http://fishtankprojects.com/diy-aquarium-projects/arduino-or-raspberrypi-reef-tank-controller/ https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/376769-diy-poor-mans-neptune-system-for-under-300/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/410531322254048884/ Seems apex may have some competition from the diy'ers
Well the pump for the neptune system says it is rated for 5000 running hours and if the pump goes out you can just snap the pump out and replace it. Pump cost 30 bucks as far as the hose goes it is replaceable also and the hose is very cheap to buy. Hope this answers your questions
It can monitor and control temp and even show you on a graph. It can control lighting ... think of like a super controllable timer ... you can program when and what intensity it comes on and then how it ramps and changes color throughout the day and when it goes off. You can also set fail safes so that if the temp goes so high the lights will shut off. It can monitor pH, salinity, ORP (I don't fully understand this but it can be a signal something could be wrong with the system), temp ... you can even put flow monitors inline to monitor flow from the pump. You can program when and what intensity your powerheads run. Maxspect gyres can integrate with an icecap module and be programmed various ways. The ecotech pumps are also able to be controlled with apex and even have different modes you can select. There may be more by these are the 2 I'm familiar with because it's what I have. There are 4 feed cycles that you can program to do whatever. I have mine set so that if I hit feed A it just turns on my under cabinet light. Feed B turns off the return pump, Skimmer, ATO and power heads for like 15 minutes. Feed C does the same but for 30 and feed D is for an hour or more for cleaning. When the time expires the systems turn back on in the order I choose. This is great for forgetful people so you don't forget to turn the pump back on! The EB8 power strip is awesome in that it works with the system and each individual outlet can be programmed. So for turning off my Skimmer, ATO and return pump, I turn off the outlets they are plugged into. Pretty much unless I hit a feed cycle or am doing maintenance, the tank just runs like clockwork. I manually feed the fish and corals rather than using a feeder, but those are available also! Here are some screen shots so you can get a visual ... and I'm sure there are MANY more things it can do that I don't know about ... there is a whole forum just for the system.
I usually siphon it straight off the bottom where it gathers. I have a powerhead blowing along the back but there is so much rock and coral it's hard not to have some dead spots.
I think the tubing is a soft rubber rather than a harder plastic like airline tubing. I have one but haven't used it yet so not exactly sure.
I actually really like it! I don't use the controller and actually am not even sure I have one. I use the icecap and program through the apex. You can buy the pump separately or buy 2 pumps and 1 controller. I thought I was having problems with it a while back but took it all apart and cleaned it thoroughly and then added a bit of silicone lubricant to a few spots when putting back together and it is running nicely. It's super powerful and depending on how close I have it to the surface, I get a nice ripple/wave. You can program 2 to work together and alternate back and forth ... eventually I'd like this better than the MP10 I think.
I don't use Neptune dosing pumps. I use cheap BRS pumps that are controlled by the Apex. Their tubes are simple to replace and only cost a few dollars . Mine are over 4 years old and haven't needed replacement yet. I haven't added any Neptune accessories and likely won't. Apex can monitor you temp and turn your heaters off automatically if they fail in the "on" position(which happens pretty commonly). There are lots of redundancies you can create with a controller.
Do you not feel restricted in that to use the features of the apex, you must either purchase apex ready products, or you must buy an additional module? Even the ph module is a $100 add on, with the probes running $50 to $75, and needing to be replaced every 18 month. I understand you got the deal purchasing it with the setup and all. I cannot recommend this for someone just starting out though. That is an awful large chunk of change to spend on something that could simply be done with other things. Reading your reply, it came easily to me, that I could simply use my alexa to shut everthing down for a feeding or cleaning, with just one power module, $25 to $35.
The thing I like about t is that it's all in one place. I know it could all be controlled separately, and hat is how it all operates without an apex but for me, having it all in one place and not having to fiddle with different things, controls, apps, manual plugs, remembering to turn things back on after a certain time ... it feels priceless! I'm so forgetful it's not funny! Before I got the water change station all fixed, I don't know how many times I flooded the garage because the auto shut off wasn't hooked up. Even with setting alarms, I've silenced them "about" to go out and gotten distracted! I think distraction is my middle name! Lol!! But like I said, they are definitely not required and many, many people run successful reefs without them. But for me it is almost necessary to have everything in one place at my fingertips. The ability to monitor away from home and actually make adjustments is great too! I can turn anything connected on or off from the app. And say I'm out of town and the power goes out ... I'll get a notification and can call someone to go check on it.
I I Agree with you on that... Knowing if something goes wrong while I am not there would be priceless... The ability to fix it would be even more priceless... The number of people I could call to do something about is zero
I saw that... I was just pointing out that not all apex come with this device... Without having it would certainly limit the things you could do with it... So spending $500 for the apex, then having to spend another 200$ to monitor the temp... I would feel I was being robbed at gun point
That's if you want to monitor ORP or monitor pH in a second location.....like a calcium reactor. Trust me, I have one. The pH probe, temp probe and capability comes as part of the Apex.
Really liking the apex!!! I got the ato and a solenoid valve have it topping fuge off straight from my Rodi unit. Lol
