Apex Jr.

[fernalfer]

I like the idea of it but i don't really understand how much i can really control with the Apex Jr. It is in my budget but concerned i will buy this and wish i waited for the Full Apex.

I'd like to control temp, PH, for sure but not sure how many things you can add to the JR.

Can people post what they have their Apex Jr. running or controlling on your tank so i can get some sort of idea....

 

[thegrun]

If you suspect that you are going to like controlling more than just your heaters I would save up for the full apex. The more you use it the more things you find to control. I know it's a big price difference, but ultimately I think you would be glad you waited and saved for the full version (or find an used unit).

 

[MidwestReefa]

Apex JR user

Apex JR user

I have a biocube 29. I didn't see the need for the full version. Here is how I run it.

The apex JR allows you to have 4 controllable power outlets.

Outlet 1: Has a power strip plugged into it. On the powers trip I have 2 battery backup timers. One timer controls the time the Moonlight LEDs come on, the other timer controls when the blue actinic turn on, and the white 10k. This setup works, and in the event of a power outage I do not have to reset the times. This outlet is controlled to turn off if the tank reaches a certain temperature.

Outlet 2: I have the return pump plugged into it. It is set to run 24/7. The benefit here is that when you press the "feed" button on the apex, it automatically turns it off for "x" amount of time while your fish or corals eat. I have a hydor nano that is plugged into a wall outlet that runs 24/7, i have found it not necessary for this to be turned off while feeding my fish.

Outlet 3: I have my heater in this outlet. Apex offers some nice security features by turning it off it the tank reaches a certain temperature. It's nice to know if the heater got stuck on then my tank will not fry!

Outlet 4: I have modded my biocube 29 hood with 2 additional 120mm computer fans. In preparation for summer approaching, I have this outlet set so that the fans will turn on when the tank reaches "x" temp and turn off when the tank has cooled to "x" temp.

This is how I currently use my setup. The ability to check how my tank is doing from my cellphone is awesome. I can manually turn on/off things from my phone if I needed. Overall I have been pleased by what the JR can do.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Apex Jr.

I have an apex Jr. and added another eb4. It controls everything on my 60g cube. Heater, return pump, 2 vortechs, a radion, fan, ATO, dosing pumps. I have 4 switches, 2 for topoff (high level and reg ATO), one for a light when I open the door, and one to text me when the reserve is low. I'm not sure what the big difference is between this and the full. It does everything I want it to do and now Neptune raised the number of accessories you can have so even better

 

[Ron Reefman]

fernalfer, if budget is an issue, live without one for a while. I've been in the hobby for well over 10 years and have 4 tanks. A friend had a really nice Apex with lots of 'spares' like 2 of the 8 outlet energy bars and 4 of the 4 outlet energy bars. I got it a month ago for free (thanks Anthony) and I haven't even set it up yet as I don't see that it will do much for me.

My leds have ramp up and ramp down controllers built in. My wave makes and return pumps are all DC and have there own controllers. My chiller and dosing pumps have their own controllers. And I do my top off water manually since there are 4 tanks in 2 different rooms and I do about 4 or 5 gallons a day. To have an auto top off that is effective would require another RO/DI unit (maybe 2), lots of plumbing and I don't think it's worth it.

Don't let the people who are into the hardware end of the hobby push you into spending money on 'stuff' you really don't need. Especially if it isn't in the budget and/or you don't see a real need for it. Just my 2 cents worth of advise.

 

[hreef]

I just got the apex jr and added another bar....I love! It controls what I need it to control
Metal Halides skimmer dosers heater temp probe... I'll add ph later
I was all manual as I had a RKL is was fine but needed extra outlets and did not want another pc4. So I ended up with Jr and for the price it's worth for what I need... I had 2 surge strips now I have the apex bars that's it more timers.
get what you need as this hobby can get crazy adding unnecessary gadgets...I'm more hands on and only want certain essentials that will make my reefing hobby enjoyable.

 

[BigEZ77]

I have the Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper lite...way cheaper than the Apex. I only really got it to shut down all the necessary items at once when feeding or WC (instead of turning each of independently) and more importantly as a protection to shut down heaters in case they get stuck on. Might get the pH and salinity probes eventually.

 

[DamonG]

I have a Jr on my 180.. I had a full blown previously on my 110. After not using all of the things people "suggested" at the time that "I would grow into", I decided this time to just go with a junior..

I have in addition to the junior I have the following modules:

1. (1) extra eb8
2. (2) pm1 modules
3. (1) break out box
4. (1) AFS

And I control with it:

1. Heater
2. DC return pump(on and off for water changes, etc)
3. Biopellet reactor
4. UV reactor
5. Calcium reactor(solenoid and feed pump control)
6. Fuge light
7. Stand lights(illuminate when I'm working or filling top off chamber)
8. T5 lights
9. ATO system(see below)
10. Skimmer(2 pump and 2 outlets used)
11. Web camera-just an old cellphone converted to view the tank

I think that's it that I have plugged into the bars..

The ATO system-I have 2 float switch connected: 1 to top off, and 1 to let me know when the tank is low via text message.

