Apex jr ( no display )

MarineREEFpassion · May 19, 2020

Ok so I need help with this stupid butt Apex set up. One of the worse set ups I’ve experienced for something that’s supposed to be so high tech and stream line.
I’ve read sooooooo many forums and links, most are a year to a few years ago, and even from Apex/Neptune site on how to do this with nothing working. Lots of mentions about tokens, that are like a fairy tale, can’t find or can’t get them anywhere. So many post on IP address configurations that really make no sense lol. And a stupid link tab on the app that Walks you through everything to the point of picking your system only to stop there saying it’s linked, but nothing happens after that. The only thing that I saw was at the top right corner of the app there’s some circling going on, like it's think but nothing EVER happens. So I’ll go out try to do a search of equipment on the app only for it to say I don’t have access to the site. Talk about frustrating!
I already have a ticket into Apex and reached out to them separately via email and a text help. God only knows how long they’ll take to get back to me so I figured I’d hopefully get help from someone out here. lol
sorry for the overly long thread had to explai a lot though.

Big G · Jun 10, 2020

Did Apex take care of you?

HuduVudu · Jun 10, 2020

That system shipped with a display, and you need the display to get the token. The steps on the Neptune site are clear and work.

You are working with 10+ year old technology without what actually came in the box. At the time that that system came out it was heads and shoulders above everything else on the market (essentially nothing). Back then the system wasn't particularly easy to set up. I had the Jr. and bought in the box. I set it up and it was a gawd send.

I find it sad that you think that dragging Apex for something that is used, incomplete and completely outside of your technical expertise as something that you think is ok to do. My advice to you is stop being cheap, and if you want good equipment, then pay the money for it.

I have DIY'ed for 30 years in the hobby. I have done things on the cheap and have spent many hours tinkering. I learned a lot, but when something new came out I was thankful for not having to make it myself and usually first gen stuff was one step above DIY. I was thankful for it none the less because I didn't have to build it and the build quality was way above what I could produce on my own.

This hobby is expensive and experience only lowers that hurdle a little bit. You need to know what to spend on and what to skimp on and the only way to do that is experience. This hobby is also DIY if you aren't ready for that then I suggest that you find another hobby, because you will only find frustration if you continue in this one.

My thoughts.

HuduVudu · Jun 10, 2020

P.S. DO NOT use a wifi dongle on this system it is utterly flaky and you will pull your hair out with it.

MarineREEFpassion · Jun 10, 2020

Big G said:
Did Apex take care of you?

Yes finally. It took about a week with their help I finally got it up and working. Thank you!

Rubblereefer · Jul 7, 2020

My dude once you get through the clunky setup and that ugly 10 year old brick saves your whole reef, you’ll be singing a different tune I assure you. Day 1, I hated my apex jr. I had to order the display to get a token and it was a pain in the rear learning to program everything... but over and over it became the best piece of gear I ever bought. if you haven’t already, really research it’s capabilities to get the most out of it. I’d get a pm1 and ph probe if you’re dosing, especially if your temp reading is bouncy as the jr doesn’t have proper shielding or something along those lines. My t5s used to make it go crazy till I hooked my temp probe to the pm1.

Not a modern marvel by any means, but for a couple hundred bucks it’s a no brainer.

MarineREEFpassion · Jul 8, 2020

Rubblereefer said:
My dude once you get through the clunky setup and that ugly 10 year old brick saves your whole reef, you’ll be singing a different tune I assure you. Day 1, I hated my apex jr. I had to order the display to get a token and it was a pain in the rear learning to program everything... but over and over it became the best piece of gear I ever bought. if you haven’t already, really research it’s capabilities to get the most out of it. I’d get a pm1 and ph probe if you’re dosing, especially if your temp reading is bouncy as the jr doesn’t have proper shielding or something along those lines. My t5s used to make it go crazy till I hooked my temp probe to the pm1.

Not a modern marvel by any means, but for a couple hundred bucks it’s a no brainer.

Hey, yeah I finally got it all figured out and as you said I like it lol. It was two and half weeks of a pain in the butt back and forth with Neptune to get it all figured out lol.