The GHL Ion Director - Is it worth it? Setup & Thoughts on Reef Tanks.

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2 жыл бұрын

The GHL Ion Director is here, measuring my reef tank's Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, and Nitrate levels every day at 1:30 pm. I love automation, and hate having to manually mix up vials of chemicals for my own water tests - so the idea of a box sitting under my tank quietly testing my water every single day sounds amazing! It does work, and the results are mostly consistent (one day was off for some reason) but there's a lot of issues with the software that makes me only very cautiously recommend it to you all.
The software behind MyGHL and their iOS and Android apps is really the part of the Ion Director that's lacking. It's buggy, often doesn't connect, and really flat out fails to work most of the time. Luckily, software can be fixed, and I look forward to updates from GHL around this.
In the US you can buy an Ion Director direct from GHL at www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/.... For the rest of the world, you can buy it direct at store.aquariumcomputer.com/en/.
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Пікірлер: 31

@ProfiLuxGHL 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. We're happy to hear your IOND is working and providing reasonable values. We would like to point out that there is are many resources available for guiding one through the IOND setup (which should take no more than 60 minutes for brand new users). The manual can be found in the download section of our website. If you use our Knowledge Base, you will also find a detailed step-by-step guide for the IOND. There you will also see that it is 100% possible to setup the IOND without a PC computer. For any troubleshooting related matters, we also have a comprehensive guide also in the Knowledge Base. Of course if one needs further assistance, let us know and we'll help you out!

@ReefMan 2 жыл бұрын

I will admit you guys have fantastic customer service and you kept us very well updated during the preorder process!

@Dreadlk 2 жыл бұрын

@@ReefMan You were getting good updates during the preorder process?? Wow you must have had a direct line to the owner of GHL because everyone else was just hanging and hanging for months at a time.

@deanfielding4411 2 жыл бұрын

I’m really wanting to invest in automation later this year. I’m currently undecided. Reef Bum (Kieth Berkelhamer) has these and I think this is top of my list. I’m just hesitant when Reef Factory gear looks so much more streamlined software wise and is cheaper.

@Reubenwelsh 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review!

@jackkain7141 2 жыл бұрын

Audio cut-out at 1:48. Reloaded, still present.

@larssloth6220 Жыл бұрын

Hello ReffMan. I would like to hear more about the testing quality. I hear that the results are questionable, but it has been from people who don't read manuals, so i also question them. Have any of the software updates helped? Keep up the good work. I love your technical mindset.

@dlegarern1 2 жыл бұрын

I'm still waiting for my Ion Director. What I'm concerned with is availability of reference solutions and replacement ion probes if theres an issue with the original one.

@captivebredcanada 2 жыл бұрын

A good review to watch before everyone else starts saying it's the best thing ever and a must have purchase. While sometimes it's a pain to use salifert test kits they've almost always given me consistent results and when they don't play with the formula it's easy enough to just memorize the instructions. Is the reason alkalinity is not included so you have to buy the KH director as well or do they work differently? I don't follow that closely since this is not high on my purchase list but still interested to know.

@ReefMan 2 жыл бұрын

I know that GHL had a lot of issues with the Ion Director sensor - the folks who preordered got regular updates from them on it. They used COVID shipping delays to allow them to rework it a few times it seems. I have to say, GHL did a great job with communication along the process. I bet they didn't include alkalinity here because as you pointed out they also sell the KH Director, and I would think it's non-trivial to add new ions to their sensor. Maybe in the future we'll get more though! People seem to like their KH Director, but I'm not sure it's for me given it's another Doser needed as well. I have a Hanna Checker for alk that makes testing it pretty easy.

@mrberlinmethod1492 2 жыл бұрын

the two directors use different methods. One is a pH titration an the other is a sensor.

@PatrickJewellTheGreat 2 жыл бұрын

Software is what keeps me going GHL. I don’t have time for all that.

