What crazy things do you do with your Apex?

[surfnsand]

So Im going to be getting a Apex Gold Set up with WXM, AWM, breakout box and leak detection. Future maybe the DOS.
So Ive an idea on the basics you can do with this system.
But I was curious as to what you guys were doing that is well....off the wall, ingenious like why didn't I think of that?
So whattya got?

 

[thegrun]

I have toggle switches set up through my Apex that will turn my lights to full daylight, full blue or 100% white for photography at any time (overrides the timers), I also have a water change mode that turns off my skimmer, return and dosing pumps with one switch, one switch that turns off just the skimmer so I don't need to cycle through all the outlets with the Apex display module when I clean the skimmer cup. Note if you do not use all 4 connections in the leak detection module (I only use two leak detectors) you can also use those connections as switches.

 

[leviburns89]

Lol I bought a house instead

 

[surfnsand]

I have toggle switches set up through my Apex that will turn my lights to full daylight, full blue or 100% white for photography at any time (overrides the timers), I also have a water change mode that turns off my skimmer, return and dosing pumps with one switch, one switch that turns off just the skimmer so I don't need to cycle through all the outlets with the Apex display module when I clean the skimmer cup. Note if you do not use all 4 connections in the leak detection module (I only use two leak detectors) you can also use those connections as switches.

thanks thegrun yes definitely looking for ways to incorporate things such as this into my programming. So when you do your water changes you don't use something like dosing pumps to pump in fresh saltwater and take out the old?

 

[surfnsand]

Lol I bought a house instead

YES! But..... Im sure there are ways to incorporate the apex into a mini home automated system like turning your porch light on with a push of a button.:spin3:

 

[thegrun]

thanks thegrun yes definitely looking for ways to incorporate things such as this into my programming. So when you do your water changes you don't use something like dosing pumps to pump in fresh saltwater and take out the old?

I don't have the luxury of having my tank near anything to drain it into so I'm stuck doing water changes the old fashioned way!

 

[Sapelo]

Very interested in the responses here because I have a feeling this piece of equipment can do WAY more than I ask it to do.
Even so, we use it for recording all of our test results, turning off all pumps for water change (and turning them back on in delayed sequence so that water gets moving again before the protein skimmer comes back online), notifying us in the case of temperature being too high or low, things not working as programmed and generally managing the entire tank. It's a real treat to have one piece of equipment that does so much!

 

[surfnsand]

I know right?!? Im a little surprised that more Apex users haven't chimed in, Im sure some have figured out some pretty cool stuff.

 

[BlackTip]

I plug the main module and the WiFi bridge to a UPS, and the WiFi router and modem to a second UPS. The power bars are plugged into dedicated circuits. When the power goes out, I get a text and email inform me that the power is out, in addition, I get all other messages when the power is out.

I take advantage of programming function available. For example, if PH > x shut off ATO. During feeding time turn pumps first, 3 minutes later turn on skimmer, 3 min later turn on ATO. Common sense stuff like that.

The next thing I want to do is to install a float sensor to shut off the skimmer when the cup is full.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I put a doorbell on my stand, pushing it shuts down the return pump and skimmer for a little bit for feeding

 

[RedStangGA]

I used mine to turn Christmas tree lights on and off at specific hours Or did you only want aquarium related stuff lol!

 

[DrewHaus]

The next thing I want to do is to install a float sensor to shut off the skimmer when the cup is full.

Great idea :fun2:

 

[ryeguyy84]

I have a magnetic switch that turns on a light in the sump area when I open the door. no one likes to see a dark sump.

 

[surfnsand]

I plug the main module and the WiFi bridge to a UPS, and the WiFi router and modem to a second UPS. The power bars are plugged into dedicated circuits. When the power goes out, I get a text and email inform me that the power is out, in addition, I get all other messages when the power is out.

I take advantage of programming function available. For example, if PH > x shut off ATO. During feeding time turn pumps first, 3 minutes later turn on skimmer, 3 min later turn on ATO. Common sense stuff like that.

The next thing I want to do is to install a float sensor to shut off the skimmer when the cup is full.

thats a great idea.. what UPS are you using? Are you happy with them?

 

[surfnsand]

I used mine to turn Christmas tree lights on and off at specific hours Or did you only want aquarium related stuff lol!

LOL whatever you got.. one idea could lead to another

 

[surfnsand]

I have a magnetic switch that turns on a light in the sump area when I open the door. no one likes to see a dark sump.

Right.. now you just need the leds that switch colors

 

[splix]

You can get into some crazy stuff with the breakout box.
I have certain pumps like my skimmer, ATO, and reactor turn off if there is a leak detected.
I have a float in my skimmer collection so if for whatever reason gets full to the point that it'll overflow, it'll turn off the skimmer. I've had this happen already while I was away. Skimmer overflowed for some unknown reason, got a text. Came home to a full skimmer that was shut off averting the mini-disaster that occurs when this happens.

I'm going to integrate high and low floats on both my sump and DT so I'll know if something is wrong immediatly. If high float on DT is triggered it'll shut off my return. If high float on sump is triggered it'll speed up my return. If low on DT is triggered it'll speed up return. etc etc.

My friend has a switch on his canopy so if you lift it, the main tank lights shut off and smaller LED's come on so you're not blinded by the tank lights, but you still have some low light to work with. Shut the canopy and everything reverses.

All of this outside of being able to see real time and historal PH, Temp, Salinity which is my favorite part. I had no idea of the temp swing I was having at night. I installed a 3rd heater that only kicks on at at 79.7 and stays on until 79.8. It's never on during the day but it's usually on at night to help keep the temp stable when the lights are off.

 

[BlackTip]

thats a great idea.. what UPS are you using? Are you happy with them?

I use APC 350VA for the Apex Bridge and the main module. The drew very little power, and all is needed is very little time to send the email and texts. So, 350VA is more than enough. For the modem, router, and computer I use larger one.