Why do I need an Apex (controller)?

twistedfinn967 · Jun 7, 2016

427HISS said:
I'm trying to make up my mind on buying the Reef Keeper Lite Salinty Package, or not. It's the BRS version on their website for $259 but with their coupon it's $159. If you want the salinity probe, it's $115. BUMMER !

The Apex system is too expensive for me.

Here's the BRS link-

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reefk...ackage-digital-aquatics.html#tab-full-details

It's out of stock AND it's discontinued!

Peanut · Jun 7, 2016

You get what you pay for....

If all you want to do is see the PH or Temp, buy a probe and stick it in your pocket so you can test every time you pass the tank.

On the other hand, if you want to see your PH every 5 minutes over the last day/week/month, so that you can see the actual effects of feeding, dosing, water changes, etc, then good luck with that hand held probe.

The email/text alerts are invaluable. Temp too hot/cold, Ph out of range, water level low.

You can create your own visual indicators. My lights shut off when the temp gets too high because that is something I will notice when I walk by and not have to read my email/text

Being able to control specific outlets based on the state of a different outlet. I have my Chiller and UV shut off automatically when the Pump is shut off.

I use a separate programmable dosing pump, but shut off power to it if Ph is out of range.

I use the breakout so that I can:
a) monitor water levels with a float switch.
b) wire a switch in to go to feed mode with the push of a button. Circulation pumps, Protien skimmer, etc shut down.
c) wire a switch in to go to specific lighting profile with the push of a button.
d) I wired an alarm sensor to the doors of my cabinet so the light fixture under the tank comes on when I open the door

If you want to simulate nature more closely , you can use the seasonal tables to control sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times through the year.

This really only scratches the surface. I can not imagine having a tank today without a controller. It lets me spend way more of my time enjoying the tank and not working on it.

And I can do everything standing in front of the tank or anywhere on the planet that has internet connectivity via the controllers Web interface or through APEX Fusion.

I highly recommend looking at these programs here, you can get some great ideas
http://www.kenargo.com/apexProgram/

Reeflogic · Jun 8, 2016

I recently added 2 dosing pumps, using up the relay outlets, so my Avast ATO with AquaLifter pump had to slide to a TRIAC outlet. Well, that didn't work so I added a 2-way and a lamp so the pump would shut off. Now I have a fancy lamp that comes on to alert me when my ATO is on, lol. Hey, it will work until I can get another EB4 haha.

Chriscrna · Jun 8, 2016

Dom274 said:
I guess I just don't see the value in the alerts. Knowing up to the min status doesn't do anything to fix the issue if I'm not there. If the tank getting too cold is a serious issue, I would just simply add a backup heater. If one fails, the other will maintain tank temp until the failed one can be replaced. Heaters are actually fairly cheap, so I wouldn't consider 3 total to be a bad idea either. Now, if the main, backup and the backup backup all happen to fail - you are obviously cursed and I would start with an exorcism or something haha.

You're missing the point. Alerts aren't for up to the minute status. I can simply check fusion on my phone for up to the minute status. Alerts are for when something is wrong.

So you've solved your cold tank problem. Great. What if your tank gets too hot? How does an extra heater help you then?

I had a tank that fried because a heater therm malfunctioned and cooked everything to 92 degrees.

Would have been nice to have my apex then. A) It would have shut the outlet off at 80 degrees as I have it programmed now. B) Worse case scenario, I call my wife at home and have her unplug the heater. Either way, I would have known the instant the tank went above 80 degrees.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg of what these things can do.

Dom274 · Jun 9, 2016

Chriscrna said:
You're missing the point. Alerts aren't for up to the minute status. I can simply check fusion on my phone for up to the minute status. Alerts are for when something is wrong.

So you've solved your cold tank problem. Great. What if your tank gets too hot? How does an extra heater help you then?

I had a tank that fried because a heater therm malfunctioned and cooked everything to 92 degrees.

Would have been nice to have my apex then. A) It would have shut the outlet off at 80 degrees as I have it programmed now. B) Worse case scenario, I call my wife at home and have her unplug the heater. Either way, I would have known the instant the tank went above 80 degrees.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg of what these things can do.

I guess you missed my earlier post, I suggested this:

http://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Itc-3..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=1ZBQY6961FY7NJKEZDV6

My point is simple. Apex didn't invent the "Temperature controlled outlet", this has been around for a long time already, you probably just called it a different name - The thermostat.

I am well aware of the difference between current status and what an alert is used for. My point is that remote "alerts for when something is wrong" are worthless without the additional ability to either prevent or remotely fix the issue that caused the alert. It's just a log at that point. You don't need an Apex to accomplish your plan A, and the additional money you spend to also have your plan B is worthless because your plan B would have never worked. You don't realize how quick a malfunction like that actually happens. You literally have minutes. What do I know about critical infrastructure monitoring? Enough to work for a major ISP doing just that...

Chriscrna · Jun 9, 2016

Why wouldn't plan B work? You don't trust my wife? Well, neither do I. [emoji12]

We will agree to disagree. [emoji1597]

Reeflogic · Jun 9, 2016

There is no guarantee that a fish or a coral or anything you add to your system is going to live. So why spend the money on corals? or fish? It's an inherent risk being in this hobby. I'll take my common sense approach to monitoring my tank as opposed to a critical infrastructure approach, any day... It's worked so far... And again, if you're worried about saving money in this hobby, you should probably switch hobbies. A 10g tank with guppies is pretty affordable.

shoelaceike · Jun 9, 2016

I just bit the bullet and got the Jr. Having a really tough time getting it to work though

BlueDevil · Jun 9, 2016

shoelaceike said:
I just bit the bullet and got the Jr. Having a really tough time getting it to work though

Write down the key words of everything you want it to do and then run searches in the Neptune Alex forums. I can guarantee you all your questions will have already been answered there wig detailed how to's. That's what I did when I first got my controller.

You're going to love having a controller!