Help Recovering from a tank crash

[Abe K]

This week my tank crashed. Lost all my coral and all but 4 livestock. So no lingering on the past looking forward to a new build. Have a question regarding the Apex tank controller. I currently have a two 2100 GPH Current powerheads in my 120 gallon tank running on constant speed. And looking to automate their flow. If I go with an Apex controller will I have to replace these pumps? As I am still a novice and want to automate to ensure I don’t go through this again. I attached what the tank used to look like. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Hey Abe K

Sorry to hear about your tank. It was a beauty.

If you go with an apex controller, you do not have to use power heads that are compatible with their system if you choose not to. I did a quick search and couldn’t find any aftermarket connectors for the apex, but you can always program them separately and let them run and control them with the energy bar for on/off

I personally run two jebao (would not recommend) and two Vortech MP40s controlled by my apex. If you did want some additional control through the apex, you could always use these pumps for a gyre and add two apex controllable pumps for intensity changes and turbulence.

Here is a good thread on the current powerheads and how people use them with their apex

Apex compatibility w/ Current USA Eflux pumps

I am looking into getting an Apex EL, but don't want to have to overhaul my setup. I have 2 Eflux DC wave pumps and one Eflux DC return pump. Does anybody have any experience running these through an Apex? This is the response from Current USA: Hello, "As it turns out, the eFlux Flow and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Quietman]

Ugh...bummer. Gorgeous tank.

I can't tell what kind of pumps they are from the picture - overdue for my optometrist appointment Assuming they're AC based on your past use.

In general you can put AC pumps on a controller but cannot cycle them aggressively without impacting their expected life time. Most AC pumps can start/run backward due to how they're designed and this is prevented by mechanical means. That mechanism will fail over time if you're cycling aggressively. Now what does aggressively mean? I haven't cycled AC pumps like this but I think you'll find a 3 hour on/off cycle probably wouldn't impact lifetime so much that you'd notice.

There are the Sicce Voyager line - they have electrical backspin prevention and one of few AC pumps that can be cycled on short cycles without issue. They are relatively inexpensive compared to DC pumps compatible with Apex if you're on a budget. They're bigger but that's a good sized tank and that maybe ok for you.

Then again...that tank was gorgeous. If you're going for same look, no hurry to cycle anything as that clearly worked for you.

 

[Abe K]

Hey Abe K

Sorry to hear about your tank. It was a beauty.

If you go with an apex controller, you do not have to use power heads that are compatible with their system if you choose not to. I did a quick search and couldn’t find any aftermarket connectors for the apex, but you can always program them separately and let them run and control them with the energy bar for on/off

I personally run two jebao (would not recommend) and two Vortech MP40s controlled by my apex. If you did want some additional control through the apex, you could always use these pumps for a gyre and add two apex controllable pumps for intensity changes and turbulence.

Here is a good thread on the current powerheads and how people use them with their apex

Apex compatibility w/ Current USA Eflux pumps

I am looking into getting an Apex EL, but don't want to have to overhaul my setup. I have 2 Eflux DC wave pumps and one Eflux DC return pump. Does anybody have any experience running these through an Apex? This is the response from Current USA: Hello, "As it turns out, the eFlux Flow and...

www.reef2reef.com

Hey Abe K

Sorry to hear about your tank. It was a beauty.

If you go with an apex controller, you do not have to use power heads that are compatible with their system if you choose not to. I did a quick search and couldn’t find any aftermarket connectors for the apex, but you can always program them separately and let them run and control them with the energy bar for on/off

I personally run two jebao (would not recommend) and two Vortech MP40s controlled by my apex. If you did want some additional control through the apex, you could always use these pumps for a gyre and add two apex controllable pumps for intensity changes and turbulence.

Here is a good thread on the current powerheads and how people use them with their apex

Apex compatibility w/ Current USA Eflux pumps

I am looking into getting an Apex EL, but don't want to have to overhaul my setup. I have 2 Eflux DC wave pumps and one Eflux DC return pump. Does anybody have any experience running these through an Apex? This is the response from Current USA: Hello, "As it turns out, the eFlux Flow and...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks for the reply. I will call Apex on Monday. The tank crashed because I was totally dependent on a service company who didn’t do their job. But mostly my fault for not knowing enough to support the tank myself. I will learn and ensure it doesn’t happen again. Just sad to see what the tank looks like now. Have a couple of clowns and a puffer left. Thinking this time I want to really make it a reef tank. So any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Attached what tank now looks like

 

[ihavecrabs]

Duplicate

 

[ihavecrabs]

Thanks for the reply. I will call Apex on Monday. The tank crashed because I was totally dependent on a service company who didn’t do their job. But mostly my fault for not knowing enough to support the tank myself. I will learn and ensure it doesn’t happen again. Just sad to see what the tank looks like now. Have a couple of clowns and a puffer left. Thinking this time I want to really make it a reef tank. So any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Attached what tank now looks like

Well I can speak very high for my Vortech MP40s though they are quite directional. That is why I have four pumps on two different programs. The apex runs a bunch of different modes with its apex interface and my jebaos are programmed with a random program to keep the tank varied.

Since you have such a long tank, I would set up your current pumps on constant speed on the top of one end and let them push water across the top of the tank to the other side like a gyre and use additional pumps controlled via the apex to add turbulence and variation.

Good luck on your rebuild

 

[Abe K]

So it’s two months later, tank has cycled and frags are starting to grow. Slowly coming back. I am going very slow and looking positively to the future. Here is what the tank looks like now

 

[Abe K]

5 months after the crash. My tank is coming back better than ever.

 

[JoshO]

Glad to see it's on the mend! It was a stunner! Can I ask what caused the crash?

 

[Billldg]

Looking good!!!

 

[Abe K]

Glad to see it's on the mend! It was a stunner! Can I ask what caused the crash?

The power strip somehow got turned off. Since then I removed anything unneeded in the stand. Plus I was using a maintenance company that was unreliable. Leaned a very expensive lesson.

 

[JoshO]

The power strip somehow got turned off. Since then I removed anything unneeded in the stand. Plus I was using a maintenance company that was unreliable. Leaned a very expensive lesson.

I've labelled all my plugs up, including the externals so the other half doesn't end up doing this! That's sad to hear!

 

[Abe K]

11 months after my tank crash