Radions and Apex

[BrettDS]

So my wallet had a slight hemorrhage yesterday and I picked up two Radion XR30 Pro's and an Apex Gold at the LFS yesterday (As I side note, I love this LFS because they actually carry decent hardware and their prices are typically the same as what I can find online)

But anyway, at the store I asked about integrating the new Radions with the Apex and I was told that I could either get the ReefLink or the Apex WXM. The ReefLink was $25 cheaper, so I opted for that, but as I got everything installed and running yesterday and today I'm not seeing any way to connect the Apex to the Radion lights through the ReefLink. I'm thinking I was given bad advice and I need to exchange the ReefLink for the WXM, but I figured I'd post here first just to make sure I'm not missing anything.

On a side note, I'm really liking the ReefLink and the options I get for connecting and programming the lights... will the WXM offer the same options or will I be losing functionality by making the switch? Is it possible to use the Reeflink and WXM with the same lights or will they only connect to one device?

 

[reefer roman]

I believe it is one or the other. I went with the wxm module and now I don't know if I should have went with the reef link. I think ecotech customer service is better as in if you like to speak with someone for technical support you can usually talk to someone and if all else fails they can log in to your computer and walk you through it versus playing a lot of email tag trying to get everything to work in harmony. I think the wxm has more functionality when you get it going but I wouldn't know for sure cause I went with the wxm instead of reeflink.

 

[aquapod24]

The WXM controls via your Neptune controller. The reeflink controls via your phone either android or apple. You need to connect your reeflink to your PC and set it up first then your good to go. I have mutiple control options with my reeflink. Not sure of all the options on the WXM since I have never used.

 

[u4ick]

It might be nice to have to log into 1 thing for all control, but in this instance there is a draw back.
The reeflink will let you see you changes in real time, while the Apex via WXM will only do the programming and then view that demo........unless I missed something when using the WXM.....

 

[Breadman03]

WXM is the interface between Neptune and Ecotech products. Reeflink is a separate system that allows you to use Ecosmart Live wirelessly.

I chose WXM, but either choice will be solid.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

It might be nice to have to log into 1 thing for all control, but in this instance there is a draw back.
The reeflink will let you see you changes in real time, while the Apex via WXM will only do the programming and then view that demo........unless I missed something when using the WXM.....

If you use WXM with Apex, changes are realtime. I use Fusion, but it works similar with the classic interface. You make your changes, then click the save button and your changes go through instantly. Fusion also allows you to set up multiple profiles. I have my main light settings, then I have 3 fixed profiles, one for Party (tank looks nice at night when it's usually dark), Store (dims the lights for when I have new fish/coral floating on the surface), and Test (allows me to mess around with settings and see what they look like).

I'm not sure all the functionality with Reeflink, but I already had an Apex and wanted to keep all control in one spot.

 

[u4ick]

If you use WXM with Apex, changes are realtime. I use Fusion, but it works similar with the classic interface. You make your changes, then click the save button and your changes go through instantly. Fusion also allows you to set up multiple profiles. I have my main light settings, then I have 3 fixed profiles, one for Party (tank looks nice at night when it's usually dark), Store (dims the lights for when I have new fish/coral floating on the surface), and Test (allows me to mess around with settings and see what they look like).

I'm not sure all the functionality with Reeflink, but I already had an Apex and wanted to keep all control in one spot.

I'm referring to moving a slide bar on one of the colors and it changes the light at that moment, I don't have to hit save with a reeflink or being directly plugged in.
You only hit save to save the color option to that particular set point, then program the light with those set points. The WXM did not allow be to see what I was doing as I did it.

 

[spifftempo]

I'm referring to moving a slide bar on one of the colors and it changes the light at that moment, I don't have to hit save with a reeflink or being directly plugged in.
You only hit save to save the color option to that particular set point, then program the light with those set points. The WXM did not allow be to see what I was doing as I did it.

I use the WXM to control my Radion. I'm not sure if you are familiar with how to control them using the WXM. You can change any color you want with a custom spectrum or choose a predefined spectrum and preview it to tailor to your needs. You don't have to save anything. If you want to preview the entire schedule before saving that is possible as well. It communicates wireless using the WXM module and can't be connected directly so I'm not sure what "directly plugged in" means. It does not need to be plugged into the Energy Bar outlet to be controlled. Hope that helps to clear up any confusion.

In the end the reason I opted for using a WXM over the reeflink, is the same reason I use a universal remote on my home entertainment system. I don't want to mess around with multiple remotes, I want to hit "power" and be in business. When I feed my fish, I want to hit one button. I don't want to have to open two Apps to turn my pumps off/run my feeder and then another to put my power-heads into feed mode.

 

[sanababit]

Well since you already bought the apex, then why not have it control everything, for me the wxm was the way to go, everything controlled with the apex thru fusion, instead of having two units or programs (apex and reeflink)

Sana

 

[BrettDS]

I guess I never followed back up on this post. In the end I wound up returning the Reeflink for the WXM. I definitely preferred some of the functionality of the reeflink, but the WXM does what I needs and integrates with the Apex, so I think that's preferable. Like Sana said, there is definitely an advantage to having everything controlled from one place.

 

[Hitch08]

Have you noticed any differences between the ReefLink and the WXM? Are there options/settings that are available on the one and not the other?

 

[BrettDS]

Have you noticed any differences between the ReefLink and the WXM? Are there options/settings that are available on the one and not the other?

The reeflink is definitely easier to configure and has a lot more options, but I like I said above, I prefer the ability to control everything from one place, so I stuck with the WXM. The reeflink allows you to configure multiple lights at once (with the WXM you configure them one at a time, but then you can copy the config from one light to another, so it's not too painful) The reeflink also comes with a number of templates that you can use or customize... the WXM just has one default basic template. The reeflink has an acclimation option... it will lower the light intensity and slowly raise it over a customizable time period... there's nothing similar with the WXM. Storms and weather seem to be easier to configure with the reeflink as well, but there are weather options with the WXM.

 

[Hitch08]

Thanks!