why profilux over apex

Kevyn did any competitor allow you to upgrade at all?

NO they made you buy a whole new head unit. least GHL allowed you for 2.5 years to upgrade, thats one hell of a time for everyone to make the choice to move forward. Sorry i do not see any argument here.

Technology moves forward no manufacturer for ever can be expected to carry an upgrade path through,, however just like other controllers you could of bought a head unit and transferred your existing equipment to thus making it identical as buy once and forget machine!

Where is the difference? everyone was given ample time to upgrade if they chose not to including taking the initial discount offer to do so thats no fault of GHL. But least you can still upgrade to the new head unit and use your old stuff.
 
Last edited:
unze said:
However not to take away the fantastic result of the award. It is a one horse race as not other aquarium controller was in contention. So no competition. If Apex entered then maybe they would also win a award.
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But its an unbiased award regarding quality and engineering in general which carries far more weight than a popularity contest or who has the larger email client base to contact about any vote.
 
AQD_ottawa said:
Kevyn did any competitor allow you to upgrade at all?

Missing the point!

NO they made you buy a whole new head unit. least GHL allowed you for 2.5 years to upgrade, thats one hell of a time for everyone to make the choice to move forward. Sorry i do not see any argument here.

2.5 years!...so what happened to the guys that just started using the Profilux especially when it was introduced as B]buy once and forget machine![/B] and next thing they knew was that they missed the boat on the upgrade!!


Technology moves forward no manufacturer for ever can be expected to carry an upgrade path through,, however just like other controllers you could of bought a head unit and transferred your existing equipment to thus making it identical as buy once and forget machine!

Yes you are definitely correct, but the price of a head unit was as much as a complete unit of another brand. And lets not forget they need to by the PAB power bar as well $$. So now all combined the individual either can make the old legacy look new with parts or buy a complete package with $$ spent on two parts from GHL.

Where is the difference? everyone was given ample time to upgrade if they chose not to including taking the initial discount offer to do so thats no fault of GHL. But least you can still upgrade to the new head unit and use your old stuff.
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Missing the point again... but I still stand behind GHL as they do make top notch products, even though IMO they made a bad call when they introduce new products and they are far behind the competitors with their controllers when it comes to OS X/ISO. ( and this was another reason for my change of control)
 
Kevyan when the P3 was introduced we stopped supplying the PII so nobody could ever have "just got into the hobby and missed out" so NO they could never have missed the boat as the boat was not around to catch in the first place.

In regards to price - You get what you pay for. And no you are wrong in regards to PAB power bar, you can use your old standard one on the upgrade and your new unit, in fact only recently we sold off the older style power bars to P3 owners.

I am not arguing with you just on an open forum facts must be accurate.
 
You missed my point, not only did NEPTUNE/APEX not provide free software, but had the nerve to try to re-charge me because they came out with a new version. As they pointed out, I could program the head unit, sans the disk, like an outdated pager , looking at about 30 characters, until I went blind. But I paid for the CD.... and it was registered to me. NOW they may provide free software as the others manufactures do, but their past hokey systematic of pointing fingers at other hardware still is failure of a manufacture to provide a reputable product. As for option of using other hardware with the , that is the first place they pointed to when their unit had functionality issues. This isn't a video game. if the unit has bugs it needed to be fixed by software and wasn't due to them CHARGING for updates. As for an older p2 unit, if it worked back then then it still would work, just minus all the upgrades. This is why you go out and buy new equipment. There will be a time where the P3 units are antiques, and I will like others have the choice to either keep what we have, update them or buy the latest unit. It is an expensive hobby. Neptune made a market on cheap basic controllers, and has built on that market, whether they feel that they can deliver on high end controller function is yet to be proven, most customers use a JR model, not much of an advance above a pinpoint meter controller. DID you ever take you unit apart? I did, it looked like a novice third world soldering project. Popularity due to having made an cheap entry level controller gives them an edge, it is the people that bought their top of the line units that had all the issues.
 
akindbro4u said:
I created a monster.
Click to expand...

which is a shame"¦
this had the potential to be a great discussion. its seems the anonymity of internet causes people to forget how to debate. once the "my wang is bigger than yours" started it all went down hill.

