Apex vs. Hydros Cost

BigMax · Jan 13, 2023

My apologies as I'm sure this has been a topic of discussion, but I tried 3 different searches and couldn't find what I was looking for, feel free to send me to an appropriate thread.

I'm going to purchase a controller, I see pros and cons to each, and I'm sure they both are good products. I remember when Carlos first pitched the Hydors as a very completive lower cost alternative, well the lower cost didn't last long! Anyway, below I compared basic features. I only spent 10 minutes pulling it off the BRS site, so if I missed something please respond, but please don't flame me

I'm here to learn from others. I see it as 6 of one half a dozen of the other, with one other exception; I may want to test alk and calcium and would consider a Trident, as the CoralVue (Focustronic) solutions are much more expensive, at least initial outlay.

Poochaku · Jan 13, 2023

The hydros pack is the pro pack. If you want the hardwired outlets, this is what you want. Personally, I am fine with the wireless power bar. That pack is $450.

I would also look into the ongoing costs for trident. I personally think the alkatronic and new kamoer unit are better.

n2585722 · Jan 13, 2023

BigMax said:
My apologies as I'm sure this has been a topic of discussion, but I tried 3 different searches and couldn't find what I was looking for, feel free to send me to an appropriate thread.

I'm going to purchase a controller, I see pros and cons to each, and I'm sure they both are good products. I remember when Carlos first pitched the Hydors as a very completive lower cost alternative, well the lower cost didn't last long! Anyway, below I compared basic features. I only spent 10 minutes pulling it off the BRS site, so if I missed something please respond, but please don't flame me I'm here to learn from others. I see it as 6 of one half a dozen of the other, with one other exception; I may want to test alk and calcium and would consider a Trident, as the CoralVue (Focustronic) solutions are much more expensive, at least initial outlay.

That price is for the Pro Pack and that has 2 controllers in it
It has the X4 and a XP8. The XP8 is a controller that has 8 AC outlets but it is still a controller. They do have a X4 kit without the XP8 which cost less. Probably when Carlos was talking the XP8 was not around yet. Also they do have controllers that are less expensive but they do not have as many bells and whistles as the X4. Those would be the X2, X3, XS. It just depends on what all you want. I have 9 controllers in a collective but I have a lot of things it is controlling since it controls my RODI, Storage tanks for DI, fresh saltwater and mixing. It also controls ATO, AWC and All for Reef dosing along with the normal things at the tank. My RODI and storage tanks are in my garage 35ft from my tank.

Jonreefer · Jan 15, 2023

i paid $250 for my X3 on black friday normal price is 299. PH probe, heater probe and an extra sense port. I got an extra wifi plug for 30 and basically out of the box has the same as the ApexEL or whatever its called now for half the price.
I had an ApexEL few years ago and I had a Hydros last year on a tank and when I setup this one I went with the hydros again as I feel its much better bang for the buck for what I want. plus you can add on later also with the Hydros if you want more functions

Chemaholic · Jan 15, 2023

Poochaku said:
The hydros pack is the pro pack. If you want the hardwired outlets, this is what you want. Personally, I am fine with the wireless power bar. That pack is $450.

I would also look into the ongoing costs for trident. I personally think the alkatronic and new kamoer unit are better.

What do you use to test the Ca and Mg? The alkatronic only does KH.

Poochaku · Jan 16, 2023

Chemaholic said:
What do you use to test the Ca and Mg? The alkatronic only does KH.

I dont. I use a manual kit 2-3 times a year. Not important to me.

JeffB418 · Jan 17, 2023

BigMax said:
My apologies as I'm sure this has been a topic of discussion, but I tried 3 different searches and couldn't find what I was looking for, feel free to send me to an appropriate thread.

I'm going to purchase a controller, I see pros and cons to each, and I'm sure they both are good products. I remember when Carlos first pitched the Hydors as a very completive lower cost alternative, well the lower cost didn't last long! Anyway, below I compared basic features. I only spent 10 minutes pulling it off the BRS site, so if I missed something please respond, but please don't flame me I'm here to learn from others. I see it as 6 of one half a dozen of the other, with one other exception; I may want to test alk and calcium and would consider a Trident, as the CoralVue (Focustronic) solutions are much more expensive, at least initial outlay.

