Apex Must Have's?

[trido]

I"m about to get an Apex and will get an extra EB8 and Orp probe with it.
On my display tank I plan to control my LED lighting, Tunze power heads and then Sync the timing of the Hydors to the Tunze's to create a reversible gyre.

In my remote tank room I plan to control the refugium lighting, frag tank lighting, Ozone generator, and the frag tank powerhereads for probably another reversible gyre.

The Apex will be hooked up to the inernet.

I already have separate controllers for my heating and Calcium reactor so wont be using it all for that.

Are there any "must have" pieces of equipment for the Apex you can think that I might have overlooked?

 

[TJ's Reef]

Well YES, A good friend to come over and help set it up of course bud.

Cheers, Todd

 

[trido]

Well YES, A good friend to come over and help set it up of course bud.

Cheers, Todd

That sounds like a good idea for starters.

 

[o2manyfish]

If you have an auto top off system, then I recommend getting the conductivity probe. That will give you a warning if something runs amiss.

Also with your calcium reactor, I added a ph Probe to my calcium reactor and my apex monitors it. It lets me know that my reactor is dialed in and more importantly alerts me as soon as the CO2 tank runs out.

Also the Break Out Box is a good add on for being able to use float switches to monitor system status.

Dave B

 

[AJsTank]

Break Out Box.

 

[trido]

I guess I should add that I have used an AC Jr for years and for the last year have an AC III on my system. I have an extra temperature probe and currently have three Ph probes at home. One is a spare.

If you have an auto top off system, then I recommend getting the conductivity probe. That will give you a warning if something runs amiss.

I have a Tunze osmolator. does the conductivity probe simply let you know when the sump is too low? If so, what do you have the controller to react to the situation?

Also with your calcium reactor, I added a ph Probe to my calcium reactor and my apex monitors it. It lets me know that my reactor is dialed in and more importantly alerts me as soon as the CO2 tank runs out.

IME the Neptune probe readings (with the AC Jr. and AC III) tend to drift over several months or even weeks due to stray voltage from other power cords being near and my Milwaukee controller has been rock solid for years. Has Neptune resolved these issues with the Apex? I do however like the idea of my controller notifying me of an empty CO2 tank though.

Also the Break Out Box is a good add on for being able to use float switches to monitor system status.

Can you explain how the float switches monitor things? I have seen a few use float switches in their skimmer cups to stop it from overflowing. Also, is the breakout box needed for the conductivity probe?

Thanks for the replies

 

[melev]

Hi Duane.

Conductivity is a way to measure salinity. If your top off is adding too much freshwater, the saltwater value will drop and you could set up a warning to notify you and to shut off the top off pump. (The sump could be leaking, for example.)

A breakout box allows you to hook up buttons like a doorbell. Pressing the doorbell can be set to turn off a pump when feeding. If you don't have that, you'll have to use the App, a browser, or press the button on the front of the display module three times to enable feed-mode. I'm using the breakout box with my skimmer's waste collector. Ramping up for my MACNA trip - Blogs - Reef Addicts

I use a Milwaukee controller for my Calcium reactor as well.

I have PB-8s and a PB-4, and I'm probably going to run another two PB-8s soon enough. It just allows you to turn stuff on and off based on schedules or due to temperature variations (too hot, shut off lights...)

Brand new stuff is coming down the pike this month for Apex, so keep your eyes open. The auto-feeder looks sweet, and the moisture sensor has been out for about 6 months now.

 

[trido]

Thanks for the reply Marc. Your explanation of the breakout box helps add more ideas that I have already. I couldn't see buying one for specifically one add on but the more I research the more ideas I come up with. Fully automated WC's every few days is one of them. I'll look into the conductivity probe as well because occasionally I do end up with too much RO in the system and the Tunze osmolator starts screaming. Mostly its due to a set up oversight and I'm too lazy to correct it. Your scenario of a leaking sump is one I've experienced through a friend though. Failure of some sort is always inevitable. I'm sure that once I get the Apex set up and wired to my router I'll start dreaming of the next addition to it to make my tank a bit more "Duane proof". I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the next Neptune toys.

 

[o2manyfish]

With the break out box I did a few things. I put a float switch in my sump to measure low water levels. A second float switch to monitor high water level. A float switch in my overflow box - I run my water to the top of the overflow box for silent performance, the float switch trips if the water level in the overflow drops to let me know something is wrong with my return pump. I also have one push button switch to shutoff the skimmer. And another push button switch that turns off all the water movement in the tank for when I feed of do maintenance.

Dave

 

[3Twinklets]

+1!! Stays nice and clean in the box.

Well YES, A good friend to come over and help set it up of course bud.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Culater94]

There is a flood water sensor that may help stop a disaster if you have a leak.

 

[trido]

I'm liking the sounds of the break out box more and more. Keep the ideas coming everyone.

 

[melev]

So what did you end up doing?

 

[specvjeff]

I won an Apex at MACNA and haven't really gotten much for it yet. It came with the Advanced Leak Detection module which is great in case there is a leak. If you don't have one already, that's something I would definitely get. I plan on getting the the PM2 module and a conductivity probe just to make sure I don't ever have an isssue with my auto top off. I have Vortech pumps so I plan on getting a WXM module, and another EB8.

 

[trido]

So what did you end up doing?

I ended up getting the full apex, extra EB8, Orp probe, extra VDM and a break out box. Some day I will get a conductivity probe.

Since I have a remote tank room outside of the house and my tank is in the laundry room. I dont think that a leak detector would do me any good. I intentionally drop and siphon water on the floor of the tank room and in the laundry room, our washer will leak from the door if my wife overloads it.

 

[melev]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Is it all hooked up yet?

 

[trido]

Not yet. I am still tryiing to figure out how to write some of the profile programs for the lighting and pumps. I also have to get off my lazy **** and buy some small wiring for the breakout box.