I'm just starting out and have been building and accumulating things for my 125g for almost a year now. I have a fairly nice budget because I've been taking my time. A controller is most certainly on the list as I travel for work occasionally. I was set on an Apex until a few days ago when I heard Profilux mentioned and began to research it. definitely seems to be a viable and worthy alternative.

I was really hoping to gain some insight from this thread.
its a shame as it seems like thats not going to happen.

Heres to hoping cooler heads prevail and the wang shaking stops"¦
Lets have a rational discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of both please.
thanks :)
 
I agree, its worth carrying on especially for those wanting to make a user informed decision, I am more than happy for it to continue. But if you would like some pre sales advice just email anytime info@ghlna.com and you will get a swift informative reply.
 
Or you could always pm me, or any other dealer on here. I'm also a (cough) apex dealer, and deal with them daily as well. O firmly believe in the profilux, and would love to help you in any way I can.
 
which is a shame"¦
this had the potential to be a great discussion. its seems the anonymity of internet causes people to forget how to debate. once the "my wang is bigger than yours" started it all went down hill.
Click to expand...
Could not agree more, it never was intended to be a ego trip, just a honest discussion on the strengths and weakness of each controller , would have thought GHL & Apex could take constructive criticism so that they can improve the controllers as there is always a new one around the corner.
 
And the mine is bigger then yours continues. Why can't we just keep it about the product not direct insults. But anyway this is why reefcentral is going down hill. You came into a profilux forum, and bashed my post. I acknowledged my mistakes. I'm sorry You had a bad experience with profilux.
 
ASpec said:
No offense, but you don't know your product line then. You started this thread and I corrected your mistakes regarding the Apex. If you, or anyone for that matter does not understand product vs product how can you sit here and tell me or anyone else for that matter what product is better on a factual basis? You can't -- you are only offering your opinion.
Click to expand...

This is a civil and friendly product forum, please keep it that way, if you have issues with a post or someone on it, PM them, do not vent publicly on here. The poster corrected his post, this reply was not required.

Many thanks for your understanding.
 
Ragga said:
which is a shame"¦
this had the potential to be a great discussion...
Click to expand...
Still does, provided you get factual information and read between the posts of no-sense as we have seen. I'll go back to my original reply, I've owned both systems and will give you my honest opinion.

Both systems have pro's and con's as does anything in this world.

[Hardware]

GHL - Rock solid and proven. You can go dig up a post on this forum when I took apart one of the power bars. There is nothing cheap inside there.

Apex - It's solid but yet to be proven in the long run. The newer Neptune hardware has only been on market for 3-4 years. I have heard of some power bar issues with relays sticking, but that is about all.

[Software]

GHL - There is nothing wrong with it by any means. It's solid and it works. Updates are released as necessary. However, it seems GHL takes longer to push out the latest cutting edge software and connections with other manufactures is always slow to develop.

Apex - This is what sell's them. They are always updating and adding new features. They have relationships with many of major equipment makers and will release new technology as it becomes available. This is both good and bad. Good in the sense you get it first, bad in the sense it usually takes a few revisions to get it working right.

Apex had app's long before GHL could even speak about them. GHL's stance on apps's use to be "there is on need". I disagree and still do even if this is no longer the case.

[Support]

GHL is mainly forum based, and while that is fine for most people, there is always the case of a user wanting a direct email address/phone number with a warm body on the other end willing to provide 1 on 1 support. There are many great resources on this forum and the main GHL web site (once you find the english button ;)) willing to help. And if you know the right people you get your answers quickly.

Apex has a phone number posted for tech support. When you have a question you pick up the phone and call. You can also email tech support or post in the RC or Apex forums. You will always, like GHL, find someone willing to help you out. However, for those that need/want a phone number to call, Apex wins.

[Modules]

GHL has interfaces with most commercial lights/pumps/etc.

Apex has the same interfaces. Only difference as I mentioned above, Apex will get the connections to market quicker than GHL.

