Ive heard HORROR stories of hooking up controllers, the controller failing and then tank is done. Can't seem to build up the courage on relying on a controller for doing 2 part/ amino acids and was wondering what all your thoughts were?
Most Reliable Controller?
- Thread starter Vincemal27
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Formulator
Valuable Member
I like my neptune apex a lot. With the trident measuring my parameters, and remote monitoring and control through the app, I can know if something is wrong and make a correction immediately. Literally just this week it saved my tank from catastrophe while I was on vacation. My pH spiked due to CO2 levels dropping in our house with everyone gone. With this pH rise came a more than doubled Alk consumption. My apex notified me immediately and I was able to modify my 2 part dosing to compensate, all from my phone.
There are lots of fail safes built in. If you educate yourself on the system and follow best practices for setting everything up with redundancies, there is no reason to be afraid. Most of the horror stories I see around here are the result of user error/oversight or failure to incorporate appropriate redundancies.
FWIW, automation brought my tank to the next level of stability and everything has benefited. I have no regrets.
There are lots of fail safes built in. If you educate yourself on the system and follow best practices for setting everything up with redundancies, there is no reason to be afraid. Most of the horror stories I see around here are the result of user error/oversight or failure to incorporate appropriate redundancies.
FWIW, automation brought my tank to the next level of stability and everything has benefited. I have no regrets.
I’m running a Red Sea dose 4 head and it’s been going strong for 2 years now. Very accurate and keeping everything going. I’m using red seas 4 part complete reef care system and it’s been making my coral look great
areefer01
2500 Club Member
You are going to get conflicting opinions on this because two hobbyist will use the same product but have different experiences. Then you have to factor in who comes to forums to post more often. Those having issues and frustrated vs those not skipping a beat.
Controllers are not necessary. They are a quality of life improvement when designed properly. Redundancy is important with, or without, a controller. Something to keep in mind. Another thing to consider is the support location and country.
Dosing 2 part, single part, or amino acids is a no brainer for most controllers with dosing pumps. See comment above about redundancy and safety checks. You can add logic to limit, reduce, and notify should hobbyist or equipment go oops.
Above all, regardless of brand, test it before implementing. Easy to do by using buckets.
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
The best use of a controller is mostly as a monitoring and alerting apparatus, for me
Having multiple redundancies in a complex system just makes sense
Having a controller with text or push notifications is required by me, when it gets set up
I just got the GHL equipment to monitor my cheap Chinese ATO. Need to set that up this week
Eyes are the best
I want something that works when my eyes are away from the tank or closed
Having multiple redundancies in a complex system just makes sense
Having a controller with text or push notifications is required by me, when it gets set up
I just got the GHL equipment to monitor my cheap Chinese ATO. Need to set that up this week
Eyes are the best
I want something that works when my eyes are away from the tank or closed
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
As far as my controller goes. It could totally fail and die and all my stuff that’s plugged into the power strip would just revert to its normal operation like it was plugged into the wall. At that point it’s just as if it’s plugged into a regular cheap power strip
I won’t run a tank without a controller again. When it’s time to water change I press 1 button. When it’s time to feed. 1 button. I’ve never had this stable of a temperature in a reef ( a 5g reef at that ). I even have overflow sensors for when my filter floss gets clogged and a sensor that even shuts my tank down when it gets wet (I’ve had this little gem overflow on me before lol) I also have a max amount of time my ato pump can run.
Just tons of stuff. It’s awesome. Love my hydros
I won’t run a tank without a controller again. When it’s time to water change I press 1 button. When it’s time to feed. 1 button. I’ve never had this stable of a temperature in a reef ( a 5g reef at that ). I even have overflow sensors for when my filter floss gets clogged and a sensor that even shuts my tank down when it gets wet (I’ve had this little gem overflow on me before lol) I also have a max amount of time my ato pump can run.
Just tons of stuff. It’s awesome. Love my hydros
Actually only controller I would 1000% say it’s worth it, is an INKBIRD.
