Digital Aquatics is excited to announce the imminent release of our myReef ReefKeeper management software package for the PC. This new software package will allow PC users to interact with their ReefKeeper in many new and powerful ways. From easy programming of the system to system updates, myReef makes things easy. myReef is the culmination of 8 months of hard work that was based on a long list of customer requests and it’s finally here. myReef 2.0 is compatible with the RKE and RKL systems running firmware version 2.0 or higher. See below for complete system requirements.

Now in private beta testing myReef will enter into the public beta stage here in a couple weeks. It will be on our site for download for any customer that wishes to participate in the public beta.

ReefKeeper™ Elite
-New and improved graphics, menu flow and general look and feel.
-Advanced module capable.
–What is an advanced module?
—RD1
—NET 2.0
—SID 2.0 (Needed for myReef™)
-NET module control (on/off/auto)
-NET security setting (restrict remote control)
-Settable channel default states in the event of communication loss with head unit
-Integrated Storm mode for advanced pump and lighting control
-Expanded timers to include random mode

Remote control through your iPhone? Now that is innovation at its finest!

Have you bought your RKE yet?

For most RKL users, this is some amazing news. Now you can have the parameters of your nano or 100 gallon tank in your palm. In fact, when the firmware 2.0 comes out, you will be able to control everything in it. Now go get one of those RKLs or the NET package!

Keep the good things coming DA!

Hot of the burner is a story of the work being done into the controller module for the Tunze pumps, dubbed the TPC (Tunze Pump Controller). The project was needed as the demand for this unit has exponentially increased in the last year. The release date is unknown as this time, but you could see it in your home in six months time. This module will have four plug-ins for the pumps and will be controlled by the Head unit on your RKE system. This will allow those who want to own a Tunze pump, but don’t want to pay for their controller, to enjoy its benefits. Alongside RKE’s 2.0 firmware, this module will be able to do a lot of neat things. For that (the firmware 2.0 announcement), you have to tune to us later.

The biggest announcement of this module is not its functionality, but its price…… approx 150$USD. Not too shabby considering that the Tunze controlling units can get expensive rather quickly. How about 270$USD for a multicontroller. Yikes! I bet Tunze won’t like that

Chalk up another one for DA under the ‘excellent job’ category! Now I have to give our News Fairy a much needed vacation. Thanks Reeferbell for your hard work!

Until next time reefnecks!

After visiting with GHL yesterday and their impressive new upgrade, we got a closer look at the Digital Aquatics’s new eye opening lineup. We spoke to Scott Bogner about what DA is brewing up this year but he was tight lipped about some of their new modules that they intend to release. He did confirm that it will involve a module which will be controlling a very popular brand of German powerheads. He also laid out plans for DA to upgrade their head unit firmware to 2.0. Some of the new features would be the ability to fully control your RKE through a wifi network (using your NET module). Furthermore, with the new software, the ground loop errors with some pH and ORP probes (and now Salinity) will be eliminated.

We can also confirm that we will be bringing you many DIY videos and tutorials on how to setup numerous RKE/RKL modular systems.

Stay tuned here for up to date information on all of your Digital Aquatics needs!

The RKM-SL2 is the newest System Lab module from Digital Aquatics. It’s a big leap forward with fully (and individually,) isolated ph and salinity ports. On top of that, the Digital Aquatics salinity probe is equipped with full digital temperature compensation built in! This make it easy to calibrate and ideal for testing a variety of tanks. Whether you’re mixing for a water change, monitoring your main system, checking up on a quarantine or frag tank the SL2 with conductivity probe will report a true and accurate value!

The SL2 also allows for another temperature probe to be added to the system for redundant monitoring as well as two more switch inputs; great for ATO systems or leak detectors.

This module is fairly cheap for its utility. Priced at $80.00US, without the Salinity probe, your salinity problems are no more. In fact, with the aid of the NET module, you can see your salinity levels on the go. On a blackberry, iPhone, or a Palm Pre.

But there is an asterix that we need to talk about.

The installation, or the calibration, is not dumbed down. Here are some instructions to properly calibrate your SL2 and its probe (from the Digital Aquatic’s forum):

The new Digital Aquatics salinity probe is an advanced probe that requires an acclimation period when being introduced to your tank. Please read the steps below before using the salinity probe to control dosing or other tank altering actions. Digital Aquatics includes an easy to use, reusable calibration solution bottle for PPT. Do not discard this solution after your first calibration!

