Alright just to help out a few new people. Can you guys tell me something’s you love about the Neptune apex classic/gold this post is for you @jesse alcaraz
Can you tell me why you love the apex classic?
- Thread starter djrice69
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Whether you use a controller or not, you definitely should have your heaters connected to something. Either a more involved controller like Neptune or GHL, but at the very least a ranco temp controller. Tanks get cooked when heaters mal function.
I like my Wifi Apex. I haven't had any issues other than an occasional need to reboot the Apex to reestablish the internet connection. I think that is more to do with my router than the device itself though. I don't have the most complicated system.
The main difference between the classic and the new WIFI version, are that certain devices will be controlled by the 1-Link, which the classic does not have. For instance, I have a Trident (which is awesome) and requires that 1-Link connection to operate with the controller.
The classic version still has access to Fusion, which is awesome.
I like my Wifi Apex. I haven't had any issues other than an occasional need to reboot the Apex to reestablish the internet connection. I think that is more to do with my router than the device itself though. I don't have the most complicated system.
The main difference between the classic and the new WIFI version, are that certain devices will be controlled by the 1-Link, which the classic does not have. For instance, I have a Trident (which is awesome) and requires that 1-Link connection to operate with the controller.
The classic version still has access to Fusion, which is awesome.
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I'm going to be the nay sayer here. I had used the Apex for about 6 years . I had tanks without the Apex for about 9 years. When I moved to Cali from Portland and set up my new little 50g tank, I left the Apex in the closet, about 15 feet from my tank.
The best part for me is the one button to feed button to turn off the power heads, return pump, and the protein skimmer. When the display unit broke for the second time (replaced it once) and I had to use the phone app that stopped being so great.
If you are using it to monitor your calcium reactors pH, it is handy for that. I run my CA reactor very old school so that was never a thing for me.
I had mine setup for to warn me if something went wrong, but when something went wrong (power out) the internet for the house went off as well so, it could not warn me. What saved my system that day was the $75 battery back up that runs my vortech. The Apex did not come into play.
I also had mine setup for temperature control. Cascading things like the white lights would turn off, fan turn on, chiller turn on, blues turn off, etc etc. But I also have my central air to go on at 74F, so that never came into play for me.
Turning the heater off in case of failure can be handy. I run a series of small heaters, and I buy nice heaters, so one heater being stuck on is not going to nuke my tank as it is.
Really the Apex is just a fancy timer (unless you are using it as a pH probe then it is a fancy timer with a pH probe). Before the Apex I ran my systems on those little plug in timers you get at $5 from target. With the gear now you don't even need those, except as a back up on the ATO or if you run a stand exhaust fan. I went back to my American DJ powerstrip and computer system battery backup on the vortech.
IME the Apex is a nice toy, but it really doesn't do anything that amazing for most reefers. I have not tried the Trident system, that might be a game changer for some people but I don't see it as much more than a re-branded dosing pump.
JMO
The best part for me is the one button to feed button to turn off the power heads, return pump, and the protein skimmer. When the display unit broke for the second time (replaced it once) and I had to use the phone app that stopped being so great.
If you are using it to monitor your calcium reactors pH, it is handy for that. I run my CA reactor very old school so that was never a thing for me.
I had mine setup for to warn me if something went wrong, but when something went wrong (power out) the internet for the house went off as well so, it could not warn me. What saved my system that day was the $75 battery back up that runs my vortech. The Apex did not come into play.
I also had mine setup for temperature control. Cascading things like the white lights would turn off, fan turn on, chiller turn on, blues turn off, etc etc. But I also have my central air to go on at 74F, so that never came into play for me.
Turning the heater off in case of failure can be handy. I run a series of small heaters, and I buy nice heaters, so one heater being stuck on is not going to nuke my tank as it is.
Really the Apex is just a fancy timer (unless you are using it as a pH probe then it is a fancy timer with a pH probe). Before the Apex I ran my systems on those little plug in timers you get at $5 from target. With the gear now you don't even need those, except as a back up on the ATO or if you run a stand exhaust fan. I went back to my American DJ powerstrip and computer system battery backup on the vortech.
IME the Apex is a nice toy, but it really doesn't do anything that amazing for most reefers. I have not tried the Trident system, that might be a game changer for some people but I don't see it as much more than a re-branded dosing pump.
JMO
Great thanks for your 2 cents. I think most people use apex as a redundancy measure and for monitoring. On some of the key points you mentioned it’s better safe then sorry not to have it? I run a diy calcium reactor and I could basically get a basic ph monitor to use my calrx but that’s one more device to plug in then for redundancy purposes I can hook that up to the apex to have a second ph probe to monitor the first one if the standalone ph probe goes out (ph probe do go bad) to kick off the solenoid on my calrx.
As for trident it isn’t a doser pump it’s an actual colormeter that draws tritation water sample and measure with a colorimeter very much like a Hanna checker but at set intervals it can monitor only and or dose if u have a dos to work with it.
As for the timer I think it looks better then having multiple timers taking him space on the power switch
As for heaters I would not rely on the apex to turn on and off the temperature as the relay inside can go bad so it’s best to have an external temperature controller like the ink bird/ranco to control it and have that plugged into the apex as a redundancy measure. Most people do smaller heaters but with winter around the corner you can monitor how often your heater kicks on and off and to adjust the in off cycle with the graphs from apex fusion. A battery back up is always great to have the apex can still function without internet with the basic but can’t run without power a long with your other devices
As for trident it isn’t a doser pump it’s an actual colormeter that draws tritation water sample and measure with a colorimeter very much like a Hanna checker but at set intervals it can monitor only and or dose if u have a dos to work with it.
As for the timer I think it looks better then having multiple timers taking him space on the power switch
As for heaters I would not rely on the apex to turn on and off the temperature as the relay inside can go bad so it’s best to have an external temperature controller like the ink bird/ranco to control it and have that plugged into the apex as a redundancy measure. Most people do smaller heaters but with winter around the corner you can monitor how often your heater kicks on and off and to adjust the in off cycle with the graphs from apex fusion. A battery back up is always great to have the apex can still function without internet with the basic but can’t run without power a long with your other devices
I currently use the Apex Classic to create random flow with my Tunze pumps and ramp up/down my Kessil lights (VDM), control my calcium reactor and sync turning off and delay turn in my ATO/skimmer when my return pump shuts off. Also use it as a basic timer to control my refugium light on the opposite cycle of my Kessil lights and shuts off things based on heat. As some others stated, it is possible to have a tank with out it but I enjoy having everything in one place. I’m sure there is much more I can do with it (i.e. feed modes, alerts, etc.) but haven’t really spent the time.
I am not using any additional modules other than the brain. I haven’t really looked into the other modules.
I am not using any additional modules other than the brain. I haven’t really looked into the other modules.
