CONTROLLERS! Which one is your favorite and why?

[rtparty]

I own both Hydros and Apex. One isn't better than the other currently. Hydros has better built hardware but worse software. The WiFi power strips are not anything great. They have a place but I would never trust them to critical systems. The new XP8 will solve this.

Apex Fusion is heads above Hydros. Apex hardware is cheaply built and not designed at all for our use. The one surprising thing is that we don't see more problems with the Apex hardware.

The Control 3 from Hydros is the winner right now though. Until Apex makes a better entry level system, Hydros will dominate the low entry cost market

 

[Borat]

I own both Hydros and Apex. One isn't better than the other currently. Hydros has better built hardware but worse software. The WiFi power strips are not anything great. They have a place but I would never trust them to critical systems. The new XP8 will solve this.

Apex Fusion is heads above Hydros. Apex hardware is cheaply built and not designed at all for our use. The one surprising thing is that we don't see more problems with the Apex hardware.

The Control 3 from Hydros is the winner right now though. Until Apex makes a better entry level system, Hydros will dominate the low entry cost market

Nice US&A bucks spent!

 

[fragit]

I’ve been thinking about getting one but they are price prohibitive. However hydros sounds very appealing based on some comments here. I really just want to monitor some stuff and maybe do some basic on/off programming. HYDROS users where do you get replacement Ph probes? They don’t sell them?

 

[Fishguywc]

I’ve been thinking about getting one but they are price prohibitive. However hydros sounds very appealing based on some comments here. I really just want to monitor some stuff and maybe do some basic on/off programming. HYDROS users where do you get replacement Ph probes? They don’t sell them?

I got one on Amazon, also available at online reef shops. Look for double junction with BNC connector. I think mine is Milwaukee?..

 

[Schraufabagel]

My Hydros controllers are going on 10 months strong. Never had any issues with them. They run my saltwater tank and my planted freshwater tank

 

[Schraufabagel]

I’ve been thinking about getting one but they are price prohibitive. However hydros sounds very appealing based on some comments here. I really just want to monitor some stuff and maybe do some basic on/off programming. HYDROS users where do you get replacement Ph probes? They don’t sell them?

PINPOINT pH Probe Lab Grade Double Junction - American Marine

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

The pH probes aren't Hydros branded. This is the one they use

 

[A Young Reefer]

Let's talk controllers!! It seems we've had a while since our last controller comparison thread, and some new players have entered the ring since then. So tell us which controller you like best and why. What are your favorite controller options?

Brains and hands.

 

[hubble]

On my last tank I had my apex connected to Alexa. I would tell Alexa to start Apex Fusion feed cycle A and the feed cycle would start. It was pretty cool..........

 

[Borat]

On my last tank I had my apex connected to Alexa. I would tell Alexa to start Apex Fusion feed cycle A and the feed cycle would start. It was pretty cool..........

Do you talk to Alexia when you have no one else to talk to?

 

[hubble]

Sometimes, Yea

 

[A Young Reefer]

Do you talk to Alexia when you have no one else to talk to?

I don't even have an "Alexia" to talk to.

 

[Borat]

Both Alexia and HeyGoogle are useless pieces of inferior potassium .

 

[LDH]

I love my apex. It has saved my 700 gallon reef more than once and I find their customer service fantastic. For example, my trident went out of whack for my calcium reading, it was out of warranty, they set up a service call and a guy video called me and taught me how to take it apart, clean it and put it back together. The whole call took almost 40 minutes. They’ve always been good to me.

 

[n2585722]

Trying to decide which direction to go with as well. I don't need something super complex. We used to run Reef Keeper controllers and I loved them, but they went out of business while I was out of the hobby. What are some opinions about the Hydros controller?

I replaced a Digital Aquatics Archon with the Hydros. It does have some similarity with the Reefkeepers with the way they are setup. They have output types you can select for various different things like return pump, skimmer, heater, chiller and several others along with a generic output. They also use a common sense port for most of the inputs with exception of the pH and ORP probes. They have a probe port on two of the controllers for those probes. You also have to setup you inputs but those also can be selected from the different types. The port is selected when setting up an input or outputs. If you decide to switch to a different port all that needs to be done is go to the setup for the input or output and change the port. You don't have to set everything back up. I have some screenshots and some of the settings on my setup on my build thread for both the Archon and Hydros.