1) Follow the steps on the calibration/installation form. Once complete, tightly replace the cap to the calibration bottle and save for the following steps.
2) Watch the PPT reading for the next few days you will see it trend upward as the probe acclimates to your tank.
3) After about 72 hours you should see the readings level off.
4) Once the readings have leveled off, repeat the calibration steps. Make sure to dry the probe tip for the first calibration step in open air (00.0 PPT.)
5) Continue to watch the PPT readout for the next couple days to insure its reading has in fact leveled off. It is not unlikely to have to repeat these steps one or two times. Once the PPT has become stable, you may now use the PPT reading in your system for control.
6) Important notes: Inexpensive hydrometers are not suitable as a comparable baseline. While often consistent their reading can be off by several PPT. If doing an advanced comparison/qualification, use a high grade refractometer that has been properly calibrated.

While you read this, I am slowly unwrapping my SL2. Will post my experiences with this unit soon, so tune in.

Well Digital Aquatics keeps getting better and better. A few months after their announcement for newer modules to your RKE system, today they have released news that they will be shipping out float switches that are compatible with the RKE and RKL controllers. Imagine not needing to buy a very expensive Auto Top Off unit (although, I still swear by my Tunze Osmolator). Imagine having an automated water changes system. Imagine having a self cleaning skimmer. All those things are now possible with these switches.

Here is what DA has to say regarding their new baby:

The new Digital Aquatics float switch kits make configuration quick and easy!

There are countless ways to use these new float switches with either your RKE or RKL system. Program an Auto Top Off (ATO) system, automate water transfers, setup safety alerts for high AND low water levels, skimmer collection cup full alerts and so much more!

Each kit comes with programming instructions and an installation guide to help you get up and running quickly. Our configurable mounting brackets will work with almost any tank or sump application. The floats are fully submersible and made of a long lasting rugged plastic compound that is reef safe. Our mounts are made of aquarium-grade acrylic and are also reef safe, as is all provided hardware.

There will be three kits available:

1:
1 x Float Switch
1 x Switch adapter kit

2:
1 x Float Switch
1 x Switch adapter kit
1 x Mounting kit

3:
2 x Float Switch
2 x Switch adapter kit
2 x Mounting kit

And the price is right, only 44.99$ for the best Kit (#3). I think that worth investing in a RKE. For me, I will be using it to automate my water changes. One of the last steps for full system automation.

So now you have the router ready. You are eager to see your NET online. Take a deep breath, my impatient ones. We will continue as this is a involved process. But I assure you that you will be uber happy once done.

Onward…

The wifi bridge that I used was a D-Link DAP 1522. There are many other game ports (for xbox or ps3), but this one is the best out there right now. It can do multiple things, but I am not spending ample time talking geek with you. So lets set this thing up, shall we?

Note: Make sure you know your wifi password and its encryption type (like WEP) as it will be necessary during the DAP wizard.

1. Unplug the Ethernet cable from your PC, and hook up the DAP directly into that slot.
2. Power the DAP and find your local TCP/IP settings on your computer.
3. Change the settings: IP Address 12.168.0.10, subnet 255.255.255.0, and leave the default gateway blank.
4. Now you shouldn’t have any connectivity to the internet except to your DAP
5. So in your browser, type in the IP address that you set (192.168.0.10)
6. You should be in your DAP software. Run the wizard to setup your bridge. This should be straight forward.
7. Once you have completed this step, the bridge is configured to the wifi network. Note the IP address of the DAP, as you will need it later on.
8. Go back to the TCP/IP settings on your computer, and change them back to ‘Auto Detect’. This is to go back to the original settings of your computer. Also plug the original Ethernet cable back into the computer.
9. Now go to your NET module. Plug an Ethernet cable from the NET to your DAP. By now I hope to God that you know to have the NET bussed into the RKE (so that its online and powered up by the main controls)
10. On your home computer, use the Net Detector application. It will locate your wifi network (it will show you your wifi name). This means that it can communicate with the network. This is good. If you don’t have it, then the bridge was not configured properly during the wizard. Go back.
11. All you have to do now is type in the DAP’s IP address: for me it was 192.168.1.xxx Yours should be similar.
12. The page should greet you with a Digital Aquatics Logo and page. The temporary username and password are ‘DigitalAquatics’ and ‘password’.
13. You are DONE. That is if you do not want to know how to RSS feed it into your RSS reader (like on your iPhone)

If you have ANY questions, you can ask them in the comments section. I will try my best to answer them. Next up will be how to RSS feed your tank’s parameters through your NET wifi. Stay tuned!

