cerious how many use apex or reefkeepers

[garwood]

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?

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by garwood

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?

[Myka]

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.

[The Codfather]

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.

Originally Posted by Myka

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.

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

[whatcaneyedo]

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.

[Ginu]

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

[gobytron]

ignorant here...
what does the full or gold offer over my jr?

[Ginu]

Originally Posted by gobytron

ignorant here...
what does the full or gold offer over my jr?

JR

• Fusion Ready
• Includes Apex Jr Controller, Apex Display Module, Long-life Temperature Probe
• Basic functions: Light Control and Temperature Control at a great price point
• Cool Features: Internet Connectivity, phone and text alerts, over temperature protection, mobile phone and tablet access

Full

• Includes Apex Base Unit Controller, Apex Display Module, Long-life Temperature Probe, Energy Bar 8 and Standard pH Probe
• Fusion Ready
• Basic functions: Light Control, Temperature Control and pH Monitoring, pH Port, pH/ORP Port, I/O Switch Input, 4 V Ports
• Cool Features: Internet Connectivity, phone and text alerts, over temperature protection, mobile phone and tablet access

Gold

• Includes Apex Base Unit Controller, Apex Display Module, Long-life Temperature Probe, Energy Bar 8, Lab Grade pH, ORP and Conductivity Probes as well as the PM2 Salinity Module
• Fusion Ready
• Basic functions: Light Control, Temperature Control and pH Monitoring, pH Port, pH/ORP Port, I/O Switch Input, 4 V Ports
• Cool Features: Internet Connectivity, phone and text alerts, over temperature protection, mobile phone and tablet access

[gobytron]

Thanks Ginu.

it kind of looks like not much as far as functionality goes based on that.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by gobytron

Thanks Ginu.

it kind of looks like not much as far as functionality goes based on that.

Without the variable ports, you can't run pumps and LEDs on profiles without buying an add on module. Power bar is only 4 outlets vs 8. Depends on what you need, now and in the future. The Jr is a good start, and you can add on if you need to.