Basic, moderately priced Controller

[Braydonosu]

Hi All - I've been in the hobby off-and-on for 10+years and this is my longest drought without a tank (2+ years). I'm looking to start up a reef tank again and when I started to dream up the hardware list, I found out that Digital Aquatics is out of the game and Neptune appears to be replacing their lower cost models with top of the line (and price) gear. Are there any other products out there that can operate as the control center for $500 or less?

I would love to have a controller in place for lights (likely Kessil with a T5 retro over a 60 gal and a Kessil grow light for a fuge), heater (temp gauge to back up the internal on/off of the heater(s)), pumps, etc. While I could certainly run all of those on timer and/or the Kessil controller, my biggest need would be ATO and automatic water changes. I loved the float switches that I used on my old Reef Keeper for the ATO and think that they could work for the auto water change too. I know that the new Apex could work for my needs, but the cheapest option is $500 and then I have to put in another $200 for their ATO and another ~$100 for the level censors (and I'm not sure that I trust the optical censors vs. a float switch and valve combined).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/comments or someone pointing me in the direction of another threat on this topic!

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I think the Neptune Jr or classic might fit your budget.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Maybe look into a used Apex classic. That or the Tunze smart controller with an osmolator could work I think. I've never used the Tunze controller, so be sure to research it, but I know Tunze's name has always meant quality products, so I have no reason to doubt this one.

 

[gcarroll]

I wouldn't suggest purchasing an Apex Classis nor an Apex Jr. That is a discontinued product. How much longer til it's unsupported/obsolete? How long do you expect Neptune to suppor the product now that they have discontinued it? IMO, the writing is on the wall. They have already told us the hardware cannot support many of the new upcoming innovations.

 

[catfishblues]

This is an unreleased model being designed by a bunch of people into Hi-Tech planted tanks but will work just fine on a reef as well, the people creating it are just well known in the freshwater side. It's much cheaper because they're still creating it but does all the basic functions and may be worth checking out. It wouldn't be as fancy as Apex and not in sync with radions/vortechs and all that but if you don't need that then this would be a solid investment.
I'm considering, although I would like to get radions and have them integrated so I'm not sure but all that is so much more expensive and not a necessity.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/felix-world-s-first-smart-computer-for-aquariums#/