I think I want a controller...can you help me?

M

meegwell

New member
I've been researching controllers and I keep coming back to the same thing: I think I dont care about controlling equipment, only using probes.

I think I think this, anyway.

As far as equipment goes, I dont use heaters (although i have two in the tank), My MP40wES run as I want them..dont ahve interest in external control...my lights have timers such that i get what I want out of them and have no desire to change...My ATO works flawlessley fed froma RODI reseviour with an ATO fed from house plumbing. I only turn off my return for water changes or other maintenance requiring so. I cant really think of any reason I need something else controlling this equipment. I have no interest in being able to turn things on or off remotely and dont want redundant timer/other controls just to achieve this.

What is appealing to me is having a salinity, PH, and temp probe (maybe others) and being able to view them remotely and get notifications on the readings. Also, I like the idea of seeing a graph/chart or some historical readout on these parameteres. That is about all that floats my boat as far as what I've read these things can do.

Assuming this is all I do and dont want (and Im not missing some major function not mentioned here) What make/model would you recomend?
 
Read some of the marketing info on the Neptune Apex web site, you may very well change your mind about your "needs". (I did) Having said that, the Apex system will certainly meet those needs.

I was in a similiar situation as you only wanting a nice controller to run my lights and now i run my full tank off the controller and even purchased the advanced leak detection unit extra.

FWIW, the PH and salinty probes work fine (they even have an upgraded PH model that responds faster and is abit more accurate) but the salinty probe has some people with complaints. The ORP is also pretty cool, but over priced for what it gives you (YMMV).

Nonethess, check out some of the info if you hadnt, what really excited me was the back up saftey it provides by not letting the heaters nuke my tank, not letting my skimmer and or a leaky sump flood my hole living room, and helping me track a safe level to run kawlk in the ATO. Ill probably be investing in the auto-feeder one of these days that is also designed to work with the system as i travel a lot.


Edit: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2007415
 
Last edited:
Apex or Reefkeeper is what I always would recommend. The Neptune Apex controllers do have more add-ons and modules however making them even more universal.
 
Timers are great when everything works as it should but when your heaters crap out and stick on rising the tanks temp to 90 is anything going to turn them or your lights off? Nope.

Heaters should always be on a controller and so should your lights. In case of a malfunction in the system it can at least attempt to slow down the rise in temperature.

I work a lot out of state and having a controller that sends me emails or lets me check it remotely as you stated is IMHO a must have. It can save your tank.

... I am pretty paranoid with heaters so I have a Ranco controller running the heaters which also sends a signal to my controller telling me its on. If the controller and the Ranco don't agree it will let me know. If the Ranco malfunctions the reef controller will shut it down.

One of the most common causes of tank crashes is heater malfunctions. They are almost all junk.
 
I own a GHL Profilux and it is absolutely the most reliable controller I have ever worked with. The setup and programming is quick and straightforward, provided you have computer experience. :)
 
Apex with probes & leak detection. I work a lot so it's nice to have an overflow sensor on top of tank & one on the floor. Shuts my return pump off in case of leak. But powerheads will still run to keep flow going. If tank gets to warm while its down then it will shut down my lights also. Plus a handful of other options to run. I was looking at just getting probes at first but decided if I'm gonna spend that much just for ph, salinity & temp probe then I might as well just spend a lil more & get a full setup. It's worth it for peace of mind while I'm away. I can leave for a week & know my tank is ok. You can buy a used good controller.
 
I never thought I needed a controller until I got a good deal on an Apex. Now I can't live without it. Having the ability to control every device makes everything easier from routine water changes to going on vacation. I recently had a heater fail on me while I was at work, and was notified via email. I picked another one up on the way home and didn't miss a beat ( I actually picked up 2 heaters, and now have redundancy built into the system). I was intimidated by the Apex until I plugged it in, but the online users guide is extremely helpful.
 
I would get an accurate doser before a controller.

whats the point of monitoring something u cant control ?
 
I think I'm ready to try a controller too but I am very unsure of my tech skills. It sounds like Apex might be my best bet? Do they come with decent set up instructions?
 
Allmost said:
I would get an accurate doser before a controller.

whats the point of monitoring something u cant control ?
Click to expand...

