Apex jr for ATO and dosing??

[summitwynds]

Never used a controller before so would love some help here. My thoughts are to control the temperature, to auto top off and to dose 2 part. What equipment do I need? Will an apex jr do those things? Thanks for your help!!


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[cobra9]

I dont think the jr out of the box has any switch ports. You would need either to add a PM1, 2 or 3. Or get a Apex Lite instead.

Most people also use a breakout box with the switches. Makes wiring it a lot easier.

 

[mrbigshot]

+1

the apex jr needs a pm (1,2, or 3) module and a breakout box (diy is easy) to function as a auto top off. the apex lite or full apex would be able to do this out of the box but cost more up front.

i like my apex jr i bought the pm1 and built the breakout box from crap i had laying around. other than that a $9 floatswitch from bulk reef and aqualifter is all i needed. i set my apex jr to wait every two hours between topping off so it wouldn't always be cycling and it also kills the ato if my ph goes above 8.4.

you can even be so lazy to mount a float switch in your top off container to do two things. it will kill the pump iff water goes to low so it doesnt run the pump dry and it can also text message you letting you know the float was switched. that tells you to fill the top off container again.

 

[andywe]

Check out the RKL..best value for a small controller.

 

[James77]

The ApexJr could do them with the addition of a module containing switch ports. For the cost of the additional module, I would just look at using the controller and addign a separate top off controller, they can be purchased for $35 without a pump.

Check out the RKL..best value for a small controller.

Also cannot do ATO out of box, you'd have to add a module that has switches as well. It being the best value is definitely up for debate.

 

[USC-fan]

You will need apex Jr
module for ato(any pm 1-3)
Break out box
floatswitch
Dosing pump 2x

You would have one extra plug for a heater.

 

[cobra9]

You will need apex Jr
module for ato(any pm 1-3)
Break out box
floatswitch
Dosing pump 2x

You would have one extra plug for a heater.

Unless he gravity feeds his auto top off, which is what I have done for the last 4 years. No pump needed, however I use a solenoid so it does use 1 outlet, but I have 16 controlled outlets so its no issue for me.

 

[USC-fan]

Unless he gravity feeds his auto top off, which is what I have done for the last 4 years. No pump needed, however I use a solenoid so it does use 1 outlet, but I have 16 controlled outlets so its no issue for me.

That really bad idea. Pump with a float switch plus coding a timer as a fail safe. So no chance of flooding. Solenoid fails big flood. I don't see any reason not to use a pump.

 

[fish crazy]

Check out the RKL..best value for a small controller.

+1 RKL I just set mine up W/Avast ATO RKL comes W/SL1 it has A&B switch for ATO

 

[summitwynds]

Thanks for all your help! Great group of people here! Trying to decide now.



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[cobra9]

That really bad idea. Pump with a float switch plus coding a timer as a fail safe. So no chance of flooding. Solenoid fails big flood. I don't see any reason not to use a pump.

Actually its not a bad idea. I only have a 10 gallon reserve to worst case if both my solenoids fail(I run 2 for redundancy) I can only dump 10 gallons into my 300 gallon system. Which I have tested and it only drops my salinity a little bit.

 

[USC-fan]

Actually its not a bad idea. I only have a 10 gallon reserve to worst case if both my solenoids fail(I run 2 for redundancy) I can only dump 10 gallons into my 300 gallon system. Which I have tested and it only drops my salinity a little bit.

Again how is that better than just using a pump? What happens if the power fails with the solenoids open?

 

[cobra9]

Again how is that better than just using a pump? What happens if the power fails with the solenoids open?

Then they close. They are normally closed solenoids. I never said it was better. Just a different option.

 

[kayl]

+1 RKL I just set mine up W/Avast ATO RKL comes W/SL1 it has A&B switch for ATO

And no remote monitoring/email alert capability without another add on...

The Apex jr. has that out of the box.

 

[USC-fan]

Then they close. They are normally closed solenoids. I never said it was better. Just a different option.

Where did you get them from? They run off AC power?

 

[cobra9]

Got them from autotopoff.com

I run 1 outlet from my EB6 into my float switches then into the solenoid.

I power that outlet for 3 minutes every hour.

I could easily run the floats into my apex then control the solenoids directly but I have been lazy and havent made a break out box yet.

 

[summitwynds]

Apex lite seems like my best option


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[fish crazy]

And no remote monitoring/email alert capability without another add on...

The Apex jr. has that out of the box.

Yes Apex comes W/net standard & no display was a deal breaker for me because I have no intrest in remote monitoring Its a matter of prefrence.I was just going for ATO Ph Temp & skimmer and doser control. If net becomes a want it will be an extra expence.