Which controller?

[FirstContact]

Well, I loved my classic, but I couldn't make the jump to the new Apex for a lot of different reasons but looks were certainly a part of it. I went with Cerebra which I think will be a more modern, advanced controller with less modules required. I know Vertex is new to the controller market and not as developed as Neptune Systems yet, but I believe that Vertex will catch up and I have time to wait. So unless Neptune comes out with a new extraordinary unit above and beyond the new Apex, I'll go with Vertex and if not, Profilux. I also like how the Cerebra is designed to be open sourced to other manufacturers, android based OS, and uses true USB ports.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Discussing taste on what is good looking as far as controllers is personal, and we would be here all day without an agreement. I was critic of the new apex when it came out, but have actually gotten used to it and can say I like it now.

The Profilux controller(previous to P4) reminds me of a deli scale and the Cerebra a portable tv from the 80's. But some here think the apex looks like a child's toy so we must agree it all comes down to personal opinion and forums would not help.

Functionality is a different topic

 

[zchauvin]

Thanks everyone for your input, going with the GHL and will buy a cheap tablet.


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[RV7AFlyer]

Nice Controller! I hope it meets all your expectations!
Im sure your tank is really cool. Are there pics I can see. Presentation of the reef life we love so much is nice to see. So many of us don't have the luxury to be able to buy the most up-to-date equipment let alone the most stylish. Its a treat to see a beautiful system thats well thought out. Thanks for sharing!


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[Elricsfate]

So I had an apex before and liked it, but now they look like a little kids toy. I want a GHL P4 and doser, but they aren't mac compatible... it is 2017 right? The vertex Cerebra is pretty much a fail and with all the moving there company has been doing, I don't want to touch it. So do I go with GHL and beg them to make a program that runs on the Mac, or do I pick up a $700 controller that looks like it came in a happy meal?


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Personally, I worry about how it works, not how it looks. No one is going to see, or want to see, the head unit. Show off the display and hide the head. Just my humble opinion.

 

[zchauvin]

You could consider putting more weight on how it functions than how it looks... Just a thought.

If that's the case GHL will win every time, so I guess with the exception to buying a windows notepad I made a good decision.


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[Elricsfate]

If that's the case GHL will win every time, so I guess with the exception to buying a windows notepad I made a good decision.


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Well, I have no stake in either company, so it doesn't matter to me which way you go (or went). But I would say that if GHL won every time...Apex wouldn't be on top of the heap.

Nevertheless, if you are happy with how you spent your money, that's really all that's important.

 

[ca1ore]

The other thing to consider, which I don't think anyone has mentioned, is financial viability. That's part of the reason I went with Apex. Figure they've been around longer and will be around longer than the others. Thrown away too much equipment (fish tanks and audio equipment) that broke and had nobody left to fix it.

 

[solitude127]

Thanks everyone for your input, going with the GHL and will buy a cheap tablet.


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I think that's a solid choice. Once you get it, please report back.

 

[d2mini]

But I would say that if GHL won every time...Apex wouldn't be on top of the heap.

GHL is just a lesser known company here in the states.
And there are a lot of lemmings around here.
Go to Europe and see who's more popular. And which is being used by commercial facilities who have a lot more riding on their equipment than any of us do.

The other thing to consider, which I don't think anyone has mentioned, is financial viability. That's part of the reason I went with Apex. Figure they've been around longer and will be around longer than the others. Thrown away too much equipment (fish tanks and audio equipment) that broke and had nobody left to fix it.

Wow, that's sure speculative. lol
How long has Neptune been around?
I think GHL has been in the states since 2006 or something like that. I have no idea the history of the company though. We are now on the 4th generation of their controller. I bought the P3 in 2012, and the P4 will finally be in my hands tomorrow.
I doubt they are going anywhere.

 

[ca1ore]

Wow, that's sure speculative. lol
How long has Neptune been around?
I think GHL has been in the states since 2006 or something like that. I have no idea the history of the company though. We are now on the 4th generation of their controller. I bought the P3 in 2012, and the P4 will finally be in my hands tomorrow.
I doubt they are going anywhere.

