Apex or Hydros controller
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SuncrestReef
That Apex guy
This has been discussed at length in other threads.
In a nutshell:
www.reef2reef.com
In a nutshell:
- The Apex has been around for decades, has a huge customer base world-wide, and robust user community support forums.
- The Hydros was only released a few months ago, so has a small user base and little (but increasing) community support.
- The Apex has a central brain with a variety of add-on modules. The Hydros has a distributed-brain model, where each Control module can operate independently or in conjunction with each other.
- The Hydros has a more graphical user interface, and supposedly simpler programming/configuration model than the Apex. I say supposedly because I don't have any hands-on experience with the Hydros.
Articles by SuncrestReef
www.reef2reef.com
n2585722
2500 Club Member
As far as Apex I cannot say. I have never owned one. I went from Digital Aquatics to the Hydros. So far I really like it. I am slowly moving form the Archon to the Hydros. i have not found anything I could not do with the Hydros that the Archon was doing. I have the Hydros controlling my ATO, AWC and the auto refill on my DI storage tank from the RODI . I also have it auto refill my fresh saltwater storage tank with the water from the mixing tank if it is ready to use. It will then refill the mixing tank with DI water from the RODI. I just transferred control of a heater a couple day ago. I have a Control 4, 2 Control 2's and a Control XS in a collective so far to control the tank and the storage and pumps in the garage 35ft from the tank. The programming is easy to get used to. They have a facebook group and a forum for the Hydros here https://forum.coralvuehydros.com/ . There is usually someone on either that can answer any questions you may have.
Ippyroy
Defeater of Dinos
The biggest difference to me are the power bars. INHO Apex wins by a mile. They have the ability to run more than 8 items. There are other ways to power Apex Items generally speaking. Apex also offers power monitoring whic allows you to see if something is not running. The Hydos uses cheap wifi power strips. They will do the job, but no power monitoring. Skip the full Apex and just the EL if you go that route.
THe HYDROS Wave Engine is best thing of either system. As long as it is a compatible pump, no power bricks are needed. Power Bricks are the biggest PITA around. The downside is you are a little limited to which pumps you can use fully, but they do have good options.
THe HYDROS Wave Engine is best thing of either system. As long as it is a compatible pump, no power bricks are needed. Power Bricks are the biggest PITA around. The downside is you are a little limited to which pumps you can use fully, but they do have good options.
Although I agree with you about the several better features of the EB832 (such as power monitoring with alerts, outlet fallback states, being hardwired, etc), I am not sure if using the quantity of outlets directly is a good comparison. An EB832 is $280 for the 8 outlets (plus 2x 24v ports and 3x 1link), while the Hydros power bar with 4 outlets (plus a USB output) is $40.
In theory you can get 28 Hydros outlets (and 7x 5v USB outputs) for the cost of one EB832. However none of said outlets have the advanced power monitoring or failsafe features like the Neptune bar, so there is no saying whether those drawbacks are worth the savings. Depends on the hobbyist. We probably need to wait to see the cost and features of the eventual Hydros Command Bus (wired) power bar to compare properly.
Last edited:
kenchilada
Palytoxin Abuser
Plus if you pop open an EB832 you may be unimpressed by the quality of components you find inside. It is a consumer grade item.
Ippyroy
Defeater of Dinos
I don't like the Hydros outlets. You can get those on Amazon for like 20 bucks. The EB832 does cost more, but it does a lot more and I feel like it does a better job. I don't trust the WiFi between them. I prefer a cable. I wouldn't trust Bluetooth connections like that either. This is the heartbeat of the tank. Both are good and will work. I just prefer the Apex because of the power bars. The Wave Engine does make rethink regularly though. Getting rid of 3 to 4 power bricks. That might honestly be worth risking the WiFi connection in my opinion. I am horrible at cable management.
Ippyroy
Defeater of Dinos
True, but the wifi strips for Hydros are cheap garbage in my opinion. The Apex brain vs. the Hydros is not even close. HYDROS for the win. Apex Brain is cheap plastic garbage, HYDROS looks slick and it is water proof.
Apex power supplies win by a mile to me. Apex Proprietary items like the WAV Pumps, ATK, or the COR pumps are also hot garbage. Apex has nothing that compares to the Wave Engine by Hydros. But at the end of the day the EB832 decided for me personally.
Sarcazian
Active Member
I have a Control 4 on the way, but in doing light research I thought I read that the max distance is like 15' from control to control? It was one of the items I saw pointed out vs. the Apex bus that offers like 130' or something crazy.
It could be possible that your units are separate, but you mentioned the distance... so I am assuming that they are connected.
n2585722
2500 Club Member
The 15ft distance is using the single power supply. You use a data only cable if the distance is longer. There is a after market guy that supplies a kit to convert to CAT5 cable and then back to the Hydros buss for longer runs. I have modules that are over 35' apart. Don't use multiple supplies unless they are seperated with a data only cable.
