Which controller to buy today?

[Hoopster81]

I am currently considering the Apex classic, Apex 2016, and the Vertex Cerebra.

I am wrapping up acquiring all the equipment for my first reef tank (75 gallon). With regard to corals, I am planning on only having softies/LPS for a good while. I have already acquired:

Lights: Photon 48 v2
Powerheads: (2) XF230 gyre w/ controller
Return: Sicce Syncra 5.0

I feel as though the Apex classic has all the features I need, but I am a little hesitant to buy the "outdated" model. What would you buy today? I am happy to spend a little more now if it means saving down the road. Thanks.

 

[FirstContact]

The Vertex Cerebra won't be available until the 600 units previously shipped and sold are done with beta testing. If you don't need something right away, it's a high end quality piece of equipment. All of the outlets are relay outlets, and it offers more ports to hook equipment up to than the Classic or new Apex. If you went with Neptune Systems you would need to purchase extra modules for things that Vertex Cerebra gives you right off the bat like extra pH probe port, par meter USB port, Oxygen probe port, display unit...

Neptune Systems has been around in the controller market longer, so some of the advantages you might enjoy going that route would be more pieces of equipment that are available as add ons, a hefty amount of resources dedicated to customer support, and a huge customer base with a great on line community forum. The longer Vertex is in the controller market the more it will catch up with Neptune Systems.

The Vertex Cerebra is totally new and uses USB ports to communicate. I didn't like the plastic look or feel of the new Apex, and that's part of the reason I didn't go that route. If you do go with Neptune Systems it just makes sense to purchase their latest current offering.

 

[Hoopster81]

The Vertex Cerebra won't be available until the 600 units previously shipped and sold are done with beta testing.

so are these guys selling the beta units?http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/vertex-cerebra-prima-controller

 

[tkeracer619]

I typically avoid new reef controllers. too many bugs.

You should also be looking at profilux.

I use a reef angel. It's solid.

 

[FirstContact]

so are these guys selling the beta units?http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/vertex-cerebra-prima-controller

No, they're selling you the next batch of units which they don't have on hand yet and no one knows when they will have them on hand.

Profilux seems to be a no brainer great choice, but it and a lot of their accessories may be quite more expensive compared with competitors.

 

[Hoopster81]

I typically avoid new reef controllers. too many bugs.

You should also be looking at profilux.

I use a reef angel. It's solid.

Thanks, I had never heard of either, but they look good.

 

[madreefer2013]

Just ordered the Apex 2016 as it's on sale. Going just use it for monitoring first and then slowly ease into controlling .There is no perfect solution since many of your components maybe incompatible. The DOS dosers are too big and have 2 heads only so probably going for the GHL Dosers 2. Didn't want to use Profilux 4 because I like the look of Apex Fusion.

 

[jonwright]

Profilux user here. Very solid, very stable. Not quite a sexy looking as other brands, but it just works and is very reliable. I don't have to mess it once it's set up. Very happy.

I have a Profilux 2 that I bought used that's probably 10 years old or so. Still works just fine.

With any equipment it'll break. The solenoids in the power bars may require some work - but mine were very old by the time they required any fidgeting. The GHL folks got it diagnosed quickly (IMO).

It almost works on two levels: one is rather simple by using the programming logic and features built into the unit. Once you have that down it is very simple to use what's already in the unit (and it's pretty robust). The next level is totally custom stuff which requires a bit more logic and work than the other units. But if you are OK with working within the bounds of what's readily available (and it's a LOT) it's pretty simple, quick, and reliable.

I have a 155 tank with enough equipment to warrant controlling 24 sockets and I haven't found a rule or use case that didn't fit within what was already available with the unit.

 

[Voodoojar]

Just ordered the Apex 2016 as it's on sale. Going just use it for monitoring first and then slowly ease into controlling .There is no perfect solution since many of your components maybe incompatible. The DOS dosers are too big and have 2 heads only so probably going for the GHL Dosers 2. Didn't want to use Profilux 4 because I like the look of Apex Fusion.

I use GHL Doser to dose. I use my 2 Neptune DOS to do Auto water changes and ATO. things that require moving large amounts of water in very exact quantities. That's what the DOS excels at and I dont think there is any other product that can do it in such a precise way.

 

[jonwright]

yeah, the DOS units are nice. what I REALLY like about those is how you can run them backwards. Very nice - specifically because I like it for the idea of feeding - you can run the unit backwards to clean the line back out and not have food sitting in it. That's what SLIEF did and it's just genius.

That alone is almost enough to get me off the PLUX ship, but not quite.

However, I've just gone a different way. For AWC I just use a Stenner dual head unit. Simple, no messin-with. Little bit loud but my basement is my fish room so it's not a deal breaker to me. And now the DOS units are much cheaper - IIRC they were really spendy when they came out (were they ever $400 is that a false memory??) but now at just over $200 they are more cost competitive with other products.

With the PLUX the ATO logistics were built in so really the incremental cost to do that was a $70 optical sensor and a $20 solenoid valve. The logic and error handling was built in the unit with very little programming needed on my part.

 

[reefwiser]

I use the GHL doser slave to do water changes and it quite and small compared to the DOS units. You can also reverse directions with GHL Doser 2 units.