Apex classic or apex?

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

The new Apex (2016) has the 1link built into the EB 832 (power bar that comes with it).

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

Waboss said:
The new Apex (2016) has the 1link built into the EB 832 (power bar that comes with it).

Right yea I was hoping it was the classic and I missed it somewhere

Look I have never seen an apex set up with my own eyes or touched one so I don't know how the modules work or anything like that I have a gyst as I have read up on it and have seen photos.

So is it that bad having modules? I'm thinking I won't need more then two energy bars just my lights and heaters and prolly the core pump if it suits what I need. I have reef link for my Eco tech stuff. I do have a gyre so that will need a module as well I beleive. But once it's plugged into apex I don't have to plug it into the apex power supply correct? So the 1 link will only power to wavs prolly for a while. I'll prolly buy a doser instead of the wav as that is kinda expensive as I will need a total of 4 dossiers (triton) but maby not. But even if I go with the dos I'll still have two open switches on the 1 link for it correct?

I don't know I'm kinda thinking about returning it now and getting the new gold. it's only 300 dollars I guess it's not that bad. Just will have to wait two weeks.

rizorido · Sep 4, 2016

My new Apex 2016 is, by far, the best monitor controller out there !

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

rizorido said:
My new Apex 2016 is, by far, the best monitor controller out there !

Did u have the old one? Aka the classic? If so why is it so much better?

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

justingraham said:
Right yea I was hoping it was the classic and I missed it somewhere

Look I have never seen an apex set up with my own eyes or touched one so I don't know how the modules work or anything like that I have a gyst as I have read up on it and have seen photos.

So is it that bad having modules? I'm thinking I won't need more then two energy bars just my lights and heaters and prolly the core pump if it suits what I need. I have reef link for my Eco tech stuff. I do have a gyre so that will need a module as well I beleive. But once it's plugged into apex I don't have to plug it into the apex power supply correct? So the 1 link will only power to wavs prolly for a while. I'll prolly buy a doser instead of the wav as that is kinda expensive as I will need a total of 4 dossiers (triton) but maby not. But even if I go with the dos I'll still have two open switches on the 1 link for it correct?

I don't know I'm kinda thinking about returning it now and getting the new gold. it's only 300 dollars I guess it's not that bad. Just will have to wait two weeks.

Ok, I'll try and answer these in order so they make sense :).

Nope, it's not bad having modules, for me, they just take up space and make me find more places to mount them. So I like things as compact as possible.

You probably won't really need as many energy bars as you think right now. Most things don't "need" to be plugged into the EB's unless you specifically need to be able to power them on and off. I started out with 2 EB8's mostly filled up and now I'm down to 1 and still have 2 outlets free.

Correct, you won't need to plug your Gyre into the EB8 if you're running the Icecap module connected to one of the variable speed ports on the Apex (I had one and that's how I had it set up)

You don't NEED the 1link for the DoS's but you CAN power them from it (it's a little cleaner of an install if you do, but you lose some programming safeguards if they're not powered from the PS connected to the EB8.........we can chat about that when you get to that point if you like). You do need the 1link for the WAV's though. And yes, you can run 2 WAV's and a DoS from the 1link (maybe more.....it's been a while since I had them, I'd have to look them up to see for sure).

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

So @Waboss u are running the classic version correct?? Are u antsy pantsy to upgrade to the new one? U pretty much know what I'm going to be doing with mine and if u were me what would u do?
Am I correct in saying that fusion can be run with my apex?
Is salinity probe really worth it? It's more redundant than anything else.
Im just trying to figure out the best path to take as I have been waiting forever for an apex and I finally got one and am scared to open it cause it could be the wrong one. My other thing is if I want something the new apex has I can still upgrade to it correct?
I just want to do it right the first time I guess is what I'm saying.

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

Yes, I'm running what's now known as the classic version.

I'm not antsy at all to upgrade to the new version, mine works fine and if I were to replace it, I'd probably give Profilux a shot (I like trying new things). BUT if I were buying a new Apex now, I'd buy the newer version, now just called "Apex".

Yes, you can use fusion with the Apex classic, I do all the time.

You'll get differing ideas on the salinity probe depending on who you ask. I got rid of mine. For me, it didn't really matter what it "read" as long as my refractometer gave me good readings. I'd just match up my refractometer to the readings from the probe (regardless of what they were) and use that to tell me if there was a big swing.

The only thing you can't do (for now) is upgrade to the new EB 832 if you have the classic Apex, it's not compatible. It's good to do the research so you know what you need and what you're getting, but this hobby is like computers (and in this case, you're mixing the two) there's always going to be something newer and/or better coming out. For me, if I have any second thoughts about buying a "lower end" version at all, I just spring for the better one......which also is NOT always the best choice, it's just what I do.

