Question about how to use your apex

[PirateLove]

Hi RC. I am a new APEX owner and understand I can use it for dosers, heaters, lights, and making sure your ALK does not raise your PH too much.

But i'm thinking about just plugging my skimmer, return pump, and ato into a regular outlet because I can't think of a way an apex would help. Do you use the apex with these three things?

Thanks for any help!! :bounce3:

 

[tklb]

Here are just a few things you can do with your skimmer, return pump and ATO when you connect them to your APEX.

Skimmer:
You can turn off your skimmer when your return pump goes off, so it doesn't keep running and overflowing when the water level in the sump rises. You can have it react to float switches, you can turn it off during feeding (Feed Mode A, B, C, D), you can schedule it to run only at certain times. You can turn it off when dosing. You can have it wait X amount of time after a power outage before it turns on. You can turn it off if the pump is pulling too many or too few Watts/Amps (2016 APEX). You can setup email/text notifications if any number of things happen.

Return Pump, you can turn if off during feed modes, have it react to a float switch in your overflow, and shut down and not flood your house if the return lines get clogged, If it is an apex ready DC pump, you can run it at different % at different times, you can use one of your feed modes as a maintenance mode and shut it down for cleaning, etc. You can schedule it to shut off at certain times of the day/ certain days of the week. You can put an outlet on your Fusion/Local and power cycle the Return pump from anywhere in the world. You can turn it off if the pump is pulling too many or too few Watts/Amps (2016 APEX). You can setup Email/Text notifications if any number of things happen.

ATO:
I don't know what your ATO setup is, but mine is a Tom's Aqualifter that reacts to a float switch, which keeps the sump water level consistent to within 1/8th of an inch. It also has a 2nd float which is a backup in case the 1st switch fails. You can also disable your topoff and be notified by email or text if the Salinity drops outside the range you set.

There are many many reasons to connect those things to your APEX. Many more than I have listed here.

 

[AboutAcans]

I'm not gonna quote that, but tklb, nice write up bro. Well done.

 

[homer1475]

I do most of that stuff and then some with my apex.

Skimmer, return pump, lights, ATO, PH's, heaters, and dosing pumps shut off when in feed mode C( 3 hour maintenance mode).

When I feed my fish I shut off my return, and skimmer. Then shut my PH's off for like 2 minutes, then have them turn back on alternating on/off modes so the food gets kicked up and eaten.

I have another feed mode setup for when I change my filter socks. Sometimes(no idea why) when I change my filter socks the skimmer goes crazy for an hour or so. So I simply have another feed mode(D) to shut ff my skimmer for 60 minutes when I change the filter sock.

I have a Tunze ATO with a float switch in my ATO container. When the water level gets low, the float switch tells the apex to send me an email and to play a noise from the head unit.

And because I dose kalk in my topoff and have had a pump fail and dump all 5G in at once, I have my ATO programming setup to shutoff the ATO if the PH gets to high.

Plus having them plugged into the apex, I can at an instant shut off any one of those with a flick of a finger on my phone with the fusion dashboard. Much easier then finding and manually unplugging said devices.

Also with the fusion dashboard, if I get an email warning for something going wrong, I can shutdown any piece of equipment from anywhere in the world.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I've been on the sidelines about an Apex for a long time. I never really felt the need as most my hardware have their own controllers. But I have one I got from a friend and I'm going to install it on my brand new system. The posts by tklb and homer have been very helpful! Thanks guys.

 

[homer1475]

I do way more then that with my apex Ron. Those were just the things I do with those specific items.

For instance, my refugium light comes on at the same time every day, shuts off the same time too. I have my sump lights hooked up so when I open my cabinet doors, the lights turn on.

And while most equipment come with their own controller, you can sometimes do so much more with the apex then the built in controllers. For instance, Jebao pumps(just for example), have like 4 modes with their built in controller, with the apex the amount of control is endless(speed, on/off times, etc).

With my waveline DC pump(apex ready) I only have 5 levels of speed, hooked up to the apex I can do any % from 1 to 100.

While I totally understand not thinking you need a controller. I did a tank for years without one, but now that I own one and use it daily, I don't think I could ever do another reef tank without one. The more you use it, the more things you'll find you can do with it.

 

[joshbrookkate]

This is just what I need right now! I have setup the basics but have all the periferal Apex equipment and want to move ahead with them.
Thanks for the information!

 

[Ron Reefman]

homer, I know there is a lot that can be done with the Apex, I just never felt much of it was worth the cost. But the cost to me went WAY down due to a good friend and I now have a new system due to a leaking 180g tank!

Thanks for the additional info.