@maceysdaddy5150 2 жыл бұрын

It took me forever to get my dosers working 3 years ago. Had to borrow a PC to get it working, BUT once I got it setup it has been rock solid and silent. Your review of the setup was great. Though I’d really like to know how it’s working now.? Are the test results accurate enough and consistent? I have 2 tridents and I have to calibrate constantly to keep results accurate.

@ReefMan 2 жыл бұрын

I've only had it running a week - but the results make sense and seen accurate. I'm waiting on a Triton test where I can compare the Calcium,. Magnesium, and Potassium. There was one day this week where the results were oddly different - Nitrate was high, Calcium was low, etc - but the next test they went back to normal.

@maceysdaddy5150 2 жыл бұрын

@@ReefMan thanks. Would love to hear again in a month. I’d walk through a wall to have those #s daily. To me I’d take a tough setup process if it runs great once running like my GHL dosers. Wish we could combine Neptune software with GHL hardware.

@ppsthlm 2 жыл бұрын

I have a KH Director and I do as you say like the automatic testing of the tank at a specific time every day. I have been considering the ION Director as well but this review sort of reminds me to looks elsewhere… It is the same cloud thing with the KH Director and the same poor app that is at times hard to get a connection with. Setting up the KHDirector was a nightmare as well as I am a MAC-only-guy and I did in the end manage to make a poor kind of connection through Windows on Mac which I really don’t like to use. It took me a day to get it kind-of-working. They really should do something about their app. All devices should absolutely be possible to connect to and control and monitor fully only through their app. And when using the app very often it takes a few attempts to connect. It should be way more user friendly. And it should be looking much nicer, the interface is really ugly and so dated. Only problem is finding a good automatic test kit with reliable results and easy to use…. Which one to go for….

@drparfem 2 жыл бұрын

At 1.45 there seems to be muted audio for couple of seconds

@sunnygoold9449 2 жыл бұрын

I have the KHD and it's the most frustrating thing ever to set up and then it took me months to get reasonable readings (and I don't trust them so I still test way too much). It has wifi so it should just connect automatically to your phone. The least frustrating thing about it is that mine disconnects after a few minutes and the lack of push notifications. I don't test that often except for KH so this is not high on my list. If I went back in time I would get the Reef Factory one - I don't want super accurate just easy to use. I love the GHL doser as I dose Kalk 50 times a day yet I'd love to dose more at night than in the day. If GHL hired someone new to just start from scratch with the software then all of their competitors would go out of business... so someone is happy they aren't doing that because the software isn't improving.

@sunnygoold9449 2 жыл бұрын

Oh and thanks for the review ReefMan ;)

@Dreadlk 2 жыл бұрын

I can deal with tedious and difficult setups. I am also a programmer and have had to spend days trying to get certain things to work properly. What I am interested in is how accurate are the results (Which this video did not mention) and how well does it work day to day. I appreciate the heads up on the push notification issue but what I really want to know is does it test when it's supposed to test and is it easy to see the results. As for non support of Macs, that argument has been going on for 20+ Years. Just buy an old laptop on eBay and be done with it.

@ReefMan 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve found it’s pretty accurate, and it does test reliably at the same time every day. The app, when it works, makes it easy to check the results.

@ReefingwithO 2 жыл бұрын

Sooo years later and I’m still the seeing the same issues with GHL. The hardware is great but the software leaves a lot to be desired. The ION director still doesn’t send you notifications when things are out of range? That’s kinda disappointing and I thought that’s something they would have solved. $900 and still no notifications. Also I need to hook it up to a computer? 😳😳😳😳

@SB-ju4yf 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, i also strongly discourage GHL products. The software is indeed crap. I had the KH Director. It detected a too low value error, but continued to increase the dosing! That’s dangerous! I had issues with the pumps, leading to faulty results. My KH Director was sent in to repair twice within 8 months and it was still not working properly. That was the moment i threw KH Director out! Too much hassle! I use the Spin Touch now

@ReefMan 2 жыл бұрын

I've never heard of Spin Touch, I'll have to look them up! Thanks!