Its hard to do a direct dollar to dollar comparison between product lines since they have different architectures. Technically yes the Hydros X4 Pro pack is more than a Apex A3 pack but the main controller provides additional capabilities compared to the A3 brain. the X4 controller has 2 probe ports to the 1 of the A3, the X4 provides 0-10V outputs while the A3 does not. The x4 also has 4x 0-10V analog inputs compared to the 6 digital (open/closed) switch inputs that the A3 has, the analog inputs provide much more functionality for DIY sensors (you would need 4x Neptune ASM modules to get 4 analog inputs, and these are $150/ea).

nothing_fancy · Jan 17, 2023

I did pretty much the same research before I went with apex. Other choices for me being GHL, hydros. Its all good stuff and all within a similar expensive price point. At this point for me I needed a UI that was friendly and if you're considering brands I do believe the apex is the most user friendly. In the hobby it seems like the technology is good not great for consumer level gadgets so despite some of its limitations I think the A3 is really as solid as its going to get for the everyday hobbyist looking for ease of control and consumer available upgrades. Only an oppinion

n2585722 · Jan 17, 2023

nothing_fancy said:
I did pretty much the same research before I went with apex. Other choices for me being GHL, hydros. Its all good stuff and all within a similar expensive price point. At this point for me I needed a UI that was friendly and if you're considering brands I do believe the apex is the most user friendly. In the hobby it seems like the technology is good not great for consumer level gadgets so despite some of its limitations I think the A3 is really as solid as its going to get for the everyday hobbyist looking for ease of control and consumer available upgrades. Only an oppinion

Not sure about ease of use. The Apex screenshots I have seen are way to complicated for me. Plus that god awful color they use. I think the Hydros screens are very easy to use and understand to me.

nothing_fancy · Jan 17, 2023

n2585722 said:
Not sure about ease of use. The Apex screenshots I have seen are way to complicated for me. Plus that god awful color they use. I think the Hydros screens are very easy to use and understand to me.

Just an opinion but Its actually very easy. I myself do not like menu diving or anything made to be overly complicated. The fusion app has walkthroughs built into it to get people started and its step by step as the unit is being used, its a totally hold my hand type of situation. The most complicated thing is programming outlets and once you get a feel for that it also becomes very easy and logical. I am 100% with you on the color scheme. I inverted my iPad so its all blue and black now haha. There are other ways around that of course.

n2585722 · Jan 17, 2023

nothing_fancy said:
Just an opinion but Its actually very easy. I myself do not like menu diving or anything made to be overly complicated. The fusion app has walkthroughs built into it to get people started and its step by step as the unit is being used, its a totally hold my hand type of situation. The most complicated thing is programming outlets and once you get a feel for that it also becomes very easy and logical. I am 100% with you on the color scheme. I inverted my iPad so its all blue and black now haha. There are other ways around that of course.

Here are screenshots of my skimmer output setup. This is easy for me but I did come from the Digital Aquatics controller. I used the generic output type with three inputs. The inputs are sump high active when dry, leak 42g active when dry and skimmer full active when dry. The combiner mode is and which means they all have to be active for the output to be on. I don't use a schedule on my skimmer but some do and if you turn that on it will let you set a schedule for the output. The output device is the output port or in this case the AC output that the skimmer is plugged into.If you want to move this this to a different one this would be the only setting you would need to change. If input unavailable is where you set what happens if the Hydros cannot access the inpus controlling the output. In this case it would turn it off the way I have it set. Active in modes determines if an output is allowed on in a mode. It would stull have to meet the other requirements setup. The depends on setting allow you make the output dependent on another output. In this case I have it set to be dependent on my return pump. The dependency mode is set to off if off. So if the return pump goes off so will the skimmer output. I have advance settings turned on. On this output the way it is setup the only ones are on and off times. I have the minimum off time set to 10 minutes. So if the output foes off it will not turn back on for at least 10 minutes with exception of the depends on. on depends on the minimum off time timer does not start until depends on clears then it stays off another 10 minutes in this case. This is just one output but it does show so,e of the things you can set without any coding at all.