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

Yea I'm with u I always need the latest greatest and to be honest I told the guy what I was trying to do with my aquarium and he actually told me that I didn't need to get the new apex and that the classic would work for what I want. He said save ur self 300 for some frags or a wav This is the guy I was buying it off of so to me it was a weird response because why wouldn't he want me to buy the best but he said that the classic would work great for me. So that's why I bought it. But then I got scared and havnt opened it yet as I don't want to be out of this money if I don't want it and the better option was to buy the apex. Just so confused I'm sure I'll be more then happy with the classic if I stay with it I just don't want to see that after macna some new Neptune thing is only going to work with the new version which would be my luck

And tHank u for ur time @waboos ur helping me out tons

rizorido · Sep 4, 2016

Waboss said:
Well, not really on the "any other reef controller does not have" part anyway. I believe (unless I'm mistaken) that GHL's profilux controller has individual socket monitoring as well on their PAB power bars. I'm not bashing Apex's though, I have one and am very happy with it.

Like @Salty1962 said though, if you're adding WAV's and DoS's down the road, I'd just get the 2016 model if funds allowed for it.

No, GHL does not monitor Power, Voltage and Amps on their Energy Bars!

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

justingraham said:
Yea I'm with u I always need the latest greatest and to be honest I told the guy what I was trying to do with my aquarium and he actually told me that I didn't need to get the new apex and that the classic would work for what I want. He said save ur self 300 for some frags or a wav This is the guy I was buying it off of so to me it was a weird response because why wouldn't he want me to buy the best but he said that the classic would work great for me. So that's why I bought it. But then I got scared and havnt opened it yet as I don't want to be out of this money if I don't want it and the better option was to buy the apex. Just so confused I'm sure I'll be more then happy with the classic if I stay with it I just don't want to see that after macna some new Neptune thing is only going to work with the new version which would be my luck

And tHank u for ur time @waboos ur helping me out tons

Well, he's probably right, you don't NEED the newer one, but that doesn't mean you don't WANT it and shouldn't get it. I mean let's face it, we don't NEED controllers at all, they just make our lives easier, give us piece of mind, and create more stability for our systems (unless we all worked at home and never went anywhere....lol). There were folks with reef tanks long before there were controllers.

Look at it this way, and I'm in no way trying to tell you what to do, but if you bought the newest one, you wouldn't have to worry about incompatible upgrades/modules for a much longer time.

Oh, and you're quite welcome.

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

rizorido said:
No, GHL does not monitor Power, Voltage and Amps on their Energy Bars!

Well, their website says otherwise. "Also the power consumption of individual loads per socket can be measured separately (versions with PAB only). "

But hey, maybe I'm misunderstanding what they mean by that. I've never had one to try.

rizorido · Sep 4, 2016

Waboss said:
Well, their website says otherwise. "Also the power consumption of individual loads per socket can be measured separately (versions with PAB only). "

But hey, maybe I'm misunderstanding what they mean by that. I've never had one to try.

Don't think so !

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

I think GHl does have it to be honest cause I remember reading it in @d2mini post the guy who had the ecotech cube he's running it now so he would know best.

Yea ur right u are but I don't think apex will ecotech us either. I mean there original controllers still work like the old old ones.
I'll guess I will return it and what's another two weeks right we have nothing but time in this hobby.
I just wanted to have a controller and all that cool monitoring stuff on my phone tonight.

Hey on the apex monitor app or whatever it is can u put in ur water parameters in it? Like on this day my calcium was this and phosphates that. And if not what app do u use for that?

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

justingraham said:
Hey on the apex monitor app or whatever it is can u put in ur water parameters in it? Like on this day my calcium was this and phosphates that. And if not what app do u use for that?

Yep, you can. It has preset ones for the "standards" like Calcium/Alk/Etc and you can make your own if you want for things like Strontium by choosing the "other" option in the drop down.

d2mini · Sep 4, 2016

At any time you can see how much current is currently being drawn from any individual socket on the GHL powerbars.

rizorido · Sep 4, 2016

d2mini said:
At any time you can see how much current is currently being drawn from any individual socket on the GHL powerbars.

Didn't know that ! Thanks

Waboss · Sep 4, 2016

Thanks @d2mini for verifying. I sent a quick message to @Vinny@GHLUSA to make sure I wasn't spreading bad information too.

@justingraham , Sorry for my part in derailing this thread a little.......

justingraham · Sep 4, 2016

Hey no problem at all we are here to help everyone out plus I had a legend post on my thread in d2mini all in all a good day.

But back to the thread I think I'm going to stay with the classic. As of right now I keep jumping back and forth but I think I made the right choice. It's not like I'm going to be away for very long or that I need all that info that the new apex gives out. The information is great it is but if I can't tell that my lights aren't on or that my heater isn't working without apex sending me an alert maby I shouldn't be in this hobby. I have done it without a controller for a long time anything is better then what I did have.

Thanks for everyone helping me out and explaining this to me. And hopefully this will help someone else out down the road
Thanks again
Justin

Salty1962 · Sep 4, 2016

That's why these discussions are great, everyone can learn something from them! I am. Good luck @justingraham. Keep us posted!

lacrosseboss18 · Sep 4, 2016

I would hold off. I have several different apex units. I have had the jr, classic gold and now have the newest version. I am still working out the bugs. I have to hard wire it to get it to work nice had several support sessions and still getting a errors. I was just away for the weekend and I had a 25foot Ethernet cable running through my living room. I definitely like the new energy bar but the base unit with built in wifi is a waste. I am running the wavs and have a dos and ddr. I had a second pair of wavs to hook up but with all the problems I'm having with the new apex 2016 I might add a pair of MP40s instead. I'm sure in time it will be amazing just not now.