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The AquaController III base unit contains all the necessary
capabilities to monitor and control even the most demanding
aquarium setup. All of the features described below
are present in the base unit; there are no additional
software upgrades to buy. The AquaController III is
able to:
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The AquaController III has an easy to use and intuitive three
button user interface. The buttons are used to navigate through
the menus and to modify the standard setup. All setup and
program modifications are possible through the buttons on
the AquaController III - no external computer is required.
The base unit includes a comprehensive owner's manual, which
contains instructions and examples on how to best utilize
your AquaController III. No technical background is necessary
to setup and operate the controller. The base unit measures
3.70" x 5.75" x 1.10"
To help you perform the initial setup of the AquaController
III, the base unit comes pre-programmed with a default setup
which requires little if any modification to work with most
aquarium setups.
The base unit includes software which is capable of monitoring
pH, ORP, and temperature. The ORP probe input is modal and
can be used to either monitor ORP or monitor pH; The AquaController
III can monitor 2 different pH sources simulatenously! The
monitored data is continuously displayed on the large LCD
display and also logged into the internal RAM for later retrieval.
All probes support digital calibration.
The AquaController III also contains the functionality to
control the pH, ORP, and temperature in in your tank. The
standard control functions for the monitored parameters listed
above are possible.
For pH control typically CO2 is injected into the aquarium
when the pH rises too high. The AquaController III continuously
monitors the pH and can turn the CO2 injection system on or
off based upon the user defined high and low set points. Because
of the AquaController III's highly programmable nature, it
is possible to control pH in new and nonstandard ways. For
example, in reef tanks with a calcium reactor it is desirable
to stop injecting CO2 into the reaction chamber if the pH
of the tank falls too low. The AquaController III is currently
the only known controller on the market capable of this type
of control. The CO2 injection system is not included with
AquaController III. The modal ORP/second pH connector can
used to control the pH of secondary water source.
Similarly, the AquaController III can control the ORP level
in your tank with the injection of ozone. If the ORP in your
tank drops to an user defined settings, the AquaController
III can enable ozone injection into the tank. The ozone injection
system is not included with AquaController III.
Also the AquaController III can control both a heater and
chiller to maintain a stable temperature environment in the
tank. The heater and/or chiller enable and disable temperatures
can be set independently. Given the tank has an adequate heater
and chiller, the temperature can be maintained within +-.3
°F.
Additionally, the AquaController III has many more features
for temperature control. For example, if the temperature of
the tank exceeds a preset value, the AquaController III can
turn on a fan to cool the tank. If the temperature rises higher,
an additional fan or chiller can be enabled. If the temperature
rises even higher, lights can be shut off. There is really
no limit to the number of ways that the AquaController III
can control the temperature.
Also, the AquaController III has a special temperature cycle
which is used to simulate seasonal temperature variations.
All of the above mentioned features for temperature control
are available in this mode as well; only the target temperature
set point varies with the day of the year. This mode of operation
is most interesting to the serious aquarist trying to induce
his corals and fish to spawn.
The timer functionality included in the base unit is capable
of turning devices on and off at specific times of the day
with one minute resolution. The AquaController III can also
turn the devices on or off multiple times per day not just
one time per day as with other controllers. The flexible timers
allows for the standard lighting control as well as for dosing
of various elements. Up to 24 devices can be controlled by
the AquaController III.
The AquaController III has a special type of timer which
can be used to simulate the varying lengths of days throughout
the year. This feature is used to make the length of daylight
hours longer in the summer than in the winter. This results
in a more realistic simulation of natural lighting variations.
The AquaController III has another special type of timer
which can be used to simulate the moon cycle in your tank.
The lunar simulator is used for this feature and is capable
of varying the intensity of light emitted from its LEDs. The
intensity variations are controlled by the AquaController
III which is preprogrammed with correct intensity values for
each day of the moon cycle. The AquaController III automatically
updates the intensity value depending upon the current setting
of the AquaController III's clock. With this artificial moon
cycle, it is possible to induce corals and fish to spawn.
Each pump to be controlled can either have a random or fixed
time period. Both the on and off times are fully programmable
and can range from 1 minute to 4 hours in 1 minute increments.
Up to 20 pumps can be controlled by one base unit. A variable
length feed timer cycle can be initiated with the press of
a button and will disable some or all of the pumps in the
system (programmed by the user).
The AquaController III comes equipped with 2 TTL level external
inputs which can be used to activate/deactivate equipment
in response to an external stimulus. Applications for these
inputs include connection to water level float switches, water
pressure and flow sensors, and water on the floor sensors.
The AquaController III program can be set up to signal alarms
or turn on/off appliances in the event of external switch
open or closure.
One of the AquaController III's most compelling features
is its simple to use yet very powerful programming language.
A simple example best illustrates the power and versatility
of the AquaController III. Suppose that you wish to simulate
the sunrise and sunset in your tank as well as having longer
or shorter sunlight hours as based upon the seasons. The following
program achieves this effect:
If Sun 000/000
Then LT1 ON
If Sun 060/-045
Then LT2 ON
If Temp > 83.0
Then LT2 OFF
The first statement of the program turns light 1 ON at sunrise
and OFF at sunset. The second statement turns light 2 ON 60
minutes after sunrise and shuts it off 45 minutes before sunset.
This feature is not available in any other controller. The
keyword 'Sun' tells the AquaController III to use the preprogrammed
timer which calculates the sunrise and sunset times for the
current day of the year.
The programming flexibility does not stop here though, as
illustrated by the third program statement. This statement
will shut off light 2 if the temperature of the tank ever
exceeds 83.0°F. With this type of feature, the temperature
stability of the tank can be more easily obtained on those
hot summer days.
