Apex accessory recommendations

[Jon Fishman]

What am I missing.... I have the APEX that has pH probe and temp. probe, but not Salinity or OBR or OPR or whatever that is.... I read up on it, decided I don't need it. I also read mostly negative reviews about the salinity probe, so I don't want that.

I have a probe-holder and ??? not sure what else really.

I would like down the road, or immediately based on price etc:

Leak detector.
Wave-pump control thingy/powerheads that they work with
Doser/doser pumps/containers for dosers (really want this, but $450?!?)
Feeder maybe..... worth a shot, but rough reviews.

What are the other must-have items for an APEX that make life nice, but aren't for the super-hardcore reefer, but basic hobbyist ? (I don't need the Ozone-generator/Oxygen sensor thing etc....)

Thanks.

 

[link81]

i have the feeder. works well. did just fine when i went away for 10 days. i use it for a morning feeding and afternoon feeding while i'm at work. they get frozen in the evening.

i also have the leak detector. guess it works. hopefully i never have a leak and need it.
I think i'll pick up a module in the future to add another temp probe. just for redundancy.
doser, i don't have one. if i found one for cheap i'd get it, but its alot of $.

 

[Jon Fishman]

It seems like there isn't that much "essential" stuff for this expensive piece of equipment that everyone made me believe I needed to have! haha.... it's o.k. I just feel like I own a really expensive programmable power-strip right now!

EDIT: I should point out that I haven't put it into use yet..... got it for a new build.

 

[Waters]

What am I missing.... I have the APEX that has pH probe and temp. probe, but not Salinity or OBR or OPR or whatever that is.... I read up on it, decided I don't need it. I also read mostly negative reviews about the salinity probe, so I don't want that.

I have a probe-holder and ??? not sure what else really.

I would like down the road, or immediately based on price etc:

Leak detector.
Wave-pump control thingy/powerheads that they work with
Doser/doser pumps/containers for dosers (really want this, but $450?!?)
Feeder maybe..... worth a shot, but rough reviews.

What are the other must-have items for an APEX that make life nice, but aren't for the super-hardcore reefer, but basic hobbyist ? (I don't need the Ozone-generator/Oxygen sensor thing etc....)

Thanks.

While the salinity probes aren't super accurate, they are important for controlling other pieces of equipment. For example, you can use the salinity probe with your ATO programming....if the salinity drops, the ATO shuts off (meaning your ATO failed and is continuously pumping fresh water into your sump). It can be helpful to watch for salinity swings also.

 

[Jon Fishman]

While the salinity probes aren't super accurate, they are important for controlling other pieces of equipment. For example, you can use the salinity probe with your ATO programming....if the salinity drops, the ATO shuts off (meaning your ATO failed and is continuously pumping fresh water into your sump). It can be helpful to watch for salinity swings also.

I completely forgot about ATO...... I need that FOR SURE.... I don't have an ATO yet.

So.... Salinity probe will alert me (via the swing) of an ATO malfunction? Never thought about that..... Is there any salinity probe (other than their proprietary one) that works with the APEX that perhaps has a better track record?

 

[link81]

it will, yes. but so will a BOB and a spare high level float switch in the sump.

 

[BestMomEver]

Leak detector is a must have, IMO. I was pulling into the hotel at Reefapalooza and was blasted by messages that the leak detection system had detected water around my sump. Seems as though the skimmer went nuts and overflowed the pitcher I had the cup piped to. Gratefully, apex turned off everything but the power heads.... ATO, return pump, skimmer, and doser. My daughter drove across town and fixed it. The leak detector more than paid for itself in that one moment... Apex too.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Leak detector (not that know who I'd call) seems like a no-brainer..... and it seems like the leak detector could replace the need for the salinity probe (assuming the only plus of using the salinity probe is to catch an ATO malfunction since giant salinity changes aren't likely any other way, and I could just test with a good refractometer thingy)

