Reefkeeper II problems... - Page 3

Woodstock · 01-24-2007, 04:32 AM

Ahhhh... that fix does sound promising!! Kudos to Scott for figuring it out (hopefully)

lcstorc · 01-24-2007, 08:52 AM

Hope this one is it!
Glad they are being so good about the customer service and responding and trying to help.

JFK_Jr · 02-24-2007, 11:02 PM

Seems I'm not the only one with this problem... I agree with this fellow FMAS member in that Digital Aquatics should alert potential customers of these issues. And by the way... I purchased the expansion port... it does not solve the issue.

Quote:

post id=9313389 Originally posted by davester1
I have an rk2 and only have one issue. I have seen an incompatibility with some electronic ballasts. They say they had the issue in the rk1 and (nearly) eliminated it in the Rk2.

What happens is the unit will randomly reset itself during the day.

I have taken numerous steps to try to eliminate it but have not been successful. They tell me at digital aquatics that I can buy an expansion port that will put the ballasts on a separate circuit to eliminate the issue. IMO the right thing to do was to just ship me the 40$ part or at least make mention of the known problem on the web site.

Features I would like would be the ability to dose by day of week.
and the ability to turn off a closed loop during the night and still be able to disable it during feedings.

Other than the above, its a really nice piece of equipment and easy to program.

Kirblit · 02-24-2007, 11:05 PM

What kind of ballast were you using? I'm going to order a RKII in about a week and I have 250w Icecap ballast's and just didn't know if that is the one causing the problem.

JFK_Jr · 02-24-2007, 11:18 PM

I've got 250 Watt Hamilton electronic ballasts. I don't think the ballast brand is the issue... it's more like electronic ballasts vs. tar ballasts.

All I can say is you are at risk for potential problems. Don't buy the RK II until you are ready to start using it the day it arrives... At least you will have 30 days to see if you have problems so you can return it for a refund.

Kirblit · 02-24-2007, 11:25 PM

Thanks for the info, I was going to get it so that I could mount it in my stand like you did actually, but the tank won't be up for a couple of months. Do you have the dimensions so that I could rough out an area that I could put it. I hope that it will work for me because of all the great features that it has, and the reasonable price. Have you heard of a lot of problems with these controllers from others with E ballasts? I have searched all of the threads on this site and have heard great things but I have been following your thread for a while watching your frustrations with it. I hope you get it fixed!

JFK_Jr · 02-24-2007, 11:42 PM

Thanks... it's really frustrating when you can't find the answer.

Check out this post by Digital Aquatics I found on RC.

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalaquatics.com
Hey everyone. I wanted to make a post and let people know about something we been working with about 3-4 guys on this last few weeks.

We have a few customers that have reported that there MHs are cutting out for unknown reasons. This has stumped us here as we've had two of the units sent in and can not recreate the issue. Unit early this week... My personal tank had the MH cut out??? I wasn't sure what to think so I did all the normal test and couldn't find any issues. I then turned to my ballast (admittedly old,) and found that was the issue. It would fire the MHs but then cut them once it heated up. It's being repaired by Icecap as we speak.

My point here is if the you check the channel on the RK and it has power evaluate your ballast. If there getting up in age it might be time to service them.

Scott

I guess I'm one of those "guys" he's reffering to...

That's why I'm hesitant to send them my entire unit... for some strange weird reason... I get the impression they won't able to re-create my issue...yeah right...

Check out this link... It's the Digital Aquatics thread on Reef Central.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...s=&forumid=329

Kirblit · 02-24-2007, 11:50 PM

Thanks for your help, this will give me valuable info to make a better choice. Hope your problem is solved soon, keep us updated on your thread, good luck.

Woodstock · 02-25-2007, 07:05 AM

I will be the perfect guinea pig. I have used an RK1 and RK2 with a magnetic ballast with no issues. I will be upgrading my lighting to include dual 250 watt Icecap ballasts in the next few weeks. I really, really, really hope I do not have a problem....

bluespotjawfish · 02-25-2007, 01:21 PM

I have one Icecap ballast running on mine, but it is running VHO lighting.