Similar program statements are used to enable or disable
all the different control functions. The base unit comes pre-programmed
with a default program which contains the majority of the
control functions required in the average tank. Using this
default program your tank will be up and running in very little
time.
A new construct added to the AquaController III's program
allows for the state of one controlled appliance to be used
to control another appliance. For example to have certain
pumps shut down at night something like this could be used:
If Sun 000/000
Then LT1 ON
OSC 010/015 M
Then PM1 ON
If Timer LT1 = OFF
Then PM1 OFF
The extensive owner's manual thoroughly describes the installation
and customization of the AquaController III for use in your
tank. The manual also contains many programming examples which
illustrate many of its unique features. With this system the
control of your aquarium is limited only by your imagination.
The AquaController III can be programmed to enable an audible
alarm when a monitored condition exceeds a preset value. The
AquaController III will immediately let you know when your
tank needs attention. With an internet connection (cable or
DSL connection) and alarm email can be sent. The information
received in the email includes the current pH, temperature,
and ORP, power status, and the state all the controlled devices
at the time of the alarm.
The AquaController III has data logging for the aquarist
that wants to keep an accurate log of the conditions in his
aquarium. Temperature, pH, and ORP are sampled and stored
into battery backed RAM. The sample interval is user programmable
and can be from 1 minute to four hours in 1 minute increments.
The data log can either be viewed on the LCD display or downloaded
to a PC or Macintosh via a standard RS232 serial connection
or an Ethernet telnet or HTPP connection.
When the AquaController III is connected to your local network
by its ethernet port, the controllers status and configuration
settings are available through a standard browser. Below is
a screen capture of Internet Explorer accessing the controllers
current status.
Notice that not only can the current status be access, but
also any of the controlled devices can be manual turned on
or off. Also available through the web interface are the ability,
view/modify the current controller program, view the datalogs,
graph the datalogs, set the clock, and view the seasonal table.
If an internet connection (DSL or cable modem) is available
where the AquaController is installed, then your system can
be checked on in almost any location in the world. Of course
all access to the controller is password protected to ensure
security. Note that a PC is not required for the AquaController
to serve web pages; the webserver is built into the AquaController
III.
The AquaController III can be optionally connected to PC
or Macintosh via an Ethernet cable. The computer interface
allows you to download the datalog log as well as retrieve
the current status of the monitored parameters and controlled
devices in the aquarium. A computer is NOT required to program
or operate the AquaController III.
In addition the III also supports a standard telnet server,
so that the current status, datalogs, etc. are also available
by a standard TCP/IP Ethernet connection.
Please see the AquaNotes web page
for complete details on our Windows program which completely
automates the datalog retrieval and graphing process.
An internal lithuim battery powers the AquaController III's
internal real time clock in the event when no external power
is present. In the event of a power failure on both the primary
AC adapter or the optional secondary power backup source,
no configuration, program state, or clock settings will be
lost. After power is restored all controlled devices will
be in the correct state within five minutes after power is
restored.
The internal battery is only used to retain the time of
real time clock; the program and settings are stored in non-volatile
memory. Since this is non-volatile memory, the AquaController
III retains the program and settings even during a power outage
or failed internal battery. Once the AquaController III is
configured no more setup or reprogramming is required.
In the event of power failure the AquaController III can
signal by email or a local audible alarm the fault condition.
The III has a second AC adapter connector which should be
plugged into an external UPS to power the controller internal
circuitry. The AquaController can sense the loose of power
on the primary AC adapter connector and signal either a local
audible alarm or send an email through its Ethernet internet
connection. In addition the AquaController III logs the time
that power failure started and when the power was restored.
The large and informative display on the AquaController III
is capable of displaying 16 characters by 2 lines of text/special
characters. In the status mode the display shows the current
conditions in the aquarium, the date and time, and the status
of all the controlled devices. The large display also makes
it much easier to program the controller as well as look at
the data log. The AquaController III comes standard with a
backlit LCD display.
The AquaController III has been designed so that additional
probe interfaces, digital inputs can be easily added via the
I/O connector.
To keep unauthorized users from accessing and modifying the
AquaController III's configuration, the display can be locked.
To unlock the display a user settable password must be entered.
You never have to worry about the AquaController 3 becoming
obsolete. The software internal to the controller can be easily
updated through your a PC on your local network. Just download
the firmware update from our website and install it on the
controller.
The AquaController III has been designed so that additional
probe interfaces, digital inputs can be easily added via the
I/O connector. Up to 7 additional expansion modules can be
added to the AquaController 3. It is now possible to monitor
multiple aquariums through just one AquaController base unit.
The expansion possibilities are virtually unlimited.
The first expansion module, the PX 1000 (shown above) , with
a pH, ORP, temperature (or 2 pH and 1 temperature), and 6
digital inputs is available now. To order click here.
The PX 1000 features are:
- Monitor/Control pH, ORP, and tempprobe or 2 pH and temp
probe.
- 6 digital inputs for float switches, water on floor sensors,
pressure sensors, etc.
- Full datalogging support in AquaController and AquaNotes.
(1024 data points per measured parameter)
- Up to 7 expansion modules can be used. For a AC3 that
would make a total of 24 probes and 42 digital inputs.
- Attaches to AquaController 3's I/O port with a 5' cable.
- Additional Expansion modules daisy chain off the previous
expansion module.
The AquaController III comes with a built-in self test diagnostic
program which lets you know if the system is operating correctly.
Also displayed on the self test screen are the revision and
date of the firmware.
Further Information
If you are not convinced that the AquaController III brings
truly flexible and affordable aquarium control, contact our
knowledgeable sales and technical staff at Neptune Systems,
and we'll answer any of your questions.
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