[R&D]

GHL has a long standing, known reputation for making good quality products and this comes from R&D. I expect this will continue for quite some time to come.

Apex has just recently figured out R&D. In the past it seemed they were a home brew controller selling to a unique market.

[Price]

The Apex is less expensive. Nothing more to say.


I could go on and tick for tack each thing that makes these 2 systems different but I don't find it necessary. In the end they are both GREAT systems and I have no hesitation recommending either system to anyone.

There is my opinion. Take it for what it's worth, with the only proof to it being I am/was a user for both systems.
 
akindbro4u said:
And the mine is bigger then yours continues. Why can't we just keep it about the product not direct insults. But anyway this is why reefcentral is going down hill. You came into a profilux forum, and bashed my post. I acknowledged my mistakes. I'm sorry You had a bad experience with profilux.
Click to expand...
I never once based your post. I simply corrected your post, in a fair and honest manner. I did not insult you either -- when you advertised on a public forum you sold Apex and knew it well I made a factual point. There was nothing in my post that says or implies "mine is bigger". I also never once said I had a bad experience with GHL/Profilux.

AQD_ottawa said:
This is a civil and friendly product forum, please keep it that way, if you have issues with a post or someone on it, PM them, do not vent publicly on here. The poster corrected his post, this reply was not required.

Many thanks for your understanding.
Click to expand...
No kidding. Where was I not civil? I made a point and called out someone… nothing more. I don't have an issue with him, you, or anyone else here for that matter. Since when do we need to be kindergardners and tattle directly to someone via PM? Last I checked I was having an adult conversation in a public forum -- providing factual input and not just talking out my blow-hole.
 
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ASpec said:
Still does, provided you get factual information and read between the posts of no-sense as we have seen. I'll go back to my original reply, I've owned both systems and will give you my honest opinion.

Both systems have pro's and con's as does anything in this world.
Click to expand...

I agree with a lot of that list but not all.

To start, Software.
Maybe you need to add "Programming" to that list, because GHL has the lead here too. Or lack of it. Call it "Programming" for Apex and call it "Setup" for GHL, because there isn't any programming with GHL. You choose items from menus and input real information. No code or programming language to learn.
You are correct that the software is what helps sell Apex, but not only is it the points you mentioned, but it's also the fact that it just looks all fancy with their graphs and stuff. Some geek out over that stuff and some could care less. I'm in the latter group. I just want mine to do what i tell it, and keep doing it day in and day out with zero problems.
Also, GHL does update firmware regularly and software when needed.

Second, Hardware.
You forget to mention that if something stops working, it has to go back to Apex for repair. If the screen goes out on your doser, or a board goes bad in your controller, GHL senda you a new one to swap out at home. This means less down time. And because of how rock solid the whole system is, this rarely happens. And as mentioned earlier, the whole system can be upgraded if needed. So your hardware never really becomes a paper weight.

I agree that either system can be a fine choice.
The user just has to decide what's important to them.
 
I'm thankful for this thread and the info in it.
I was really leaning towards the Apex but now I'm leaning towards Profilux.
why you ask"¦.

The number one reason is reliability. I travel for work. in fact, I'm typing this 1500 miles away from home. I CAN NOT have a controller fail when I am eight states away. Profilux from my research seems to win the reliability race hands down. that coupled with the fact I don't have to ship it anywhere for repair on the rare occasion it does fail. which brings me to an important question"¦
How fast does profilux get parts to you in the event you need them?

Reason 2"¦. programming or as d2mini has put it "set-up"
I'm not a coder have no interest in being one nor do I have the time to learn.
There's enough going on with a new tank without throwing boolean code logic in the mix. I want to be able to tell the controller what I want it to do and have it "just do it" again Profilux from my research wins again here.

I don't need fancy graphs. I need a reliable controller thats easy to program errr, setup and that I can access on the web when I'm away.
I'm willing to spend the extra cash for those features and piece of mind.
if I have it all wrong then please let me know so others that read this thread are aware as well.
thanks
 
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