Apex question

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#1
so its time to finally get up to date an dgo form my ACIII to an Apex.

Before if buy a bunch of EB832s i was wondering if anyone knows if you can run the old school DC8 strips with the Apex
Since i couldn't find any info on line i figured maybe someone here has done it

There is no BUS input only the CAT5. If so what do i need to get them to connect to the Apex

thanks for the help
 
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#4
The power strips from the ac3 were dc8’s (direct connect 8). There are 5 types power strips here in usa.

Dc8
Dc4hd

Eb8
Eb4

Eb832

(EB is energy bar)

So here’s what Neptune brains work with what power strips

Aqua controller

-Dc8 and dc4hd

Apex classic

-Dc4, dc4hd, eb8, eb4, and eb832

apex lite and apex jr

-Eb8, eb4, and eb832

Apex WiFi (newest apex)

-Eb832, eb8, and eb4
 
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#5
The eb832 have the ability to power monitor. This function is only available with the new apex WiFi. The eb832 will connect to the older apex’s but you will not have the ability to power monitor each individual outlet.
 
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#7
So I was like you mike one of the last to switch from ac3 to apex. I’ve only had an apex for 2 years. I thought “ man I don’t need that fancy phone control crap” but man once you have it, it make managing the tank way easier.
Bro my apex runs 4 tank and automated my ro system. One apex brain is doing what 4 or 5 ac3 or acjr would do.
Plus I get notifications on my phone as soon as something wrong is happening.
Here is a list of what modules are hooked up to my apex

Then with the 0-10v ports I the gyres and led panel. The apex also controls my radions and Vortechs.
In the programming I put feed mode coding so when I say “hey Siri feed fish” my iPhone tells apex to go into feed A. Then any coding I’ve linked to feed A takes place. So return goes to 50% and all other pumps either turn off or go into feed mode except vectra m1. The apex can’t control that.
 
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#9
Yea I still have my ac3 and a few dc outlets. I’ve been holding onto them so if I need to setup a quick holding system.
 
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#10
yah my ACIII has never had issues but its time to replace my DA reefkeeper and ACIII to get my display and garage tanks on one controller
 
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#11
yah my ACIII has never had issues but its time to replace my DA reefkeeper and ACIII to get my display and garage tanks on one controller
Yea I made my own 75’ Aqua bus cable from diy male usb connection and cat8 cable. This runs though the walls to upstairs laundry room where the ro system is.

Here’s the connection soldered. Then I use heat shrink to seal the wiring.

Here’s a cable I made for a buddy. When we did his system we ran conduit from his house to a storage shed on the back yard. The conduit runs under the dirt so it’s not an eye sore. We ran the diy Aqua bus cable and 4 ro lines through the conduit. In the shed we put two 55g food grade barrels. One for ro/do water and the other for salt water. We made a mixing station and automated his ro/di system and made auto water change system that is all controlled by the apex. My buddy then a few weeks later tells me “dude this is kinda boring the apex took all the work out of owning a reef tank”. All I could do was lmao.
Edit in the barrels we installed float switches that tell the apex when each barrel is full or empty. The ro/di barrel also acts as his auto top off reservoir. We used a float valve as the first fail safe to not flood his house. But if the float valve fails then there is float switches a few inches from the top of the sump. If that float switch gets activated then it turns off a water solenoid in the shed. That solenoid cuts the supply of water to the float valve. This is the second fail safe. Also if this switch gets activated it also sends him a notification on his phone that lets him know that something is wrong.


Here’s the connectors.
 
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#14
I had the lunar stuff way back but kinda find it pointless these days. I don’t even use the moon phase programming on the Radions. But from what I remember 1 LSM will control 4 or 5 LEDs. Yes you will need 1 lsm per tank unless the tanks are close to each other.
 
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#15
I do believe that you can use the 0-10v port to control moon lights. If you get a low wattage dimmable meanwell driver and a few led pucks. The 0-10v ports should able to run the native lunar phase that’s programmed into the apex seasonal program
 

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