Neptune Apex: sunrise, sunset

[beachsidereefer]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the Apex controller and I'm trying to figure out something very basic. I want to set a time parameter for Sunrise and Sunset; for example, sunrise 8 am and sunset at 6 pm. The reason is I want to configure my powerheads to be off during the evening hours to let simulate calm ocean conditions and during daylight, the powerheads are on to simulate turbulent sea conditions.

Thank you

 

[W1ngz]

Set OFF (by default turn it off)
Fallback ON (if the module loses contact with the apex, it should be on)
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON (if it's daytime, turn the outlet on).

In an outlet set up as advanced, it would look like this:

Set OFF
Fallback ON
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON

 

[beachsidereefer]

Set OFF (default is off)
Fallback ON (if the module loses contact with the apex, it should be on)
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON (if it's daytime, turn the outlet on).

In an outlet set up as advanced, it would look like this:

Set OFF
Fallback ON
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON

Set OFF (by default turn it off)
Fallback ON (if the module loses contact with the apex, it should be on)
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON (if it's daytime, turn the outlet on).

In an outlet set up as advanced, it would look like this:

Set OFF
Fallback ON
If Time 8:00 to 18:00 Then ON

got it! For the outlet, I was selecting type as PowerHead which doesn't allow for scripting.

 

[beachsidereefer]

Thanks all for the replies

 

[CuzzA]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the Apex controller and I'm trying to figure out something very basic. I want to set a time parameter for Sunrise and Sunset; for example, sunrise 8 am and sunset at 6 pm. The reason is I want to configure my powerheads to be off during the evening hours to let simulate calm ocean conditions and during daylight, the powerheads are on to simulate turbulent sea conditions.

Thank you

This comes with a lot of risk and also is not actually normal in the ocean.

First of all, any animal that ventures into your powerheads when they are off will get chopped up when they automatically come on.

Second, oxygen levels are at their lowest at night in our tiny little tanks. Photosynthesis stops and algae stops producing oxygen. We see evidence of this with our nightly Ph swings unless you have a large refugium running at opposite times of the day. For that reason you want as much water turnover as possible. No powerhead flow could lead to you tank going hypoxic. Especially if something as simple as a snail dies and begins decomposing and a bacteria blooms follows.

Finally, the ocean's currents don't shut off just because it is dark. Sure, wave activity will typically be reduced, but currents are largely moved by tides and temperature. These forces are constant.

For my reef tank I run my powerheads in a gyre around the tank and then reverse them every six hours to simulate tides. I ramp them up and even have a slack tide and then ramp them down for another slack tide before switching direction to simulate incoming and outgoing tide. For the powerheads that aren't in active tide mode I still keep them spinning at low speed to keep any critters out.

All of this is done through my Apex.

 

[SuncrestReef]

The Apex also has a built-in Sun and Moon schedules. See the Apex Comprehensive Guide pages 66 - 69 for details and examples: https://www.neptunesystems.com/downloads/docs/Comprehensive_Reference_Manual.pdf

Also check out my tutorial for a fun example on lunar schedules: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/neptu...ion-lunar-schedule-and-lighting-profiles.717/

 

[beachsidereefer]

The Apex also has a built-in Sun and Moon schedules. See the Apex Comprehensive Guide pages 66 - 69 for details and examples: https://www.neptunesystems.com/downloads/docs/Comprehensive_Reference_Manual.pdf

Also check out my tutorial for a fun example on lunar schedules: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/neptu...ion-lunar-schedule-and-lighting-profiles.717/

I saw that on page 66-69 but for the life of me, I can't find it on my Apex Fusion management page to make adjustments.

 

[SuncrestReef]

I saw that on page 66-69 but for the life of me, I can't find it on my Apex Fusion management page to make adjustments.

You can only edit the Seasonal tables from the local dashboard. Follow the steps as outlined in my tutorial above:

Browse to http://apex.local

Click the Apex menu at the top, then click Misc.

Click the Season icon at the top.

Select the appropriate item from the Setup dropdown.

 

[beachsidereefer]

You can only edit the Seasonal tables from the local dashboard. Follow the steps as outlined in my tutorial above:

Browse to http://apex.local

Click the Apex menu at the top, then click Misc.

Click the Season icon at the top.

Select the appropriate item from the Setup dropdown.

ahhh, I wasn't in http://apex.local mode! Thank you.

 

[beachsidereefer]

@SuncrestReef

so is this correct for my outlet, set to Advanced with the following script?

Set OFF
Fallback ON
If Time sunrise to sunset Then ON

 

[SuncrestReef]

@SuncrestReef

so is this correct for my outlet, set to Advanced with the following script?

Set OFF
Fallback ON
If Time sunrise to sunset Then ON

Not quite right. Here's the proper syntax:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 000/000 Then ON

The two sets of number represent the number of minutes before or after sunrise, and the number of minutes before or after sunset. The example above turns the output on exactly at sunrise, and off exactly at sunset.

More examples:

If Sun 060/000 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes after sunrise, Off at sunset
If Sun -060/000 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes before sunrise (because of the negative number), Off at sunset
If Sun 000/015 Then ON <--- On at sunrise, Off 15 minutes after sunset
If Sun 060/-015 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes after sunrise, Off 15 minutes before sunset (again, the negative number)

 

[beachsidereefer]

Not quite right. Here's the proper syntax:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 000/000 Then ON

The two sets of number represent the number of minutes before or after sunrise, and the number of minutes before or after sunset. The example above turns the output on exactly at sunrise, and off exactly at sunset.

More examples:

If Sun 060/000 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes after sunrise, Off at sunset
If Sun -060/000 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes before sunrise (because of the negative number), Off at sunset
If Sun 000/015 Then ON <--- On at sunrise, Off 15 minutes after sunset
If Sun 060/-015 Then ON <--- On 60 minutes after sunrise, Off 15 minutes before sunset (again, the negative number)

Thank you sir! I spent 2 hours reading the manual and couldn't figure out what you just explained in 5 minutes! lol