Reef Tank Power Management

[Nick33063]

I'm setting up a 61 Gallon Reef Savvy (36"x22x18"). Yesterday, I drove to Miami and came home with my new Reef Savvy Modern Series stand, the Tank is still had 4 months. I am going to start building a control panel to mount my Apex controller and American DJ 8Ch power strip. The following is a list of equipment and how I planned to Power my reef systems.

The wall outlet I have behind the tank is GFI outlet.

The main questions I have is:

1. Is it ok to plug the Apex Unit (8 bar) Power Strip in the the ADJ Power Strip or would it be too much load? My thought was to have a single switch toggle that can power off everything the Apex is running or should it be plugged into a separate outlet

2. If the Return Pump and Maxspect Gyre Pump are controllable via cables, then do they need to be plugged into the 8 Bar Apex strip or just a regular power strip?

3. Do most people keep there protein skimmers running 24/7, if so it doesn't need to be plugged into a Apex power bar?

APEX
1 HEATER
2 COOLING FAN
3 TUNZE ATO PUMP
4 RETURN PUMP (APEX CONTROLLABLE)
5 MAXSPECT GYRE PUMP (APEX CONTROLLABLE)
6 REFUGIUM LIGHT
8 UV STERILZER (FUTURE)
7 DOSER (FUTURE)
8 REACTORS (FUTURE)

ADJ 100A
1 APEX UNIT
2 RADION LEFT
3 RADION RIGHT
4 CABINET STRIP LIGHTING
5 WIFI DEVICE
6 SKIMZ SKIMMER
7
8

 

[Bob Escher]

No the return pump and the gyre can be plugged into something other than the EB's, matter of fact anything that is controllable ( Vortech pumps, Radion lights for example) can be plugged into other outlets

 

[Nick33063]

No the return pump and the gyre can be plugged into something other than the EB's, matter of fact anything that is controllable ( Vortech pumps, Radion lights for example) can be plugged into other outlets

Thanks for the input, it did get me thinking cause I have not purchased Ecotech Reef link or the Apex Ecotch Wireless Expansion Module at this time. I have not decided if it is necessary to have the lights controllable through the Apex as I can program them through Ecotech software. I was going to hold off on buying the module, till I see how well my system is running before deciding. The only benefit I see from having the Apex control my lights is to have the ability to turn off the lights if the tank get too hot. The fact that I'm going to have rimless tank, a sump and DC pump I don't believe my system would run hot enough to want to turn off the lights if the tank get too hot.

 

[joekool]

It all depends on amp load and draw. I have two eb8 strips and everything runs on them. Return pump reeflo snapper/dart gold, skimmer pump dct15000, three a360we Kessil, cooling fan, ozotech and air pump, ato kalk pump, refuge light, 2 wp40 and two Evo circ pumps, etc.

Only using about 5.2 amps max

Standard home circuit is 15amps unless you are running crazy amp hungry pumps you should be fine.
Even if you can controll other equipment without being plugged into the apex there will be some slight power draw on them even if the controller isn't running the equipment. I would use the apex to turn the power of at least to that equipment.

I like having everything running through my apex and I can change or controll my equipment from anywhere in the world with Internet of course. Hey I'm a control freak

 

[rlman41299]

IMO the reason you bought an apex is to automate every equipment you use on your aquarium. If that was not your goal then why buy an apex? You can just use a regular ADJ unit. This is just my opinion.
I use an apex for I want everything automated, for example when it's time for feeding the return pump turns off, skimmer turns off and delayed for 20 mins, curculatuion pumps go feed mode, ato mode turns off and so forth. you already have an apex why not use it's full potential.

 

[Nick33063]

IMO the reason you bought an apex is to automate every equipment you use on your aquarium. If that was not your goal then why buy an apex? You can just use a regular ADJ unit. This is just my opinion.
I use an apex for I want everything automated, for example when it's time for feeding the return pump turns off, skimmer turns off and delayed for 20 mins, curculatuion pumps go feed mode, ato mode turns off and so forth. you already have an apex why not use it's full potential.

Thanks for your input, I could move my Waveline DC pump to the ADJ, then my Skims to the EB8, since the DC pump Apex ready and fully controllable.

 

[HiddenUser]

Not sure about how your system is setup, but a lot of people will have their skimmers programmed to shut off when the return is shut off as well. This would prevent the skimmer from overflowing as the sump filled with water.

 

[Nick33063]

Not sure about how your system is setup, but a lot of people will have their skimmers programmed to shut off when the return is shut off as well. This would prevent the skimmer from overflowing as the sump filled with water.

Chukee, at this point the my system is not setup, which is why I'm trying to get as much input as possible so I start the system right without endless reconfigurations. BTW you have a awesome Reef Savvy, I can't wait for mine to be built sometime in April 2016. I also bought and already picked up a Reef Savvy Modern Series stand. In the next few weeks I will be mounting my Apex and and ADJ power bar it. Felix is a great guy to work with, when I asked him for recommendations for a sump I ending up going with a Reef Savvy Surreal sump that will be custom made at 28"x16"x16". This will be the same sump that won best of show at MACNA 2015.