What interesting things are you doing with your controller?

[Harry_Y]

I just wanted to let others know how I have things setup (and get some new ideas)


I have a ReefKeeper Elite controller and was wondering what things others are doing


I have 4 dimable ballast on my light (8 T5 tubes) and by using Two ALC Modules
and a PC4 Module to control power I can now dim each ballast independently
(two light bulbs at a time).

I turn two lights on at minimum brightness, then start to ramp them up over a period
of 4 hrs then two more an hr later and ramp for 3 hrs then another set ramping for
two hrs and finally the last set ramping for an hr. At the end of the day I reverse this

What this gives me is a very natural day and it is interesting to watch
the Corals change shape as the lighting intensity changes over time.

Then using the Moonlight pods hooked to my ALC Module I get a nice lunar effect at night.

I then added a PC4 to control the Fan on the T5 Fixture so I can turn the cooling
fan on only when it is really needed (when the lights are at or near full brightness),
and to control my Power heads.

While I was at it I added a SW5 (switch Module) and built up a small box with
4 switches in it to setup as “Soft Switches†that way I can program them to do
things like stop the return pump, or turn on the lights (after they have gone out)
with just the flip of a switch.



Then as I looked at my sump area I have 3 PC4’s I run 4 heaters and that way
I could give each one it’s own outlet (using the 2 & 3 outlets on the PC4)
the nice thing is I can monitor each heater independently.

I then use the Relay outlets on the PC4 (ports 1 and 4) for the return pump, top off etc.

I also have an SL1 and an SL2 for monitoring pH, Water Temp, Air Temp and Top Off level in the sump.


In process/ Future plans

I am building up a holder to hold a 2nd pH probe in the outlet of
my KW reactor so I can monitor the potency of the KW solution

Adding a second Top off pump so it will add KW solution
if the pH is low and straight RO/DI water if the ph is high.

I am adding a float sensor to my Top off barrel so when the
level is low it can alert me and also stop the Top of pumps.

I currently run water to my frag tank from my main return pump (common sump),
but then I realized that if I had something get stuck in the return from the frag
tank I could have a real mess on my hands.


So I am adding an second pump to pump water from the frag tank to the sump
and a float switch to sense if I have an overflow condition (high water level)
that will stop the Frag tank pump.

Plus I plan on adding a battery to supply backup power to the RKE in
the event of a power loss (and possibly even use a switch port to sense
a power out so it can send me a txt message)




So how are you using your controller?