please recommend a controller really confused

willandmelsreef

willandmelsreef

New member
I am looking to add a controller to my system. I am looking to try an automate my system as much as possible since I am going to germany over the summer and hope to maintain my tank. I took a trip to Florida not so long ago and found out that I really need to automate my system. I just bought a Aquamedic two channel doser off RC, to keep up with my calc and alk, but since this will be summer I want to control temp through heaters and fans. After i get back I'm sure I will want to add features to the head unit. Which unit would you recommend from you personnal experience.

Thanks for any input
 
That is like saying recommend me a car.

I personally Like the RKE, and others like the Apex
(those seem to be the two leaders in the controller world).

If you can try to actually see if someone around you has
one setup and try to look it over to see how it works.
 
I use an Apex and my system is completely automated. The only thing my apex isnt managing is my automated water changes which is done using a litermeter III and a second Litermeter add on pump. My Apex acts as the failsafe for that and will shut it down in the event of my salinity being too high, water on the floor, sump too high etc.
My apex handles my top off using redundant float switches. That too will shut down in the event of salinity levels that are too low, water on the floor, sump too full etc. I also use solenoids as part of my failsafes.

I am on the road about 60 days out of the year and not only does the Apex give me piece of mind by letting me check my system where ever and when ever I want but it also provides email and text notification in the event of an issue. Its also simplified my life by eliminating much of the manual labor that goes along with having a 550+ gallon system.

The automation aspect has made my tank more stable and healthier than it ever has been and truth be told, I dont think I would want to have a large system without a good controller.

As far as the reliability, my Apex is about a year old right now. I have 5 EB8's on it along with 2 PM1's, a PM2, 2 Lunar Sims, break out box, PH, ORP and conductivity probes and it has not skipped a beat. I have had absolutely no issues with it at all.
 
slief said:
I use an Apex and my system is completely automated. The only thing my apex isnt managing is my automated water changes which is done using a litermeter III and a second Litermeter add on pump. My Apex acts as the failsafe for that and will shut it down in the event of my salinity being too high, water on the floor, sump too high etc.
My apex handles my top off using redundant float switches. That too will shut down in the event of salinity levels that are too low, water on the floor, sump too full etc. I also use solenoids as part of my failsafes.

I am on the road about 60 days out of the year and not only does the Apex give me piece of mind by letting me check my system where ever and when ever I want but it also provides email and text notification in the event of an issue. Its also simplified my life by eliminating much of the manual labor that goes along with having a 550+ gallon system.

The automation aspect has made my tank more stable and healthier than it ever has been and truth be told, I dont think I would want to have a large system without a good controller.

As far as the reliability, my Apex is about a year old right now. I have 5 EB8's on it along with 2 PM1's, a PM2, 2 Lunar Sims, break out box, PH, ORP and conductivity probes and it has not skipped a beat. I have had absolutely no issues with it at all.
Click to expand...
Love the recommendation, wish i hade a take that big...anyone else want to chime in
 
Sliefs set-up is very impressive and is the utmost of automation. It can be seen on an episode of LA Fish Guys on youtube. Like he said I dont know what I would do without the piece of mind from my Apex. It will do as much or as little as you need. It is very flexible. I have mine set up to do everything but water changes. From various phone apps to the internal web server, communicating with your Apex from any web enabled device is simple. The customer service over at Neptune is amazing. Very fast, helpful and knowledgeable. Contiune to do your research, on paper both the RKE and Apex can be made fairly similar, but after you talk to users or play with each unit youll see a clear winner for your application.
 
I use an Apex and it has been rock solid for me for almost 2 years. Another Neptune product I had used for a few years in the past was the ACjr...another rock solid controller. I have it controlling all lights, fans, heater, dosing etc. I am about to set it up as a backup to my auto top off should it go past the 2 safety on it, as well as leak detection and email/text warnings with waterbugs. The internet/web access it has is great....right out of box.

I have also used/use the RKE and RK Lite, and they are decent controllers. The RK Lite is great for smaller/simpler setups...the $130 base controller is a good starter. IMO they are a bit behind form Neptune, and the support is lacking. While an issue I had with the RKE did get resolved, it took many repeated emails to get an RMA from them, and the trunaround was on the low side. Curt from Neptune has never not responded to any email i have sent, and they have been answered in as short as a few minutes- always within the day, even Sunday nights.
 
I use a Reef Keeper Lite as it is a great entry level controller with expandability, great functions and easy to use. I plan to run my entire reef off of it. The RKL comes is 3 different levels as well for basic to full blown. The Reef Keeper Elite is much better controller than my RKL. I have never used an Apex controller so I can not say anything good or bad about them. My RKL controls my lighting and turns it off if temp gets to high, runs my return pump and shuts it off for feeding, controls my heater, runs one power head on a wave maker turns it off at night and for feeding, temp probe and Ph probe. I plan to add a SG probe and expand on the RKL to control my skimmer, ATO and dosing.
 
Well, let me suggest Profilux. I have one and am very happy with it. It can do pretty much anything and is infinitely expandable. It is even able to handle multiple tanks. Not inexpensive, however.
 
slief said:
I use an Apex and my system is completely automated. The only thing my apex isnt managing is my automated water changes which is done using a litermeter III and a second Litermeter add on pump. My Apex acts as the failsafe for that and will shut it down in the event of my salinity being too high, water on the floor, sump too high etc.
My apex handles my top off using redundant float switches. That too will shut down in the event of salinity levels that are too low, water on the floor, sump too full etc. I also use solenoids as part of my failsafes.

I am on the road about 60 days out of the year and not only does the Apex give me piece of mind by letting me check my system where ever and when ever I want but it also provides email and text notification in the event of an issue. Its also simplified my life by eliminating much of the manual labor that goes along with having a 550+ gallon system.

The automation aspect has made my tank more stable and healthier than it ever has been and truth be told, I dont think I would want to have a large system without a good controller.

As far as the reliability, my Apex is about a year old right now. I have 5 EB8's on it along with 2 PM1's, a PM2, 2 Lunar Sims, break out box, PH, ORP and conductivity probes and it has not skipped a beat. I have had absolutely no issues with it at all.
Click to expand...

When you are out of town do you feed your fish or just let them eat whatever they can find in the sand and rocks?
 
I would wait until June and get the vertex cerebra
cerebra-vertex-controller-2.jpg

i think this will be all and end all of controllers, I wish they were out now
 
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