The Reefkeeper II is a computer controller that acts as a timer, ph controller, temp controller, wave maker, ect. It is very reasonably priced in the controller market where its competetors are Nepture Controllers among others. You can controll up to 8 items and more with extension units that do not count against the units maximum amps. Digital Aquatics is an upstart company run by hobbyist, which I like to support. Unfortunatily, I have had numerous problems with my unit since putting it into operation. Joe also had problems with his and had to send it back for repair. In Feb. 08 I had to send it back because it wouldn't calibrate the ph probe. I was basically told that there was noting wrong with the unit despite it being under warranty. The ph probe still never calibrated, so I just didn't use it. About a month ago the main fuse inexplicably blew and when I went to replace the fuse the holder for the fuse broke make the unit inoperable. I again sent it back over night delevery after recieving an RMA. It took four days to get them to acknowledge that they had recieved the unit and another week to get them to work on it. The finally just sent me a new RK2. I purchased another extension unit to make sure that I would at no time excede the recomended amps even though I was well under the recommended amps. The unit has quite a few functions and when working very nice to have. It will shut your lights off if the temp. reaches a certain height and has a standby function for feeding. You can also get email alerts and graph your parameters when hooked up to a computer. It may have been that I just got a bad unit because Digital Aquatics new controller is very promising. Pros: Cheapest of the controllers on the market that have the same functions. Very stylish with a nice screen to monitor functions and is expandable to accomidate more equipment. Cons: Customer support is only via email. There website does provide a number but you get a message that says for faster service email. I must say that they did answer all of my email communications usually within 24hrs but considering that there product is responsible for controlling an entire system it is not very fast. Digital Aquatics
I bought my RK2 at NSA over a year ago. The pH probe calibration went OK but once the probe was placed in the sump it immediately read 9.something. We recalibrated several times with the same results every time. I contacted Digital Aquatics and was told they had a problem with a batch of units doing that so I needed to send it in. Since I only had the brand new unit a few days I asked if they would cross-ship one and was told no. So instead of making the two-hour round-trip to NSA for a replacement and possible second defective unit, I shipped it at my expense to WA which took about a week, they fixed/replaced it and shipped it back which took about a week. It's worked fine since then. Besides monitoring pH and temp, I have used it as a light controller, wavemaker, timer to turn my kalk stirrer on three times a day for five minutes and a switch to put my skimmer pump into standby for cleaning the cup. I plan to plug in a fan to be temperature controlled. I chose the RK2 because of the price. I like it because it's very easy to program and extremely flexible.
I got my RK2 back today and installed with the setting for my system. They ended up sending me a new powerstrip which is basically a whole new RK2. The Ph calibration problems that I was having are gone and I purchased a 2nd extension to further cut down on the amp load to the main core unit. I very much like my RK2 and the features it offers, I think that I probably just got a lemon. After reading Joes post above it was purchased at the same general time as his but they were not as forth coming about the problems that they were having with the ph probes when dealing with me. Scott Bogner was very consistant about communicating with me via email but it was slow. I had to stay on them within reason via email to make sure progress was being made on its repair. I hope that my issues with the RK2 are over - for the first time since I purchased it over 8 months ago it is now operating as it should. Wish me continued luck - it has only been a day.
AN UPDATE ON MY RK2 - Well I had the power go out two weeks ago and the main fuse went out for the second time on my RK2. This is after running a dedicated circuit and purchasing a second expansion unit to make absolutly sure that I have eliminated any possible reason for this to be occuring. While this was frustrating it should not be a big issue because I have plenty of spare fuses and would not have been a problem if I could have removed the fuse from the fuse holder. This happened the first time and I thought it was just a fluke but yet again the cap on the fuse holder would not come off. After working with it for over an hour without success I finally cut the cap off and still was not able to remove the fuse. I have had fuses go out on other pieces of equipment and changing a fuse should not become a failure for the unit. I contacted Digital Aquatics who sent me a RMA number and I shipped it back. About a week later the shipped the unit back repaired but I never recieve a word from them as to why this was an issue or weather I was doing something wrong. The do provide good customer service via email but this can be very frustrating when time is of the essence as in my first issues with them and I had a tank running on the system. After doing some searching I have read quite a few reviews that they are having alot of issues with their new elite unit that runs around 500 dollars. I applaud Digital Aquatics for trying to produce a budget concsious controller for aquarists but from reviews of this and other units that have been written their are quality issues with a device that is responsible for such critical devices in our tanks is just to much. I will continue to use the unit as I have already purchased it but just can not recommend the RK2 as a reliable alternative to other more pricey controllers.
i have been looking into getting a rke or an ac3. after reading this i may go with the neptune instead. they may be alittle more pricey but peace of mind is priceless.
