Controllers

Apex hands down. Its programming is common and easy to figure out once you get into it. Plus most of the basic stuff is already out there for you to copy and paste. As for price goes hands down for my money the apex was what I needed and wanted for now and future growth. It can do anything I need and want it to. Plus what I don't know what I want it to do.
Before I decided on Apex the price was driving me to get a cheaper product but I wanted the full Apex. My wife said get what you need and want. I said OK and after me reviewing every site I could find Apex was hands down #1 on list for what people wanted or owned.
Apex has more processing power then all the others also. It was when I bought mine anyway.
Also go to Neptune's forum and check it out.
Good luck!
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I have 2 re

 

I have 2 reefkeeper systems. The big thing, figure what you want. If you want basics, heater timer, ect they all do it, go for price. Myself, when I decide to upgrade, I am going ReefAngel. Apex modules cost, reef angel, if they don't have a module, you can make one, or have domineering make it for you. Big picture price, I personally can not justify apex

 

If you make it yourself great but you have to then warranty it also. I am a huge on DIY, but something that is controlling my tank! Na I will leave that up to a pro. If you look at price then your just talking 100.00 Bucks difference in most cases. If 100 to 150 is stopping you then buy cheapest controller you can find. I have an older Reef keeper on my Sons tank. For basics its good, but anything else I don't know. Go with what you need and can afford plan and simple. I do know when I was looking if I added all I wanted or might have wanted the price shoots up on the other controllers. One factor was speed (bits) of controller also for me. Processing power is a must for me.
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Apex hands down.

1) It's tried and true.

2) It's being actively enhanced all of the time and it's not going away any time soon.

3) It's the control most people have so there are tons of resources for it and people to help when you have issues.

This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for.

 

If cost is the driving factor you will be around the same price once you get all the necessary modules to make a fair comparison. If you are looking for the flexibility to try different and new things I think the RA is a good deal. If you followed the WP-40 evolution over the last 9 months you will know that RA was instrumental with developing a solution for controlling this pump with the RA as well as the Apex. I have never seen a company so willing to work with a new product that was not theres without having a huge financial stake in the outcome. That was impressive.

It just boils down to what you are trying to do. Me personally I am running a older AC Jr. but I am in the process of starting an Arduino build just for the fun of it. Because the RA is cheaper to start doesn't mean it is inferior product, their cost model is just structured to allow you flexibility to add what you want and if you want the full functionality of an Apex you would be spending the same amount for a RA so there really is no savings there.

Bottom line for me is what I am trying to control. If you just want to control a few pumps, temp and pH then the Apex Jr is what you want. If you want all the bells and whistles the Apex would be the other route. If want to flexibility to try new innovative things then the RA would be the route since they are the fastest to respond to changing demands from their community.

 

Depends on how you use them. The reef angel I know you can have multiple channels of dimming. Literally 50+

 

According to the Reef Breeders website, it is not currently compatible with the 0-10v system that the Apex uses for dimming.

 

Non of the controllers can dim reefbreeder light fixtures yet except for the stock controllers that come with the photons

 

This was the same situation with the WP40. Someone on the RC thread was working with RA and they developed the cable that allowed the RA and Apex to control the WP40. If you started up the thread in one of the controller forums I bet some of the EE's would probably be able to help determine how to control with one of the commercial controllers.

 

I'm building an Ardiuno based model too. Our office is a network integrator in DM, so the engineers here are crazy smart. So far I'm up to tank temp, ambient temp, RO level sensor all readable from my iPhone. I have a pH probe on the way and then next will be controllable outlets. I've only spent around $50 + an iOS app, so not too bad for what I'm getting. We need to start a whole forum for Arduino based conversations so we can all share code, ideas, etc.

 

The Apex cable for the WP40 is from a RA to hook up the Vortech system I think. I am waiting to see how it go's with that. Have you tried it yet TY?

KP

 

No I have not tried this Kyle. RA created a cable that can be used for the RA or Apex. You would have to put a RJ-45 end on it so that it would interface with the APEX. You would then program your Apex with the profile you want. I know there are many people out there who have done this on RC.


My AC Jr won't allow me to do this quite yet. My plan is to do this with my Arduino build. My real time clock is 1 - 2 weeks out so I really can't start until then. I started a thread on RC so you can follow along here if you like.





http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2331473

 

I will have to check this thread out. I am looking for a good winter project. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif