I've been thinking of getting an Apex Jr, but my tank is downstairs and my computer is upstairs , I don't own a laptop or iPad. It seems from what little I know about an Apex if its not hooked up to your computer you're missing out on most of what a controller can do. I'm I right or not and can I somehow work around not having a computer anywhere near my tank? To be honest I find the Apex to be rather intimidating
Apex Controlier
- Thread starter willist0
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Spar
New member
i dont have mine connected directly to my computer and all the bells-and-whistles are the same. you just need to get it connected to the internet is all you need to do.
it is pretty simple to use, but the firewall settings to allow you to access it outside of your internal network/wifi can be intimidating. that is the only catch to it, IMO. although, with Apex Fusion I am not sure that is an issue anymore? Anyone know?
it is pretty simple to use, but the firewall settings to allow you to access it outside of your internal network/wifi can be intimidating. that is the only catch to it, IMO. although, with Apex Fusion I am not sure that is an issue anymore? Anyone know?
Ron Reefman
Active member
If you are intimidated by the Apex, before you buy just seriously consider what it is that you expect it will do for you? I've looked at them long and hard and don't see much reason to spend the money.
Coelli
New member
Really? I don't know that I'd ever run a tank without one after having one for 14 months. I just finally set up my leak detection module yesterday with a sensor between the DT and display fuge. If it senses water the Apex display will sound an audible alarm, shut the return, skimmer, and heater down, and send SMS messages to both my boyfriend and I. That's just one thing of many it's useful for.
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
Really? I don't know that I'd ever run a tank without one after having one for 14 months. I just finally set up my leak detection module yesterday with a sensor between the DT and display fuge. If it senses water the Apex display will sound an audible alarm, shut the return, skimmer, and heater down, and send SMS messages to both my boyfriend and I. That's just one thing of many it's useful for.
yeah, my apex is an invaluable part of my rig now. it backs up my heaters so they don't freeze or cook my tank, it controls my dosing. lets me monitor things remotely. i couldn't live without it, it's my safety net.
to the op, i got a wireless bridge that i plugged mine in to. then i set up port forwarding and a firewall exception, and that let me access it via the mobile app, or from the internal DNS name on my home network.
Not much reason to spend money on this hobby at all. But since we are wasting money on a hobby, wasting more that makes it more enjoyable and interesting should not be a big surprise. Do you make your own salt?
To each his own.
My Apex gives me peace of mind when I go away for a couple days and I can be almost 100% certain that I won't be walking into a flood or coral cesspool when I get back home.
Worth its weight in gold.
Coelli
New member
Mine has saved my tank twice so far - once when the tank was overheating and the other when the skimmer was overflowing into a collection container and the ATO, which is kalk, was pumping in too much kalk to compensate for the water coming out. The pH spiked and the Apex shut down the ATO and sent text notifications. (Some day I'll add a float to the collection container too.)
If my Apex broke I would not wait to replace it!
+1Really? I don't know that I'd ever run a tank without one after having one for 14 months. I just finally set up my leak detection module yesterday with a sensor between the DT and display fuge. If it senses water the Apex display will sound an audible alarm, shut the return, skimmer, and heater down, and send SMS messages to both my boyfriend and I. That's just one thing of many it's useful for.
I view controllers as insurance policies for your tank.
The tank crash that made me take a break for two years could have been prevented had I had a controller.
I went to a lake that was 2 hours away from my house for a weekend in july with some friends. Just so happens that weekend my homes AC decided to conk out. My 58 was lit with 2x250watt radiums. I came home sunday to a nasty smell, 95 degree house and lost the tank pictured below.
Now if I would have had a controller with notifications settings, here is what would have happened.
AC goes out, tank starts to get too warm and controller turns on backup fan, temp continues to rise, controller shuts off lights, sends me an email.
I would have sent a friend over with instructions to float ice bags while I made my way back home/ contact HVAC service for emergency repair.
probably wouldn't have lost a thing vs losing a few grand in coral, not to mention years of work.
