**Neptune AquaController**

[BigAl07]

I haven't ever looked into AquaNotes-Mac. I would suspect it would require a "Virtual Machine" setting similar to you probably play PC games and such.

I have several good friends who are Die-HArd Maccies and I have "tinkered" some but in order to be able to make the most $$$ in my side business I stuck with PC and glad I did. They do have more Spyware/virus/malware issues. Just keep in mind that's not because the MAC OS is Virus proof (which some do believe but it's NOT true) but because if you want to get the most Bang for your Buck then you write the virus to affect the largest group out there.. that's Bill Gate's "sheep".

I think it would be neat to see how the MAC handles the AquaNotes just for fun. If I had a Mac Laptop I'd give it a whirl for kicks and grins.

[CAVINCA]

Oh yeah Macs aren't Virus Proof, but they are less of a target. I tend to try it out when i get my order... I may have to build a USB cable to hook up though.

[BigAl07]

You'll need a serial to USB adaptor. That's how I do it on my Windows XP machine.

Have you ordered yours yet? If so which one?

I bought the AC Jr. thinking "With my computer background I can use off the shelf products to make it wireless and save some $$!" Well let's just get it out and in the open... I am DELUSIONAL! I have spent WELL over the price difference and it's still NOT wireless... not even close. Money wasted so now I get to buy ANOTHER one and go ahead and spend the money AGAIN that I thought I would save. I may end up selling the one I have AFTER I get another one in.

Can't wait to hear all about yours. Should be a FUN project.

[CAVINCA]

jr. saltycritters 250.00 FREE SHIPPING!!!

what have you tried to get it wireless?

[BigAl07]

I have a LONG thread going on another "more nerdy site". Let me find the link and I'll come back here and post it.

[bluespotjawfish]

Is someone having a Mac attack?

Anyway, fortunately I didn't change any settings. I did unplug the power from the controller unit and when I plugged it back in the problem was gone. It came back yesterday morning, so I unplugged it again and it didn't fix it this time but was fine by evening. Now the controller and aquanotes download agree, but the pH probe is reading very differently than my Reefkeeper probe, so I need to calibrate both of them before I troubleshoot this any further.

In the middle of all of this, a weather inversion hit the valley and is wrecking havoc with my pH! The checkvalve on my kalk reactor also failed and broke my ATO pump. This manual dosing and topoff stuff stinks!

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by bluespotjawfish

This manual dosing and topoff stuff stinks!

Welcome to My world

[tbittner]

Originally Posted by bluespotjawfish

Well, on to the next problem of the day.

My pH readings on my controller are quite different than on the program. Should they be?

7.88 versus 8.07

In the configuration tab, the pH is Enabled, the offset is -0.51, and the slope is 0.904. I have not changed these settings. Should I? Or is this what the pH calibration set it at.

I would go buy two different PH calibration solutions, like a 4.5 and an 11, and recalibrate it.

[bluespotjawfish]

I have lots of calibration fluids and a second pH probe. I used the 7.0 and 10.0 fluids. I finally recalibrated the pH probes today. Now I can't get my datalog to download. Grrrr! The display sometime shows, and sometimes says it can't communicate. The logs were in the display controller, but I can't get anything since 7:00 this morning. I have rebooted both the controller and the computer and also reset the log for every 5 minutes too, still nothing...

Any ideas?

[Woodstock]

No clue. I've not had any of those issues. Shoot an email or call Neptune.

[Craig Manoukian]

Catching up and tagging along.

Is the net benefit of better tank performance or ease of maintenance worth the money and time to progam/troubleshoot? TIA

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Craig Manoukian

Catching up and tagging along.

Is the net benefit of better tank performance or ease of maintenance worth the money and time to progam/troubleshoot? TIA

Definately. Just a few kinks to work out

[Craig Manoukian]

What are the benefits you have reaped Doni?

[tbittner]

Lorraine, how do you have the controller connected to your pc?

[bluespotjawfish]

I got the serial connector cable from salty critters, and also use a Keyspan adaptor that changes the serial port connection to a USB connection.

I'm sure that many of my problems are related to me not knowing what I am doing. Also, I have it hooked up to a computer that I have never used before, and it runs on Vista (that I also haven't used before).

One other thing, the battery died on my computer the other day too. I wonder if the problems relate to that. I can see all the logs on the controller for every 5 minutes since 5:00 yesterday (the last time I rebooted it) but still can't get anything to show up in Aquanotes. It acts like it is downloading, and it gives me a successfully downloaded message, but still nothing.

I think the pH probe is messed up again. Is the probe calibration affected by rebooting the controller?

Do you see more than a day or two of your logs? Mine go away, but I can get them to show up in the reports.

Do your reports show all the columns, mine don't - can I change that? Also, can I export this information to another program so I can keep it all? I still can't figure out how to print it to a file and then open the file for viewing.

And, my tank conditions log has several columns titled pH2, can I fix that?

Still feeling stupid!

I'll see what Neptune tells me about the logs and files. But he is already telling me that some of the things I have experienced more than once) aren't possible.