APEX setup help please (noob with controllers)

[DurTBear]

So I just got the APEX and it's the first controller I've owned. I feel pretty overwhelmed with it for some reason since I really don't even know where to start!

First of all, is it best to mount it first and then proceed with programming it? Or can you do all of that first and then work on mounting it.

Also, it suggests that you mount everything above the water line of your tank. However, I've seen a lot of tank builds where the controllers and energy bars are in the stand underneath the tank. Is that ok? I have limited space and mounting it underneath the tank in the stand would be my best option with regards to space.

And when I power it up for the first time, do I connect everything first? Display unit into base unit, aquabus cable from base unit to energy bar and ethernet cable from base unit to computer?

Sorry that I don't know what I'm doing and most of these questions are probably very basic but I'm very new to controllers.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 143833]

By no means is this the only way but I would get to know it (away from the tank). Get an idea what you want to program and sit in a comfy place and go at it (you don't need anything plugged in to program it#

Placement; above the water line is always best but you can place under a tank as long as you have a drop loop #the wired should drop below the unit then loop up to plug in#. This way if water gets in the wire it will follow the wire to the loop and drip off #rather than follow the wire into the unit and cause problems#.

Most important, take time to understand it, understand what you want to accomplish and test.

I have my program on my web site and there are a number of examples in the documentation and then there is the default program #which for some tanks is good enough). Check it all out and have fun.

 

[DurTBear]

Thanks Ken...I think I will be playing with it this weekend and I'll have a look at our programs.