Debating if the Apex is worth it for me?

[Xandernfs]

I'm in the process of SLOWLY building a reefer 250. I'm basically accumulating my equipment month by month. So far I've got my skimmer, lighting, and ATO. I know I still need heater, test kits, return, power heads, LR/LS etc... I've been out of the hobby for 10+ years and some things have come a long way. I'm wondering if the Apex is worth it.

Thanks

 

[thewbell]

You are going to get a ton of responses on this but for me the Apex is 100% worth it. I do not use it to do anything I couldn't do with separate equipment but to me the failsafes you can program combined with the constant temperature and pH monitoring (I have the classic) are great to keep tabs on things. I also use the Apex to control my feed and maintenance modes instead of remembering to turn everything off and back on.

One other thing to think of is that it seems that all of the middle of the road and up pumps, powerheads and lights have their own controllers so you can do much of the same programming you could before with an Apex. However, unless you go with everything from one manufacturer (like all Ecotech) you will be stuck with multiple separate controllers instead of having it all in one place.

 

[Optionman]

I'm in the process of SLOWLY building a reefer 250. I'm basically accumulating my equipment month by month. So far I've got my skimmer, lighting, and ATO. I know I still need heater, test kits, return, power heads, LR/LS etc... I've been out of the hobby for 10+ years and some things have come a long way. I'm wondering if the Apex is worth it.

Thanks

i was out of the hobby for 20 years before setting up a 150 gal reef 11 months ago. i waited 6 months before adding an apex and a CA reactor. though it's an expensive add-on, i can't imagine not having the apex now.

 

[homer1475]

Been debated about many times in many threads.

IMO I never thought I would use one, until I got one.

It takes the daily mundane tasks and automates them making it more of an enjoyable hobby, then a work hobby. It's also nice to have an alarm system of sorts if things start to go wrong.

 

[jkrohn00]

Been debated about many times in many threads.

IMO I never thought I would use one, until I got one.

It takes the daily mundane tasks and automates them making it more of an enjoyable hobby, then a work hobby. It's also nice to have an alarm system of sorts if things start to go wrong.

I think this is the biggest part. I try to automate as much as I can safely so I can spend more time enjoying my tanks and less time working one them.

 

[Sk8r]

I'm sure they're lovely. I run a reef with no controller, and can leave it a month at a time (on the road) without a problem, so it can be done. Controllers are a luxury, but a nice one.

 

[BigDave]

Controllers in general are nice.

My last tank I didn't have one.

I would have the ATO at a minimum. Not having to add top off water every day is a big plus.

I don't know anything about the Apex... I went the DIY route. As mentioned, having all the controls in one location makes adjusting things easy.

 

[neiltus]

I will 'qualify' what others have said.

I had two large tanks in the 90s and never had a controller.

I recently set up a reefer 350 and started with a controller on day 1. Mostly because I wanted to automate some things. Controllers do basically 2 things:

1) Automate
2) 'fail safe'-i put this in quotes because it is a second set of eyes for your heater, doser, lights, etc. However it can fail via power outage or neglect and it can escalate the situation.

You don't need it right away from day 1, so if a cost issue, you can go for other things first. But keep in mind, some purchases may work better with your controller-look ahead when purchasing items if you decide to go this route.

Regarding number 2-a good example of a naughty controller is one where it runs your top-off through a kalk reactor if you need top off, you do something causing your skimmer to go ape, and your skimmer has a drain line and a 5 gallon dump bucket. You just automatically OD your tank in a kalk slurry. I will also add you can do this without a controller as well.

Forum member tenurepro has a 250 set up and he just recently added an apex. He has went out of town for a few days without and the tank did not crash. Might want to check his thread for ideas.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24938703#post24938703

 

[bif24701]

Yes, get the APEX now! I command you!


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[ClownMan727]

Not needed but they are nice to have. Temperature getting out of range is probably the number 1 cause for people loosing their tanks. Apex does a great job of controlling heaters and chillers. It will also send a message to your phone if the temp goes above or below your set ranges. It can also let you know if you have a leak and can shut off you pumps. It's all in how you use it really. The possibilities are endless.

 

[scuzy]

I think most can say after getting one the can't see having a tank without one.


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[jml1149]

Remmeber k'nex? Building a tank was like playing with k'nex. Adding an apex is like motorizing those k'nex. Are they fun without the motor kit? Sure. But with the motor kit, oh the places you'll go!

Really, I couldn't imagine running a complex reef setup without an Apex. This has saved my tank on a number of occasions, aside from the general increase in usability and simplification of most tasks. I use the app on my phone, I was away on travel, and couldn't connect. Come to find out, the breaker to my tank tripped, and if not for the Apex, wouldn't have known. Was able to get my wife to go downstairs and reset the breaker before anything was lost.

Can you do this all DIY? Sure! But the cost of the Apex is FAR less than the cost of my time would have been to set everything up, DIY.

And for the money you'll spend anyway, just spend a couple bucks more and get the Apex. A quality ATO system, with redundant floats, timer limits, etc. is going to be pretty pricey. For just a bit more, you can get an Apex Jr., set up the same ATO system.

 

[pfan151]

I don't use one. I have an ATO of course, heater is controlled with a $40 ranco. Lights are on timers. I can't see ever getting one unless I get a lot more equipment in the future.

 

[ca1ore]

Nice to have but not a must have. If you are assembling kit for a tank, spend $$ on a better skimmer or power-heads or lights before a controller.

 

[LQT]

Nice to have but not a must have. If you are assembling kit for a tank, spend $$ on a better skimmer or power-heads or lights before a controller.

Best advice here. Get the best stuff you can afford in terms of gear (buy once, cry once). Run it on a DJ strip or any powerstrip with individual breakers. That way as your system develops over time, you will initimately know the ins and outs of your set up and how it runs. Then get a controller.

This is pretty much what I did. That said, my Apex is the last piece of gear that I got for my tank... Love it!

 

[JohnnyHildo]

necessary... no but i sure don't want to part ways with mine.
i pretty much bought mine inside the first 4 months of starting the system and really like it. sure it's nice to have a little less to worry about but where i really like mine is how it offers me a connection to my tank when i'm not right there to tend to it. to be able to individually turn off pieces of equipment for water changes is very nice, no more plug pulling. the notification function for emergent situations alone could save a person thousands of dollars.
all in all a fantastic piece of equipment.

 

[zsuman101]

gotta have it

 

[rjjr1963]

I kinda wish I hadn't spent the money. My lights run on their own software as do my MP40s.. I had the heater on a controller and the ATO runs on it's own. I'm using the Apex to run my main pump, skimmer pump, heater and refug light. PH probe is nice but the salinity probe is worthless, a big disappointment. It is nice to see how PH and Temp fluctuated over a day. Eventually I'll start two part dosing so I guess it will be good for that.

 

[scuzy]

Water on the floor detection and shutting off all pumps is very helpful to me.


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[RedStangGA]

Personally, I won't run a reef tank without it. We travel, quite a bit. The ability to connect from anywhere with even a slow internet connection and see at least temp, ph, and more importantly their history, is so worth it. The Apex has saved me from a failing heater and alerted me that a dog had freaked out in a thunderstorm and hid in my cabinet, unplugging every freaking thing along the way. Long term, it's an inexpensive investment in peace of mind.