Reef nutrition

Considering an Aquacontroller JR

Vincerama2

Vincerama2

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I just set up my new (old) K2R CA Reactor and the CO2 adjustments are driving me nuts! The JBJ regulator I'm using has a needle valve that is really hard to turn and even the slightest movement (once you can move it) causes huge changes in bubble count. Well, bubble count isn't really as important as effluent ph, but it's a good appriximation as to whether you are adding more or less CO2 than you were before. The valve is really touchy, the only good way to adjust it is to grab it with pliers, because you can make tiny adjustments. Using your fingers is hopeless. It's like trying to push a full bucket of water just one centimeter...it's really hard to overcome the static friction then .. BOOM, you have water sloshing all over the floor! But I digress.

Anyway, bottom line is that I was considering getting a ph controller (I have a pinpoint ph MONITOR) so that I can be lazy and just let it fiddle with the CO2 supply. Then I realized that for the price of a controller, I can get an AC Jr, which incorporates a ph controller amongst other things...and for a price less than a pinpoint ph controller (though more expensive than a Milwaukee ph controller). It has an external switch control, which I think would be great for rigging up my top off to a float switch.

Any opinions on the AC Jr? For what I want it for (ph control, probably float switch controlled top off) it seems ideal. I don't plan on monitoring/controlling ORP. I see that the ReefKeepers are pretty popular too, but I see a lot of postings complaining about it.

I can wait to buy this thing, I can keep tweaking the stupid needle valve by hand...why won't it just stay set?!! (The jbj regulators do not allow course adjustment of the output side pressure, it's factory set to like 3 psi or something)

V
 
I don't have experience with AC Jr, but I did just pick up a Fabco NV55 Needle Valve. I love it. It's very easy to set a bubble rate and to change it by a small amount.

I ordered it from here: http://www.aquabotanicstore.com/Fabco_inline_needle_valve_p/nv55.htm because it was the one place I could find that sold it with the hose barb connectors.
 
Yeah, I would get a controller of some sort - my AC Jr did a nice job with that (I actually still have it since I just upgraded to an AC III, but the keypad is still broken :p). I really liked the AC jr.
 
Milke, did you end up building a CA Reactor? I saw in an ancient archived thread that you were...but I also know you were using the APT dosing pump... so did you abandon the reactor in favor of an automated 2-part dosing method?

Also, yes, I think that instead of a ph controller, I'd opt for the AC Jr, as it incorporates that feature as well as others.

Though I think a nicer needle valve would definitely be helpful, I think a ph controller makes the bubble count a moot point as you can just set the count a bit higher and let the controller hand the effluent.

Bonnie, what features does the AC3 have that the AC jr doesn't have that you find nicer? I saw that the AC3 has an ethernet port and ORP, but I don't plan to fiddle with ozone and ethernet, shmethernet.

V
 
Yeah I totally abandoned the Calcium reactor idea, still have a 20pound empty CO2 tank too :D 2-part = lovely goodness.

I got the AC3 specifically for the ethernet, I like to know what my tank is doing when I'm away.
 
[quote author=sfsuphysics link=topic=6154.msg77971#msg77971 date=1233600903]
Yeah I totally abandoned the Calcium reactor idea, still have a 20pound empty CO2 tank too :D 2-part = lovely goodness.
[/quote]

Heh. I, on the other hand, am so happy to be free of two part!
 
I haven't had much time to play with the ACIII yet, but I liked the ethernet idea and the fact that I could program it through my PC (my AC Jr is the version without the serial port). I also liked that it has an extra probe that I can use for pH (one for the CA reactor, the other just for the tank) - I already have a separate ORP controller. The option for alarms is nice too, if I ever get that set up.

To be honest, I probably would've been fine with just my AC jr if the keypad hadn't broken. Neptune Sys quoted me $50 to fix it, which probably would've been the smarter thing for me to do, but I just can't resist an excuse to spend more money, so I upgraded. :D
 
[quote author=pixelpixi link=topic=6154.msg77972#msg77972 date=1233601171]
[quote author=sfsuphysics link=topic=6154.msg77971#msg77971 date=1233600903]
Yeah I totally abandoned the Calcium reactor idea, still have a 20pound empty CO2 tank too :D 2-part = lovely goodness.
[/quote]

Heh. I, on the other hand, am so happy to be free of two part!

[/quote]
Grass is greener... and all that rot :D
 
[quote author=sfsuphysics link=topic=6154.msg77984#msg77984 date=1233604022]
[quote author=pixelpixi link=topic=6154.msg77972#msg77972 date=1233601171]
[quote author=sfsuphysics link=topic=6154.msg77971#msg77971 date=1233600903]
Yeah I totally abandoned the Calcium reactor idea, still have a 20pound empty CO2 tank too :D 2-part = lovely goodness.
[/quote]

Heh. I, on the other hand, am so happy to be free of two part!

[/quote]
Grasshair algae is greener... and all that rot :D

[/quote]

Fixed your comment for you :p

V
 
Pixelpixi's needle valve is the way I'd go for controlling your bubble count. I had a similar problem and so I completely unscrewed the needlevalve and put a little oil on it.... helped. Not a ton.... but enough that I was able to get the bubble count I was going for after some work.... before it was impossible.
 
[quote author=Natterjak link=topic=6154.msg77979#msg77979 date=1233602166]
I haven't had much time to play with the ACIII yet, but I liked the ethernet idea and the fact that I could program it through my PC (my AC Jr is the version without the serial port). I also liked that it has an extra probe that I can use for pH (one for the CA reactor, the other just for the tank) - I already have a separate ORP controller. The option for alarms is nice too, if I ever get that set up.

To be honest, I probably would've been fine with just my AC jr if the keypad hadn't broken. Neptune Sys quoted me $50 to fix it, which probably would've been the smarter thing for me to do, but I just can't resist an excuse to spend more money, so I upgraded. :D
[/quote]

Hey Bonnie! i still have the manual you let me borrow for the acjr....ill bring it the next time i know your at an event..

as far as an acjr for CaRx control, mine had a slow reaction time to ph changes and didnt perform as well as the pinpoint controller we currently have on it...if you like, you can borrow our ac jr and test it out to see if you like it before buying one..i have it sitting around because the power adaptor fried in a little tank mishap...
 
Im in union city....it uses a standard adaptor im sure you can find @ frys...i havnt had the time to get a new one with my schedule, ill see if i can dig one up....feel free to come down whenever...ill dig it out of the fishroom for you.
 
i wont have a chance to make it to the swap this time around....last valentines day i brought my girlfriend to BA coral farmers market and eventhough she didnt say anything, i know it wasnt exactly her idea of a nice night out...i can meet up with you after the swap somethime though....im off by 2pm...you can p/u @ the house or i can meet you somewhere if you like..
 
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