Which Controller do you use, and what do you have attached to it?

Maddlesrain · Nov 24, 2016

I've been doing a little research on controllers, but I can't seem to find one that's "better" or more all-inclusive than the others. So far I like the reefkeeper and apex (leaning more toward the apex now..?), but I'm curious as to what people use and what all they have attached? Be as in detail as you'd like! I I'm noob when it comes to these controllers, so all the info you have is greatly appreciated!

Diesel · Nov 24, 2016

I'll bump this for you but you'll get most of the answers spelled as APEX.

Btw, I run APEX.
What I have all attached to it.
CaRx.
Lights.
Heaters. 2 of them
Skimmer.
Return pump
Vortech MP40 QD 4 of them.
Cooling fans 2 of them.
Micronano bubble pump.
Avast Bacteria Reactor.
ATO.
Circulation pump for sump.
AC reactor (currently not running).
Diesel Brew feeder.
Keurig Coffee Maker.

Salty1962 · Nov 24, 2016

APEX Gold Classic
I run all of my equipment from it.
Lights, pumps, heaters, fans, skimmer, BP reactor, carbon reactor, return and manifold pumps, doser, Wav and MP40 pumps.

Maddlesrain · Nov 24, 2016

Thank you both of you! I figured the APEX is going to be the controller of choice, but I like seeing how its being used! It gives me a sense of how worth it it'll be to invest in one.

reefwiser · Nov 24, 2016

I use a GHL controller. I have used Apex in the past but love my GHL it's easier to program and has much more built into the unit than an Apex which you have to add extra boxes to get to what a GHL does out of the box.
I like to use my controllers to make my life easier. I do industrial PLC programming for 27 years so controllers are right up my alley. [emoji3]
So I use mine do auto water changes and ato plus coral additives and measurement I have 3 GHL dosers and could use a few more. [emoji3]

n2585722 · Nov 24, 2016

I use the Archon. I have been very happy with it. It is completely web based with wired or wifi connection to the network. So you can program and check it from phone, tablet or computer.

It controls the following:
Return pump
Skimmer
Heater
Cooling fans
Display tank lighting LED (5 channels PWM outputs)
Refugium lighting LED (1 Channel 0-10v)
Calcuim reactor pump
Vortech MP10's power only
ATO
Auto Water Change
RODI storage auto fill

Also monitor :
Sump levels
leak detect at tank ( will shut down all devices except Vortech pumps)
leak detect at RODI (will shut down RODI, Auto Water change and ATO
leak detect at Central Air Conditioning for whole house

Maddlesrain · Nov 24, 2016

Sheesh! Idk what to do, they all seem great... and also so similar haha. I'm mostly looking into this for a new build I'll be starting once I downsize and breakdown the old tank. I don't think I'll be dosing anything to start, but I'll be running an ATO, Skimmer, Lighting (for both the display and refugium), a carbon & phosban reactor, two mp10s, and the return pump for the sump of course. I haven't decided for sure on the dosing, but after doing a (admittedly not super in depth) search, I keep coming across horror stories about the dosing systems nuking the entire tank, and it makes me nervous!!

n2585722 · Nov 24, 2016

I have not been using dosing pumps to dose anything yet. I do use DP1 dosing pumps for the ATO and water change. All three pumps are in my garage which is about 35ft of tubing from them to the tank through the attic. The drain pump pulls water from the Sump to the garage then out of the garage through another 25ft of tubing through the attic to the drain under the kitchen sink.

wcharon · Nov 24, 2016

Maddlesrain said:
Sheesh! Idk what to do, they all seem great... and also so similar haha. I'm mostly looking into this for a new build I'll be starting once I downsize and breakdown the old tank. I don't think I'll be dosing anything to start, but I'll be running an ATO, Skimmer, Lighting (for both the display and refugium), a carbon & phosban reactor, two mp10s, and the return pump for the sump of course. I haven't decided for sure on the dosing, but after doing a (admittedly not super in depth) search, I keep coming across horror stories about the dosing systems nuking the entire tank, and it makes me nervous!!

I have the APEX but my recommendation is that what ever Controller you use it should be used with failsafe in mind and not all the eggs in the same basket. For example I have a separate Doser with his own controller but I have it connected to the APEX so if my PH goes high it will shut of the Doser.

Hope that helps....

Slm222 · Nov 24, 2016

Reef angel. I am running the skimmer, ato with two pumps( one is straight ro and the other goes through a kalk reactor dependent on time and ph), controls two rw8s, fuge light, and heater. Also have the wifi module to see it via the app. Soon to add brs dosers on as well. All in all I have been nothing but happy.

Waterjockey · Nov 24, 2016

Apex classic
I run my lighting profiles and wavemaker pumps. My skimmer, my feeder and heaters. My return pump and my ozone. My kalk dosing and my ato. My automatic water changes, and my sump lights.
I have level switches that act as failsafe for high level in my sump and in my skimmate locker (shuts down skimmer). I use a level switch in my sump to run my ato pump. I also have low level switches in my Rodi, kalk, and saltwater storage bins to tell me when they need replenishing.
I have alarms and failsafe detection (I. e. Ato running too long for example) send me text alarms to my phone.
Extras I bought that don't come standard with the apex classic are a breakout box, an orp probe, and latest was an additional 8 outlet power bar...that's it. Next addition will be another module and breakout box to run a frag tank and live food system.
Love being able to open the fusion app on my phone and monitor trends for everything from anywhere, not to mention controlling everything from anywhere. Love my apex

stevo01 · Nov 24, 2016

Diesel said:
I'll bump this for you but you'll get most of the answers spelled as APEX.

Btw, I run APEX.
What I have all attached to it.
CaRx.
Lights.
Heaters. 2 of them
Skimmer.
Return pump
Vortech MP40 QD 4 of them.
Cooling fans 2 of them.
Micronano bubble pump.
Avast Bacteria Reactor.
ATO.
Circulation pump for sump.
AC reactor (currently not running).
Diesel Brew feeder.
Keurig Coffee Maker.

Keurig Coffee Maker

Diesel · Nov 24, 2016

stevo01 said:
Keurig Coffee Maker

I didn't want to buy a extra timer so the APEX was it, just had one spot left over on the EB8

Maddlesrain · Nov 25, 2016

Thank you all very much for your replies! They are extremely helpful and are giving some things to think about and research for sure!

dieselkeeper · Nov 25, 2016

I have a Apex as well. Lights, heaters, ATO, calcium reactor. I have Tunze's for flow and I use their controller for that. One thing I do is have my return pump on a separate circuit, all by itself. If the Apex fails or something trips the circuit breaker while I'm away, my tank will survive.