Is the GHL 2.1 the best option for stand alone Doser?

ReefLab · Sep 19, 2019

I want to have it to be able to dose the 4 triton Core7 base elements but not sure if the $460 is justified with the GHL 2.1 or if there's another product I should consider.
Thanks in advance for any guidance!

vangvace · Sep 19, 2019

I have the GHL and really like it. That said, doseatronic and kamor x4 are worth a look

ReefLab · Sep 19, 2019

vangvace said:
I have the GHL and really like it. That said, doseatronic and kamor x4 are worth a look

Thanks for dropping by.
Looks like kamoer X4 is discontinued (including most product support)

A big issue that’s making me feel like I shouldn’t get the GHL is the “need” to hook it up to a PC. I only have Apple products. I know boot camp is possible but a windows 10 license is $140, not to mention tying up tons of space on my Mac.
Do you feel this is a valid concern?

Sherman · Sep 19, 2019

Dosetronic is good to consider

DibsOnMcRibs · Sep 19, 2019

ReefLab said:
Thanks for dropping by.
Looks like kamoer X4 is discontinued (including most product support)

A big issue that’s making me feel like I shouldn’t get the GHL is the “need” to hook it up to a PC. I only have Apple products. I know boot camp is possible but a windows 10 license is $140, not to mention tying up tons of space on my Mac.
Do you feel this is a valid concern?

What do you mean “need to hook up to a PC”? Do you need to sync it with your computer for it to function properly?

CNDReef · Sep 19, 2019

Firmware updates
A solution to this is if you know anyone that has a windows laptop and just invite them over for a drink and borrow the laptop for 10 minutes while enjoying a couple drinks

AdamB · Sep 19, 2019

I really like my GHL doser. Like it’s features with WiFi and app.
I also have a bubble magnus doser on my other tank. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like my GHL but is much cheaper and doses correctly.

AZMSGT · Sep 19, 2019

ReefLab said:
Thanks for dropping by.
Looks like kamoer X4 is discontinued (including most product support)

A big issue that’s making me feel like I shouldn’t get the GHL is the “need” to hook it up to a PC. I only have Apple products. I know boot camp is possible but a windows 10 license is $140, not to mention tying up tons of space on my Mac.
Do you feel this is a valid concern?

Heck, invite me to visit in Vegas, I'll update your doser free

. Lets be honest, you can pick up a used laptop dirt cheap and dedicate it to stuff like the aquarium. I use Mac and PC and to be honest.. it's time to say goodby to MAC. They have forgotten how to treat customers with innovative tech people want. A tablet/macbook should have been out years ago... and still nothing.

reefwiser · Sep 19, 2019

There really no need to hook it up to a computer for dosing only. The firmware updates are functions like KH director and ION DIRECTOR related. I use MAC’s an never had to up date the firmware to use the doser fro just dosing.
They are working towards being able to do Firmware updates from the GHL CONNECT APP itself. As many people don’t even have computers anymore.

ReefLab · Sep 19, 2019

DibsOnMcRibs said:
What do you mean “need to hook up to a PC”? Do you need to sync it with your computer for it to function properly?

To update the firmware and for certain functions (not sure which functions exactly) you need to plug it into a PC.

CNDReef said:
Firmware updates
A solution to this is if you know anyone that has a windows laptop and just invite them over for a drink and borrow the laptop for 10 minutes while enjoying a couple drinks

I was thinking I might go this route.

AdamB said:
I really like my GHL doser. Like it’s features with WiFi and app.
I also have a bubble magnus doser on my other tank. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like my GHL but is much cheaper and doses correctly.

I’m all about bells & whistles! Lol.

AZMSGT said:
Heck, invite me to visit in Vegas, I'll update your doser free . Lets be honest, you can pick up a used laptop dirt cheap and dedicate it to stuff like the aquarium. I use Mac and PC and to be honest.. it's time to say goodby to MAC. They have forgotten how to treat customers with innovative tech people want. A tablet/macbook should have been out years ago... and still nothing.