Woodstock · 03-05-2007, 11:43 AM

This weekend, I added three new ICECAP electronic ballasts with no ill effects to either my RK1 or RK2

2 x 250 watt MH - icecaps
1 x 430 -icecap

Warnberg · 03-05-2007, 12:07 PM

I've been toying with the idea of a RKII to control all my lights, but a little hesitant as I have 4 icecap 250's to control and 1 advantage T5 ballast.

01-24-2007, 04:32 AM	#31 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... Ahhhh... that fix does sound promising!! Kudos to Scott for figuring it out (hopefully) __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

01-24-2007, 08:52 AM	#32 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,521 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... Hope this one is it! Glad they are being so good about the customer service and responding and trying to help. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

02-24-2007, 11:05 PM	#34 (permalink)
Kirblit Scopas Tang Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 406 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... What kind of ballast were you using? I'm going to order a RKII in about a week and I have 250w Icecap ballast's and just didn't know if that is the one causing the problem. __________________ 125g RR Kirby My reef chronicle http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...s-125-a-3.html

02-24-2007, 11:18 PM	#35 (permalink)
JFK_Jr Golden Moray Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hallandale Beach FL Posts: 2,108 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... I've got 250 Watt Hamilton electronic ballasts. I don't think the ballast brand is the issue... it's more like electronic ballasts vs. tar ballasts. All I can say is you are at risk for potential problems. Don't buy the RK II until you are ready to start using it the day it arrives... At least you will have 30 days to see if you have problems so you can return it for a refund. __________________ *JFK_Jr's 150 Gallon Starphire*

02-24-2007, 11:25 PM	#36 (permalink)
Kirblit Scopas Tang Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 406 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... Thanks for the info, I was going to get it so that I could mount it in my stand like you did actually, but the tank won't be up for a couple of months. Do you have the dimensions so that I could rough out an area that I could put it. I hope that it will work for me because of all the great features that it has, and the reasonable price. Have you heard of a lot of problems with these controllers from others with E ballasts? I have searched all of the threads on this site and have heard great things but I have been following your thread for a while watching your frustrations with it. I hope you get it fixed! __________________ 125g RR Kirby My reef chronicle http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...s-125-a-3.html

02-24-2007, 11:50 PM	#38 (permalink)
Kirblit Scopas Tang Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 406 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... Thanks for your help, this will give me valuable info to make a better choice. Hope your problem is solved soon, keep us updated on your thread, good luck. __________________ 125g RR Kirby My reef chronicle http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...s-125-a-3.html

02-25-2007, 07:05 AM	#39 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... I will be the perfect guinea pig. I have used an RK1 and RK2 with a magnetic ballast with no issues. I will be upgrading my lighting to include dual 250 watt Icecap ballasts in the next few weeks. I really, really, really hope I do not have a problem.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

02-25-2007, 01:21 PM	#40 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,140 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... I have one Icecap ballast running on mine, but it is running VHO lighting. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

03-05-2007, 11:43 AM	#41 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... This weekend, I added three new ICECAP electronic ballasts with no ill effects to either my RK1 or RK2 2 x 250 watt MH - icecaps 1 x 430 -icecap __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-05-2007, 12:07 PM	#42 (permalink)
Warnberg Acropora Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,911 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Reefkeeper II problems... I've been toying with the idea of a RKII to control all my lights, but a little hesitant as I have 4 icecap 250's to control and 1 advantage T5 ballast. __________________ Dave 240 Gallon Tall Tencor (96"L x 30"T x 18"W) 4 250 Watt MH XM10K bulbs 2-54 Watt T5 Actinic Euro-Reef CS8-2-RC Jetstream 1 Calcium Reactor 4 Tunze Turbelle stream 6000 power heads 7095 Tunze controller

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