wtb apex controller
- Thread starter SteveZ15
- Start date
I have been considering this as well, my advice dont buy used for more than 50% and that is going to be hard to find bc everyone wants to recover 85% of their cost.
Probes have to be replaced yet sellers like to highlight that it includes probles, yeah but old probes that need to be replaced.
people say used gently for 6 months, gently does not disclose how many times they splashed water on something or if it was kept in poorly ventilated enclosures.
Just go new and get your warranty
Probes have to be replaced yet sellers like to highlight that it includes probles, yeah but old probes that need to be replaced.
people say used gently for 6 months, gently does not disclose how many times they splashed water on something or if it was kept in poorly ventilated enclosures.
Just go new and get your warranty
Your absolutely right,I should have bought one a while ago..I was trying to save a few bucks between this tank and my boat the cash flys out faster than I can make it lol.I didnt even think of the probes ..thanks for the advice you pro saved me a headache.Ill just have to wait.
I will also add that I dont believe most of us need a digital controller. For most of us it is nothing more than a very expensive thermometer.
I want it for the feeding mode and for the PH monitoring only because I am curious to see how my tanks ph reacts when I do things to the tank.
Digital controllers are useful for hardcore sps keepers that put thousands of dollars and countless hours into their tanks, there I can see a great value in having a gadget that beeps if salinity changes, PH changes or a gadget that turns off all heat generating equipment should temperature rise and maybe even automatically turn on a set of fans to aid in cooling in such events.
Given that SPS cannot survive a day of hell a digital controller is handy, for most of us it is nothing more than a super expensive thermometer.
Do you really need to be at work dimming your lights from your cell phone while no one is at home? NO ONE IS HOME
I want it for the feeding mode and for the PH monitoring only because I am curious to see how my tanks ph reacts when I do things to the tank.
Digital controllers are useful for hardcore sps keepers that put thousands of dollars and countless hours into their tanks, there I can see a great value in having a gadget that beeps if salinity changes, PH changes or a gadget that turns off all heat generating equipment should temperature rise and maybe even automatically turn on a set of fans to aid in cooling in such events.
Given that SPS cannot survive a day of hell a digital controller is handy, for most of us it is nothing more than a super expensive thermometer.
Do you really need to be at work dimming your lights from your cell phone while no one is at home? NO ONE IS HOME
- Location
- Midtown Manhattan
I disagree with the thermometer part - I don't have SPS (yet) but I find my Apex invaluable. It controls my ATO, tells me when my ATO chamber is nearly empty, allows me to see my tank remotely from via a camera, has leak detection with SMS messaging, allows me to turn off pumps, skimmer, ATO, anything with the push of a button, tells me if my tank water is too high, tells me if its too low, not only does it tell me the temp, it allows me to raise or lower it - all of these things can be done remotely too. 
It's one of those things that once you get used to it, I find my thinking why I didn't do it ages ago.
It's one of those things that once you get used to it, I find my thinking why I didn't do it ages ago.
You automated your tank that's nice and I like that but its not necessary for most of us, its like automating your house to be like Bill Gates house, cool to have but not needed.
Leak detection can be achieved with a $10 leak detector from home depot, beeps loud as hell. One should set up a tank to prevent skimmer from overflowing and dumping 20 gallons on floor, Apex can't save you if you dont set up with safety in mind.
ATO can be setup for under $50 with autotopoff.com, you have to purchase additional stuff for the apex to do that.
Top off low alert, the reserve pump is our alert, the pump lets you know when the reserve is low.
Camera to see tank, nice, useless if you are in Cancun vacationing and it's not my child, a fish tank does not need a room monitor.
No one needs to be raising and lowering tank temperature, it should be set to a specific temp, Apex is handy if temp does above or below a set number bc it would indicate something is wrong.
I can go on and on, I don't live alone and neither do most of us. If something is wrong my family tells me, they stare at the tank more than I do.
If a tank springs a leak on the actual tank silicone there is no digital controller that will save you or help you.
Like I said, great toy and if you like automation and spending $$$$ its is neat to have, not necessary and it does not save you if you are truly away from home, you still need a tank sitter to troubleshoot asap.
Leak detection can be achieved with a $10 leak detector from home depot, beeps loud as hell. One should set up a tank to prevent skimmer from overflowing and dumping 20 gallons on floor, Apex can't save you if you dont set up with safety in mind.
ATO can be setup for under $50 with autotopoff.com, you have to purchase additional stuff for the apex to do that.
Top off low alert, the reserve pump is our alert, the pump lets you know when the reserve is low.
Camera to see tank, nice, useless if you are in Cancun vacationing and it's not my child, a fish tank does not need a room monitor.
No one needs to be raising and lowering tank temperature, it should be set to a specific temp, Apex is handy if temp does above or below a set number bc it would indicate something is wrong.
I can go on and on, I don't live alone and neither do most of us. If something is wrong my family tells me, they stare at the tank more than I do.