Hey hey I love my iPad Pro & rumor has it iPad OS will be coming early 2020, giving iPad nearly full MacOS functionality. I hate PC with a passion lol. I could pick up a used pc or even a new one sub $150 so if it comes down to it I just may do that, considering the windows software itself is $140.

reefwiser said:
There really no need to hook it up to a computer for dosing only. The firmware updates are functions like KH director and ION DIRECTOR related. I use MAC’s an never had to up date the firmware to use the doser fro just dosing.
They are working towards being able to do Firmware updates from the GHL CONNECT APP itself. As many people don’t even have computers anymore.

Reading through the threads it seems like GHL is taking steps in that direction which is great.

I think I’ll jump for the GHL. Thanks all!

reefwiser · Sep 19, 2019

One could always install windows Bootcamp on a 1 gig USB drive.
Apple is building a whole separate operating system for touch instead of tacking on touch functionality to the MacOS as Microsoft Windows did. Different use cases require different solutions in the long run. As we are seeing with the IpadOS bring to the iPad what is needed.

ReefLab · Sep 19, 2019

reefwiser said:
One could always install windows Bootcamp on a 1 gig USB drive.
Apple is building a whole separate operating system for touch instead of tacking on touch functionality to the MacOS as Microsoft Windows did. Different use cases require different solutions in the long run. As we are seeing with the IpadOS bring to the iPad what is needed.

The problem with boot camp is I still have to pay for the lousy windows software.
Yeah I really hope ipadOS is close to fully featured. I’m glad Apple takes it slow, though, and makes sure things work great when they come to market.

Oldreefer44 · Sep 19, 2019

I had the same situation. Reefbreeders sells the Coral Box for less than half the price. Works with Apple products. Had mine for a couple of weeks and so far works fine.

smartwater101 · Sep 19, 2019

Doser 2.1 is a great piece of hardware. The long-term reliability is worth the $.

Also, the ability to use it without a controller is great. The only reason I mention this is because it still gives you access to GHLs web/mobile app. It's a good "toe in the water" if you're considering a controller at some point in the future. (Or even just expanding to an Alk monitoring system.)

smartwater101 · Sep 19, 2019

As for Windows, you can buy it on eBay for ~15 bucks. Yes, they are legit copies. The reason people are allowed to resell it is because technically they're selling a broken piece of hardware along with it. And if you read the fine print it will say something like "if hardware isn't picked up bla bla bla it will be recycled."

I've been buying that way for years and even had Microsoft help me transfer a key because I was being indecisive on a PC build, and had installed it on like 10 different builds lol. Microsoft doesn't really care, they just want more people in their platform. (Besides, it's just for firmware updates and that doesn't happen a ton. You'll spend the vaaaaast majority of the time using the web/mobile app.)

ReefLab · Sep 19, 2019

smartwater101 said:
As for Windows, you can buy it on eBay for ~15 bucks. Yes, they are legit copies. The reason people are allowed to resell it is because technically they're selling a broken piece of hardware along with it. And if you read the fine print it will say something like "if hardware isn't picked up bla bla bla it will be recycled."

I've been buying that way for years and even had Microsoft help me transfer a key because I was being indecisive on a PC build, and had installed it on like 10 different builds lol. Microsoft doesn't really care, they just want more people in their platform. (Besides, it's just for firmware updates and that doesn't happen a ton. You'll spend the vaaaaast majority of the time using the web/mobile app.)

Thanks for the tip. So at initial set up, do I have to plug it into a PC or only when there’s a firmware update in the future that I need to have?

smartwater101 · Sep 19, 2019

Its just for firmware. There are other controls through the PC app but its not necessary. You can set it up via the app.

reefwiser · Sep 19, 2019

ReefLab said:
The problem with boot camp is I still have to pay for the lousy windows software.
Yeah I really hope ipadOS is close to fully featured. I’m glad Apple takes it slow, though, and makes sure things work great when they come to market.

I have never paid for my windows boot amp software. I have used windows 10 since it came out for GHL CCG
Just saying not a thing.