- Joined
- Mar 30, 2016
- Messages
- 646
- Reaction score
- 561
Thanks for the info. The skimmer overflowing was my one worry, that's why I looked at the controllers but just couldn't justify $600. I then found the "SOS' shutoff/alarm that shuts off the skimmer in case of overflow. I had 1 overflow on the skimmer which dumped a good amount in my stand ( I had waterproofed the stand ) and that was enough for me to figure a solution. For $50 it was worth it and it has an extra probe for sump overflow.
I get that the controllers can monitor all of those devices, just not sure it justifies the price though. I dont run a heater (live in Florida). I have a $20 auto feeder thats worked perfect for 2 plus years.
Maybe if the prices come down with the new release I would look at one, but its still a tough sell, for me.
For sure there are all kinds of devices that do the same things independantly, and each is generally cheaper on their own. The advantage of a controller, to me, is flexibilty and integration....change the way stuff runs with a few minutes of progeam change. Run independant stuff together (ie, shutdown return pump and skimmer and wait 60 sec, then run feeder, after 8 min, start return pump, after 12 min, start skimmer, etc). You can't combine independant pieces of equipment like that without a controller.
A controller certainly isn't a necessary bit of hardware....thousands have run reefs for decades without them (including me...just got mine about a year ago). I agree with you, it's a "luxury" item. I got mine to make it easier for when I am away from home for extended periods. But now that I have one, I am always finding more and more uses for it, and enjoying being able to whip up any kind of control system in just a few minutes.
Does anyone *need* one? No. But like some optional equipment on say a car, it's nice to have sometimes.
Cheers!