What controller are you using your 180 or bigger?

nightOwl

nightOwl

Premium Member
Title should be: What controller are you using on your 180 or bigger?

Hi all I am in the process of setting up an 180 mixed reef. I have almost finished the wall so hopefully soon I will have some more questions. I am wondering what people are using on their tanks as far as controllers. I have a AquaController Jr on my 90 but think I might need to upgrade for the 180. I maxed out the 12 socket limit. Some things like small fans shared a socket and others are on a DJ Strip. This is the list of things I am planning on controlling on the new tank. Please provide any input of other things to consider.

Also does anyone does Ozone anymore on large tanks?

3 - 400W MH
1 - Skimmer (Still deciding type) - leaning toward Reef Octopus
2 - VHO Super Actinic
3 - Moonlights
2 - 300W Heaters
1 - 1/2 HP Inline Chiller
1 - Custom Calcium Reactor
1 - Kalk Reactor
1 - Return Pump
1 - Light for sump/fuge
3 - Two Little Fishes Media Reactors (Carbon, GFO, Purigen sometimes)
2/4 - Fans
Frag tank?
1 - Red Sea Wavemaker (may not use on new tank)
2 - MP10 (may not use on new tank)

Thanks,

Henry
 
Last edited:
What is the difference between the apex and the reefkeeper elite in terms of functions?
 
Will be getting the Neptune Apex for my 180g mix-reef. There are a few threads about Apex vs RKE, and Apex seems to be the superior product (better customer service, internet functioning, web-based control, working salinity probe, etc.). Both are about the same price too, so for me it was a no brainer.
 
I also should have asked what are you all controlling as well. Does it look like I missed anything that I may need? Thanks for the input so far. I like the look of the apex so maybe I will go with that after I do some research on the feature list. I will look for the comparison thread that you all mentioned as well.

Thanks,

Henry
 
Im using an Apex on my 180 and couldnt be happier.

Here is a list of what ive got hooked up to it now:

Lifereef Skimmer
3x Galaxy Ballast
1000 W Heater
Mag 12
BlueLine HDX70 Pump
Icecap Moonlights
Top Off Pump
Orp Sensor
Temp Sensor
PH Sensor X2
Lifereef Calcium Reactor
2x MP40wES
4 Float Switches(soon to be more)

I think thats it for now....

I did a ton of research before buying it and I couldnt be happier with the Apex. ive never had to use their support, but I heard its second to none. RC has a great forum dedicated to Neptune Products and the people on it are the Best. To name a few they are Kenargo, Aquamedic, Schwaags... I am missing a few.......Im sorry!!!!

Ive got 3 EB8's, 3 break out boxes, 1 PM1, 1 PM2 and a WXM. There pretty much isnt anything I cant do with this. Ive got my ipad setup on my desk so I can watch my tank.
 
Diy :)

Diy :)

I am designing my own at the moment. The design has a few unique features:

  • There's a graphical touch-sensitive 7" (800x480 pixel) display with an embedded linux device controlling it. I plan to mount it in a nice wooden surround and make it look part of the whole stand I'm building.
  • Programming will be done using drag-and-drop of symbols - so to turn on the chiller when the temperature gets above 78, you'd drag an 'if' block onto the work-area, then drag/drop a value block that referenced the temperature sensor, then drag/drop a control-block that referenced the controlled power socket. A little ordering (value-block linking to if-block linking to control-block) and configuration (the 78 and 'greater than' in the 'IF' block), and you're done. More complex things can be created using AND or OR blocks. It'll take seconds to create a program, and no remembering obscure codes for inputs/outputs, not to mention recognising later what a given program does...
  • Each sensor-node is connected via ethernet, and contains a built-in webserver. Each of these nodes can manage N inputs (temperature, pH, dissolved O2, float switches, ...) or N outputs (relay-controlled AC sockets). There's no limit to how many nodes you can have (well, practically no limit. I'm using the 10.x.x.x subdomain, so there's actually a limit of 16 million nodes, each of which can control N inputs or outputs, with N being typically 4-8). That ought to be enough for anyone [tm].
  • I'll be integrating my LED controller circuit (the one everyone is using on the DIY thread), and creating modular (12" wide by 24" deep) lighting, each of which is a node on the network. I plan to be able to have "clouds" migrating across the tank for example, by controlling the intensitys of LEDs. Here's a snapshot of the lighting design:
    lighting.png

