To control or not to control?

[Bmasculine]

So I’m getting ready to start a tank build, well a tank rebuild and while I run a very uncomplicated system now that basically relies on simplicity, i.e. a 5 gal water change once a week and kalk in my top off for alk and ca. However in the near future I’d like to move away from the kalk and start dosing a three part like aquaforest. And it would be nice to be able to walk by tank and at a glance see basic params. Most of what I run now has its own control, so would a controller benefit me in anyway other than just for a quick param glance? I work really long hours so that’s why simple works for me, plus it’s easy to troubleshoot when something isn’t happy, not many variables.

 

[Wieloch89]

The new apex is supposed to monitor your big 3 and dose accordingly.

 

[Bmasculine]

The new apex is supposed to monitor your big 3 and dose accordingly.

I thought it was a separate system? I would like an alk monitor eventually, but there are stand alones that don’t need a controller. Controllers are expensive to start so just wondering if it’s really worth the investment for me? I know there are people that run lots of equipment and need them. I stick with simple and proven.

 

[Bmasculine]

My tank is a 20x20x30 approx. 50 gal so it’s not a huge tank with lots of equip. It’s mixed sps and lps with some zoas. Has a home made sump as of now with the regular equip. Sicce return pump, Skimmer, heater, and a BRS mini reactor I use for carbon. There’s a kessil h80 on my Fuge, I have a tunze top off, gyre xf 230 in display and ai hydra 26 hd on display.

 

[Greybeard]

You don't need a controller. Nobody does. BUT... I will never set up another tank without one.

Initially, I bought my first controller for a 140g system that I was setting up. Why? Because the cost of a good surge suppressor strip, a heater controller (I do not trust internal heater thermostats), and 3 decent quality AC timers to run my lights was about the same price as the Reefkeeper Lite, which could do all of those things. Just made sense.

I was happy until the RKL unit started getting weird. No support from the manufacturer, couldn't make it stable, so I bought an Apex Classic.

That was a few months back. The email alerts, online trending charts, etc. are fabulous. I did a DIY breakout box, and automated my ATO reservoir refills, then did the same with my mixing barrel refill, at this point, virtually every electrical component associated with my tank is connected to my Apex. The amount of control, the ability to build up layers of safety in case something goes wrong... Look, I'm home. Virtually all the time. I work from home, don't like to travel... My truck doesn't leave the garage for weeks at a time. I _can_ monitor my tank pretty close. Happily, I don't have to.

 

[Bmasculine]

You don't need a controller. Nobody does. BUT... I will never set up another tank without one.

Initially, I bought my first controller for a 140g system that I was setting up. Why? Because the cost of a good surge suppressor strip, a heater controller (I do not trust internal heater thermostats), and 3 decent quality AC timers to run my lights was about the same price as the Reefkeeper Lite, which could do all of those things. Just made sense.

I was happy until the RKL unit started getting weird. No support from the manufacturer, couldn't make it stable, so I bought an Apex Classic.

That was a few months back. The email alerts, online trending charts, etc. are fabulous. I did a DIY breakout box, and automated my ATO reservoir refills, then did the same with my mixing barrel refill, at this point, virtually every electrical component associated with my tank is connected to my Apex. The amount of control, the ability to build up layers of safety in case something goes wrong... Look, I'm home. Virtually all the time. I work from home, don't like to travel... My truck doesn't leave the garage for weeks at a time. I _can_ monitor my tank pretty close. Happily, I don't have to.

Thanks for response. I know I don’t need the controller just wondering if the $800 I’d spend to start out would make anything easier on me. As I’m the complete opposite of you and always working I like that I would be able to get alerts and some safety redundancies along with being able to glance at basic params.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I will never run a reef tank without a controller again.

 

[Bmasculine]

I will never run a reef tank without a controller again.

I’ve decided to buy one. Getting ready to completely redo my setup, and it wil be controlled by the profilux4.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I would love to see more input on this. I am upgrading (just got my tank shipment info today...wahoo!!!) And it has been advised that I get a controller. My "method" has been very simplistic. Mostly elbow grease, water changes etc. I don't use dosing pumps so I always thought a controller would be over kill.

 

[Ditto]

Do you need a controller? No, you do not need one. Reefers been running tanks way before controllers, dosing manually, doing test daily, weekly, using timers on outlets, so no is not a absolute.

The controller is your 24x7 friend that never forgets it task, never gets tired, never gets pulled away for a family emergency while monitoring, notifying and doing the tasks you assign for during an emergency(Power outage, Sudden PH drop, low flow, leaks etc) or on a routine schedule(Dosing, Water Changes, etc) allowing your tank to be stable and happy no matter what life throws at you

Would I set up one? If I could not get one day 1 of my tank build I would when I could get one It just easier in the beginning to install it during the tank build but nothing stops you doing it down the road also.

PS: All my tanks have controllers on them

 

[Bmasculine]

Well just for an update to this thread I ended up doing a complete new build and bought the new apex instead of the profilux simply because of the support on this forum. What I think so far: it’s great nice to get alerts, has maintenance and feed modes I set up, no need for timers, etc. But in all honesty for what I do with it I could have gone with something cheaper. I also installed a SA doser and this has saved me the most headache and time. I hope this helps

 

[DarthSimon]

Do you need a controller? No, you do not need one. Reefers been running tanks way before controllers, dosing manually, doing test daily, weekly, using timers on outlets, so no is not a absolute.

The controller is your 24x7 friend that never forgets it task, never gets tired, never gets pulled away for a family emergency while monitoring, notifying and doing the tasks you assign for during an emergency(Power outage, Sudden PH drop, low flow, leaks etc) or on a routine schedule(Dosing, Water Changes, etc) allowing your tank to be stable and happy no matter what life throws at you

Would I set up one? If I could not get one day 1 of my tank build I would when I could get one It just easier in the beginning to install it during the tank build but nothing stops you doing it down the road also.

PS: All my tanks have controllers on them

Perfect Response!!!! Very well said.... I find my Apex keeps me in check, I never forget to DOS my Alk and Calcium, my water changes are done Automatically..... And you can control all of your gear remotely.... Those three things are the biggest draw for me...