Unless you were in a cave for the last 6-8 months, you had to know that the awesome people at Digital Aquatics had released their new baby into the world; the Reef Keeper Elite. Since one half of your FragdIt crew has their system powered by this unique controller (cough, cough), he has been waiting for the release of their new modules to show up. And they have.. with a bang!

Out of nowhere, albeit at MAX (Marine Aquatic Expo) in Costa Mesa California , they shocked the Elite user world by announcing 4 new products: HUB, SL2, SW5 and PC1. My brain just had to reboot from the info overload.

Lets start with the first module, PC1. Its capabilities are very simple. You will be able to control one or two outputs up to 15 amps. Great for high wattage light systems and those house-sized chillers. (photo courtesy of Digital Aquatics).

Secondly, the SL2 had been announced and been advertised as the alternative to SL1 or the supplemental module to your RKE system. It would have all the components that a SL1 has (pH, temp, 2 switches) except for the ORP. The SL2 will be harnessed with the ability to check on your salinity.. yes your salt levels! The only question that I would have, with respect to that, would be “how many times a year will you have to calibrate your salinity probe?”.

Now lets talk about the mysterious modules, HUB and SW5. Here are excerpts from the DA’s website:

The RKM-HUB isn’t just a simple 5 port bus HUB! The RKM-HUB will also have a power port so that you can power your bus! What does that mean for the RK systems…

1) As mentioned we’ll be announcing two new combos one with the RKE and one with the RKL head unit. The HUB will play an important roll in those systems!
2) Having 5 bus ports, the HUB will also offer up new options for mounting and wiring your system!
3) The RKM-HUB will NOT count as a module in your system. This is very important for those of you running the RKL system as that head unit has a four module limit.

In other words, now you can use the HUB as a means to power up your head unit or your necessities during a power failure. Personally, I would want to have the NET linked with the HUB module to show that there is a power failure when the return pumps and the lights are all powered off.

The SW5 is a special tool for the entire system.

The RKM-SW5 has 4 switch inputs and 1 relay out. The relay can switch up to 6amp at 120VAC. Note, this is NOT a powered outlet. Think of it as a light switch, it will switch on and off a supply line. This has MANY uses! The SW5 will expand the ability of the RK systems to do more automated tasks! Now you’re talking!

Switches could be almost anything, from dosing pumps to light switches. I will leave it to your imagination.

The release dates for all of these products are yet unknown, but they seem to be almost ready to be on sale. Stay tuned folks!

The wait is over folks! Digital Aquatics has begun shipping the most anticipated module for their great Reef Keeper Elite controller: the NET. They have been taking pre-orders for a few weeks and now you will find your own toy in the mail.

What is the NET module? Lets leave it for the DA crew to explain to us what its features are:

Email Get alerts to your email, cell phone, or PDA; up to two email accounts.

System Status Current system data and channel status over the internet, gives you real-time information about what’s going on in your system.

RSS feeds Get on going status on your system from the RSS feed from the NET module! Real time reporting and up to 16 RSS feeds.

Logging With 2000 data points per entry and 1 minute to 4 hour resolution, the RKM-NET can log from 33 hours to almost a year. You can also set the resolution uniquely for each of the 16 items logged, giving you real flexibility.

Graphing We have included dynamic Flash graphs with RKM-NET to give you the ultimate viewing experience. You can scroll back and forth, zoom in and out, see an overview or just an individual data point; all over the internet from anywhere in the world.

Exporting You can also export your logged data to a .csv file to log, plot or just view in any other graphing program you have.

Included hardware 1 x 7′ Network cable 1 x 3′ Bus cable

And from what we hear, there will be a way to integrate your NET module wirelessly within your home network. You can check for the latest on Digital Aquatics’s Support Forums.

You know that Fragd.it will be NETed…  in time of course.  Now get your own!