Expanding my apex?

roc5288 · Sep 11, 2013

Hi guys. I have a apex controller on my system now.
I'm building a 60 g cube just under 10' away. Would like to know if and how I can connect the 60g to my existing system. I can run wires thought the basement and back up if need be.
Would like a Ph and temp probe with that expansion. Or would it not be cost efficient? Verses let say buying a apex lite.

roc5288 · Sep 11, 2013

Anybody. I know someone has an answer.

o2manyfish · Sep 11, 2013

You can buy a long USB cable for under $10 and run it to the second tank (monoprice.com) an then once you have the USB cable to the second tank you can add any of the apex devices you want.

Dave B

ReefMonkey13 · Sep 11, 2013

o2manyfish said:
You can buy a long USB cable for under $10 and run it to the second tank (monoprice.com) an then once you have the USB cable to the second tank you can add any of the apex devices you want.

Dave B

i would be careful with connecting a regular USB to the Apex aquabus ports.

But the overall idea suggested above makes sense. I believe Neptune does sell a long Aquabus cable you can then connect it to an Energy Bar near the other tank. This will allow you to control both tanks with one apex.

You can also run extension cords.

Good Luck

roc5288 · Sep 11, 2013

But do I need a pm1 for temp probe & Ph probe. Or would buying a apex lite or Jr cost close to expanding?

o2manyfish · Sep 11, 2013

USB Cables are all the same. As long as you have a straight USB cable, and not one with a power expander you won't have any issues using the cables from Monoprice. I helped a friend and we ran 100' of USB cables (4 25') and had no issues.

The PM1 is 85 bucks, a temp probe is 30 and ph start at 45 --- So pretty inexpensive expansion.

Dave B

roc5288 · Sep 12, 2013

o2manyfish said:
USB Cables are all the same. As long as you have a straight USB cable, and not one with a power expander you won't have any issues using the cables from Monoprice. I helped a friend and we ran 100' of USB cables (4 25') and had no issues.

The PM1 is 85 bucks, a temp probe is 30 and ph start at 45 --- So pretty inexpensive expansion.

Dave B

Thats what I want to know. Thank you

Peanut · Sep 17, 2013

o2manyfish said:
USB Cables are all the same. As long as you have a straight USB cable, and not one with a power expander you won't have any issues using the cables from Monoprice. I helped a friend and we ran 100' of USB cables (4 25') and had no issues.

The PM1 is 85 bucks, a temp probe is 30 and ph start at 45 --- So pretty inexpensive expansion.

Dave B

something like this would work?

25 ft High Speed USB 2 0 Extension Cable Black for PC Laptop Cord U2A1 A2 25 | eBay

o2manyfish · Sep 17, 2013

You need a male to male connection to go from Apex module to Apex module without a connection point.

Checkout monoprice.com

Peanut · Sep 18, 2013

couldn't you just plug the cable you have into the extension?

lxeroxl · Sep 18, 2013

I used cat 5 and put a male USB on both ends. I'm running the apex brain about 200 feet from my second pm1 and pm2 along with 2 additional eb8s

Peanut · Sep 18, 2013

lxeroxl said:
I used cat 5 and put a male USB on both ends. I'm running the apex brain about 200 feet from my second pm1 and pm2 along with 2 additional eb8s

are those ends powered?

lxeroxl · Sep 18, 2013

The aqua bus is powered via the the apex you do not want to inject power. all i did was take a usb cord that came with the unit. cut it in half, on the cat 5 you have 8 pairs and the usb is 4. to help with voltage drop over a long run i double up the connectors in the cat5 cable. so each usb wire got 2 colors form the cat 5 and matched them on each end.

Peanut · Sep 18, 2013

lxeroxl said:
The aqua bus is powered via the the apex you do not want to inject power. all i did was take a usb cord that came with the unit. cut it in half, on the cat 5 you have 8 pairs and the usb is 4. to help with voltage drop over a long run i double up the connectors in the cat5 cable. so each usb wire got 2 colors form the cat 5 and matched them on each end.

awesome, I will try that

Peanut · Oct 4, 2013

I had a 25' generic USB extension cable that I bought on ebay. I cut the female end off, ran the cable through holes in a couple of walls, spliced the female end back on. Plugged the male end into an EB8, then plugged the cable that came with the unit in the extension, and VIOLA... works like a charm.