FYI I currently test salinity with a swing-arm deal, and I find it works fine........ ;Writing

 

[SuncrestReef]

Everyone has their own opinion of what something is worth, and of course what they are willing to spend. I'm a pretty big fan of home automation and have extended that to my reefing equipment. I'm a big fan of my Apex and use it both for convenience of automation as well as safety of my reef and home. Here are some of the things my Apex does for me:

• Detect power outages to shut down non-critical devices to prolong power on my battery backup
• Control dual heaters in my sump, and a heater in my saltwater mixing station
• Control lighting schedules on my Radions, including moon lighting at night based on actual lunar phase
• Monitor water level in the refugium if chaeto clogs the drain pipe and turn off the pump to prevent overflows
• Adjust my Gyre for different flow rates throughout the day and night
• Control 2-part dosing
• Monitor water flow rate through my carbon & GFO reactors, as well as return pipe
• Turn off my UV sterilizer when water flow goes below 250 gallons/hour
• Shut off the skimmer when the Avast skimmate locker is full and send me an alert
• Clean the skimmer neck every 6 hours with the Avast Swabbie
• Control auto feeder when I'm away from home
• Shut down pumps and send an alert if a leak is detected in my sump cabinet or the carpet below my tank
• Daily automatic water changes
• Remote ATO pump in my garage mixing station feeds water to my tank in the living room
• Alert me when RO/DI tank is low, or too full
• Alert me when saltwater storage tank is too low, and shut down auto water change until full
• Turn on a cooling fan when temps are too high in summer
• Keep track of all water test results and produce graphs over time
• All alerts are sent to both email and text message

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting.
To do all of these things, I have the following modules and add-ons, so I've invested substantially more than the Apex base unit:

• 3 x FMM modules
• 2 x DOS
• WXM
• PM2
• PMK
• DDR
• COR-20
• 2 x PMUP
• WAV
• AFS
• Breakout box
• IceCap Gyre module
• 5 optical sensors
• 2 leak detectors
• 3 float switches
• 1 extra temperature probe
• 1 extra conductivity probe
• Swabbie skimmer neck cleaner
• Avast skimmate locker
• Auxiliary power adapter for Apex to detect power failures

For me, it provides peace of mind that I wouldn't want to live without.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Nice.... I'm gonna have to google 75% of that now!

 

[Entz]

+1 to the lead detectors. Worth noting that the FMM comes with like 3 different things, so depending on how many sensors you want you can save a bit of money. i.e. If you want to use their ATO get that and a pair of detector pads separately. or the LDK and a flow meters or level sensors separately etc.

The ATO sensor part cannot be bought separate from the ATK as far as I can tell, so that is where I would start if going in that direction but a pair of optical sensors would do the same thing really.

I have the lunar module which is neat, but I kinda have it programmed to be not so automatic. Min %, off during day etc. I also have the 1" fluid monitor so I can watch my return and will likely add one if I get UV to keep an eye on things.

Controlling lights and pumps via 0-10 is nice.

Apex modules are awesome and like candy. You can never just have one

 

[SuncrestReef]

Nice.... I'm gonna have to google 75% of that now!

You can see some of these components in my tank video tour: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...efer-xl-425-build.358990/page-17#post-5244988

And I described a lot more of the components in the rest of that build thread.

 

[Aquavaj]

If yours is the classic I strongly recommend the breakout box. With it you can use generic leak detectors, switches for interior stand lights, and float switches for fail safes or notifications (low or high sump levels, low ato reservoir level...etc .

 

[Jon Fishman]

If yours is the classic I strongly recommend the breakout box. With it you can use generic leak detectors, switches for interior stand lights, and float switches for fail safes or notifications (low or high sump levels, low ato reservoir level...etc .

It’s the orange and black one, but not wireless.... Black “Energy Bar 8”

 

[link81]

if you're halfway handy, its pretty easy to diy your own breakout box. Neptune Has a pretty informative forum as well if you haven't found it already.