Stand lights-I have inner cabinet lighting in "both" the top off chamber ottoman(it's hidden) and under the tank for maintenance tasks.. They come on automatically when I shut my return pump off for water changes.

T5 lights-just fill lighting, and I use it on schedule to feed my fish in the morning.

I have a couple more modules I "could"buy, but I am happy with setup right now.. I run Reefbreeders photons for the main lights and have them plugged in a power strip. My powerheads are all on jbwave and also on a power strip..

But that's it.. All from a junior.. And basically built up and purchased over time..

 

[fernalfer]

I have a Jr on my 180.. I had a full blown previously on my 110. After not using all of the things people "suggested" at the time that "I would grow into", I decided this time to just go with a junior..

I have in addition to the junior I have the following modules:

1. (1) extra eb8
2. (2) pm1 modules
3. (1) break out box
4. (1) AFS

And I control with it:

1. Heater
2. DC return pump(on and off for water changes, etc)
3. Biopellet reactor
4. UV reactor
5. Calcium reactor(solenoid and feed pump control)
6. Fuge light
7. Stand lights(illuminate when I'm working or filling top off chamber)
8. T5 lights
9. ATO system(see below)
10. Skimmer(2 pump and 2 outlets used)
11. Web camera-just an old cellphone converted to view the tank

I think that's it that I have plugged into the bars..

The ATO system-I have 2 float switch connected: 1 to top off, and 1 to let me know when the tank is low via text message.

Stand lights-I have inner cabinet lighting in "both" the top off chamber ottoman(it's hidden) and under the tank for maintenance tasks.. They come on automatically when I shut my return pump off for water changes.

T5 lights-just fill lighting, and I use it on schedule to feed my fish in the morning.

I have a couple more modules I "could"buy, but I am happy with setup right now.. I run Reefbreeders photons for the main lights and have them plugged in a power strip. My powerheads are all on jbwave and also on a power strip..

But that's it.. All from a junior.. And basically built up and purchased over time..

So basically if i got an EB 8 obviously i could control more stuff meaning turning on/off but how much is an EB8?

I have the Reffbreeders Photon 48 V2 what kind of control would i have for thosew with Apex Jr. also have 2 Finnex Heaters, 2 Jaebo RW-15 powerheads, Reef Octopus Skimmer, and a Sicce 5.0 return pump. I'm assuming with an EB8 i could turn on/off all these devices but what extra would i have to buy to control PH. I just feel the EB4 is not enough so already have to spend more money for more control.

 

[oseymour]

I got the Apex lite right before it stopped selling, there was a limit on the amount of modules it could control but a recent software update increases it.

I have a temp probe, ph, VDM and break out box.

Apex has a feature called virtual ports where I control my tunzes without using a power strip on apex.

Where my apex comes I handy is redundancy and helping my wife and kids care for the tank.

It shuts off heaters if the tank gets too hot, turns on fans to cool it down, controls dosers/ark and kalk and turns them off and alarms/emails me if the ph goes out of range.

When my wife feeds it shuts off the correct pumps, skimmer and turns them on in the right order. monitors for high water level.

My kids here an alarm pull up apex fusion and know how to turn stuff off, a lot better than having them unplug stuff from under the tank.

 

[MondoBongo]

i have the Apex Jr with an extra E8 break out box running my 150 and 60 cube.

it runs two BRS dosing pumps for my two part, controls my primary and backup heater, monitors salinity (never found this that useful), and temperature. i also have to controlling the small set of fans in my canopy to keep my lights cool.

i still have plenty of outlets left over as well. i run AI Vegas for my lights, and i have them on their own controller.

 

[DamonG]

So basically if i got an EB 8 obviously i could control more stuff meaning turning on/off but how much is an EB8?
Yes, an eb8 brand new is 139.00

I have the Reffbreeders Photon 48 V2 what kind of control would i have for thosew with Apex Jr.
Basically none afaik. Unless Logan has changed something from the v1's that I have.. You could always just control the power to the unit but it is kind of a waste to me off outlets on an energy bar.
also have 2 Finnex Heaters
Completely controllable stock
2 Jaebo RW-15 powerheads
Controllable if you want to buy the cables and module, but I run jbwave controllers on my 4 rw pumps. It's a cheaper option.. Maybe not quite as much infinity control, but it offers a ton over the stock controller'
Reef Octopus Skimmer
Completely controllable stock
Sicce 5.0 return pump.
Completely controllable as far as on and off, alarms, triggering other things, etc.


I'm assuming with an EB8 i could turn on/off all these devices but what extra would i have to buy to control PH.
Yes you can. And for ph monitoring, just a pm1 module and a ph probe.. Though, the only thing I use as far as controlling ph is within my calcium reactor. The other ph, I honestly pay it no attention..


I just feel the EB4 is not enough so already have to spend more money for more control..
Yes, to control more outlets..

The thing is, even with my previous full unit, I still needed an additional eb8 to control everything I wanted to. So my thought was, why spend the extra on a full unit, if I'm going to need to add modules anyhow, and I'm not going to use its full functionality...