Controller Recommendations

I am starting to research controllers and am hoping to get some opinions and recommendations. While part of me wants to go out and pick up an Apex, I want to make sure I am not spending more than I need to. If another brand or something like the Apex Jr. can do everything I want, I would rather put the extra money towards livestock.

My current setup is listed below.

75 gallon tank
Eshopps R100 refugium/sump
Octopus 110INT skimmer
Gravity fed Eshopps ATO
BRS 2 part doser pumps (new and not currently setup, need timers or controller)
AI Hydra 26HD LEDs
Blue LED Strip light
Rio 2500 pump
Couple of single speed powerheads
Eshopps HOB overflow with AquaHub Pumpstopper kit to turn off return during loss of siphon
Small battery backup connected to powerheads for flow during power outages

- Monitor pH, temperature and salinity.
- Automate dosing of alk and calc and potentially adjust or suspend dosing if large pH swings are detected.
- Light control is not important as I have the Hydra HDs and I don't think these are supported under any controllers yet.
- As my ATO is gravity fed right now and controlled by a float switch, I could see wanting to mechanize the top off at some point.
- Feedings can be a bit of a pain right now and I would like the ability to easily kill the return pump and skimmer so I am not losing food down my overflow. I would like something that can kick the pump back on after a set period of time and the skimmer a bit after that.
- I also could see better powerheads or a wavemaker happening at some point in the future.

If anyone has any recommendations, I would appreciate it. I am sure that once I have a controller I will find a bunch of other things I would want to do with it, but this is what I have identified so far. I don't really have a budget right now. I would love to make something work for <$250 but am prepared to spend more if there is a useful benefit.

 

Thanks. I will probably just count on getting the full Apex then. I have done some research and the JR would probably work fine right now but I worry about having to buy something else in a year or so. I appreciate the feedback.

 

Thanks for all that info! I appreciate the detailed layout. I am thinking I will wait a bit longer and look for a used Apex. If nothing comes around, I will bite the bullet and spend the cash. I have a feeling I would fill up the outlets fairly quick and would end up having to spend more fairly quick. Add in the PH probe and I wouldn't be too far off from the full Apex price.

I really appreciate everyone's responses. The hobby tends to be an argument with myself on how much I should spend.