We have reached the last of the three part series (第1部分,第2部分) I have written on aquarium controllers. In this last part I am going to discuss the five most important things I think the advanced aquarist will want to consider when deciding on an aquarium controller. I know this will undoubtedly produce some disagreement and controversy because as the more advanced you get in any subject matter, the more diverse and vocal the feedback will be. To help quell some of that I have intentionally tried to keep all of these articles away from the “Ford vs. Chevy vs. Mopar” type of discussions and instead talk about higher level needs. So, here are the five most important things to consider when purchasing an aquarium controller if you are an advanced marine aquarist:
＃1 - 必须是可编程的
如果您无法获得创造力，那么将所有这些可爱的电子产品的甜蜜优点连接到您的水箱有什么意义？如果您想挤压它的最潜力，则控制器必须具有各种编程语言。而且，编程语言应允许您监视诸如pH和ORP之类的端口等传入数据，还可以监视开关的自定义输入，这些输入可能会告诉您水位何时达到一定点或降至安全水平以下。这种编程语言必须具有创建某种变量并执行基本条件测试的能力（如果/随后）。另一个要求是，该系统应允许您通过Internet远程更改编程。借助良好的编程语言，可以从LED效果（调光，颜色，风暴）到自动变化的复杂事物。
#2 – It should have power failure handling
We all know that one of our biggest fears in this hobby is a major power outage for more than just a couple of minutes. Many of us have experienced coming home, opening the door, and getting smacked in the face with the smell of a wharf. Good controllers will have a built in way of dealing with these power failures. Simply make sure that both the controller as well as your cable/DSL modem and router are on a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and you can do some pretty cool things. If equipped, it is not hard for a controller to sense the power outage, send you a text/email notification, and then go into power failure mode where it only supplies power to air-stones in your overflows and sump as well as one powerhead for circulation. All the power is supplied by the UPS and can buy you many hours of survival. Having this capability provides tremendous peace-of-mind.
＃3 - 它必须具有（或具有）I/O端口，可变速度端口以及其他流行水族馆硬件的接口。
为了使用编程进行上述一些很酷的事情，您需要一种方法来通过开关条件/状态收集反馈。该输入可能来自浮子开关，流动开关，磁性门开关或泄漏检测器之类的东西。此外，您想购买与其他受欢迎的海洋水族馆产品接口的设备。例如，可以通过0-10V输入来控制两个LED灯（DIY驱动程序）和Tunze PowerHeads。如果您想利用通过控制器利用LED调光或波浪制造，则控制器应作为选项。对许多人来说，还有一件事是控制无线设备，例如Vortech Pumps，Aquaillumination和Radion LED灯，以便在方程式中播放。一家与行业不断发展的公司很重要。
＃4 - 它应该具有开放数据/接口标准（API/XML）
This capability enables anyone to develop 3rd聚会与控制器数据接口。这是该功能允许使用实时统计信息的论坛横幅或收集数据供您分析的网站的功能。它还允许第三方为iPhone，iPad或Android设备构建凉爽的应用程序。考虑一下Apple未建造和出售的iPhone的所有配件和连接，您会知道这有多重要。
#5 – It must have an active, progressive community helping each other
如果您是高级业余爱好者，这是最重要的事情之一。根据您的精通技术的不同，您将确定这有多重要 - 您将选择哪个控制器（因为有些人比其他控制器需要更多的技术专业知识）。我跌倒在中间的某个地方，所以我喜欢能够为我的控制器去“技术专家”，看看他们如何解决问题或寻求建议。确定社区的规模，活动和可访问性的最佳方法是访问每个控制器制造商最受欢迎的论坛，并感受到它。那里已经有很多答案了吗？是否有许多非常活跃的专家愿意并且能够提供合理的建议（如他们对他人的回应所示）。社区的规模和参与水平是真正将水族馆控制器体验提升到一个新水平的关键。
I hope you have enjoyed this series of articles on aquarium controllers. Now clearly all of this is my opinion from my personal experience. I am sure that many other very experienced aquarium controller users will take issue with some of the above or have other things they think are important when in this purchase consideration phase. Nothing is wrong with that. Express your thoughts in the comments below and everyone will benefit I am sure.