This is just an example of how having a controller can save your tank from a multitude of disasters.
I run one currently, but I don't use it to run my skimmer or return, mainly temperature/ lighting/ calcium Rx control.
I believe they are invaluable to aquarists that travel or are away from the tank on a regular basis.
Being able to glance at your tanks current, temp, ph/ ORP/ salinity can really
help with the anxiety we all face when we can't be around our systems.
mikeatjac
Active member
Couple years ago my chiller failed to turn off and caused half of my tank to die. Now one of the redundant programs I run on my apex is if my temp falls below 70 the chiller gets turned off and I get notified.
Controllers are great for controlling the environment in you tank and a good insurance policy.
Controllers are great for controlling the environment in you tank and a good insurance policy.
Coelli
New member
Definitely! I just added T5s to my tank; it was super quick to program the Apex to turn on one channel, then the other an hour later, turn them off sequentially in the evening, and only run the fan when those outlets are on. The Kessils turn on and ramp up and down and off without a separate controller too. If I had to have physical timers for all 3, plus both Kessils, it would be nuts. And if the tank ever hits 81, all of the lights will be turned off (along with the heater) and I'll get a text message. Can't beat that.
I'm about to start dosing soon and can't afford a better doser than a Jebao, but I feel more secure knowing if it starts to dump a bunch of alk into the tank it'll get shut off and I'll get an alert because of the pH rise. Even if it's a siphoning issue and not a pump stuck to "on" I'll at least be alerted.
Also going to finally set up the breakout box soon and add float switches to the ATO reservoir to let me know when it needs filling (and shut the ATO pump off) and my skimmate container so it won't overflow (again...).
I <3 my Apex.
cardiffgiant
Active member
I hate to pile on, but I'm going to anyway
I felt the same way that you do for years. I ran a reef tank with timers attached to dosers and lights for about 7 years with a lot of success. I had really bad crash while I was out of town (someone accidentally turned off my return pump for 3 days!). I said never again and went with the apex.
Nothing electrical goes onto my system unless I can turn it on and off with my apex. I have full control of any device on the tank from anywhere that I can access the internet with a phone or a computer. I get texts if my temp or ph are out of line. It's a level of monitoring and control that I can't believe that I ever operated a tank without.
cardiffgiant
Active member
It is intimidating at first, but between the forums and some very helpful BRS videos, you can do it. The key is to start small:
-PH monitoring and controlling heaters
-Doser and ATO schedules (this is where it can get confusing when you're getting started, but is also where you will find the most consistent help online)
-Controlling your lighting (T5 and MH are a no brainer, but controlling a radion can be involved)
I agree with you that you will need to have a computer to get the most out of the neptune. I don't like that you can't do eveyrthing that you need to do from a single interface. There are some things that can only be done from the display unit, some things require the browser pages that you install on a PC, and some things you do from apexfusion.
I have never owned one but now that I am setting up a large system there are just too many things that could go wrong not to have one. My issue is just which one do you buy, if I want all the alarms and tank monitoring I assume I need the gold package? Don't mean to hijack your thread but maybe this info will help you as well?
manilaboy1vic
New member
i have leak detection setup as well..
plus the heater control..
plus if you dose.. shut off doser if ph gets too high.. (ph too high = doser alk stuck on)
plus i have my old cell phone hooked up to monitor my tank.. (video)
the more you know the better.. i rather know whats up than getting home after 10hrs at work and being surprised...
apex saved me as well regarding my heater/overflow nozzle clog..
my apex temp probe in DT, heaters in sump.. my nozzle clogged.. temp in the DT were low.. Apex claimed the heaters were on.. but the eheims internal thermo shut them down.. reason to investigate..
for the og post.. i got a linksys extender.. plug apex to extender.. extender to your wifi.. good to go.. connectivity there.. apex fusion ... you will love it..
