I'm thinking about getting the new Apex controller, even though I don't have that much yet, but I am thinking if I get better monitoring I will be more successful at the hobby. Anyone using the new Apex, and if so what you think about it.
I have the classic I think. lol it's pretty cool herd reef keepers are good too and cheap just don't connect to the net. A few ppl in here have them I just got mine a few months ago and still don't fully understand it. But I know enough for what I got plugged into it lol
I also have the classic and love it. Has saved my bacon a few times and sure makes lots of things easier. I think the new one is less difficult to program but if this old geezer can do it, it's not very hard.
Oh come on ... you're not THAT old! Lol I believe mine is the classic also. VERY good for someone with ADD that is quite forgetful. I am in the process of gathering parts to build a break out box for manual switches for some things though ... I do find it inconvenient to HAVE to use the phone/app to turn things on or off or to trigger feed cycles and such. Just the steps of finding the phone, opening the app, waiting for it to load ... sometimes I'd just like to flip a switch or press a button. Pretty much my entire system is automated though. I really love that! I have probes for monitoring some parameters, I can control my lighting and gyre/mp10 with the app and set up different flow patterns and such, use the EB8 power strip to program things like the return pump, Skimmer and ATO to shut off for feed cycles or cleaning. For me, I really think the apex system makes it possible for me to be successful keeping a reef tank! I almost see it as an "accessibility" feature since I very much rely on it to ensure things are running properly on a daily basis. I also like my bells and whistles though!
I have the reefkeeper lite. It does the job. However, if I was to start over I would definitely go with Apex. Apex wasn't around yet when I got it and it's technology for the price is hard to beat. It's amazing how far we have come over the last 10 years.
After looking up exactly what an apex is, and what an apex cost, there is no way. That is just incredibly expensive. With the attachments, you could buy a house for what that cost. $500 for two power heads??? just incredible
The reefkeeper is a much better buy it looks like. Why do you need an external device to control your heater though? My wavemaker came with it's own controller. I already have a ph meter. If I did not have that stuff, maybe the reefkeeper would be a good deal, but you would still need the power heads and heater without a thermostat in it. It doesn't state whether the ph probe is replaceable. I keep mine very clean after using it to make it last. I don't think I will win the lotto tomorrow
Not sure what you are talking about on the power heads. I don't know if apex specific power heads but it is able to control the maxspect gyre and MP10 I do own. Which is quite convenient. As far as the heater goes, with the temp probe, you can monitor the constant temp. You can see exactly when it is coming on and going off. You actually just use a regular heater and program the outlet to turn on and off at certain temps. You can also set up redundancy this way. Have one controlled by thermostat and the other controlled by the apex. You can also have them shut off completely if it goes above a certain temp. And with the monitoring, you can see the history in the app. I don't rely specifically on the salinity probe but use it as a gauge to see if it's fluctuating too much or holding pretty steady with the ATO and all. I still use my refractometer. Same with pH. You can watch the natural rise and fall with the probe and just make sure it's holding pattern, but I still check it with my meter (which tests exactly the same as the probe every time). You can purchase separate probes but need to have the correct box to control them. It's all accessible and controllable from a phone or tablet too, which really comes in handy if you are away from the house and get an error. And if you set up a camera, you can also monitor visually. (Doesn't have to be the apex cam ... just any wifi cam you can see away from home). Is it expensive? Yes! Is it necessary? No. Can it completely automate your system other than water changes? (And I'm sure this could actually be possible with the right setup) yes. Is it very much peace of mind? Yes! It's all about what you want or need to be successful.
I don't have any of those specific things. And I'll add, I DID buy my setup used as a package deal. Well, most of it. There are some corals, fish and equipment that I already had or bought separately. Buying used can be a real money saver if you are wanting or needing the higher priced things like the Apex. For me, it's a life saver! And before I got this system, I was already looking into buying it all ... at some point along the way.
The apex with the doser pump can also do your water changes. I plan on having this incorporated into my tank eventually. I was thinking about doing a gallon change every day 30 gallons a month pretty much what I do now but twice a month.
I would totally set it up for auto water changes if I had the area to do so! Closest I can do for now is having the water change station in the garage so I just have to fill a bucket. The only thing with auto change is that I have a bare bottom tank and have to vac out detritus regularly and an auto change system wouldn't do any cleaning. If I could only set up an auto vac ...
I am running filter socks they have been keeping my sump very clean. I am planning on making a small room in my garage to house my sump and all the equipment to make my life easier. Ive got it all laid out in my head at least Lol.
Ok, this one you will have to school me on. How does it automate your system other than water changes? What does it monitor, and what does it do? Forget peace of mind for a second, just exactly what does it do?
A quick question on doser pumps, it seems most of the arguments on the internet are what kind of acrylic the reservoirs are made of, that is really not that important. What is important, to me at least, these pumps are built exactly like wagner paint pumps, You squeeze a hose, then unsqueeze it, allowing it to fill before squeezing it again. Once again, in my experience, those hoses that get squeezed and unsqueezed so many times that they will stay that way, nothing going through it. The warmer it is, that faster that happens. So, what I am asking, is the life span of a typical dosing pump before the output starts dropping off?
suction a power head to the bottom and turn it on before you syphon, it will blow everthing up and give you a chance to get it, or it will get recirculated to your socks
How do you like the maxspect? I considered it, but the controller cost more than the pump. In addition, to many people developed noise issues with them and could not seem to have the company take care of them. I just went with something a bit more conventional with a nice controller and a one button feed control.
