CONTROLLERS! Which one is your favorite and why?

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Timely thread! I’ve just started researching controllers for my new build.

For my wants/needs, Apex and hydros are out. Lots of personal opinions on Apex/trident, but really, I bet if I did decide to go that route it would work for my needs. Hydros, is out because I want an automation/controller, not a monitor and hydros is a monitor at this point in time.

GHL has my attention with their Ion and KH directors. I also like the KH Guardian Pro for automating testing/dosing of alk.

Is it crazy I am thinking of the GHL Ion for cal/mag/etc testing/dosing and the KH Guardian for alk? I’m not one who is a brand loyalist, I will mix and match equipment to suit my needs.

If anyone has any input on the above equipment, I’m all ears!

Why do you say hydros is a monitor? You can do plenty of automations with heater, lights, wavemakers, pumps and even dosing and testing.

 

[KonradTO]

I only have reefpi based controller and I am loving it so far. You start off with a little price and you can make it as fancy as you want with the help of the community. You could control any device that has a power button in theory

 

[landlubber]

Apex is all I have used. I see a lot of negative comments concerning programming the Apex and it can be difficult. Everything you want to know is out on the web though. I do think they have been a little lazy. Like they don't have pictures of pumps and skimmers just fans and arrows and stuff. They could put a little effort into that. It is still a very powerful platform though and if you can dream something up you can probably get it to work with some research on programming the Apex.

I will probably try Hydros products one day because they are actually rated for use around water. They also seem to move a little faster than Neptune in response to the customers wants.

Neptune just doesn't innovate much or put much quality in their products.

the symbols for the devices have never served any purpose in my 7 years of the apex running flawlessly but i don't disagree, they're kind of silly and should either commit to something better or just ditch them.
the no innovation comment i can not agree with at all. the trident, the cor15, the cor20, the fmk, leak detections sensors, the dos and many other products that are aquarium specific products that all came out in the past 5 years and have made significant impact in the hobby. some of them certainly overlap existing products but differ by adding safeguards and redundancy.

 

[Sean Clark]

I like controller options that offer the ability to remotely monitor the aquarium. I also like independent equipment that is not tied into a single point of failure. Nothing mission critical is "controlled" by my controller (return pump, powerheads, temperature). I have my controller turn off my skimmer and feed the fish, notify me if something is out of range. Things like that. If I were to unplug it, nothing critical would happen.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

the symbols for the devices have never served any purpose in my 7 years of the apex running flawlessly but i don't disagree, they're kind of silly and should either commit to something better or just ditch them.
the no innovation comment i can not agree with at all. the trident, the cor15, the cor20, the fmk, leak detections sensors, the dos and many other products that are aquarium specific products that all came out in the past 5 years and have made significant impact in the hobby. some of them certainly overlap existing products but differ by adding safeguards and redundancy.

Innovation is slow but the problem is when these products have known issues for years and the issues are not corrected. I really want to try the Dos and DDR and auto dosing but have read so many issues for many years that never appear to be fixed. I also would use the ATK but once again many years of the same issues reported.

 

[spsick]

Neptune AC jr because it still works perfect after all these years

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

I like controller options that offer the ability to remotely monitor the aquarium. I also like independent equipment that is not tied into a single point of failure. Nothing mission critical is "controlled" by my controller (return pump, powerheads, temperature). I have my controller turn off my skimmer and feed the fish, notify me if something is out of range. Things like that. If I were to unplug it, nothing critical would happen.

I am a little anxious because so much is plugged into my controller. I am most concerned if my energy bar goes bad. I have had no issues in 2-3 years with the Apex 2016, Trident, Eb832... Murphs Law

 

[landlubber]

The problem is when these products have known issues for years and the issues are not corrected.

interesting. I've not heard anything and of the list I mentioned own 2 Dos, a cor20 and am still running an apex classic with nothing to speak of going wrong for nearly 7 years now.
no doubt, anything electrical will fail eventually but my experience hasn't led me to believe the things I'm currently running are a liability or are inferior to another product.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Unsure if these would be considered controllers, but an Inkbird is one of the best purchases I made
Also recently bought a Jebao DP-4 doser, so we will see how that goes.

 

[Nanojoe]

I've had both Apex and Hydros. I do like both of them and think either would be a good purchase for someone. I spent a couple of months without one and i did not like being without a controller/monitor system. Not saying this is a must purchase. (although the hobby can make you feel as if you need it)
Knowing my pH 24/7 and leak detection 24/7 made me feel much much better about being away from the tank. Even for a normal work day. Im in touch with it, so long the wifi holds up.

