Lets talk Controllers, options, functionality, cost, dependability, expansion.....

[ReefRescue]

Want to get some feedback from people with respect to their controller experiences as an end user or customer, hobbyist, service company and so on.

If you could order a custom controller from a manufacturer for the same price as what is available on the market and have the options you want or need in it, what would you order or want made?

 

[topjimmy]

I have a Reef Angel Plus. There is not much that it does not do out of the box, and on the plus side you can, with help from the RA community, make it do damn near anything you want.

Lots of expansion modules available, good support. I have been running mine for about 5 years or so.

 

[Johnseye]

Neptune Apex. Common as can be. Does what I need it to out of the box. Firmware updates can be a little wonky sometimes. Nice interface, good integration, good participative user base.

 

[ReefRescue]

More interested in people's opinion for improvements on anything from quality to ease of use to setup and programming, Remote access upgrades and so on?

 

[BlackTip]

I installed an Apex controller in my new setup 10 days ago. So far, I am happy with it. It does what I expected to do. There are few things I wish it would improve.

1- There are 3 interfaces to Apex: the controller, ApexFusion, and the local web pages. The controller is menu driven and pain in the a$$ to use for configuration. A touch screen and more advanced menu will be much better. The other two interfaces can't be used to do everything. Each interface provide subset of the functionalities. I've been using all 3 interfaces to accomplish what I want to do.

2- Internet connection dependent: If you want to receive alerts, Apex must be connected the internet at all times. With cellular technologies are available and cheap, it will be great improvement if Apex has cellular module like security systems.

3- No battery backup: Few days ago, I tried to connect to Fusion from work to check on my tank health. I couldn't connect for 15 minutes. I started to freak out, and I drove home to make sure everything is OK. It turned out that the house lost power for 15 min. When the power came back, my router didn't start gracefully and Apex didn't have internet connection to text and email me. If the unit has a small backup battery, the system would have been able to tell me that it lost power. This can be fixed by hooking everything to UPS, but all what the system need is a small internal battery to say hey power lost right now not after the power is restored. Imagine if I were out of town and the house lost power and had a leak at the same time...that would be a disaster that I wouldn't know about.

4- Cost: Almost every probe need it own module....seriously. You need ALD for leak probes, PM2 for conductivity probe, PM3 for oxygen probe, etc.

 

[Johnseye]

3- No battery backup: Few days ago, I tried to connect to Fusion from work to check on my tank health. I couldn't connect for 15 minutes. I started to freak out, and I drove home to make sure everything is OK. It turned out that the house lost power for 15 min. When the power came back, my router didn't start gracefully and Apex didn't have internet connection to text and email me. If the unit has a small backup battery, the system would have been able to tell me that it lost power. This can be fixed by hooking everything to UPS, but all what the system need is a small internal battery to say hey power lost right now not after the power is restored. Imagine if I were out of town and the house lost power and had a leak at the same time...that would be a disaster that I wouldn't know about.

You can buy a UPS from APC which will do what your looking for. No need for a special one from Neptune. I did this for a while, until I had a 12 hour power outage. Then I installed a whole home generator.

 

[BlackTip]

You can buy a UPS from APC which will do what your looking for. No need for a special one from Neptune. I did this for a while, until I had a 12 hour power outage. Then I installed a whole home generator.

I know I can and will do this. What I was talking about is a built in small backup battery just like the alarm clock that can be used for power outage alert.

 

[Johnseye]

I know I can and will do this. What I was talking about is a built in small backup battery just like the alarm clock that can be used for power outage alert.

Or maybe a UPS for your router so it doesn't go down. Seems like that was your main issue, even if there was a 9v battery for the Apex.

 

[tlc]

I have been watching www.reefai.com looks promising

 

[Johnseye]

I have been watching www.reefai.com looks promising

I like that. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ca1ore]

We can debate cost/value I suppose; but there really isn't anything I need from a controller either that my Apex cannot provide or that is yet technically feasible.

 

[ReefRescue]

For the advanced hobbyist I guess, any controller might do the job just fine. I am still really amazes when I go to people's places in the clubs or friends that have fair amount of time and money invested in their tanks and no controllers even after disaster has struck in some cases more then once. They all seem to shy away from the complexity of programming and problem solving the issues. So it might be great to get feedback on what do people want to see the user interface to look like and function.

 

[ReefRescue]

I have been watching www.reefai.com looks promising

Any idea what the user interface looks like on this?

 

[tlc]

reefrescue the only thing I know is whats on there homepage and facebook page...

 

[ca1ore]

I want continuous alkalinity monitoring .......

 

[Johnseye]

i want continuous alkalinity monitoring .......

+1

 

[ReefRescue]

Thanks Tlc
It would be very interesting to see the user interface for it.

 

[ReefRescue]

I want continuous alkalinity monitoring .......

+1

What would option be worth for the interface ?
and the monthly or quarterly chemical or insert replacement?

 

[ca1ore]

What would option be worth for the interface ?
and the monthly or quarterly chemical or insert replacement?

No idea. You didn't specify that 'wants' had to be practical :lol: it's just something I'd really like to have.

 

[ReefRescue]

The technology is available and already being used in industrial pharmaceutical applications it's just a better of manning a cost effective interface and also a cost effective replacement insets or regents.