reef keeper hate it tho only does lights and heaters for me wish i would a bought a apex also they don't have mac platform all my computers and laptops mac

Apex full here. LOVE IT! Email alerts, switching and monitoring capabilities are almost endless, so it grows with you. Love Apex Fusion, so much easier to get all wireless.

Same here for the apex full. Can't vote:redface:

I have the apex lite and love it

Couldn't vote as there is a Reefkeeper Lite with variants, and the Elite with variants

Guess I'm in the minority so far. I use a Reefkeeper Elite.
From what I can tell from posts mine is much easier to program and has all the bell and whistle add-ons like Apex with a brand twist;
Apex supports the Ecotech MP/QD series while DA supports Tunze

DA also has additional modules like Apex;
Moonlights, dc pump controllers, dc light controllers, net modules etc etc ...

I went DA for the price and PC programmability
My unit supports up to 63 modules, and the new Archon supports up to 255 modules :surprise::surprise:

Another one here for full Apex, gonna run it on my new tank.

I think in a smaller tank with less stuff to mess with, you can get away with it. But for peace of mind and insurance for thousands of dollars of livestock and even your home, a good controller is a worthwhile investment Imo.

I used to run a ReefKeeper Elite. It was 1/2 price during a boxing day sale through Digital Aquatics directly . It did everything I needed it to with zero issues for much cheaper than an Apex. I sold it awhile back though as I now just have a FOWLR tank that uses a power and timer just fine. I'll admit though that after paying the long dollar for Ecotech lights with their own built in controls, wave makers with their own built in controls and ATO with it's own controls, having a very expensive controller was less appealing.

I use an apex jr.

Im new to the reef scene and i dont understand why the need. My lights are fully programmable, my wavemakers are synced with controllers, my return pump /skimmer stay on 24/7. truthfully the only thing i can see to need a controller for is the heaters and that would be for safety incase heaters break down. I have had tanks all my life and never needed a email to tell me how my tank is doin...pls what am i missing?

My heaters have a controller on them too. I have one set at 78 and then a back up set at 76 that has never come on. According to my thermometer my tank never varies by more than about 1/2 a degree. A controller comes in handy if you are controlling PH or doing something that effects it. An email saying that there is water on the floor or the power has gone out is nice to have as well. Turning off all the pumps for feeding with one button is handy but I have all my pumps on a single power bar so I can do this already without a controller. Being able to see all your tank parameters at once and log any rise and fall cycles can be done with a controller although this also leads to a lot of people constantly messing around with their tanks every time they see a change which can be bad as well. Some people have set up automatic water changes with their controllers as well. So I wouldn't say a controller is a requirement as all the equipment you buy is designed to run just fine by itself but some people just need it for peace of mind and if a hobby isn't relaxing what's the point?