Which apex is best.

[Zoahoarder]

So I'm breaking down my tank to install floors and don't want the hassle in moving the tank around so I'm breaking it down and setting up a nano in one of the bedrooms. I'll be upgrading once the floors are done. So the question is:
1.) I've got an apex jr i can use on my upgrade I would have to buy a pm1 module to monitor the ph and it's only got a eb4.
2.) apex lite has the eb8 and monitors the ph

Which is better to keep. Would the lite firmware be out of date with the apex jr is newer. Thanks in advance.

 

[mcgyvr]

"best" is dependent on ones specific needs..

Are you running a calcium reactor?
If not why waste time/money on monitoring PH?

How many outlets do you need?

 

[bif24701]

The best most capable is the 2016 APEX, 799$


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zoahoarder]

The best most capable is the 2016 APEX, 799$


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks but Doesn't make any sense buying that when I've got 2 already. Lol

 

[Zoahoarder]

"best" is dependent on ones specific needs..

Are you running a calcium reactor?
If not why waste time/money on monitoring PH?

How many outlets do you need?

Not running a CA reactor. Guess I could just sell the lite brain and controller and keep the eb8 to have a total of 12 outlets which should be more than enough. Lol think my old tank had 10 outlets. Lol of course I want to run metal halides so may need all the outlets I can get.

 

[crazycolt42]

"best" is dependent on ones specific needs..

Are you running a calcium reactor?
If not why waste time/money on monitoring PH?

How many outlets do you need?

Does this mean monitoring PH is nonsense if you do not run a Ca reactor? I had no plans to run one, but thought for sure I should monitor pH even if I just run Kalk through my ATO. Sorry, don't mean to hijack this post, but I'm like, say what? I have been looking @ the 799.00 Apex mostly because of the temp, ORP, pH, and salinity probes. My impression through researching was that pH, salinity, temp, Mg, Ca, and Alk were the key things to monitor regardless of equipment used. That Apex is a real budget killer though and the last thing I want to do is waste time or money. I thought over time the APEX with probes would save time and money. Am I wrong here? Please explain.

 

[bif24701]

Thanks but Doesn't make any sense buying that when I've got 2 already. Lol

Go with the jr.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Does this mean monitoring PH is nonsense if you do not run a Ca reactor? I had no plans to run one, but thought for sure I should monitor pH even if I just run Kalk through my ATO. Sorry, don't mean to hijack this post, but I'm like, say what? I have been looking @ the 799.00 Apex mostly because of the temp, ORP, pH, and salinity probes. My impression through researching was that pH, salinity, temp, Mg, Ca, and Alk were the key things to monitor regardless of equipment used. That Apex is a real budget killer though and the last thing I want to do is waste time or money. I thought over time the APEX with probes would save time and money. Am I wrong here? Please explain.

Monitor/maintain stable ALK.. and PH will take care of itself..
Been doing this 15+ years.. NEVER tested for PH
People tend to go crazy trying to chase/adjust PH and end up doing more harm than good..

 

[Ryan Peters]

I'll buy the jr if you decide to sell it.

 

[Zoahoarder]

Does this mean monitoring PH is nonsense if you do not run a Ca reactor? I had no plans to run one, but thought for sure I should monitor pH even if I just run Kalk through my ATO. Sorry, don't mean to hijack this post, but I'm like, say what? I have been looking @ the 799.00 Apex mostly because of the temp, ORP, pH, and salinity probes. My impression through researching was that pH, salinity, temp, Mg, Ca, and Alk were the key things to monitor regardless of equipment used. That Apex is a real budget killer though and the last thing I want to do is waste time or money. I thought over time the APEX with probes would save time and money. Am I wrong here? Please explain.

Great question and no hijacking here. I thought the same thing with ph. I always thought ph and alk were kinda of the same. I maybe wrong or was steered in the wrong path.

 

[mcgyvr]

Alkalinity and PH are not the same.. But are related..
Alkalinity is basically a measurement in how well the water will resist a change in PH..
If alkalinity is low then the PH can drift significantly..
If alkalinity is good then the PH won't drift much if at all..

Alkalinity is basically telling you how much acid would be required to change the PH to a specific number..

Monitoring ALK IMO is far more important than PH..
Take care of ALK and PH will stay stable,etc..

But like I said there are certain situations where monitoring PH can be important.. One of those is if you are running a calcium reactor as a lower PH environment is needed there for it to function and "mistakes" with that can cause PH changes/issues in your tank that you don't want..

 

[Colt1911]

Go with the Lite.... No need for the PM1 module unless you need a 2nd PH probe.

 

[Zoahoarder]

Alkalinity and PH are not the same.. But are related..
Alkalinity is basically a measurement in how well the water will resist a change in PH..
If alkalinity is low then the PH can drift significantly..
If alkalinity is good then the PH won't drift much if at all..

Alkalinity is basically telling you how much acid would be required to change the PH to a specific number..

Monitoring ALK IMO is far more important than PH..
Take care of ALK and PH will stay stable,etc..

But like I said there are certain situations where monitoring PH can be important.. One of those is if you are running a calcium reactor as a lower PH environment is needed there for it to function and "mistakes" with that can cause PH changes/issues in your tank that you don't want..

Thanks for sharing this. Learned something new today.

 

[shields]

Don't get an apex 2016. Many many problems. Keep getting warranty replacement still has issues. Energy bar 832 as well. Neptune is very good for support but the 2016 apex just isn't there yet. Likely hit the market too soon and I feel like a beta tester. Stick to apex classic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[crazycolt42]

Ahh yes. Basic Chemistry. I should no this since I was chem major in college for a year. Well, it was only a year. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the explanation mcgyvr. Good to know the 2016 had so many issues. This has been a great thread. Thanks Zoahoarder! Love the name by the way.

 

[africangrey]

If CO2 is high the pH will drift lower regardless of kH, low pH slows down coral calcification. I suggest you should chase pH to stay at 8.3 - 8.4 if you want to grow SPS at optimal rate. Hence, ocean acidification was adopted to raise the awareness of green house effect on climate change.
BRS has a video explaining the relationship of high CO2 on low pH and hydrogen transport. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-color-changing-medical-grade-co2-absorbent.html

 

[LQT]

Keep the Lite as you can add as many modules as you want. The Apex Jr only allows a max capacity of only 7 modules.

 

[Zoahoarder]

If CO2 is high the pH will drift lower regardless of kH, low pH slows down coral calcification. I suggest you should chase pH to stay at 8.3 - 8.4 if you want to grow SPS at optimal rate. Hence, ocean acidification was adopted to raise the awareness of green house effect on climate change.
BRS has a video explaining the relationship of high CO2 on low pH and hydrogen transport. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-color-changing-medical-grade-co2-absorbent.html

Yea I bought a jug of this with a buddy but never hooked up the apex jr to keep an eye on the ph. I had a few friends say it only worked for about 2 weeks.

 

[Zoahoarder]

Keep the Lite as you can add as many modules as you want. The Apex Jr only allows a max capacity of only 7 modules.

Yea probably just keeping the lite. Figure I could sell the lite for $270ish or the jr for $170 but I would need to send $100 on a pm1 module so it would make sense just to keep the lite.