Apex Return Pump Setting Best Practice?

[Reef AquaCult]

Do you run your return pump through Apex or connect it directly to wall outlet? If you connect return pump using Apex, Is it better to set the return pump to "On" on the dashboard or create an "Always On" Outlet and set it to "Auto" on the dashboard. Im trying to think of any pros / cons of each setting, and if there is any difference at all, because I want to make sure its set optimally in case of failure.

 

[Holy_makerel]

Mine is set to auto. If it is set to ON then it ignores any programming that you have for it. For instance I use several different feed modes depending on what I'm doing. They shut the return off for a set time and then restart it. Hope that helps

 

[homer1475]

I have mine setup as "always on" then have some specific programming for feed modes. While I do not turn my return off, I do slow it down during feed modes. I also have one long feed mode for maintenance, in which I turn several pieces of equipment off.

If you have the outlet set to "on" as opposed to "auto" it will ignore any programming.

 

[ca1ore]

Unless there is some specific functional reason to hook the main return through apex, I always preferred to run mine outside apex since it runs 24/7 at full speed. After I had a standby generator installed on my house I found it highly advantageous to delay the restart of my pump for a minute to ensure any back spinning had stopped. No easy way to do this outside apex.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Mine is set to auto. If it is set to ON then it ignores any programming that you have for it. For instance I use several different feed modes depending on what I'm doing. They shut the return off for a set time and then restart it. Hope that helps

Thank you, Im not using any feed modes right now so this won't

Unless there is some specific functional reason to hook the main return through apex, I always preferred to run mine outside apex since it runs 24/7 at full speed. After I had a standby generator installed on my house I found it highly advantageous to delay the restart of my pump for a minute to ensure any back spinning had stopped. No easy way to do this outside apex.

i do like being able to turn off the pump with my iPhone but other than that I do see an advantage to connect it directly to wall outlet because it essentially runs 24/7

 

[Sleepydoc]

What kind of pump do you have? Is it a controllable DC pump or an AC one? If it’s a DC pump you can plug it into the wall and just use the 0-10V control from the Apex. The drawback to that is it will default to 0V in the event of a power outage.

If all you want to do is turn it off occasionally you can also just wire it through a manual switch. I don’t know that there’s a ‘beat’ practice when it comes to return pumps - like most things in this hobby it spends.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

What kind of pump do you have? Is it a controllable DC pump or an AC one? If it’s a DC pump you can plug it into the wall and just use the 0-10V control from the Apex. The drawback to that is it will default to 0V in the event of a power outage.

If all you want to do is turn it off occasionally you can also just wire it through a manual switch. I don’t know that there’s a ‘beat’ practice when it comes to return pumps - like most things in this hobby it spends.

Its a DC controllable pump. Manual switch with direct wall connection is a good idea thanks.

 

[Sleepydoc]

Another handy thing to do with a DC controllable pump is to figure out the minimum power needed to prevent back flow and use that for things like feed modes.

with my Varios6 a power setting of 14% exactly counter balances gravity and produces a slight trickle. I have Feed A set to slow the pump down to 14% so the food stays in the display but all the water doesn’t back-siphon down to the sump.