I don't run a controller on my tanks, but many of my clients have them. From my experiences and talking with my clients, it seems the Reef Angel and Reefkeeper are the most user friendly to set up, the Apex is more challenging, and the Profilux is a damn nightmare. My personal pick would be Apex.

I have a profilux, I've never run an apex or rk, but I'm sure they're all relatively close to functionality. I do however like a controller that will allow me to mod my equipment for control.


Running the profilux with the new control center is very straight forward.

Full Apex here.
1. Turns the lights on and off according to a schedule and also if the tank gets too warm.
2. Shuts the return pump off if there is a flood or if the water level within the display tank raises too high.
3. Turns cooling fan and heater on and off as required to keep the temperature relatively steady (I need another cooling fan).
4. With a couple float switches and a maxi-jet pump it is my ATO.
5. Turns a solenoid on and off twice a week to replenish the evaporation top off RO/DI water reservoir.
6. Controls the flow pattern of two Tunzes.
7. Turns a CO2 solenoid on and off to maintain a steady pH in the Calcium Reactor.
8. Turns the mixing pump on and off for the Kalkwasser Reactor several times a day.
9. Sounds an alarm or sends me a text/email if one of the pH readings isn't right, or if the tank is too warm, or if its flooding etc.
10. Allows me to shut anything off or turn anything on from an internet connection.
11. Enables me to shut the pumps or skimmer down for a few minutes during feeding or maintenance at the touch of a button, then starts those back up again automatically.

All this within one handy handy controller for a modest cost... as opposed to having 10 or more individual devices that are not cross integrated. On the downside I do have 'all of my eggs in one basket', but after 5(?) years of operation I have have only had one problem and it was my own fault for getting the module wet.

I was wondering if the full apex goes on sale usually on boxing day or not. I think i would like to try to design something similar with rasberry pi..or has anyone done this? Fishbit from kickstarter also looks good for water parameter testing.

Generally not.

J&l do put them on sale maybe once a year but mostly just the add ons

Profilux user here. I haven't used the Apex or Reefkeeper. I like the system and it is actually quite simple but if you have no experience with it can be confusing to start. I think if GHL was interested in the N.A market though they need to write very clear, simple manuals and update them using primary English speakers as writers, put lots of high quality videos on how to's on youtube and make the computer in China and like Apple say "designed in Germany" and cut the price in 1/2. How much simpler could it be than drop down menus for programming?

Used to use reefekeeper but upgraded to Apex Full plus a bunch of modules and glad I did.
There is nothing wrong with the reefeeper besides the limiting factor of the amount of modules which can be incorporated plus being able to control my system via cell is a huge bonus.

With the Apex i have DOS, WXM, ALD, LSM

There was a sale two years ago, but nothing this past year.

Im looking forward to fishbit. The only thing i wished apex could do is to give me readings on calcium. Magnesium and alk level. So i dont have to do those manually.