Why do i WANT apex controller?!

[hoffmeyerz]

Been running my tank coming up on two years now and I started with an apex. I knew it would be useful for me so I planned on it, but they are very expensive so I watched and waited till I could get a used one. I didn't need the most recent iteration so I was able to get one model back with temp and ph probes along with two eb8's for $250! That made it very much worth the cost. Like most apex users it runs pretty much everything, adds redundancy, and lets me control things from anywhere! Very much a fan

 

[nothing_fancy]

If you're only interested in it as a monitoring device that it's probably not worth the price of admission. Personally I don't really look at the interface too much, I have it setup to text me if anything isn't working properly or if I have some sort of problem for instance with alkalinity or ph. If you are interested in dosing to maintain cal and alk and don't want to hand check those params all the time then you would wanna go with an apex or something similar. If you aren't home a lot to manage your system I would say its a pretty essential piece of tech to take advantage of. Lastly, it can get really deep with safeguards for potential overflow or if your water level drops too low. I as well as pretty much anyone that owns one would use it to control ATO pumps and also prevent the pumps from overflowing your tank or from running dry. Outside of that virtual outlets can help you setup complex feeding routines, maintenance scenarios, and pretty much anything else you can think of to program outlets.

 

[jrill]

You want an Apex because you haven't done enough research to see that Coralvue Hydros is a better choice .

 

[bakbay]

I NEED my Apex - put one in every tank! It gives me peace of mind, esp while I’m away at work or on vacation. I can’t imagine running a successful reef tank without one, esp since I’m not always in front of the tank. My Apex saved me from flooding the sump, flooding the house, cooking the tank, overdosing alk, etc! In the end, can I do without one? Yes but it will be very time consuming…and stressful not knowing.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

An apex is definitely a purchase I will be making relatively soon, just so I can monitor my tank better when I am out of town.

 

[zheka757]

You want an Apex because you haven't done enough research to see that Coralvue Hydros is a better choice .

You got a point here, but at same time, there is a reason why naptune is more popular also.

 

[exnisstech]

I've kicked around the idea but always decide against it. For me it introduces too many additional points of failure or a single one that takes out everything. I don't monitor pH and test it maybe once or twice a year just out of curiosity. I manually dose 2 part daily to 3 tanks. Takes less than 5 minutes. I dose a little microbactor 7 on two tanks manually another 2 minutes. I control most of my lights using apps and once they're set I rarely change them. I use ecosmart live for vortechs and radions, again once set I rarely change them. Another app for my neros but again set and forget. I do small water changes every 2 days or so manually. Another 30 minutes. Heaters are on wifi inkbirds. And I have a few wifi plugs for other stuff like fuge lights. I also tend to get frustrated when learning how to use a new app. I can only imagine how frustrated I would get trying to enter correct code into a controller. There I've succesfuly talked myself out of one again

 

[THESTRZA]

Has helped me maintain stability through monitoring - I have more time to enjoy my tank and less time testing, wondering about parameters if something is not right, and manually unplugging things. When you really jump in there a TON of control you have over your system. Auto Water changes have changed everything for me as well! It does not replace your need to monitor and do certain things manually, but it absolutely is a thick layer of redundancy to protect my investment!

 

[argiBK]

I have alkalinity monitoring and control set up through my ReefFactory products, ultimately want to expand that to Calcium and Phosphate with their recently announced testing modules.

Temperature monitoring and control is through my IM helio heaters.

The only things I would want to add control/automatic for would be 1) water production. Definitely possible, but also really scary for me if it fails! And 2) activating my cooling fans. Also very possible.

In that case, I’d probably run with Hydros over other manufacturers.

 

[1112-425XL]

I purchased a Coralvue Hydros for my tanks 2nd Birthday. Not sure why we always want things we definitely do not need? I struggled with the decision for a while. My main reason for talking myself into it was for monitoring when I'm away. PH, Temp, Power, Leaks, and the ability to turn things on and off with my phone or tablet from anywhere. I'm still pretty sure I don't need it, but I'm glad I have it.

