Convince me to buy an Apex Controller. (1 Viewer)

[jlanger]

Ever since the new Apex Controller was revealed at MACNA a while back, I've been tempted to add one to my system.
So, why haven't I? Mainly, cost.

I currently have a DA ReefKeeper Lite running my 120gal system.
Which is working very well; as I really only use it for heater control, ATO, and sump lighting schedule.
I control my Radion LEDs with a ReekLink, but have yet to add the Vortech water pumps.
I have dedicated dosing pumps for supplements and additives, so there's no need from the controller with that aspect.
All told though, the RKL doesn't offer much more.

The main reason behind considering to upgrade to the Apex Controller is because of my new Fluval M60 build.
I'm just a week or so away from finishing the mods and adding the water, sand and rock.
I already have a controller for the heater, but that's it. I need to add something for an ATO system. And I may want to control the Maxspect R420R LED fixture at some point.
I can go out and buy just a stand-alone ATO kit for about $150, or use that money to get the Apex for the 120gal and use the RKL on the Fluval.

So, I'm asking you Apex owners to sell me on buying the Apex Controller.
In reading through various build threads, and what-not, I know the basics and what the manufacturer promotes, but fill me in in what you've learned or experienced with using the Apex.

What do you value most about the controller?
What assets do you find to be essential when running the Apex?
What level do you recommend one starts with? Standard, Lab-grade or Gold?
Which add-on modules are important? Or necessary?
What schedules/events are you using with the controller?
How are you maximizing the controller to your benefit?

I'm sure I will upgrade at some point, but does it make the most sense to do it now?
Or do I just stay with what I have and spend the money on more corals and fish?
Or do I just jump all in and get a full Apex system for the 120gal and a Apex Jr. for the Fluval?

Your turn. Go.

And "Thanks!" Your input is greatly appreciated.

 

[BlacknBlue2]

For me I went with the Apex controller because of the fact that I will be maintaining a much larger system ie a 55g to a 180g tank setup. And for almost 2 yrs I have not had a controller and nor teh money to buy it, so now with taxes coming in I am commiting to having a great system and a way to keep tabs more closely. I am currently starting out with the standard grade Ph probe.

 

[Bschowa]

All the cool kids have one

But seriously, the reason I went with mine is the ease of use, being able to program it from my phone and control it from anywhere when I am out of town, was a nice step up from the reef keeper, for basic functions it worked great for me but now I am doing things I never even thought of when I had my reef keeper. I have a gold and a lab grade for my two tanks, mainly because they are so far away from each other I didn't want to buy a large cord. Functionally wise I prefer the gold because it allows me to set up alerts due to salinity. Just the other day I was at work and I got alerted that my salinity was dropping fairly quickly, I hopped on fusion and turned off my return and skimmer just in case as I didn't have anyone home (pumps and heater and probes are still in the tank so I was good to go) turns out when I got home I had a mess from my skimmer going nuts throwing water out of my tank and the ato was pumping all the lost water back in. I still had a mess to clean up but it was nothing compared to what it could have been had I not had the apex, my reef keeper even though it had net was way to complex for me to figure out how to do stuff like that.

Also if you are excited about reading up on stuff there is a lot of apex gurus out there that write crazy codes of ways to do certain stuff. Just recently I was reading and saw that someone had set up that if their return shut off (power failure) even for a second a light would turn on in their sump to alert them of it, I took that code and adjusted it so that if my return goes off a light goes on in my stand and stays on for 5 min after the return goes back on. This allows me to view my sump when I am doing water changes or if the return shuts off at night I am able to look into my stand and see that everything is functioning properly without having to fumble around for a flashlight.

My skimmer also shuts off for 30 min after my auto feeder or I trigger the feed mode.

All of these things were way to hard for me to figure out on the reef keeper but on the apex it was very easy for me to catch on and start exploring for myself.



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[jlanger]

For me I went with the Apex controller because of the fact that I will be maintaining a much larger system ie a 55g to a 180g tank setup. And for almost 2 yrs I have not had a controller and nor teh money to buy it, so now with taxes coming in I am commiting to having a great system and a way to keep tabs more closely. I am currently starting out with the standard grade Ph probe.

I just finished up a large side job and have two more coming up, so the money will be there.
But I'm also very conscious of where I invest my money. (Ha-ha!! This hobby as an investment! :rotflmao: )

All the cool kids have one.

Maybe that's just it... I want to be cool!

 

[Bschowa]

Double post after editing my first one.


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[General0]

I've used the RKL and a Aquacontroller III on all my old tanks and they both have been great. I've always wanted to upgrade to the Apex but with my older controllers working fine for what I needed them to do, I could never justify the extra cost over buying that next awesome fish or coral....If you have the chance to upgrade and can maybe recoup some of the cost by selling the old setup then do it for sure! I would love to be able to use an app to control my setup one day too!