Maybe, maybe not. Neptune sold their first AC in about 1999 if memory serves. GHL makes nice stuff (I bought their Doser 2) but it's been frustrating getting support. Unless there's a major functional reason to go elsewhere, I also prefer MitUSA. But that's just my choice.

 

[Elricsfate]

GHL is just a lesser known company here in the states.
And there are a lot of lemmings around here.
Go to Europe and see who's more popular. And which is being used by commercial facilities who have a lot more riding on their equipment than any of us do.


Wow, that's sure speculative. lol
How long has Neptune been around?
I think GHL has been in the states since 2006 or something like that. I have no idea the history of the company though. We are now on the 4th generation of their controller. I bought the P3 in 2012, and the P4 will finally be in my hands tomorrow.
I doubt they are going anywhere.

Clearly we all have our own preferences. As I stated before, I have no financial stake in either company. I bought the newest Apex, and I'm happy with it. In the end that's what counts.

I have looked at your latest adventure with great interest. it is obvious you know what you're doing, and have a lot of experience. So, it's not my desire to try to prove you wrong, or really even argue with you.

However, my statement was factually true. DHL does not in fact win every time. I had the opportunity, and the money, to buy whatever I wanted...and I did not buy DHL. So that's at least one time they did not win.

But again, I think the important thing is, we all spent our money on whatever we thought was the best choice for our own needs, and insofar as each of us is happy with whatever we wound up with, that's the whole ball of wax. if someone is not happy with whatever they bought, then clearly each of us can provide our thoughts and experiences with whatever we own (as we did here) and let the person making the decision make that decision with those facts in mind.

As an aside, I aspire to have tanks as nice as yours some day.

 

[d2mini]

Clearly we all have our own preferences. As I stated before, I have no financial stake in either company. I bought the newest Apex, and I'm happy with it. In the end that's what counts.

I have looked at your latest adventure with great interest. it is obvious you know what you're doing, and have a lot of experience. So, it's not my desire to try to prove you wrong, or really even argue with you.

However, my statement was factually true. DHL does not in fact win every time. I had the opportunity, and the money, to buy whatever I wanted...and I did not buy DHL. So that's at least one time they did not win.

But again, I think the important thing is, we all spent our money on whatever we thought was the best choice for our own needs, and insofar as each of us is happy with whatever we wound up with, that's the whole ball of wax. if someone is not happy with whatever they bought, then clearly each of us can provide our thoughts and experiences with whatever we own (as we did here) and let the person making the decision make that decision with those facts in mind.

As an aside, I aspire to have tanks as nice as yours some day.

Oops, sorry, I agree that none of them will "win every time" and it's great to have all the choices we do.
My point was there are a lot of reasons at play if we are just talking sales numbers.
I only bring it up because I see that comment a lot. People join the forums, see something that A LOT of people own, and just assume that's the item they should get.
Apex is the popular kid at school.

 

[Elricsfate]

Oops, sorry, I agree that none of them will "win every time" and it's great to have all the choices we do.
My point was there are a lot of reasons at play if we are just talking sales numbers.
I only bring it up because I see that comment a lot. People join the forums, see something that A LOT of people own, and just assume that's the item they should get.
Apex is the popular kid at school.

I will confess to falling prey to this a bit myself, though I did it on purpose.

I'm getting back into reefing after a 20 year break. None of this technology existed (or was well known) when I was first in. So I specifically decided to go with name brand, popular products as I setup up my first tank. That way if I have air leaking from somewhere, or water flowing upside down...or whatever....I can say "I have the 'insert cool kid product here' and it's doing... " and someone can help me. As opposed to...I have the homemade lunch special and it doesn't work...which would likely get me crickets.

Next time I'll experiment a little.

But yeah, IME, in life in general...people follow the herd. But then again....lions also follow the herd.