Octopus 3000 or Neptune????
- Thread starter jnasty31
- Start date
I own a octopus 3000, buy a neptune, the octo sucks, the development has stopped, and support is terrible, should be free but costs 100 $ (propriatary hardware requires propriatary software they shaft you every chance they get), and software is terrible. The neptune is still being developed and is a LOT better product. L8r mega
I have an original Aquacontroller. Bought back in 97 I believe. Still works great, virtually unlimited programming capability....
For instance, i have mine controlling the entire system - lghts, main pumps, powerheads, dosing pumps, CO2, chiller, cooling fans, etc. Programming allows personal set-up - if temps gets too high, start shutting off lights, if pH rises too high, shut down kalk dosing, initiate freshwater dosing, etc.
Always had great support also..
mack
For instance, i have mine controlling the entire system - lghts, main pumps, powerheads, dosing pumps, CO2, chiller, cooling fans, etc. Programming allows personal set-up - if temps gets too high, start shutting off lights, if pH rises too high, shut down kalk dosing, initiate freshwater dosing, etc.
Always had great support also..
mack
All those computers suck com[-ared to the IKS aquastar. It even lets you programme Longitude and Latitude into the moonlight simulator, and the newer one comeing out soon has the capability of running a Kalkwasser reactor and a calcuim reactor in tandem. Its not overly expensive either. What can i say, pure European quality and design. You have to admit it the Germans kick everyones ass when it comes to keeping fish. And thats coming from a Limey.
I own an original aquacontroller as well. Bought it back in '96 or '97. I would suggest you pay extra to get a backlit unit. Backlighting was not an option when I bought mine. That's about the only thing I wished mine had.
You can pick up extra control modules from any Radioshack. They are standard x10 modules.
You can pick up extra control modules from any Radioshack. They are standard x10 modules.
Mouse: the AquacontrollerII already lets u control a cacium reactor and seperate doser, along with practically anything else you could want, and has a total of 17 channels, so I dont know what you are reffering to personally, and to add, I would never ever buy a Knop, or Tunze(except a magnet maybe)product etc. Its their overall basic knowledge that is superior, but I wouldnt claim that from their actual products.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John@Carline:
<STRONG>I would never ever buy a Knop, or Tunze(except a magnet maybe)product etc. Its their overall basic knowledge that is superior, but I wouldnt claim that from their actual products.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Tunze has some nice products. I wish more companies would make air cooled powerheads.
<STRONG>I would never ever buy a Knop, or Tunze(except a magnet maybe)product etc. Its their overall basic knowledge that is superior, but I wouldnt claim that from their actual products.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Tunze has some nice products. I wish more companies would make air cooled powerheads.
The IKS Aquastar is completely user programable, you can have many one button functions controlling many pieces of equipment. And John, running a reactor and a dosing pump is one thing but simultaniously running two reactors to keep PH at a constant is another. That particular version of the computer hasn't been released yet, so who knows what other goodies they might bundlre in. Just type IKS Aquastar into your search and you should find the computer, they also have all of the additional modules too, in the UK the main computer goes for about £180, which i think is very reasonable.
Mouse: Actually the Aquacontroller is also programmable too to include functions that will suit your needs, with a total of 17 channels(which should me more than enough for 99% of the applications)
Also you can run 2 reactors 3,4 or however many Ca reactors you want, along with an ozone reactor or generator to control your PH also. The ozone reactor can be replaced by a liquid doser to control ph too.
Im sure the IKS has some abilities, as to exactly what, i dunno unless you want to post a link for us, but the AquacontrollerII and Pro both cover pretty much anything you could possibly use for your saltwater setup. I got 2 and couldnt be happier with them.
Also you can run 2 reactors 3,4 or however many Ca reactors you want, along with an ozone reactor or generator to control your PH also. The ozone reactor can be replaced by a liquid doser to control ph too.
Im sure the IKS has some abilities, as to exactly what, i dunno unless you want to post a link for us, but the AquacontrollerII and Pro both cover pretty much anything you could possibly use for your saltwater setup. I got 2 and couldnt be happier with them.
Mouse
I agree with you that the IKS is an excellent controller but I must also point out that the Neptune is every bit as good for all but the great David Saxbys of this world. I am in a possibly unique position - I run a couple of Neptune Aquacontrollers and an IKS.
Each has its pros and cons but both are about the best bits of control hardware available. They even beat the supper expensive dedicated industrial controllers in versatility because several functions can be inter related eg top up with Kalk and pH control. There are some things about the IKS that I really like and some things about the Aquacontrollers that are so neat.
I agree that both are miles ahead of the octopus which is prehistoric by comparison.
You've got to remember that the lucky people in the US can get the satalite control modules for X-10 at around$10 or less where as they are £25 here. 4 of them at £100 or the iks 4 gang bar at £70 is still a lot of money for most folks.
stuart
I agree with you that the IKS is an excellent controller but I must also point out that the Neptune is every bit as good for all but the great David Saxbys of this world. I am in a possibly unique position - I run a couple of Neptune Aquacontrollers and an IKS.
Each has its pros and cons but both are about the best bits of control hardware available. They even beat the supper expensive dedicated industrial controllers in versatility because several functions can be inter related eg top up with Kalk and pH control. There are some things about the IKS that I really like and some things about the Aquacontrollers that are so neat.
I agree that both are miles ahead of the octopus which is prehistoric by comparison.
You've got to remember that the lucky people in the US can get the satalite control modules for X-10 at around$10 or less where as they are £25 here. 4 of them at £100 or the iks 4 gang bar at £70 is still a lot of money for most folks.
stuart
I wouldn't say that the Neptune sucks. When I looked through the manual it is a very flexible bit of kit. OK so it may not be menu controlled as much as the iKS but for a computer programmer like me let me have IF THEN AND OR ELSE statements
Living in the UK I have the iKS and will say it is a very flexible bit of kit. It did have a few features missing which the Neptune includes. I have requested iKS to add some of these features aswell as a few others. At the end of the day my decision came down to the fact that the Neptune uses X-10 whereas the IKS uses dedicated TTL controls. I felt much safer with this method of switching. Also the X-10 modules aren't widely available in the UK.
However anyone in the US ain't even gonna be looking at the IKS as they don't have a 110V version AFAIK.
www.iks-aqua.com is the website for anyone interested.
[ July 12, 2001: Message edited by: simonh ]
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Living in the UK I have the iKS and will say it is a very flexible bit of kit. It did have a few features missing which the Neptune includes. I have requested iKS to add some of these features aswell as a few others. At the end of the day my decision came down to the fact that the Neptune uses X-10 whereas the IKS uses dedicated TTL controls. I felt much safer with this method of switching. Also the X-10 modules aren't widely available in the UK.
However anyone in the US ain't even gonna be looking at the IKS as they don't have a 110V version AFAIK.
www.iks-aqua.com is the website for anyone interested.
[ July 12, 2001: Message edited by: simonh ]
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