Controler Questions

[Reddog170]

I have been looking to get a reef controller. My wife found a Reef Keeper Elite system for sale. I know very little about the RK systems. Is this a good system? Is it worth the $110 sale price? (comes with head unit, PX4, and temp probe) How complicated is it to run? I know every system has its bugs, I am just looking for one that wont take a rocket scientist to program and is reliable enough to trust my tank with, Shaun

 

[Reefmack]

Shaun - is that a new or used RKE? That $110 is a great price either way. I have the Reef Keeper Lite with temp. probe, 2 PC4, and an SL module and pH probe. I really like mine. It runs 4 sets of lights, cooling fans, and turns on and off my heater (to prevent a cooked tank). The RKE is more expandable than my Lite. Even if you only use it to control a heater they're worth it. They aren't that difficult to program, and if you need help Digital Aquatics has great customer service as well as a nice online forum that helps with questions.

 

[Reddog170]

Cool. That is the current sale price new. I think I will pick one up monday then. Shaun

 

[Reefmack]

The programming can be a bit confusing at first, but the forum posts helped me a lot. Are you sure it's the Elite, and not the Lite? The Lite basic usually sells for $99.95 online, and the Elite basic for $249.99 (plus shipping).

Lite:

Digital Aquatics

Elite:

Digital Aquatics

I started out to get the RKL Basic just as a heater controller, after seeing too many cooked tanks from heaters that stuck on, then looked at all of the stuff I had on timers and went to the RKL Plus to get more than 4 controllable outlets.

The "head unit, PX4, and temp probe" sounds like the Lite, but $110 at an LFS is still a good price.

 

[BigAl07]

I think the Reef Keeper Elite is a very good system for your basic functions and it's expandable to my understanding.

 

[Reefmack]

The Lite is expandable also, but to a limited extent. My Lite Plus - head unit with temp. probe, 2x4 outlet PC4 strips, and one SL module & pH probe, is I think as far as I can expand. The Elite can be expanded greatly. All for a price of course!

 

[tnwillia]

Since your buying it second hand, how hard it will be to set up depends on what the previous owner did to it upgrading. If your going to get it, take a look here in the saltwater section and start reading. If you have questions I'll help if I can. Unbelievable price! Good luck!

Digital Aquatics Forum • Index page
Digital Aquatics

 

[tnwillia]

(comes with head unit, PX4, and temp probe)

Temp needs SL1 or 2 to work, not listed here. Maybe why such a good price.

 

[Reefmack]

Tom - he said it's new. You can run a temp. probe (the DA iTemp Temperature Probe) without an SL module. The RK Basic has a temp. probe and no SL module. My pH probe did however require an SL module.

 

[tnwillia]

I don't know of any port on the RKE head or PC4 it can be plugged into. Here are the first 2 packages new. Basic doesn't come with temp, second does but also has SL1. Maybe it's an RKL, price is to good to be true for a new RKE Basic.

Package Contents
<LI type=square>ReefKeeper Elite Basic ($249.99)
1 x RKE Head Unit
1 x PC4 - Power Controller 4
1 x SID - System Interface Device
1 x 6' USB Cable
1 x 6' Bus Cable
4 x Mounting Screws

<LI type=square>ReefKeeper Elite Plus ($399.99)
1 x RKE Head Unit
2 x PC4 - Power Controller 4
1 x SL1 - System Lab 1
1 x DA pH Probe (w/calibration packets)
1 x DA Temperature Probe
1 x SID - System Interface Device
1 x 6' USB Cable
1 x 6' Bus Cable
2 x 3' Bus Cable
2 x 1' Bus Cable
8 x Mounting Screws

 

[tnwillia]

Here is the RKL basic package. Is this what your talking abiout?

<LI type=square>ReefKeeper Lite Basic ($99.99)
1 x RKL Head Unit
1 x PC4 - Power Controller 4
1 x DA iTemp Temperature Probe
1 x SID - System Interface Device
1 x 6' USB Cable
2 x 1' Bus Cable
4 x Mounting Screws

 

[tnwillia]

He said Elite in the first post, I may be wrong, won't be first time...Today! Have fun!

 

[Reddog170]

I was wrong it is a lite
thanks for all the help and input

 

[tnwillia]

Terry where does your temp probe connect to your RKL?

 

[Reefmack]

Yes - I meant the RK Lite package. I have a feeling that for $110 new it has to be the Lite and not the Elite.

 

[Reefmack]

Tom - on the RK Lite basic package the iTemp probe would plug into the one PC4 that comes with the RK Basic package.

Since I have 2xPC4 my SL module takes that plug on the PC4, so in my case it plugs into my SL module, along with the pH probe. If I had no SL module the iTemp probe would have plugged into my second PC4. The iTemp probe uses a telephone type connector. I hope that all makes sense.

 

[Reefmack]

I was wrong it is a lite
thanks for all the help and input

At that price I figured it had to be a Lite, basic version. Thanks for the update!

 

[redsea reefer]

I figured i'll just ask here since its a controller thread...

What would I need in addition to the RK lite to control the temp(heater) and light cycle?

 

[steved13]

That's not a great price for the Lite it retails for $99. I like mine, I think it will expand farther than I will need, I mainly got it because I thought for $100 I could try out a controller and expand from there or not depending on how I used it.

 

[steved13]

You won't need anything..other than a heater/chiller. The lite comes with a temp probe and you just plug in the lights, heater, and chiller...set the parameters, and it does the rest.