Apex with mp40 feed mode?

[slythy]

Does it make sense to kill the power on the apex for a feed mode with my mp40’s? Im a little concerned about it reconnecting or anything like that. My UPS is 24v which i can wire up to the mp40’s seperately so they keep power when i hit feed mode but it should still be half power….

any ideas on whats best?

 

[blaxsun]

For my main feedings I leave all wavemakers on and ramp the return pump down. For coral feedings I turn the return pump off and leave the wavemakers going. The only time I turn the wavemakers off is for routine maintenance like water changes.

 

[n2585722]

I drop the flow on my MP10's when the feeder runs but I leave the return pump running. I do have a platform with a feeding tube for the feeder.

 

[homer1475]

Are the MP's controlled by the apex through the WXM module?

 

[slythy]

Are the MP's controlled by the apex through the WXM module?

They are not. I just purchased them and dont have an WXM. It would be super nice if they could work with them somehow but dont think thats possible without turning off the output and then putting 24v to the battery back up port. That way when i go to feed mode it goes to half speed and continues to get power

 

[homer1475]

Without the WXM, only simple ON/OFF is controllable through the apex.

I don't think the newer models with the black mobius wifi chip can even be controlled via WXM? And I don't think you can buy a new WXM module anymore.

Maybe one day in the future since they are all owned by the same company now, they can communicate like they used to.

 

[n2585722]

They are not. I just purchased them and dont have an WXM. It would be super nice if they could work with them somehow but dont think thats possible without turning off the output and then putting 24v to the battery back up port. That way when i go to feed mode it goes to half speed and continues to get power

I think the EcoTech backup is 12v and hooks into a different jack on the MP controllers. I have the Ecotech backup battery. I do not use the Apex but if you get a WMX and downgrade the firmware so the MP pumps are compatible with WMX it would work. Another alternative is a Wave Engine V2, but you would have to get a RF module to install in the WE. You would still have to downgrade the firmware on the Mobius compatible versions of the pumps. I used the RF module out of my ReefLink in my WEv2. There is a cable you can get to hook the 0-10v inputs of the WE to the Apex so you can put the Wave Engine into a different schedule for feeding using a Apex 0-10v output.

 

[slythy]

I think the EcoTech backup is 12v and hooks into a different jack on the MP controllers. I have the Ecotech backup battery. I do not use the Apex but if you get a WMX and downgrade the firmware so the MP pumps are compatible with WMX it would work. Another alternative is a Wave Engine V2, but you would have to get a RF module to install in the WE. You would still have to downgrade the firmware on the Mobius compatible versions of the pumps. I used the RF module out of my ReefLink in my WEv2. There is a cable you can get to hook the 0-10v inputs of the WE to the Apex so you can put the Wave Engine into a different schedule for feeding using a Apex 0-10v output.

You are correct the Echotech backup is 12v.

I'm thinking of just making a 24h mode that has a 10min constant @ ~15% for a feed mode that corresponds with an autofeeder. That might be the easiset until Echotech allows for another WMX module...

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Check your local reef club for WXM module. They may be discontinued, but I found 4 people selling them in colorado like 2 months ago when I started by 60 cube build.

 

[slythy]

or WXM module. They may be discontinued, but I found 4 people selling them in colorado like 2 months ago when I started by 60 cube build.

I dont think that my MP40's are compatible with the downgrade :/