Neptune Apex VS Hydros controller

[SchnitzelReef]

Trying to order a new controller for my tank. My old system had an apex, and it worked flawlessly for 6 years. But I’ve been reading that quality has gone downhill at Neptune. You see alot of issues with their units dying or connection problems etc.

Does anyone have any experience with Hydros? I’ve been told by a couple people that hydros is a great alternative.

Post your experience if you have had any good or bad with either controller. Help me make up my mind.


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[wishntoboutside]

Come by my home and I can give you a complete hydros demo.
I think it the hydros network will exceed all of your expectations

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Come by my home and I can give you a complete hydros demo.
I think it the hydros network will exceed all of your expectations

You’re not the first person to tell me that. I’m def leaning towards the hydro, just wanted to see if anyone talked me out of it.


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[Justkeepswimming]

I have had good success with my apex , trident , and DOS doser.

My older EB8 went out and they made me pay some money for a new gen upgraded EB8 but no problems since .

 

[drexel]

I have both and like them for different reasons. But if someone is just entering the controller world, then I would probably recommend Hydros. The programming is straight forward and you're not stuck with buying a massive system to start with. Hydros gives you a lot of options that you can add to as you learn and grow. My 90g has a 2016 apex, but I have a Hydros Wave Engine attached to it that I can control via 0-10v. It's the ETM version, so I have gyres and MP's running in sync with each other. My nano system is all Hydros and it's a great system. Hydros just came out with a new controller that's kind of like the old apex jr, which is pretty cool. The great thing is, you can expand any of their systems with different modules.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

I am currently using Hydros. I never used Apex and after hearing about their quality control issues I went with Hydros when it came time to start using a controler. I don't like that the Apex system uses only 1 dedicated controller that all other modules are controlled by. If that main unit goes down the whole system goes down. The Apex seems to be very proprietary to where it only wants to work within its own Apex product line. Also the Apex requires program "coding" which can be confusing. The Hydros is simple to setup everything works on drop down menus with no complex coding. The one issue that I have had with the Hydros is the level of options they give you can be a little overwelming but if you take it slow it isn't to bad.

Hydros controllers operate on a system called CAN bus. In a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus each individual controller thinks for itself then communicates its needs to the other controllers. If one module fails the others continue as planned until that module returns. For example if the X4 module fails the XP8 power strip which is a stand alone controller in itself will continue operating as planned until the other controller comes back online. The same goes for the other modules.

CAN bus is the controller system that ALL modern cars operate on. It has been around since the 80's and works so well that it has been a required comunication standard for ALL passenger vehicles sold in the USA for almost 20 years.

If you wanna add more sensors add an XS module, If you wanna control more 12v pumps or solenoids add an XD module.

Hydros plays well with others if you wanna use it along with Alkatronic or the Kamoer KH carer you can do that too. If you would prefer to have an all Hydros system you can use the X10 with a Hydros IV set up to control your alkalinity.

Apex is one of the first, and the most well known. Many people are die hard Apex fans and that's cool it's just not for me. I get it though. Once you are familiar with one way of doing something it is easier to stick with it and can be very expensive to switch to something new. If I had started with Apex I would probably never change but, since I had a choice due to not being tied to any control system I chose the Hydros and I am happy with it. I actually would have gone with the GHL system if they would have ever got the ION D off the ground but that seemed to die before it ever got going. Too bad too because that system looked like it was gonna be the shizzle.

One downfall that I have experienced is that it seems to lose connection with my wifi from time to time. That doesn't stop it from performing its functions it just stops it from reporting to the cloud and this could be entirely because of my router and not the unit. While in this state you can still communicate via blutooth and it never seems to go on for more than a min or so. It is more of an annoyance than anything else.

Hope this helps out with your decision. I appologize if I was too wordy. I just know that controllers are very pricey and personally found it hard to get any good info on the Hydros before I bought it.

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[AlphalClownFish]

Apex is more reliable in my opinion. Service is pretty quick too. My new A3 base wasn’t connecting and they replaced it. Took like a week from the phone call for it to arrive but not bad.
Hydros is pretty good too but I hear more reliability issues than apex.

