Which model Apex is right for me?

[Fishninja]

After having my tank almost crash while I was away on vacation I am ready to take the plunge and get an aquarium controller. For me the controller must be able to track ph, temp, and salinity. Having the add on features such as leak detection would be nice but I am really just looking for those three things. Along with this, I really need an aquarium controller that will send me alerts to my smartphone if something goes wrong. I am knew to the world of aquarium controllers, but apex seems like the right choice due to its popularity and features. Some questions that I have are do all models of the apex line have smartphone alerts out of the box? And which one fits my needs without breaking the bank? Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Xclusive Reef]

After having my tank almost crash while I was away on vacation I am ready to take the plunge and get an aquarium controller. For me the controller must be able to track ph, temp, and salinity. Having the add on features such as leak detection would be nice but I am really just looking for those three things. Along with this, I really need an aquarium controller that will send me alerts to my smartphone if something goes wrong. I am knew to the world of aquarium controllers, but apex seems like the right choice due to its popularity and features. Some questions that I have are do all models of the apex line have smartphone alerts out of the box? And which one fits my needs without breaking the bank? Thank you in advance for your help!

I was in the same boat and i found the 2016 for $700 bucks new still in box. you can look on ebay or craigslist if you want to find it used. also on here go to the sell / buy section. People are always selling stuff. Look just get the right one off the bat, cause if you get a lower model or older used at the end of the day it will cost you just as much as 2016 model or more with all the extra stuff you have to buy.

 

[Fishninja]

Thanks for the reply! I agree that it isn't always a good idea to go the cheap/used route.

 

[Fishninja]

Also forgot to mention that my tank is only a 45 gallon.

 

[Salty1962]

You can find some good deals on systems on the forum. It sounds like you need an APEX Gold to monitor everything you've listed. I found a NIB with all of the modules I wanted for less than $600.

 

[Fishninja]

What is the difference between an apex gold and an apex classic? Also what is a NIB. Sorry for all the questions this is all very new to me.

 

[tdunmore2]

NIB is new in box. I use an APEX Gold on my 34 gallon. There is also the Profilux 4 by GHL out there. The smaller the size of the tank the more important it is to react to these measurements. Apex Gold comes with the PM2 module for salinity as well as an ORP probe. The Apex Classic does not. When you say tank crash, what happened?

APEX Classic:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/apex-controller-with-lab-probe-neptune-systems.html

APEX Gold is now just called Apex (or some call it APEX 2016):
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/apex-controller-system-neptune-systems.html

 

[Fishninja]

Thank you for clearing that up for me. My ac went out when I was on vacation and the house was over 85 degrees, I lost my potters angelfish and five corals. I don't know how much of difference in the long wrong it would have made to have an apex but I think that peace of mind in the future when I am away from the tank makes it worth it.

 

[HeulittSalmi]

Thank you for clearing that up for me. My ac went out when I was on vacation and the house was over 85 degrees, I lost my potters angelfish and five corals. I don't know how much of difference in the long wrong it would have made to have an apex but I think that peace of mind in the future when I am away from the tank makes it worth it.

Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago, I left Phoenix right as a heat wave came... 120 outside for a week with no AZ, when I got home my tank was 90+ degrees. Lost about 300 worth of coral in my nano.