Apex if you want freedom of programming and if/then statements
Hydros if you are new to controllers and want a straightforward easy setup controller with minimal user input

I am actually in the process of doing a write up article on both these controllers. In hopes to have it out by this weekend if anyone cares to read it, hopefully it helps some decide.

 

[Phyrenite]

I have a GHL Profilux and Doser 2.1 setup, it's been solid so far. Setup for me was super easy and haven't had a single issue. The only complaint I have is they are so far behind with some of the add ons (automatic feeder is one example) and compatibility with other brands.
I have Sicce return pumps and powerheads and my life would be complete if they had the iota integration like Apex does or even just a control cable (which I've been told they are coming out with.. eventually)

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

I've had both Apex and Hydros. I do like both of them and think either would be a good purchase for someone. I spent a couple of months without one and i did not like being without a controller/monitor system. Not saying this is a must purchase. (although the hobby can make you feel as if you need it)
Knowing my pH 24/7 and leak detection 24/7 made me feel much much better about being away from the tank. Even for a normal work day. Im in touch with it, so long the wifi holds up.

Apex if you want freedom of programming and if/then statements
Hydros if you are new to controllers and want a straightforward easy setup controller with minimal user input

I am actually in the process of doing a write up article on both these controllers. In hopes to have it out by this weekend if anyone cares to read it, hopefully it helps some decide.

I am interested! I have a very specific list of things I want to do and this article could probably help me discover wether I could achieve these or not.

 

[Nanojoe]

I am interested! I have a very specific list of things I want to do and this article could probably help me discover wether I could achieve these or not.

Cool cool. Feel free to message me too if you have immediate questions, you would like answered.

 

[ColoredRock]

I only have reefpi based controller and I am loving it so far. You start off with a little price and you can make it as fancy as you want with the help of the community. You could control any device that has a power button in theory

I also use reef-pi.. Today we dont need a controller with all the different options out there. But I do want to monitor what is going on.....

APEX is awsome.. I love the fact you can see all the parameters.. but cost wise I cant justify it..

 

[Reefology1]

I love my Reef Angel, had it for years with no problems.

Running an inkBird temp controller and a smart power strip on my frag system. Put together a Reef pi a while back with the intension to put it on the frag tank but not sure I ever will because I like the simplicity of the current setup!

 

[pmasa]

I am running home assistant as my main controller for my house/tank. Probes etc are hooked up using an esp32 and esphome, with devices controlled through smart switches. It has been working well for me so far, plus I like the ability to be able to run custom code.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

I've had both Apex and Hydros. I do like both of them and think either would be a good purchase for someone. I spent a couple of months without one and i did not like being without a controller/monitor system. Not saying this is a must purchase. (although the hobby can make you feel as if you need it)
Knowing my pH 24/7 and leak detection 24/7 made me feel much much better about being away from the tank. Even for a normal work day. Im in touch with it, so long the wifi holds up.

Apex if you want freedom of programming and if/then statements
Hydros if you are new to controllers and want a straightforward easy setup controller with minimal user input

I am actually in the process of doing a write up article on both these controllers. In hopes to have it out by this weekend if anyone cares to read it, hopefully it helps some decide.

I would love to see a solid comparison. I am deep into Apex land though. I have high hopes BRS will improve current products like a heater specific outlet with high quality relay. Maybe fix the faults with all the add ons.

 

[Joe W]

I am very excited to hear more current opinions on this topic as another member of the “planning the next tank” community.

For years I’ve heard successful veteran reefers advise staying away from gear in general, and they all deserve eternal respect for grinding enough for the hobby to grow to a point where any of these monitors/controllers were marketable at all.

I know myself well enough to know I NEED help monitoring, and WANT help controlling. As I read this thread, I realized I’ve been combining the two different things in one gear category. Now I’m worried about compatibility issues, but hopeful this conversation will point me in the right direction.

 

[KonradTO]

I also use reef-pi.. Today we dont need a controller with all the different options out there. But I do want to monitor what is going on.....

APEX is awsome.. I love the fact you can see all the parameters.. but cost wise I cant justify it..

Well with some tweaking I think you can make the reef-pi show and record any kind of measurable data. The question is what is useful and what not. Once you have pH and temp (available in reef-pi) what else would you monitor?

 

[ColoredRock]

I look at ATO on and off
I would like to look a salinity (hanna pen checker) and ORP as indicators if something goes wrong.

and cause I am lazy.. would love to automate (test) the big 3 (alk, Cal, Mag)