Note that on the lighting design, the large center-hole in the first plate is for an 8cmx8cm fan which will be temperature-controlled. There will be a fan at both ends in a push/pull arrangement, and the air is ducted through the extruded aluminium via the holes. The other cut-outs are for circuit-boards and screws. The two holes on the outside (we're actually looking at the back here) plate are for the daisy-chaining of LED power. Each receptacle can take 30A of power, and is a waterproof design. Those suckers are expensive!

One of the cool things about having all the sensors have an embedded webserver is that you make an HTTP request to get the current sensor value, or turn on a relay, or whatever. It's then easy to have other devices (like say, my own domain's webserver) link to it using PHP or Perl or whatever and get access to the data / graph it / do whatever I want. The data isn't locked up inside a proprietary device.

Anyway, I'm at the design-stage (as in: I have a circuit with an AVR and an ethernet chip which I have yet to test) at the moment. I'll be posting a thread soon, detailing progress as I bring up a new 240G tank that's arriving in a few weeks...

Simon
 
Thanks everyone for your input.

kmu - I talked with Curt over at Neptune Systems and the Apex and Apex Lite are the same except that the Lite doesn't have:

The second pH/ORP connector.
The 4 variable speed ports.​

This to me is a great improvement over the past where the Jr was limited in the number of outlets it could control.

I can second the customer service of Neptune Systems. I was emailing Curt back and forth so much yesterday I thought I was the only customer.

IAReefer - I may have to contact you once I get closer to setting up things. With my my controller. Based on the items I want to control he suggested that I purchase the Apex System and then two EB4s and an additional EB8 or use my existing DC8. I was curious as to why two Eb4's and not three EB8. Curt recommended that the 2 - 300W heaters, chiller, and 3 - 400W MH all be controlled by our EB4 to balance the load. Sounds good to me.

SpacedCowboy - Looks a large project you will have. I tried tinkering around and making my on controller 2 years ago and got frustrated. Hopefully you will make better progress than I did :).

Thanks again everyone,

Henry
 
RKE for me. Can't say anything bad about it except that it is a pain when you have to update a piece of equipment, which means taking that piece out of the system. Where w/ the APEX you just have to upgrade the headunit. Can't go wrong w/ either unit for overall functions.
 
No problem, I'd be happy to help. I'd recommend visiting the Neptune Forum as well. I have my metal halide spread out over 3 eb8's and never have any issues. I have the other items attached to these as well and I just wanted to keep is fairly even on all three of them. Good luck with your new purchase, your going to love it.

nightOwl said:
Thanks everyone for your input.

kmu - I talked with Curt over at Neptune Systems and the Apex and Apex Lite are the same except that the Lite doesn't have:

The second pH/ORP connector.
The 4 variable speed ports.​

This to me is a great improvement over the past where the Jr was limited in the number of outlets it could control.

I can second the customer service of Neptune Systems. I was emailing Curt back and forth so much yesterday I thought I was the only customer.

IAReefer - I may have to contact you once I get closer to setting up things. With my my controller. Based on the items I want to control he suggested that I purchase the Apex System and then two EB4s and an additional EB8 or use my existing DC8. I was curious as to why two Eb4's and not three EB8. Curt recommended that the 2 - 300W heaters, chiller, and 3 - 400W MH all be controlled by our EB4 to balance the load. Sounds good to me.

SpacedCowboy - Looks a large project you will have. I tried tinkering around and making my on controller 2 years ago and got frustrated. Hopefully you will make better progress than I did :).

Thanks again everyone,

Henry
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