Here's my story of my first 12 hours with my APEX.

[regulator26fs]

I promise you it will only get worse, and if you aren't a computer programmer you better learn some patience. They will go out of their way to have you troubleshoot it for days before they decide to contact you for phone support, and hopefully you have a job that you can work for your home cause you gonna be there often if you want it to work right or give up.
Now you own their controller they gotcha.. Hopefully you don't do like me run out and buy every new product they introduce because you will have the same issues and regrets with every one. Their favorite excuse was that my slow internet (ATT/ DSL) causing the problems. I spent almost 5,000 to my local internet provider to bring fiber to my home and nothing has changed. Most recently my 6 WAV power heads operate but don't follow the programming. I didn't notice that was happening until colonies of SPS Started bleaching.

 

[gone fishin]

Had my temp probe (finger) in the tank the other day it sent an email to my controller(brain) this seems a bit cool. I forgot to plug my heater back in.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Trust me, I'm not knocking a controller for my system. I have never had one in the twenty years of the hobby, but may go that route in the near future.

But here's what concerns me. The apex and reefkeeper have been around now for a long time. Yes, both have improved over the years, but what is very disconcerting is that the technology hasn't gotten to the "plug and play" level by now.

Issues that owners here on RC and other sites that have been having due to difficulties in set up are, for lack of better words, inexcusable.

 

[Cliving1]

The biggest problem the OP has is he was using a MAC computer :hammer:

Hahahahaha

 

[gone fishin]

Trust me, I'm not knocking a controller for my system. I have never had one in the twenty years of the hobby, but may go that route in the near future.

But here's what concerns me. The apex and reefkeeper have been around now for a long time. Yes, both have improved over the years, but what is very disconcerting is that the technology hasn't gotten to the "plug and play" level by now.

Issues that owners here on RC and other sites that have been having due to difficulties in set up are, for lack of better words, inexcusable.

In all honesty that is probably the single biggest reason I do not have one.

 

[ardsman]

I am the most technically challenged person you could imagine and yet after much hair pulling, obscene expletives and stomping around wondering why I ever bought that thing I found a guy on the apex forum who walked me through the trials and tribulations and now I have a fully functional controller. He still texts me occasionally to see if everything is going well. Best purchase I ever made along with the ATO. Stick with it find a mentor and WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!

 

[ryeguyy84]

One day of annoyance for years of automation. Love my apex

 

[Ou8me2]

I would think spending 1200.00 on a Apex system you would get pretty much all the devices and gadgets apex makes for it. I seen a place online and can't remember where that sold the 1200 kit and it looked like covered every addon possible.

 

[Pluedke1]

My set up was easy. If you call them, and ask for Paul he will walk you through everything. What all did you receive for 1200$? mine was 550$ plus another EB8, night lights, auto feeder, and i'm still not close to a grand. I hope your local fish store didn't screw you! aside for my AWC the apex is the second best investment i have made. Take a break and come back, i think you are over complicating this, just IMO. GOOD LUCK

 

[VWD]

I found Neptune to respond fast and very helpful. Got mine for Christmas and have to admit it was a learning curve