Calling all apex users!

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

I’m stumped and not sure what’s going on..

I purchased a new model apex a couple years back and only recently hooked it up to a new tank build it doing (started cycle Feb10) so I’m relatively new to apex fusion.

I purchased a BRS heater and controller that is plugged into outlet #7. For past month it’s been fine until yesterday when I was doing an ammonia test and the water felt cooler than usual.

My outlet was off, even tho apex fusion said it was set to auto.
So I manually toggled the outlet #7 to ON and the BRS controller turned on saying it was 74 degrees I’m usually at 79.

I checked my programming and everything seems normal. Now I’m perplexed. Can anyone help?

phatduckk · Apr 1, 2020

its worth turning the logging on so you can diagnose it just in case it happens again

SuncrestReef · Apr 1, 2020

Please post the program code for that output.

Reefer1978 · Apr 1, 2020

+1 on posting code. And check for any other code doing anything at all with outlet 7. Also heater should be in outlet 4 or 8.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 1, 2020

Assure even on ON or AUTO, you have a range set on the page as well as no time delay or temp range too low.
Option B is to reset the unit.
Also, pull the plug and plug in manually to assure heater is working

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

Reefer1978 said:
+1 on posting code. And check for any other code doing anything at all with outlet 7. Also heater should be in outlet 4 or 8.

Why 4 or 8?

BarSnackz · Apr 1, 2020

Quick question: wouldn't having the heater controller plugged into another controller (the APEX) cause some complications? you have two different computers trying to accomplish the same thing, but one using the other as it's source of power (the APEX to BRS).

Reefer1978 · Apr 1, 2020

Erick Armanii said:
Why 4 or 8?

They are rated for higher power.

AcanthurusRex · Apr 1, 2020

If you are using the BRS controller the Apex is only there as a failsafe and monitor.
Program the outlet to turn off at a high temp; in my case maybe 80.
Program notifications for +/- <x> degrees from your set point. This will trigger an alarm when you something stupid like leave the controller sensor out of the water like I did.

Reefer1978 · Apr 1, 2020

BarSnackz said:
Quick question: wouldn't having the heater controller plugged into another controller (the APEX) cause some complications? you have two different computers trying to accomplish the same thing, but one using the other as it's source of power (the APEX to BRS).

It's a backup in case outlet fails on Apex and gets stuck in auto on. Lots of folks do that.

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Assure even on ON or AUTO, you have a range set on the page as well as no time delay or temp range too low.
Option B is to reset the unit.
Also, pull the plug and plug in manually to assure heater is working

How would I reset the unit? If the apex is set to auto the heater is not turning on.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 1, 2020

Erick Armanii said:
How would I reset the unit? If the apex is set to auto the heater is not turning on.

Rebooting the APEX connection

APEX If you lost your connection to your Apex Fusion it's very possible we can regain it by simply rebooting the Apex and any related network components like (WiFi adapters, power-line adapters, network switches or your router). (...

support.neptunesystems.com

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

Hopes this helps

homer1475 · Apr 1, 2020

Again, post the code for the heater. Or even better just post a screenshot of the outlet programming.

Auto means nothing if the outlet isn't set as a heater with on and off temps.

EDIT:
Posted pics as I was posting.

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

BarSnackz said:
Quick question: wouldn't having the heater controller plugged into another controller (the APEX) cause some complications? you have two different computers trying to accomplish the same thing, but one using the other as it's source of power (the APEX to BRS).

For redundancy Incase the heater fails

homer1475 · Apr 1, 2020

What did the apex say the temp was when the heater outlet wasn't on?

You could have an issue where the temp probe has gone bad, or needs to be adjusted.

If the apex didn't see the temp was 74, then it would not have turned the outlet on when in auto. Inversly, if the apex saw the temp as above 80, then it also would not turn the outlet on.

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

homer1475 said:
Again, post the code for the heater. Or even better just post a screenshot of the outlet programming.

Auto means nothing if the outlet isn't set as a heater with on and off temps.

EDIT:
Posted pics as I was posting.

Erick Armanii · Apr 1, 2020

homer1475 said:
What did the apex say the temp was when the heater outlet wasn't on?

You could have an issue where the temp probe has gone bad, or needs to be adjusted.

If the apex didn't see the temp was 74, then it would not have turned the outlet on when in auto.

It read the temperature..
I think you might be able to see it in the screen shot above (not sure if the photo got cut it off)

homer1475 · Apr 1, 2020

Yeah I see it now, the outlet definitely should have been on.

Curious, did the outlet say it was off or on? On the right hand side of the main fusion page above the toggle, it gives you the status of the outlet.