thread about Aquatronica where you made a post that bordered on liable, and in that same post Wavey gave you and the others HARD NOSE FACTS in % terms of the amount of units that had suffered problems and that % was tiny.
You don't own the thing, have no intention of ever doing so but seem hell bent on slagging the thing off by posting comments that have no form of substance.
ok, you want to go back to an old post i made that i had already agreed i was wrong, no problem, if thats what you need to do to state your case that im wide of the mark!
also, where in what post di i **** off the aquatronica?
i think you are making things up now!
i have merely been pointing out shortfalls with it, which i have based on reading other owners posts.
clearly you are a happy user of the system, you obviously arent one of the 3% that have had problems.
im glad im not one of the 3% that have had problems either.
ill say no more on the matter, we both have different views on this so lets leave it at that
Posted by you on the 6th September at 11.15am.
"the more threads i read about things going wrong with these units i really dont understand why people want to risk all their livestock and spend a fortune on systems that clearly are not 100% safe, in fact maybe not even 70% safe"
You use the term **** off, I used the term liable. You made a very bold statement that you have no way of substantuating. In fact it is blatantly untrue.
Another manufacturer wouldn't have been so tolerant of a comment of that nature.
So as for making things up I think not, you however Sir seem to do it on more than one occasion.
Yes I agree with you that I am a happy user and you wouldn't take the risk. I fully understand all the differing points of views as to why / why not and respect all these opinions however my only gripe and frustration is when things are posted that are clearly incorrect, as that distorts the view for all.
like i stated above, i already acknowledged the post i made that i shouldnt have stated what i did, why keep bringing it up?
and YOU used the term **** off, not me! so why try and twist it around?!
posted by you today at 3.44
"You don't own the thing, have no intention of ever doing so but seem hell bent on slagging the thing off by posting comments that have no form of substance.
also posted by you at 5.49
"my only gripe and frustration is when things are posted that are clearly incorrect"
maybe you should take your own advice there!
Muzzy,
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE CONSTANT GRIPPING AT AQUATRONICA YOU SEEM TO BE MAKING. I WILL SEND YOU A CONTROLLER, PLUG BAR AND PH INTERFACE PROBE FOR YOU TO TRY, THEN MAYBE, IF IT WENT WRONG, YOU CAN POST BASED ON FACTS. ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER AND ONE IN PARTICULAR, WOULD HAVE ALLREADY ISSEUD SLANDER AGAINST YOU FOR YOUR PREVIOUS POSTS.
I CAME ON AND GAVE YOU THE FACTS, LESS THAN 3% OF A PRODUCT THAT HAS SOLD OVER 350 UNITS IN ONE YEAR.
BUG UPGRADES? IKS AND ALL THE OTHERS HAVE TO DO THE SAME, WINDOWS XP HAS HAD TO BE REVISED, I GET PATCHES ON ALL MICROSOFT PRODUCTS ALMOST DAILY, DO YOU GO ON COMPUTER FORUMS AND MOAN AND SAY YOU WOULD NEVER USE A PC OR OPERATING SYSTEM BECAUDSE UPGRADES GET ISSUED? OH WAIT, DIDNT ULTIMATE REEF NEED UPGRADING A WHILE AGO? SO WHAT ARE YOU STILL ON HERE FOR?
I AM BRINGING LOTS OF OTHER EQUIPMENT AND ADDITIVES IN, MAKING SOD ALL MONEY, OFFER A LEVEL OF SERVICE WHICH MANY WILL SAY IS SECOND TO NONE, ONLY TO GET GRIEF FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS NO EXPERIENCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ME OR MY COMPANY.
AS STATED, I WILL PROVIDE YOU WIH ONE UNIT, FOR SIX MONTHS, AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD YOU CAN RETURN IT TO ME AND LIST ALL YOUR PROBLEMS, OR ADMIT IT WORKS AND ISSUE AN APOLOGY.
RANT OVER.
please dont rise to this wavey, and please mussy dont ruin my thread !!! if this gets deleted i will be very pissed !!!!!!
calm down....
ok, if you want to send me a unit that is fine.
in fact very commendable of you.
just one point of concern though, says worst case scenario it did go wrong and all my livestock died, would you pay for that? i have probably a couple of grands worth if you include the liverock - that has to be considered as livestock i think.
calm down....
ok, if you want to send me a unit that is fine.
in fact very commendable of you.
just one point of concern though, says worst case scenario it did go wrong and all my livestock died, would you pay for that? i have probably a couple of grands worth if you include the liverock - that has to be considered as livestock i think.
unreal, you are such an arse !!!!!
with a jesture like that and you throw it in his face with a sarky comment !!!
dan-the-man
13-09-06, 19:09
Right get this thread back on track now. Personal comments are not on.
Will apologies for my part in this, but I am not going to sit by and watch somebody with no experience of a product that i rate and have no issues with continually post things without substance.
I think the last post by Muzzy sums everything up and it's now best left.
As wih Jobr, nothing else LEFT to say...
Right get this thread back on track now. Personal comments are not on.
that wernt bad for me normally ask the si's how much editing i casue them normally :eek:
dan-the-man
13-09-06, 19:38
Lol, I know all about it ;) Wasn't aimed just at you though.
Sorry Dantheman, fair criticism OK, anything else I should rise above it!
i would just like to say the aquatronic is rubbish and i await my free aquatronic to prove me wrong .
thanks:D
Hi Everyone,
Can we please keep to the topic and not turn this post into a slagging match for bit of kit or people!
Cheers,
Cam.
P.S. IKS for me Will.
Oh damm.... Wish I'd been on line last night, looks like I missed the fireworks!:D :)
PM replied to wavey:)
simon garratt
14-09-06, 09:42
And Ill ask politely that members do not post comments about kit they have no experience of, stick to what you know, not what you have heard or assume.
regards
Si.
Just as a comment - I think it would be a sensible marketing move to include "free" compensation for system failure for any purchase of a "high end" controller.
This would of course be outsourced to a third party insurer and then passed on to the consumer. Paying say an extra £50 to cover say £2K of tank contents would certainly appeal to me and I guess others. Of course as with any insurance, fraudulent claims could be a problem - but if (secure) data logging was built in then this could be manageable.
On another note - perhaps the manufacturer of the controller could introduce a scheme of registered LFS who are able to provide emergency cover in the event of a failure - operating for example by SMS message. For a fee of course!
Anyway - I have no axe to grind - Aquatronica for me!
Just as a comment - I think it would be a sensible marketing move to include "free" compensation for system failure for any purchase of a "high end" controller.
This would of course be outsourced to a third party insurer and then passed on to the consumer. Paying say an extra £50 to cover say £2K of tank contents would certainly appeal to me and I guess others. Of course as with any insurance, fraudulent claims could be a problem - but if (secure) data logging was built in then this could be manageable.
On another note - perhaps the manufacturer of the controller could introduce a scheme of registered LFS who are able to provide emergency cover in the event of a failure - operating for example by SMS message. For a fee of course!
Anyway - I have no axe to grind - Aquatronica for me!
Good ideas, this would give a new angle on things, although there could be problems with false claims....
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