 

[turbonut]

Hydros all the way. Apex is outdated imho


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[Jimbo327]

For new reefer, I would say Hydros. But I already had the head unit that I was hording from way before, and just went down that rabbit hole. Now, it is too cost prohibitive to make the change. APEX has a steep learning curve with their coding, not great for non-techy reefers IMO.

 

[pharazon]

Curious to hear more from people who switched from a full Neptune ecosystem to Hydros. I have so much Neptune stuff that swapping out feels like a nightmare but have been disheartened by recent experiences.

Does Hydros offer a dosing system that is as reliable as the DOS? I know it’s overpriced, but it’s very precise and has never failed me. Would be my primary concern.

 

[laverda]

I have no experiance with the Hydros, but the build quality appears to be vastly superior. The Apex components are not even moisture resistant, which in my mind is absolutely unacceptable considering it's intended use. I no longer rely on my apex to do anything critical on my system. It has let me down too many times. I am really not in a position that i can justify spending $1500 to replace everything.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

Curious to hear more from people who switched from a full Neptune ecosystem to Hydros. I have so much Neptune stuff that swapping out feels like a nightmare but have been disheartened by recent experiences.

Does Hydros offer a dosing system that is as reliable as the DOS? I know it’s overpriced, but it’s very precise and has never failed me. Would be my primary concern.

Hydros doesn't have a dedicated doser. What they offer is better in my opinion. They have individual dosing pumps that can be powered by the drive ports on numerous control modules like the x4, xd, x10. Or wireless dosing pumps that can be setup through the app. If you only wanna dose 2 part thats ok then use only 2 pumps, but if you chose to do 3 part balling along with carbon dosing and redsea colors using 8 separate pumps you can do that also. You are not limited to just 2 part. You can dose as much or as little as you want. If you plan on just running 2 part then by using the x4 and 2 direct drive dosing pumps you are all set.

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[wishntoboutside]

I thought I would bump this since there is a bunch of new HYDROS stuff out and we can keep this discussion going

 

[Jimbo327]

In terms of testing...I wonder how the Hydros Maven is going to perform. It's got a way better form factor than Trident, that's for sure. And lots of issues with Trident NP with users so far on the phosphates, so hopefully they will resolve it. But not a good looks for Apex. And their last few firmware updates has been full of bugs. I'm too scared to update my firmware, so I just stick with the old version since I don't own the NP or new DOS.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

In terms of testing...I wonder how the Hydros Maven is going to perform. It's got a way better form factor than Trident, that's for sure. And lots of issues with Trident NP with users so far on the phosphates, so hopefully they will resolve it. But not a good looks for Apex. And their last few firmware updates has been full of bugs. I'm too scared to update my firmware, so I just stick with the old version since I don't own the NP or new DOS.

I may be wrong but it seems to me that the trident NP may have been russhed to market in an effort to get out before the Maven. I do see that a lot of gently used NP's are available on R2R which leads me to believe that they are having issues.

As far as some of the reliability issues that others have mentioned with Hydros the only thing I have experienced is an occasional loss of com with the cloud. I am 90% certain that this is a router issue or maybe even service provider issue as all of the units(2 X4's and 2 Wave Engines) seem to lose com at the same time. In the 1 year I have been using Hydros this has happened 2 - 3 times always very early morning(3-4am) and never lasted more than 5 - 10 minutes.

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[JojosReef]

Looking into my first Hydros. Considering the XS bundle or the Minnow, along with wifi strip.

Goals:
1. Wifi switch control/schedule for Plank (2 outlets)
2. Leak sensing (around sump and possibly around stand)
3. Water level sensing
4. Temp sensing
5. Alerting on #2-4
6. Cutting pumps when water level sensors trigger
7. Dosing All For Reef (optional, currently programmed on a Reef Factory doser)

Any recommendations?

RE: flow, I am only using the return pump and an Mp40. Currently no plans for gyres that would work with Wave Engine...that I know of.

 

[jessesoto33]

I personally have run Apex since it came out, I’m a controller geek. I run everything under Apex controllers. Never had problems. I’m at the point where I almost bought the trident and the trident NP but did much research and ended up purchasing the Hydros maven just waiting for it to come in. I will be running both Apex and the maven for dosing also, I’m looking to find what hydros dozer that I can control with the maven to automatically dose according to the testing that’s next on the agenda.


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