If a tank springs a leak on the actual tank silicone there is no digital controller that will save you or help you.
Like I said, great toy and if you like automation and spending $$$$ its is neat to have, not necessary and it does not save you if you are truly away from home, you still need a tank sitter to troubleshoot asap.
I disagree with the thermometer part - I don't have SPS (yet) but I find my Apex invaluable. It controls my ATO, tells me when my ATO chamber is nearly empty, allows me to see my tank remotely from via a camera, has leak detection with SMS messaging, allows me to turn off pumps, skimmer, ATO, anything with the push of a button, tells me if my tank water is too high, tells me if its too low, not only does it tell me the temp, it allows me to raise or lower it - all of these things can be done remotely too.
It's one of those things that once you get used to it, I find my thinking why I didn't do it ages ago.
I'm finally making the switch to automating my tanks with a controller. I think it will increase the health of my tanks. (we still turn our lights on and off manually!). A couple years ago, we were on a mini-vacation and a circuit breaker tripped. My niece was taking care of all our pets. She got the lights back on but didn't reset the GFCI outlet for the return. The resulting loss of oxygen in the tank caused the biggest loss of livestock we ever had. A controller would have prevented those deaths.
Plus they're really neat toys!
Plus they're really neat toys!
- Location
- Midtown Manhattan
A controller allows us to enjoy the tank more IMO - by automating some of the mundane tasks we normally have to do ourselves.
Many of us, myself included, rely on inexperienced helpers while we are traveling - my controller allows the helper to press one button while feeding, have all the appropriate equipment turn off (or change mode in the case of pumps), and have it all go back to normal automatically later on.
Sure you can buy a cheap leak detector but that cheap leak detector isn't going to shut off, say your pump, in the event of a leak when you're not in the house. What if there's no one around to hear the alarm? You may just be out in the garden while your tank develops a leak. With a controller, things get shutdown and you get a text message immediately.
We spend $1000's on this hobby, for me anyway, the $500 for a controller setup is money well spent for piece of mind and enjoyability.
Having said that, they're not for everyone and I fully understand the point of view of spending your hard earned cash on livestock etc. instead.
Many of us, myself included, rely on inexperienced helpers while we are traveling - my controller allows the helper to press one button while feeding, have all the appropriate equipment turn off (or change mode in the case of pumps), and have it all go back to normal automatically later on.
Sure you can buy a cheap leak detector but that cheap leak detector isn't going to shut off, say your pump, in the event of a leak when you're not in the house. What if there's no one around to hear the alarm? You may just be out in the garden while your tank develops a leak. With a controller, things get shutdown and you get a text message immediately.
We spend $1000's on this hobby, for me anyway, the $500 for a controller setup is money well spent for piece of mind and enjoyability.
Having said that, they're not for everyone and I fully understand the point of view of spending your hard earned cash on livestock etc. instead.
well, to fully use the Apex it is considerably more than $500.00. $500 is the complete base unit, the automation you speak of cost hundreds and hundreds more.
I agree with all of you that it's an awesome toy.
I still use a blackberry phone so I am not on the technology toy band wagon sort of speak but a great toy it is.
I agree with all of you that it's an awesome toy.
I still use a blackberry phone so I am not on the technology toy band wagon sort of speak but a great toy it is.
- Location
- Midtown Manhattan
Actually, all I described costs a little less than $500, Apex Lite, Webcam, Breakout Box, a few floats and speaker cable.
Lol.
Not as funny since app neither of you can tell the convo was not with the OP.
I killed sometime by writing in the hopes it helps someone reflect and maybe conclude that they can live without a digital controller and maybe spend the money on fish, coral or plainly save it.
Threads about do u lie to ur spouse
I wish I had money
When I save up and bla bla bla
Some people can live without a controller and for some it will be just a toy. Many do not make full use of the real value of a digital controller and that is bc they did not really need it to begin with.
Just bored, drinking coffee in the am and typed away, it may help someone reflect or it may not
I killed sometime by writing in the hopes it helps someone reflect and maybe conclude that they can live without a digital controller and maybe spend the money on fish, coral or plainly save it.
Threads about do u lie to ur spouse
I wish I had money
When I save up and bla bla bla
Some people can live without a controller and for some it will be just a toy. Many do not make full use of the real value of a digital controller and that is bc they did not really need it to begin with.
Just bored, drinking coffee in the am and typed away, it may help someone reflect or it may not
its not something i am in dire need of but the want is greater then the need,so I will wait till i have xtra cash to spend.It is a nice piece of equipment and the monitoring can tell you a lot,plus it will get me to clean up my mess of cords lol
- Location
- Amityville LI
thanks for all the opinions on this thread.have been wanting one for a while but seeing the multiple opinions made me realize that I've just been drooling for a new gadget, and that i can live without it for a lot longer than i realize.This lovely hobby of ours is expensive enough already. its not as if Apex will check my water chemistry for me.
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