RayAllen3422
New member
Do most people use an aquarium controller now? I'm looking into them now and they are very pricey.
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soulpatch
New member
I think a good number of us do but I must admit that I needed the time without one to really get the full benefit of one. I needed to fly without a controller so as to watch everything and fine tune how I wanted things to run before plugging them in.
It is easier to look over small things once you start running a controller which as someone new can be a big mistake...
It is easier to look over small things once you start running a controller which as someone new can be a big mistake...
Depends on what you want to do or what you want it to do, two main ones are neptune apex and digital aquatics reefkeeper.
If you want to remotely control stuff while you are away you would need the apex, if you just want automation and ability to remotely check on stats/ parameters you can get by with a reefkeeper.
I just picked up a reefkeeper lite plus at BRS, they have their regular reefkeeper lite on sale right now for $200, where as its usually 280.
Im sure others will be able to give some more insight, but that's the basics
If you want to remotely control stuff while you are away you would need the apex, if you just want automation and ability to remotely check on stats/ parameters you can get by with a reefkeeper.
I just picked up a reefkeeper lite plus at BRS, they have their regular reefkeeper lite on sale right now for $200, where as its usually 280.
Im sure others will be able to give some more insight, but that's the basics
snulma1
New member
You can monitor and control things over the internet with the Reefkeeper systems, but it requires purchase of a NET add on device.
However, this is a lesson I wish I learned earlier. Don't skimp on your controller. If you think that you are going to want some of those bells and whistles down the road, then get it now. I cheaped out and started with the Reefkeeper lite, and then spent just as much for the Apex gold system in add ons. PLUS Digital Aquatics customer support is HORRENDOUS; nobody answers phones, tech support is non-existent, and if you ask a question in their forums it takes a long time to be approved, then even longer to be answered if at all!
(tl;dr - Avoid Reefkeeper if you can)
However, this is a lesson I wish I learned earlier. Don't skimp on your controller. If you think that you are going to want some of those bells and whistles down the road, then get it now. I cheaped out and started with the Reefkeeper lite, and then spent just as much for the Apex gold system in add ons. PLUS Digital Aquatics customer support is HORRENDOUS; nobody answers phones, tech support is non-existent, and if you ask a question in their forums it takes a long time to be approved, then even longer to be answered if at all!
(tl;dr - Avoid Reefkeeper if you can)
Someone else said this on another thread so I won't take credit, but the current name of the game is controllers and automation.
There's not a whole lot you CAN'T do with a Neptune Apex. Control dc return pumps, control LED lights, auto top off, auto water change, dosing, automated feeding, full monitoring capabilities world-wide, even live camera monitoring!
It's come a LONG way in the past 4 years since I've been out.
There's not a whole lot you CAN'T do with a Neptune Apex. Control dc return pumps, control LED lights, auto top off, auto water change, dosing, automated feeding, full monitoring capabilities world-wide, even live camera monitoring!
It's come a LONG way in the past 4 years since I've been out.
I though it only allowed you to monitor? I have a lot of learning to do on the controlley front, hope I'm not going to have problems with is unit, your experience makes me feel uneasy.
RayAllen3422
New member
The reef keeper seems like it has everything I would want for about half the cost of the Apex.
BrokenSpoke
New member
I was in a similar spot 4 or so years ago, researching controllers and debating the cost. I had a tank that had been stable and healthy for 8 years or so and since I had not had any problems it was hard for me to justify buying one. Then I went away for a weekend.
When I walked in the house I cold smell the stink and I knew something was not right. Seems the heater stuck in the ON position and the tank water was 93 degrees. The tank, the corals, the fish, everything was dead, a total loss.
Apex, Digital Aquatics, Reef Angel, are all good controllers each with their own pluses and minuses. In the grand scheme of your tank this is one of the cheaper investments.
When I walked in the house I cold smell the stink and I knew something was not right. Seems the heater stuck in the ON position and the tank water was 93 degrees. The tank, the corals, the fish, everything was dead, a total loss.
Apex, Digital Aquatics, Reef Angel, are all good controllers each with their own pluses and minuses. In the grand scheme of your tank this is one of the cheaper investments.
soulpatch
New member
Keeping within budget is more of a reason to get one IMHO. Soo many uh oh moments that get handled by my apex that save me a ton of money in cleanups, livestock, or general maintenance. I mean with everything in the tank and money spent on equipment a 450 piece to control it all really is a value add and worthwhile. For everything it does I would consider it extremely cheap and cheapest thing I have.
I mean we all spend hundreds on a skimmer that simply blows air into a water stream but yet we consider a computer that controls everything to be expensive. Cant even make the arguement that it is a nice to have since dosers, skimmers, ect are all in the same category and the controller probably does as much for the tank as any of those if not more.
soulpatch
New member
I went down this path as well and went with the apex for a few reasons:
Customer service is horrible with RK and very well regarded for Neptune
Product integration - Neptune has products made to work with it directly vs workarounds with the RK
Innovation - Sure RK has archon but Neptune has WAV, DOS, COR, and more either out or on the way.
Expandability - I felt like one could get more with the Apex like leak detectors, breakout boxes, and more. Sure some of the modules also exist cheaper for RK but better name behind Apex
the biggest one though is community support. Almost everyone on here has an Apex so working equipment into it or figuring out kinks in programming is done almost instantly.
RayAllen3422
New member
So do most people get the gold package?
soulpatch
New member
I would say most get the normal with PH probe. Not too many see a huge value add in the salinity monitor to justify the price jump. Though you can incorporate the salinity monitor to turn off your ATO if you swing too low and send alerts.
I have the normal and have not felt the need for the salinity module myself. I do have a ton of other modules already or on the way though. My big tank is going to use the leak detectors and some other items I need to get yet.
joshbrookkate
New member
My tank has been up for about 16 months. I recently bought an Apex full (not gold) BNIB for sale here on RC. I wish I had spent the money on an Apex right from the start. I would have bought products that are compatible with it right from the start. Now I am slowly switching over, as I find things on sale or used.
I am slowly getting into the capabilities on the Apex. No need to have everything at the beginning. But the possibilities are exciting! Great support from company and other reefers here, too. I'm happy I have it!
I am slowly getting into the capabilities on the Apex. No need to have everything at the beginning. But the possibilities are exciting! Great support from company and other reefers here, too. I'm happy I have it!
snulma1
New member
No, with the NET module you can control the devices from a distance, its just not very intuitive or easy.
The problen is that they release items before they have been fully tested, then drag on to replace them. They also are not very helpful when needing help for programming. I have yet to have mine fail at anything, but the next chance I get to swap to the Apex, ill do it!
Ah, I see. Not that it will really be much of a concern for me, I am mainly getting a controller for redundancy purposes, like ensuring heaters thermo getting stuck on and not letting that result in total melt down, and also to be the second stage to the milwakee PH controller I have running my cal reactor.
Ill probably use it to operate some other things but not vital components.
That and its nice to know that if something seriously goes wrong Ill be emailed about it so I can get home and fix the issue.
I was thinking about the Apex, but I have had issues with AC3/ AC3pro's back in the day. I guess it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth about neptune systems.
Only time will tell how this works out, Im not the most technologically adept person so i am sure Ill need some help on here.
BrickFishHouse
New member
I've used a couple of the reed keepers and the apex controllers. I've seen that the apex beats the other, hands down.
From a usability standpoint, the reef keeper is more of a PITA IMO.
Apex also has good support, by phone, email, and for community.
From a usability standpoint, the reef keeper is more of a PITA IMO.
Apex also has good support, by phone, email, and for community.