 

[Reef Stu]

I was under the thinking I didn’t “need” an apex. I have smart plugs, dosing pumps, InkBird heater control, ReefBeat, and a online video camera. The one thing I could not see remotely was my PH. So I got the Apex JR, and I LOVE it. I’m able to track my ph swing throughout the day and adjust my dosage of kalk accordingly. Plus I have another temperature monitor with the JR. The price is much better, and I can expand just like the other apex models.

 

[apb03]

I was under the thinking I didn’t “need” an apex. I have smart plugs, dosing pumps, InkBird heater control, ReefBeat, and a online video camera. The one thing I could not see remotely was my PH. So I got the Apex JR, and I LOVE it. I’m able to track my ph swing throughout the day and adjust my dosage of kalk accordingly. Plus I have another temperature monitor with the JR. The price is much better, and I can expand just like the other apex models.

That's how I run my setup currently. I have Kasa smart plugs for my power control remotely, a security cam to observe the overall operation, and a reef-pi to monitor PH. It's messy but it works.

For me, the killer app to go full Controller mode is going to be the Hydros Kraken. Then I'll make the jump to the whole ecosystem with level controls, automation, etc.

 

[codenfx]

I've been trying to find reasons I need one but everything I'm doing is fine as is with the kasa smart strip and plug which I can control remotely, almost fully automated besides some things I can't monitor while away like the pH. But also because I'm lazy to rewire everything and set up. Maybe the black friday deals will convince me....or when I setup a new tank in the future.

 

[apb03]

I've been trying to find reasons I need one but everything I'm doing is fine as is with the kasa smart strip and plug which I can control remotely, almost fully automated besides some things I can't monitor while away like the pH. But also because I'm lazy to rewire everything and set up. Maybe the black friday deals will convince me....or when I setup a new tank in the future.

Same. I think it's those small annoyances that pile up that will eventually get me to make the jump. Stupid annoying stuff like overflowing skimmer due to feed mode or whatever, water level mishaps with my return pump, lack of ATO monitoring/control, etc.

 

[zheka757]

I've been trying to find reasons I need one but everything I'm doing is fine as is with the kasa smart strip and plug which I can control remotely, almost fully automated besides some things I can't monitor while away like the pH. But also because I'm lazy to rewire everything and set up. Maybe the black friday deals will convince me....or when I setup a new tank in the future.

I feel almost exactly same way

 

[apb03]

I WANT Cool automation, fancy water-level sensing tools, and automatic testing
I NEED A solution to my power situation. The cable management problem is atrocious, and frankly dangerous. The Kraken that's coming out will allow me to get rid of 50-75% of my cables, allow me to hook up a 100ah battery directly to all of my DC-powered devices, and provide me with the control and protection I need in a tidy way.

 

[jrill]

You got a point here, but at same time, there is a reason why naptune is more popular also.

Maybe because it's been around 15 years longer?

 

[RichReef]

seems like extra failure points.

And that is exactly why I do not use a controller.

 

[MnFish1]

I'll start by saying my hand are itching to get apex controller.
I don't really NEED it, my system is stable enough that I only need to test water monthly, can leave tank unsupervised for a week. I don't even know what to connect to it from my current system. Lights I prefer to use old style timers. Putting things like return pump to controller; seems like extra failure points. The idea of monitoring everything from the phone sounds like a good idea, but for the price tag, I don't know if its worth it, if all I WANT is to just to look at the phone.

listen ti yourself. 'you don't need it'. my only tank failures were from equipment failures. - I would never rely on any controller. not a slam on apex just my experience

 

[mrbiggs1986]

You want an Apex because you haven't done enough research to see that Coralvue Hydros is a better choice .

Bingo! Never used an apex but after doing some research I settled on the hydros and couldn’t be happier.