 

[infinityends]

Overall I went with the Apex because it is much more customizable. With that power comes a little bit of a learning curve due to having to learn some basic programming skills if you have never done so before. But it is possible to build fairly detailed controls and monitoring of your system. While the reef keepers seem to be a little more set in their functionality.


I have to admit, I am very curious about the controller demoed by vertex at MACNA 2013, but I haven't seen any news on it since. My biggest fear for that controller is that it is based off of the android phone/tablet operating system. But I would still love to tinker with one at some point.

 

[BlacknBlue2]

On a side note, I am going to also purchase the lab-grade Ph probe and use the standard probe as a backup.

 

[marty9876]

You are a tinker and a perfectionist, an Apex will give you endless amount of opportunity for both.

 

[jlanger]

You are a tinker and a perfectionist, an Apex will give you endless amount of opportunity for both.

So... you're saying it'll be just enough rope.

 

[Kepler]

As far as I'm aware the Apex Jr does not have input for switches. You will need one of the "probe expansions" or whatever they are called for the ability to use a float switch. Probably more cost effective to keep the ReefKeeper Lite for the small tank and buy an Apex for the 120.

 

[Bschowa]

Yes in order to use float switches not designed specifically for the apex, you need to purchase a breakout box for any of the apex units, this is 39.99 I believe


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[jlanger]

As far as I'm aware the Apex Jr does not have input for switches. You will need one of the "probe expansions" or whatever they are called for the ability to use a float switch.

Yes in order to use float switches not designed specifically for the apex, you need to purchase a breakout box for any of the apex units, this is 39.99 I believe.

I haven't relied on using any switches for my ATO set ups.
I use the controller to turn on my dosing pump to run an allotted amount of time every hour.
I monitor how much water evaporated over a week and by doing some math, I figured out how much water needed to be dosed per hour. By monitoring the water level in the return chamber of my sump, I can tell if a need to adjust the length of time the pump needs to run. During the season changes (when windows open up/close), I have to modify the time by a handful of seconds to keep the water level consistent.
Doing it this way has been very reliable as there are no switches to fault.

Probably more cost effective to keep the ReefKeeper Lite for the small tank and buy an Apex for the 120.

This is probably the route I will take; for now.

 

[ohuno]

It's Mac compatible, That says it all....

~david

 

[LowersMyBP]

This is probably the route I will take; for now.

Yeah, except get an apex junior or an old ac3 for the fluval. The reliable web access vs anything the rkl with net can provide is worth it. I use an rkl on my hospital tank and my water mixing station just to get an easy to see temp display. Very happy to no longer be dealing with that net module. I don't use even 50% of the apex functionality, still glad I spent the money.

 

[acharpenter]

I bought mine as I found a great deal on it and I of course always want the latest and greatest.

However - I don't need it.

I only monitor temp and Ph - I don't dose anything and don't have an auto top off - in fact I don't have anything auto. I am paranoid that way and wont set up anything auto on my system.

The Apex is awesome for the reefers who do have auto top offs, dosers etc - if you have those - you want the Apex. It really does do it all.

As far as how cool it is to have online and be able to access from your phone - you can do that with any of the controllers - look at DG - he runs his system of an ACJR.


If I used all the extra's that the Apex can manage for you - it is the shizzle - but I don't - so I am actively looking for an ACIII with an DC8- find one and I will strike ya a deal for my Apex dude

 

[eschulist]

Ya Im also in the boat that its too expensive for doing minor automation. If you have a LOT of stuff that you are switching on and off automatically or you have a lot of points of failure to the system it adds security. But for a few minor on/offs or temp checking its way overkill. If you were going to get it you might as well do the standard or higher version and control both tanks with one apex rather than using 2 different brand controllers or getting the apex and jr.

 

[patent]

I don't think the apex or any other controller does much for you with the maxspect. I could be mistaken, but I believe it would only turn it on and off, but if you want a program that ramps up gradually during the day, you have to use the maxspect's interface. Apex doesn't work with it, I think, other than pure on off.

The thing I really like about the Apex is that I can configure it pretty easily to send me emails or texts when this or that happens. Water on the floor, temps, ph, power bars going out, etc. For reasons I don't understand my lights were tripping the circuit on one tank. I get emails whenever that power bar goes out. Probably saved a few fish.

Edit to add, I also like the logging. I use the ph logging, temp logging, and the power bar amperage log. I can see how much energy the power bars are drawing throughout the day. Really only useful to me for knowing if the heaters are being flogged too hard, but I still like it. pH and temp are pretty self explanatory.

 

[asifiqbal2]

I think the biggest bang for your buck is the ability to customize, and sky is the limit with the ability to program your own code.
Accessibility via smartphone and the new APEX Fusion interface is a plus as well.

As far as the probe goes, go with lab grade as they last longer than regular probe. Over time I replaced mine with BRS lab grade probe.

 

[ChristopherKriens]

The best part about an internet-enabled controller is that alert. It's liberating and allows you to get more out of your time away. Instead of worrying about x, y, and z, you worry about a, b, and c instead