Mrtakeoff53
New member
APEX is completely worth it
APEX is completely worth it
Just thought I'd add my $0.02 here. I'm in the military and deploy for months at a time. My wife is left at home to take care of our 2 beautiful children (+1 more due in August) as well as my tank when I'm gone. I have a 50 gal cube, Kessil A360W, ATO, skimmer, GFO on my tank, and my APEX controls it all. Without this system, there is no way I'd be able to have a saltwater tank.
When I'm gone, the APEX gives me peace of mind for two reasons: 1) I can check on/control my tank from anywhere in the world (quite literally) and 2) provides the stability/safeguards that are vital in keeping a saltwater tank. My wife literaly has to only empty the skimmer every couple days, refill the ATO with water every 10 days and do a water change every 2 weeks while I'm gone; the APEX does the rest. It monitors/controls the temperature, lighting, feeding, Ph, filters, pumps and provides safety measures in case any parameters get out of control. It allows me to monitor the tank for trends, both good and bad, and allow me to intervene from across the world if I notice something starting to go sideways.
For example, over Christmas my Wife went out of town (I'm deployed) and set the temp in the house to 60 while she was away. Within 10 hours of her leaving, the tank temp dropped below what the heater could keep up with and sent me an email alarm. I called my tanksitter (ALWAYS a good idea to have a sitter while you're away) and he went over and turned the heat in my house back-up. I ordered a second heater and within 2 days, it arrived and he set it up in the tank, connected and controlled by the APEX. Problem solved and tank saved. Yes, the APEX is expensive. However, if it saves your tank even once, it'll pay for itself.
The APEX is the best investment I've ever made to this tank. Not a day has gone by that I have regretted buying it. Also, use APEX Fusion and get a wireless game adapter. If you can write (or copy) BASIC computer programming, you can use the APEX.
APEX is completely worth it
Just thought I'd add my $0.02 here. I'm in the military and deploy for months at a time. My wife is left at home to take care of our 2 beautiful children (+1 more due in August) as well as my tank when I'm gone. I have a 50 gal cube, Kessil A360W, ATO, skimmer, GFO on my tank, and my APEX controls it all. Without this system, there is no way I'd be able to have a saltwater tank.
When I'm gone, the APEX gives me peace of mind for two reasons: 1) I can check on/control my tank from anywhere in the world (quite literally) and 2) provides the stability/safeguards that are vital in keeping a saltwater tank. My wife literaly has to only empty the skimmer every couple days, refill the ATO with water every 10 days and do a water change every 2 weeks while I'm gone; the APEX does the rest. It monitors/controls the temperature, lighting, feeding, Ph, filters, pumps and provides safety measures in case any parameters get out of control. It allows me to monitor the tank for trends, both good and bad, and allow me to intervene from across the world if I notice something starting to go sideways.
For example, over Christmas my Wife went out of town (I'm deployed) and set the temp in the house to 60 while she was away. Within 10 hours of her leaving, the tank temp dropped below what the heater could keep up with and sent me an email alarm. I called my tanksitter (ALWAYS a good idea to have a sitter while you're away) and he went over and turned the heat in my house back-up. I ordered a second heater and within 2 days, it arrived and he set it up in the tank, connected and controlled by the APEX. Problem solved and tank saved. Yes, the APEX is expensive. However, if it saves your tank even once, it'll pay for itself.
The APEX is the best investment I've ever made to this tank. Not a day has gone by that I have regretted buying it. Also, use APEX Fusion and get a wireless game adapter. If you can write (or copy) BASIC computer programming, you can use the APEX.
Coelli
New member
Thank you for your service!
I totally agree it's the best investment you can make. Earlier in the thread I posted that I finally installed the leak detection module. Sure enough a few days ago it went off because a bulkhead on the display fuge had a slow leak and it finally made it to the floor. So that's 4 times now the Apex has worked as intended and saved us from a serious problem.
I can only imagine its value when you're deployed!mathman7728
New member
Remember that the unit must be directly connected to the Internet (not wireless ) when doing software upgrades