Make sure to keep monitoring and redundancy for heaters.
n2585722
2500 Club Member
As far as dosing I use dynamic dosing on my Hydros for KH buffer based on the alkalinity testing. It test 4 times a day. About an hour after each test there is a AWC done and then an hour later it doses KH buffer and then 30 minutes later it doses the All For Reef. I have an output setup the KH schedules depends on and it is set to turn off if the alkalinity reading goes above 9.10 or below 7.00. It will also alert if this happens so I can check into it. The alkalinity testing is done on my system by a X10 and iV combination. Any thing you have a controller in control of you have to thing of the things that can go wrong and setup at least a backup off. Like Heaters I use the controller for control and I have 2 temp sensors on the controller and if either one gets above or below a set point I have set for each it will send an alert. Also both sensors are used in the control settings. Also I have thermostats on each heater set about 3 degrees above the controller settings. If the heater were to turn off while the controller had it's output on it would drop out of the power range set for the output and that would send an alert. I also auto fill my DI reservoir from my RODI unit from my controller. The reservoir has a full sensor but the output coming from the RODI also has a float valve to stop the flow if it get to that level. Also there is a timer set in the controller if the output is on for over 5 hours it will turn off the output and send an alert. The mix tank has the same setup for it's auto refill. On top of all that there are leak detectors hooked to the system that will shut off all pumps in the location they are in as well as any water solenoids. So it not a matter of if it happens plan on what happens when it happens. Also the system I use I currently have 15 controllers that are in a collective where all inputs and output on each are shared with the other members of the collective. So that gives some redundancy since if one controller were to fail the rest would continue but without any of the inputs or outputs that are on the failed controller. Just like my temp sensors they are on two different controllers. Just like the low level and full sensors for the Di reservoir and the output that turns on the solenoid to refill it at the RODI unit are on different controllers. The controller with the solenoid output is setup to turn that output off if for some reason the data for the inputs are unknown or unavailable.
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
Hydros is the G.O.A.T
I can’t wait to expand my collective on my new 80g. I have the Minnow ready to rock and roll with some All for Reef once it’s setup. I’ll probably upgrade to the XP8 power supply when the Maven comes out and I scoop one of those up. I’ll likely add an X2 as well to throw some more sensors and stuff on the 80g too. Some over flow sensors, skimmer sensor.
n2585722
2500 Club Member
I use the two dosing pumps on my Minnow for AWC. My tank is only 42 gallons and the AWC is split up into 4 times a day. At this time the total changed for the day is 2500ml. I have 2 X10's so I use the pumps on an X10 for my All For Reef and KH buffer dosing.
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
Very nice. That’s quite the setup!
Right now I just have an X2 controlling my deskmate. I use the sensor ports for temperature and overflow detection in the intake chamber with the floss.
I’ve never had the temperature stability that I have right now in any tank I’ve ever owned. That’s saying a lot because this is a 5g tank. Which swung wildly before I added this controller
n2585722
2500 Club Member
It has been up and running for over 8 years now. I got one of the Hydros controllers when they first came out and it has now expanded into controlling everything at the tank and in the garage where my RODI and mixing station is located. I did have an Archon controller but everything is now controlled with the Hydros system.
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
I’m not an APEX basher but I owned one on a cad lights 45g shallow and HATED it. To each their own. I was so pleasantly surprised after owning the hydros. I will give props to APEX for their customer service though. We had a power outage and when power resumed the APEX was dead. They sent me a new one
n2585722
2500 Club Member
I have not used the Apex but from what I have seen of the post when someone ask how to make an output do something it looks like you would be using a programming language to control it. I guess if you get used to it it would be ok.
Formulator
Valuable Member
Apex is the GOAT, IMO… LOL. I haven’t used hydros though so probably not fair to make that conclusion. Have you used apex?
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
Yes I have. In 2019 I had one . You’re probably more tech savy than me. I found it to be cumbersome and almost unusable from someone with my limited tech knowledge. I could only scratch the surface of what it was capable of because at the time it was way over my head.
Hydros had dumbed it down for losers like me and I appreciate its user friendliness.
Formulator
Valuable Member
Fair enough. Don’t cut yourself short - I’m sure you are better than me at many things! I am fairly tech savy and actually enjoy tinkering with the code.
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
The new 2024 TNG Apex Controller and Palm Beacon, is the only real GOAT
Wherever fine reef equipment is sold
Wherever fine reef equipment is sold
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