Aquacontroller Pro

The AquaControllerPro 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 AquaControllerPro - 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 AquaControllerPro. No technical background is necessary to setup and operate the controller.

To help you perform the initial setup of the AquaControllerPro, the base unit comes pre-programmed with a default setup which requires little if any modification to work with most aquarium setups.

Monitor pH, ORP, and Temperature

The base unit includes software which is capable of monitoring pH, ORP,   temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. 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.

Control pH, ORP, and Temperature

The AquaControllerPro also contains the functionality to control the pH, ORP,   temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen 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 AquaControllerPro 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 AquaControllerPro'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 AquaControllerPro is currently the only known controller on the market capable of this type of control. The CO2 injection system is not included with AquaControllerPro.

Similarly, the AquaControllerPro 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 AquaControllerPro can enable ozone injection into the tank. The ozone injection system is not included with AquaControllerPro.

Also the AquaControllerPro 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 AquaControllerPro has many more features for temperature control. For example, if the temperature of the tank exceeds a preset value, the AquaControllerPro 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 AquaControllerPro can control the temperature.

Also, the AquaControllerPro 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.

Timers

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 AquaControllerPro 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 20 devices can be controlled by the AquaControllerPro.

Sunrise and Sunset Simulation

The AquaControllerPro 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.

Moon Cycle Simulation

The AquaControllerPro has another special type of timer which can be used to simulate the moon cycle in your tank. A special lamp control module is used. This control module is capable of varying the intensity of light emitted from an incandescent bulb. The intensity variations are controlled by the AquaControllerPro which is preprogrammed with correct intensity values for each day of the moon cycle. The AquaControllerPro automatically updates the intensity value depending upon the current setting of the AquaControllerPro's clock. With this artificial moon cycle, it is possible to induce corals and fish to spawn.

WaveMaker

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 16 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).

2 External Switch Inputs

The AquaControllerPro comes equipped with 2 TTL level external inputs which can be used to activate/deactivate receive 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 AquaControllerPro program can be set up to signal alarms or act upon the input condition.

4 Digital Outputs

The AquaControllerPro comes equipped with 4 TTL level outputs which can be used to hardwire a device to be controller.

Programming Language

One of the AquaControllerPro'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 AquaControllerPro. 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:

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 AquaControllerPro 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.

The extensive owner's manual thoroughly describes the installation and customization of the AquaControllerPro 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.

Alarms

The AquaControllerPro can be programmed to enable an audible alarm when a monitored condition exceeds a preset value. The AquaControllerPro will imsf-imagestely let you know when your tank needs attention.  With the addition of an external modem the alarm can even be transmitted to a pager. The information received on the pager includes the current pH, temperature, and ORP at the time of the alarm.

Data Logging

The AquaControllerPro 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.

Computer Interface

The AquaControllerPro can be optionally connected to PC or Macintosh via a standard RS-232 cable (available from Neptune Systems). The serial 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 AquaControllerPro.

Standard terminal emulator programs interface quite easily to the AquaControllerPro. These terminal emulators are bundled with Windows or available as a public domain program for the Macintosh.

Please see the AquaNotes Information web page for complete details on our Windows 95/98 program which completely automates the datalog retrieval and graphing process.

Battery Backup

A standard 9V battery can power the AquaControllerPro for several hours in the event of a power outage. No data loss will occur and all controlled devices will be in the correct state within five minutes after power is restored. The 9V battery is only used to retain the internal data log and time of day clock; the program and settings are stored in non-volatile memory.

Since this is non-volatile memory, the AquaControllerPro retains the program and settings even during a power outage or failed 9V battery. Once the AquaControllerPro is configured no more setup or reprogramming is required.

Battery Low Warning

When the AquaControllerPro senses that the 9V battery backup is low an alarm can be signaled. The alarm can be either a local audible alarm or a page which will display the error condition.

Large Backlit LCD Display

The large and informative display on the AquaControllerPro is capable of displaying 20 characters by 4 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. No other aquarium controller offers as large and informative a display. The AquaControllerPro comes standard with a backlit LCD display.

Display Lock with password protection

To keep unauthorized users from accessing and modifying the AquaControllerPro's configuration, the display can be locked.  To unlock the display a user settable password must be entered.

Direct Modem Connection

The AquaControllerPro can be directly connected via a serial cable to an external modem. The modem can then be used to send a remote page of the conditions of the tank at the time of the alarm. The data sent to the pager includes the current AquaControllerPro serial number, temperature, pH, and ORP.

The external modem can also be used to allow a remote PC running AquaNotes to dial in and access the AquaControllerPro. With the PC connected to the AquaControllerPro the current status can be monitored, the datalog can be retrieved, and the controller's configuration may be modified.

Diagnostics

The AquaControllerPro 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.