Buyer’s Remorse: 30 months later with the ReefKeeper Elite

I was one of the first to receive the ReefKeeper Elite when it debuted back in 2008.  I was excited!  It had so much promise!  In fact I blogged about it here:  http://www.reefdisorder.com/reef-blog/reefkeeper-elite-arrived-53 and I was ahead of the pack.  So much so, that Ryan over at Reefbuilders highlighted my unboxing! (Thanks Ryan):  http://reefbuilders.com/2008/07/11/reefkeeper-elite-unboxing-pictures/

Being an early adopter, I was willing to put up with some issues here and there.  But, this device had so much promise.  And, I had done a ton of research.  I mean a ton!  Thus, the obsessive compulsive title in my blog.  The ReefKeeper Elite from Digital Aquatics was to be the premier controller in the price range.  Things were not smooth out of the box, however:  http://reefbuilders.com/2008/09/23/reef-keeper-elite-users-are-want-money-back/ For though, I was able to muddle through and get my controller working (at least the basics) and I was content and chomping at the bit for the modules, software etc to come.  (The things I bought the thing for)

Jump forward from July 18, 2008 to today.  Let’s talk reality.

Digital Aquatics promises stuff for months.  They give you a release date and then miss it.  Not by a couple of weeks, but by up to a year or more!  It took forever (I thought at the time) to get the NET module.  But, that was nothing compared to the fact that the salinity probe that I bought (along with the SL2) which cost me almost $200 combined is completely useless.  Completely!  They expect to start issuing RMAs shortly according to an update TODAY.  Are you kidding me?

Oh, but the topper is the web software, MyReef!  It was supposed to be available within months of release.  It was the reason why I bought the damn thing to begin with.

It was previewed over a year after I bought it (October 2009) and DA actually posted about it on their forums:  http://www.forum.digitalaquatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6881

Pictures started to really flow (November 2009).  I was getting excited!  Finally, after 18 months, I was getting my software:  http://reefbuilders.com/2009/11/12/digital-aquatics-myreef-elite-lite-coming-slowly/

Then, it was delayed again (December 2009) until April 2010:  http://reefbuilders.com/2009/12/10/digital-aquatics-myreef-software-delayed-april-2010/

April, 2010 arrives!  http://reefbuilders.com/2010/04/10/digital-aquatics-showcasing-firmware-20-myreef-20-alphas/

Then, nothing.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving!  http://reefbuilders.com/2010/11/22/digital-aquautics-myreef-20/ But, wait, did they say BETA?  WTF?

And that is just the software.  Their communication is horrible.  In order for me to know what is going on, I have to go to their site and pour through their forums to try to figure out what is happening.  Do I need a firmware upgrade?  How do I do it?  Wait, I have to send back this component to get it upgraded?  Again, WTF?

At this point, I have no idea what to do with my unit.  I know that things need to be upgraded, but I don’t know what and why.  I wanted to get the Remote Display too, but I have given up on Digital Aquatics.

Actually, I take it back.  I know exactly what to do with my unit.

My plan is to continue to use it exactly how I am today and NOT to add anything.

Then, when the new tank is ready in the new location ” Wait, what did he just say?” I am going to sell this POS controller and go to something better.

I bought the ReefKeeper Elite because they promised the best controller ever.  And they promised, and they promised, and they promised….

And, in the meantime, the other companies, who had less grandiose plans to begin with, have delivered all of the features and more.

Quick Summary:  DON’T BUY THE REEFKEEPER ELITE.

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