Serious, I'd just jump ship to hydros @ that point.Do not give them ideas... if they start a monthly subscription, I am out. Apex can go find a new home.
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Serious, I'd just jump ship to hydros @ that point.Do not give them ideas... if they start a monthly subscription, I am out. Apex can go find a new home.
in your opinion----what are they doing?Neptune knows what it's doing with the module pricing...
Making money, lots of money, what else is there lol.in your opinion----what are they doing?
Nah A3 Jr is just that a independent controller that's hobbled due to lack of features out the box.Does Apex not have a wifi module that you can use to connect to the main Apex/Fusion network that would allow you can send params such as pH,salinity,orp from say another tank to your main "brain" and monitor all tanks at once ?
Or would that basically be the A3 JR ?
Nah A3 Jr is just that a independent controller that's hobbled due to lack of features out the box.
I'm loving the kraken idea. I have a semi diy version, but that kraken looks sexy.Sheesh,crazy crazy. I think the new X10 from Hydros will give Neptune a huhe run for its money then.
Herein lies the problem with brand specific (proprietary) controls. I am a software engineer in whole building automation. Controlling 'everything' is my world. Fishtanks easily fall into this realm - temps, lighting, pumps, speeds, status, inputs, outputs - if there is a sensor to read it, that is what we do.
Back in the 90's when building automation became more mainstream and cost effective, Trane, Johnson, Carrier, etc. all had their own proprietary control system to control thier product and their products only. It was very difficult for building managers to have all their equipment on one front end due to the multitude of systems involved. Insert BACnet, Modbus, etc. While having been around for years, it was up to each individual company to 'allow' communications to their devices, which protocol to use, and to what extent one could control said devices.
I see the exact sams issues in this hobby - everything is proprietary, app controlled, garbage. I don' t know much about apex (other than I see no reason to have one compared to what I use), but it seems to me from what I see - you buy into Apex, you're stuck with their (mostly) everything.
Consumers must demand more open systems. The ability to add I/O and use non-proprietary sensors, equipment, etc. AND be repairable must be demanded. I hate the thought of not being able to use a SS thermister 'off the shelf' to read temp, or a 4-20ma condictivity probe of my choosing, or standard amperage transmitters for status and energy useage - there are tons of sensors availble that we desire (pH, salinity, ORP, etc) - some out of most peoples price range for sure, but the ability to not use this high dollar equipment without 3 different apps and a controller in the $1000's, I expect open, reliable, repairable and fucntional. I would simply apprecaite integration abilities (BACnet, modbus, serial comms). One hospital we do work for has fish tanks and they often ask if we can integrate to the system - ha - ask ecotech and others about this option and ZERO response.
I'm loving the kraken idea. I have a semi diy version, but that kraken looks sexy.
I use a Cole Parmer ph/orp/temp controller on one of my setups, the other uses milwaukee gear ,Some prefer simple. Simple is best. But when one can't always be present or respond, the ability to be notified of issues and do something about it remotely come in to play. While I could, in theory, control every single item on my tank with my controller, I prefer monitoring mostly. I do control some aspects - dosing, on/off of a few pumps and the heaters. Everything else is monitoring with remote notification (email and text), the ability to see my system remotely and make any changes needed (for instance, I could shut down a pump, or the whole system, if needed), is key to me. I assume most apex users feel the same? The need to know/see - easily - what is 'going' on is the lure.