[randommind]

Seeing all of these crappy reviews makes me really not want one of the monsoons..

I am not certian, but I think majority of the reported issues are from the V1 units. If my understanding is correct, Exo-terra has fixed the issues with their V2 units....Atleast that's what I am hoping for as I just set one up to mist my two stand alone display tanks in my living room. It has only been running for a couple days but so far I am more than happy.

 

[randommind]

Alright....not even two weeks after installing my new V2 Monsoon, I am sorry to report that it definitely has some issues. Today I just so happened to be eating dinner in the living room where I have my monsoon hooked up. I had mine set to mist every 12 hours for 30 secs. Well at 5:30, 1 1/2 hours before it was set to mist, it begins a 30 second cycle. 5 seconds later it begins again....and again...and again. Not totally surprised by what is going on (i've read the reviews) I choose to finish my dinner and see how long this will continue. Well, after about 10 minutes I had enough and unplugged it. I am certian that had I been away, it would have emptied the entire reservoir.

I now have it plugged into a digital timer that is programmed to turn on twice a day for 1 minute (cheap non-seconds timer). Every time the Monsoon is plugged in, it will activate for the set duration on the machine which I have at 30 secs. Hopefully, with the way I have it set up now everything should be fine. If any other issues arise I will let you guys know.

 

[randommind]

What was the advantage of choosing the Monsoon over a premium pump/system? Based on the specs I've seen it costs the same as the MistKing or Pro-mist starter systems, but will only run 6 nozzles at a time.

A couple things...
I needed a system for two stand alone tanks that have been set up for over a year, one housing a trio of breeding pumilio with tads and froglets in tank. I only needed my system to run 4 nozzles. If you add up the cost of a "premium" starter system plus 3 nozzles and appropriate fittings, drill bit for the glass, and the hassle of drilling and installing a top without any tiny pums sneaking out...the Monsoon seemed the appropriate choice for me.
My decision was made alot easier when I received a gift certificate for christmas from a sponsor site that only carried the Monsoon.
I will say that when the time comes for a system to be installed for the tanks on my rack and I am looking at 18 plus nozzles...I will certianly pick up a premium system.

By the way....I have yet to have any issues after plugging the monsoon into a timer. Yeah the extra step needed is definitely annoying to say the least, but it is now out of sight and out of mind (for the most part) and I still feel the compact plug and play Monsoon system is still the way to go for my particular situation.

 

[randommind]

I don't think I will be going through the hassle of exchanging it. My reason is this...Even if I did exchange it out, I would still need to plug it in to a digital timer. Why you ask? Because, and please correct me if I am wrong, but the Monsoon can only be set to turn on in hourly increments (every so many hours). This means that If I wanted my tanks to be misted 3 times a day, while the lights were on I HAVE to have it plugged into an alternate timer.

 

[randommind]

hmmm... I am not following you.

Your lights are on a timer but have these got a "frequency" timer.. like once every 8 hours for 3 x a day....
and a Duration timer, ie: how long they "spritz" for ... like 20 sec. to 80 sec.
or something like that.

I can't remember what the duration is on mine... but I have it to go off (in the winter, dryer air) every 5 or 6 hours or so.

Cheers
Todd

I am just saying that if I want my Monsoon to only mist 2 times a day when the lights are on...say at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.....the monsoon has to be plugged into a timer.