Sarcazian
Active Member
Do you mind PM'ing me the person that you have been successful with? I was having a bit of buyers regret once I heard about this 15' limitation and was planning on doing more research once I really dug into the main Hydros 4.
I already use cat6+ for optical audio, hdm, etc and understand the benefits. Very easy to run a quick cable run and this is great news.
n2585722
2500 Club Member
Here is a link to a lot of DIY info https://forum.coralvuehydros.com/forums/diy-hydros.28/ . It is on the Hydros forum. Here is a link to the boxes that Jeff makes https://www.jbaquaticsllc.com/produ...true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=5 . I made my own adapters getting the GX connectors from Amazon for the Hydros side. I just used a RJ45 plug since I already had the RJ45 wall plate on one end and a media center socket on the other. You cannot hook it up to a router or any other internet device. It is just for point to point connection on the Hydros.
I normally stay out of these types of conversations because let's be honest, it's like saying who makes the best muscle car........it all depends on need, preferences, etc. But for me, here's some of the points I think of when comparing them (and in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm currently using an Apex, I've had GHL controllers in the past (and would still have them if the web interface was better), and I've only "looked" at Hyrdros and read/watched reviews.
-Apex does has history, not all good, but overall mostly good. Hydros is still new and needs to be proven.
-Apex has a web interface that can be accessed via PC and is not limited to an app on one's phone/tablet (that by itself is a reason for me to not use Hydros, but it's a personal preference)
-Hydros has their wave engine, which is flat out cool and beyond what I can do with Apex.
-Apex has a much larger "ecosystem", partially because they've been around a lot longer, it'll be interesting to see what new comes out that works with the Hydros.
-Hydros does seem to be very simple to set up, which is a huge plus.
At the end of the day though, if I'm going to spend the time and money to have a controller, I'd like it to do the specific things that I feel are important and have a relatively simple and centralized way to do it. It really does come down to what your expectations are, and what your opinion is (not what everyone else's opinion is) based on the information you put together.
-Apex does has history, not all good, but overall mostly good. Hydros is still new and needs to be proven.
-Apex has a web interface that can be accessed via PC and is not limited to an app on one's phone/tablet (that by itself is a reason for me to not use Hydros, but it's a personal preference)
-Hydros has their wave engine, which is flat out cool and beyond what I can do with Apex.
-Apex has a much larger "ecosystem", partially because they've been around a lot longer, it'll be interesting to see what new comes out that works with the Hydros.
-Hydros does seem to be very simple to set up, which is a huge plus.
At the end of the day though, if I'm going to spend the time and money to have a controller, I'd like it to do the specific things that I feel are important and have a relatively simple and centralized way to do it. It really does come down to what your expectations are, and what your opinion is (not what everyone else's opinion is) based on the information you put together.
n2585722
2500 Club Member
The Hydros can be accessed by a computer using the web browser and going here https://www.coralvuehydros.com/. Click on web app in the menu. I have this saved as an app on my Surface using Edge.
Well look at that, I was just going off their FAQ's, which still says you can't access it from a PC and they have nothing in development. BUT, this is promising and looks like they at least have something to build on.
GainesvilleReef
Active Member
I have 5 Apex's, 3 Hydros C2, and 4 Hydros WaveEngines spread over 5 tanks. Hydros has a lot of catching up to do, but the entry-level price point is excellent. Hydros has by far the best packaging. The Hydros has more reliable/newer wifi on the brain units. The APEX EB8 (not the EB232) is still the best energy bar on the market. I actually control my WaveEngines with my APEXs. Whichever way you go the WaveEngine is probably the best product to come out in the last few years. The C2s are performing the ATO function and also providing a redundant temperature monitor through a redundant cloud. I actually like APEX programming, but I am an Engineer. APEX Fusion is the best in the industry it will be a long time before anyone can match. So I am not replacing anything yet but I am thankful for having an option.
Sarcazian
Active Member
Does the Hydros 4 not have any log retention for sensors? I just started mine up, connected the temp probe/sensor, set it up and I see no trends. I could have sworn I saw others mention that it stored at least a few days worth?
IMHO, I must be blind as this must have some monitoring capabilities? I already paid about the same for this if compared to the Apex EL and lost 4 power outlets, power monitoring, and I certainly hope not pH and Temp charts?
I feel like I am missing some major menu in the iOS or web interface? This device cannot be a useless as it seems on the surface?
Even my Seneye has those.
IMHO, I must be blind as this must have some monitoring capabilities? I already paid about the same for this if compared to the Apex EL and lost 4 power outlets, power monitoring, and I certainly hope not pH and Temp charts?
I feel like I am missing some major menu in the iOS or web interface? This device cannot be a useless as it seems on the surface?
Even my Seneye has those.
Pntbll687
Valuable Member
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The only time I've lost wifi is during a power outage. And you can buy a $30 wifi hotspot and sit it next to the tank of you're worried about it.
And a wifi connection does not mean internet. They're could be an internet outage and as long as the wifi gateway had power, the connection is still there.
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