is an apex worth the cost?

[Cabinetman]

I used to say they were not nessesary and they aren’t if your lucky. Having one is like having insurance. If programmed right you’ll get an alert the moment something goes wrong and then be able to deal with it. I’ve had gfci plugs kick out while at work and not find out till I got home so the tank was without power for who knows how long. Now I get an alert if power fails on anything. I have so many things automated now it makes keeping the tank so much easier. For those that say they are a waiste. I bet they still have flip phones lol

 

[Ross Petersen]

Getting back into the hobby and evaluating the pros/cons of an Apex EL. Would love to hear your insights on the following:

1. Most Apex pumps and equipment (e.g., Wav, Cor-20, ATK - not the controller) have inferior reviews and generally are not as established/reputable as the gold standards (e.g., EcoTech MP40s, Vectra S2, Tunze Universal Osmolator, Varios return pumps, etc.). Is it worthwhile buying an inferior/not as reputable product to ensure apex compatibility... or would you go for the best products you can find independent of compatibility? If the latter, would you fork out MORE money for the WXM control etc. to get these products compatible with Apex - or just run them on their own controller?

2. Is there a fancy power bar out there that can remotely (from your phone) monitor current to each outlet, and turn off, when desired - perhaps with some basic cross-integration etc.? Perhaps also message when there's a power outage?

3. Is there a cost-effective way to get alerts by text when water temperature wavers too much, outside of the Apex system?

I'm pro-Apex (even it it doesn't sound like it). Excited for where Apex will be in 5 years... perhaps reason alone to buy the system.

Kind regards

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Getting back into the hobby and evaluating the pros/cons of an Apex EL. Would love to hear your insights on the following:

1. Most Apex pumps and equipment (e.g., Wav, Cor-20, ATK - not the controller) have inferior reviews and generally are not as established/reputable as the gold standards (e.g., EcoTech MP40s, Vectra S2, Tunze Universal Osmolator, Varios return pumps, etc.). Is it worthwhile buying an inferior/not as reputable product to ensure apex compatibility... or would you go for the best products you can find independent of compatibility? If the latter, would you fork out MORE money for the WXM control etc. to get these products compatible with Apex - or just run them on their own controller?

2. Is there a fancy power bar out there that can remotely (from your phone) monitor current to each outlet, and turn off, when desired - perhaps with some basic cross-integration etc.? Perhaps also message when there's a power outage?

3. Is there a cost-effective way to get alerts by text when water temperature wavers too much, outside of the Apex system?

I'm pro-Apex (even it it doesn't sound like it). Excited for where Apex will be in 5 years... perhaps reason alone to buy the system.

Kind regards

1- I get the product (s) I want and run them off their own controller, but Indo plug them into my EB832 so that they work with the feed modes how I want them to. I do not own them, but I do like the WAVs, a friend has had them since shortly after they came out and the have been rock solid. I have no experience with the COR pumps.

2- This power monitor ability can be done through fusion, including triggering alerts, however, it takes programming as (that I am aware of) there is not a built-in task to set this up.

3- If you get another controller, maybe. Apex does send text alerts. Maybe do a Reef-Pi with a temperature probe?

 

[Ross Petersen]

1- I get the product (s) I want and run them off their own controller, but Indo plug them into my EB832 so that they work with the feed modes how I want them to. I do not own them, but I do like the WAVs, a friend has had them since shortly after they came out and the have been rock solid. I have no experience with the COR pumps.

2- This power monitor ability can be done through fusion, including triggering alerts, however, it takes programming as (that I am aware of) there is not a built-in task to set this up.

3- If you get another controller, maybe. Apex does send text alerts. Maybe do a Reef-Pi with a temperature probe?

Glad to hear another positive note on the Wav pumps. I'm on the fence - getting either 2 Wav pumps or 2 Reef Octo Pulse 2s. The latter has a longer warranty - and are compatible w/ Apex if I buy the WXM module that has 0-10V capacity... so about the same price give or take.

Going to be fascinating where the market is in 10 years - I hope companies don't exist in silos but rather increasingly collaborate. Will make things easier and cheaper for all - and more people will perhaps stay in the hobby. Who knows!

 

[Ranjib]

Apex is definitely a nice thing to have. But I do think that the individual equipment (pump, lights etc) choices are best if you dont stick to Apex. Like MP10, Nero and IceCap pumps all come with there own controllers and all of them is of same caliber if not slightly better than straight apex

A new development is that we also have smart plugs, like the kasa 15 A rated smart plugs that (e.g. hs110) that will give you remote controllability, timers, current monitoring etc. This is way cheaper , robust but somewhat untested & new option. But in this route you will miss the one stop shop like product experience.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Apex is definitely a nice thing to have. But I do think that the individual equipment (pump, lights etc) choices are best if you dont stick to Apex. Like MP10, Nero and IceCap pumps all come with there own controllers and all of them is of same caliber if not slightly better than straight apex

A new development is that we also have smart plugs, like the kasa 15 A rated smart plugs that (e.g. hs110) that will give you remote controllability, timers, current monitoring etc. This is way cheaper , robust but somewhat untested & new option. But in this route you will miss the one stop shop like product experience.

Much appreciated. I'm on the same wavelength - go with the best toys independent of name.

Invariably products like the Kasa Power Strip (see link below) are going to evolve to include programmable features and therefore increase competition in the market. I'm tempted to try one. It's no Apex... but it gives prospective reef users the basics at a huge cost-saving.

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

I agree with most, not necessary but mine definitely gives piece of mind and more information as to what the tank is doing at any given time. You can do that with observation alone, but I like the ability to tie what Im seeing in the tank to some hard numbers. I think it gives better understanding. Also like the one stop to get the info, rather than dealing with several individual product controllers.