Is Apex EL worth it if I don't plan on adding Neptune?

[gideon2086]

Edit: Bahhh, cannot edit title - please replace "Neptune" with "Trident"... coffee hasn't set in.

I see a ton of love for this equipment, most saying it's the "most important buy of their time in the hobby." I can't help but wonder, why?

I'm not bashing it in anyway, please don't take this post as such. I'm just wondering - for someone that doesn't plan to use Neptune due to the exorbitant cost (continued cost, not just outright), why is this an essential piece of equipment?

Again, asking because I really want to be sold on it.

 

[alysak6075]

I use an Apex Jr and an Apex EL (2 separate tanks). I gotta say, I am firmly in the camp of "i will never set up a tank without one".
Trident is just a piece of the puzzle. I agree its incredibly overpriced and expensive to run. That being said. The control of temp and every other electrical piece of equipment is worth it to me. It takes 20 seconds to take a look at apex fusion and know whats running, what isnt running and why. That is super helpful to me at least. The apexes are the only pieces of tech on the tanks that have never given me issues. So they are incredibly stable. Just my 2 cents

 

[gideon2086]

I use an Apex Jr and an Apex EL (2 separate tanks). I gotta say, I am firmly in the camp of "i will never set up a tank without one".
Trident is just a piece of the puzzle. I agree its incredibly overpriced and expensive to run. That being said. The control of temp and every other electrical piece of equipment is worth it to me. It takes 20 seconds to take a look at apex fusion and know whats running, what isnt running and why. That is super helpful to me at least. The apexes are the only pieces of tech on the tanks that have never given me issues. So they are incredibly stable. Just my 2 cents

Appreciate the input. Are you using it just to monitor your equipment (and of course the included temp/ph probes). Or have you added on to it?

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I got an APEX EL almost exactly a year ago and I love it. I had a ReefKeeper Lite for years before switching to APEX. My favorite features are the connection with Alexa and the PH probe. When it comes time for me to do water changes I just tell Alexa to enter feed mode A and everything shuts off for 30 minutes.

There are definitely other ways to get the same results if you're just looking for something to switch some things on and off. If you'd like to go a cheaper route you can just find a separate temperature controller, and then get some Wi-Fi plugs. You'll have 80% of the APEX functionality for 30% of the cost.

That said, I'm an APEX sucker at this point and have no shame about it. I upgraded from an IM30 to a 120g a few months ago and ended up embracing a lot of the Neptune ecosystem. I have the APEX FMM, ATK, and a COR-15 return pump. The only one I'm hesitant on is the Trident. I think when I'm ready to switch to automated testing I'm leaning towards a ReefBot.

 

[alysak6075]

Appreciate the input. Are you using it just to monitor your equipment (and of course the included temp/ph probes). Or have you added on to it?

No adding any other parts from Neptune. Just whatever came with the original purchases. I use the temp probes. I don't use the pH probes (they go bad after a while, dont want to buy new ones). Never had pH problems. I've been eyeing an EB8 not the new EB832. The EB8 has 6 Solid state switches that can take far more abuse than the mechanical ones. The solid state switches arent reliable when its a low power draw like a doser or something, but should be awesome as a temp controller (I have the BRS temp controller, and its crap). That way i can buy any heater that has an internal thermostat and set it to 79.5 and have the apex use the EB8 solid state to turn on the heater at 77.8 and turn it off at 78.1, with a bit undersized heaters and my water volume i can cut down the on/off cycles to just 4-5 times a day and that will give me a great even temp swing. Thats where the APEX truly shines. the temp probe is second to non.

 

[alysak6075]

The alarms are the second reason i would recommend the APEX. getting emails and text messages is great when you are away from the tank for extended periods of time. Ex: I have a reef octopus skimmer with a full cup float switch. An alarm will send me a text when the skimmer draws less than 10 watts. So i know the skimmer is full. I have alarms for temp too high/too low. An alarm for some of the reactors. If they draw less power than usual I have a programmed script that shuts them off completely and under no circumstances will it turn them on until i override. So that i have time to clean them and not poison my tank with stagnant water. Thats the real value of the Apex, safeguards everywhere. Been running the apex jr. for 4+ years and am still adding programming scripts and removing old ones. But thats my test bench before i add the code to the apex EL.

 

[ca1ore]

There have been a lot of threads over the years about Neptune Apex specifically, and automation more generally. Only you can really decide whether a controller is something for you. It's certainly not a must have like lighting, temperature and flow; but used sensibly it is a nice-to-have. I've been keeping reefs for over 30 years, the vast majority of which was done without a controller or, frankly, much automation at all. How did I ever manage to keep fish and corals alive …….

As well as a reefer, I am also a tech geek and the allure of automation is irresistible to me. So I use apex, and at last count have almost 25 assorted modules. BUT, I use it mostly for alerting and monitoring. If it were to fail, t'would be mighty inconvenient, but not fatal to the tank. I see far too many novice reefers putting all their proverbial eggs in the apex basket (or any controller) and are then outraged when said hobby grade equipment fails them. I also worry that over reliance on automation means folks don't develop the observational tools necessary to spot a potential problem.

If you want a controller, then get one. They certainly make tank monitoring and maintenance tasks easier.

 

[Jonreefer]

I just got an ApexEL 2weeks ago. This is my first controller ever after many many years in this hobby.
I have no interest in adding the trident but I really like the ability to monitor temps, PH, have alarms set and feed modes to control different pumps. I wish it was cheaper but even without wanting the trident, I am enjoying it.

 

[gideon2086]

There have been a lot of threads over the years about Neptune Apex specifically, and automation more generally. Only you can really decide whether a controller is something for you. It's certainly not a must have like lighting, temperature and flow; but used sensibly it is a nice-to-have. I've been keeping reefs for over 30 years, the vast majority of which was done without a controller or, frankly, much automation at all. How did I ever manage to keep fish and corals alive …….

As well as a reefer, I am also a tech geek and the allure of automation is irresistible to me. So I use apex, and at last count have almost 25 assorted modules. BUT, I use it mostly for alerting and monitoring. If it were to fail, it would be mighty inconvenient, but it wouldn't be fatal to the tank. I see far too many novice reefers putting all their proverbial eggs in the apex basket (or any controller) and are then outraged when said hobby grade equipment fails them. I also worry that over reliance on automation means folks don't develop the observational tools necessary to spot a potential problem.

If you want a controller, then get one. They certainly make tank monitoring and maintenance tasks easier.

Thank you for the input! Outside of Trident, what are some of your addons that you feel were most worthwhile?

 

[ca1ore]

what are some of your addons that you feel were most worthwhile?

I think I have owned, or own, just about every module. My favorites are the flow modules, WXM to control my vortech pumps, DOS for AWC and Trident. My least favorite were PMK PM3 for O2 and 1Link/WAV. Never owned either COR or ATK.

 

[GabeM]

ATK is great - just used it to raise my salinity back up over a few days and I get to monitor it - just make sure you use a refractometer as a reference point. I bought the ATK first actually after too many smartATO failures.