So you can't controll salinity,temperature, or PH? Hmmmm, guess I can throw away my salt mix, thermometer, and kalk. Lol.

A controller ads exponentially to the stability of any system....period. There is no arguing about this, this isn't an opinion. Nobody(except a millionair with unlimited time at home) has the time to monitor a system like a controller can. You have complete control over the system with the right equipment.... Even dosing can be controlled by a controller. If you have to dose X amount of whatever per week to keep a certain level up....you can hook your dosing system to controller. BAM, automated. I know a guy who does automatic water changes with his controller. I'm sorry, but you CAN control it.....with a controller
 
danderso said:
I think I'm ready to try a controller too but I am very unsure of my tech skills. It sounds like Apex might be my best bet? Do they come with decent set up instructions?
Click to expand...

After you program a reefkeeper once, its easy. Only took me an hour to lean!
 
meegwell said:
I've been researching controllers and I keep coming back to the same thing: I think I dont care about controlling equipment, only using probes.

I think I think this, anyway.

As far as equipment goes, I dont use heaters (although i have two in the tank), My MP40wES run as I want them..dont ahve interest in external control...my lights have timers such that i get what I want out of them and have no desire to change...My ATO works flawlessley fed froma RODI reseviour with an ATO fed from house plumbing. I only turn off my return for water changes or other maintenance requiring so. I cant really think of any reason I need something else controlling this equipment. I have no interest in being able to turn things on or off remotely and dont want redundant timer/other controls just to achieve this.

What is appealing to me is having a salinity, PH, and temp probe (maybe others) and being able to view them remotely and get notifications on the readings. Also, I like the idea of seeing a graph/chart or some historical readout on these parameteres. That is about all that floats my boat as far as what I've read these things can do.

Assuming this is all I do and dont want (and Im not missing some major function not mentioned here) What make/model would you recomend?
Click to expand...

3+ years later and I am still struggling with the same question. I was basically never sold on the idea of paying for all the function I do not want (mostly hardware control and now fancy web intefaces).

I was curious how controllers have advanced nad it seems to be mostly web enabled bells and whistles in the past 3 years. I am quite sure I can't monitor ma ca alk which would be the cats meow. Still just temp ph and sal? The one HW control I have come around to is the heaters. I am sold on wanting to be able to kill the heaters remotely. I am about to start dosing 2-part as I ramp up my coral program...so I don't believe a controller will help me there (lacking the ability to monitor ca mg alk)? ATO still gravity with overflow security, MP40ws still run flawlessly on random reef crest modes...lights don't contribute to heat...I think I am in the same boat here but just need to find one that focuses on monitoring the water parameters and can turn off the heaters. Unless I am missing significant developments? Also, I am simply not "away" that often.
 
I have also been debating which controller to get as well, the Apex is nice but what soes everyone think of the Vertex Cerebra controller?
 
Apex does more than youll ever need. Some say pricey but it is very competitive since the new system comes with all probes some modules included.

I first got the apex mainly because I currently run an overflow box and was terrified that a leak could happen at anytime. The leak detector is peace of mind. Once you start monitoring PH, you will notice that your tank could be more stable than you first thought.
 
ReefCowboy said:
Apex does more than youll ever need. Some say pricey but it is very competitive since the new system comes with all probes some modules included.

I first got the apex mainly because I currently run an overflow box and was terrified that a leak could happen at anytime. The leak detector is peace of mind. Once you start monitoring PH, you will notice that your tank could be more stable than you first thought.
Click to expand...


I think I am sold on the water parameter monitoring. My overflow, another example of something I don't think I need to monitor, is a bean animal with a "safety tube" (actually 2) that would dump into the sump should the full siphon and secondary tube clog. system would just keep churning...but it would no longer be perfectly silent :)

Nice to hear that alk probes are coming out. I figure if Hanna checkers can do it, why wouldn't some sort of probe or combination of mechanical and digital mechanism work. Picture a mechanical device that measures an amount of water, drops a regent tablet, shakes, waits, then takes a reading and sends it out...every day at your liking...or every other day....probably an easier way but I just don't understand why there are not automated mag/cal/alk.
 
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