BRS Apex “value edition”? Am I missing something?

A_Blind_Reefer · May 27, 2022

Just got the BRS email about the “value” edition apex. Hmmm…..ph-check, orp-check, temp- check, salinity-oh, no salinity probe included “to save you money”…..just not a lot of money. I run a orp probe on my system but is it necessary? Is it really useful in the grand scheme of things? On a “value” system without a salinity probe? How many different ways does an Apex system need to be packaged? Just curious.

A_Blind_Reefer · May 27, 2022

…..and I know orp is useful with ozone and whatnot. I’m not arguing that. Just that on a “value” edition that doesn’t even include salinity doesn’t make sense to me. But not much does these days. I feel like I’m turning into the old guy that yells at you to get my lawn or turn down the music!

GK3 · May 27, 2022

Zzyzx said:
…..and I know orp is useful with ozone and whatnot. I’m not arguing that. Just that on a “value” edition that doesn’t even include salinity doesn’t make sense to me. But not much does these days. I feel like I’m turning into the old guy that yells at you to get my lawn or turn down the music!

Post was kind of loud. Hurt my ears to read.

GK3 · May 27, 2022

I think value edition should come with a phosphate and nitrate probe

rtparty · May 27, 2022

The salinity probe is a piece of junk (this goes for all salinity probes. It this the technology that sucks) and not needed in any way.

So save $150 and save yourself the headache of using a pointless probe. Sounds like a win win to me. What would be even better is package it with the EB8 and skip the 832. Drop another $130 off the price and only lose a piece of junk power bar.

What would be even better is a Build Your Own style of setup where you piece it together and get a certain percentage off the whole thing.

92Miata · May 27, 2022

Zzyzx said:
…..and I know orp is useful with ozone and whatnot. I’m not arguing that. Just that on a “value” edition that doesn’t even include salinity doesn’t make sense to me. But not much does these days. I feel like I’m turning into the old guy that yells at you to get my lawn or turn down the music!

The Apex salinity probe is hugely inaccurate. The Hydros system doesn't even offer a salinity probe because they haven't found one that they think is accurate and consistent enough to be worth running.

Frankly, if removing the salinity probe saved me $5, I'm all for it. They're junk.

hqn77 · May 27, 2022

Got same email this morning too. I'm still debating whether or not to jump into the aquarium controller universe, then if it's Neptune or Hydros? Looking at this, it does conjure up some recent events with Ecotech releasing their G6 fixtures (with both companies being under the same umbrella).

G5 goes on sale, then a few weeks later G6 is announced. Is Neptune, or parent company Apature, pulling the same trick with the Apex controller? Neptune Apex 2022 Edition?

rtparty · May 27, 2022

hqn77 said:
Got same email this morning too. I'm still debating whether or not to jump into the aquarium controller universe, then if it's Neptune or Hydros? Looking at this, it does conjure up some recent events with Ecotech releasing their G6 fixtures (with both companies being under the same umbrella).

G5 goes on sale, then a few weeks later G6 is announced. Is Neptune, or parent company Apature, pulling the same trick with the Apex controller? Neptune Apex 2022 Edition?

I would be shocked to see a new Apex personally. I think this is their way of getting around the worldwide probe shortage. The salinity probe has been backordered forever. So they can't sell the FULL package. This way they can and get rid of the crappy salinity probe.

areefer01 · May 27, 2022

GK3 said:
I think value edition should come with a phosphate and nitrate probe

You see how well that is working out for the other controller manufacture, right?

areefer01 · May 27, 2022

rtparty said:
I would be shocked to see a new Apex personally. I think this is their way of getting around the worldwide probe shortage. The salinity probe has been backordered forever. So they can't sell the FULL package. This way they can and get rid of the crappy salinity probe.

My salinity probe works fine. It would be interesting to see the break down though between users. That would be some great data to look at.

I wouldn't read too much into it though. 150 bucks or whatever is the saving could be a big deal to some. So why not.

A_Blind_Reefer · May 27, 2022

92Miata said:
The Apex salinity probe is hugely inaccurate. The Hydros system doesn't even offer a salinity probe because they haven't found one that they think is accurate and consistent enough to be worth running.

Frankly, if removing the salinity probe saved me $5, I'm all for it. They're junk.

I actually like mine. Sure it doesn’t calibrate quite right and the value is off by quite a bit, but it does tell me when it shifts one way or the other. Once I kept the micro bubbles out of it, it’s been pretty solid. I just know the actual value from a different device and pin that to the wacko number the apex comes up. Anytime the apex goes up or down, I check it against another device and the value did in fact go up or down. Definitely not perfect but it works for monitoring the trend.

A_Blind_Reefer · May 27, 2022

rtparty said:
The salinity probe is a piece of junk (this goes for all salinity probes. It this the technology that sucks) and not needed in any way.

So save $150 and save yourself the headache of using a pointless probe. Sounds like a win win to me. What would be even better is package it with the EB8 and skip the 832. Drop another $130 off the price and only lose a piece of junk power bar.

What would be even better is a Build Your Own style of setup where you piece it together and get a certain percentage off the whole thing.

I’m with ya there. I never “upgraded” from my good ol apex gold. It just works. I’ve had it over several different tanks and it’s been solid. I would like to go trident, I’ve lost most my vision so testing is impossible for me, but I dont want to mess with what’s been flawless. I’ve heard about the eb832 issues. I have had several eb8’s and a couple EB4 for almost ten years now without a single problem….knock on wood. I just think of the apex el as the “value” edition. I guess I equate value with like the beginner version.

ZombieEngineer · May 27, 2022

The salinity probe is super useful. As long as you follow the proper calibration procedure and don't stick it right next to the output of a protien skimmer, it is stupidly accurate. Conductivity is extremely temperature dependent (2.2-2.8% variation per degree celcius), so if you follow the advice of the BRS video and just stick it in a room temperature calibration packet, it's gonna be way off.

I have one on each tank and one in my NSW barrel and use them to supervise both ATO and auto water change. Both will stop and alert me if conductivity falls out of range.

The only time mine gets "unreliable" is when the sensor gets gunked up with algae (my sensor chamber is in my refugium unfortunately on one tank. No better location) and it takes 30 seconds to brush it off real quick knock out the air bubbles and its back to normal.

rtparty · May 27, 2022

areefer01 said:
My salinity probe works fine. It would be interesting to see the break down though between users. That would be some great data to look at.

I wouldn't read too much into it though. 150 bucks or whatever is the saving could be a big deal to some. So why not.

I'd have to find the poll on the BRS Facebook group but it was something like 70% had issues with the salinity probe. How much of that is user error I'm not sure. Doesn't matter though because you can make the best items on earth but if the average person can't use them, they're pointless.

Jon's Reef · May 27, 2022

My salinity sensor has worked great in my new sump where there is constant flow over it. Just this morning the dropping salinity alerted me to an issue. I filled my AWC barrel but forgot to add salt. It was sitting at 21 ppt.

EB832 is great. I have 2 that have worked without issue for over 2 years. In particular the 24V and 1link is very useful. For 1link I use 2 DOS and my Trident. 24V has GRO light and PMUP for ATK. Less bricks and cords is great.

areefer01 · May 27, 2022

rtparty said:
I'd have to find the poll on the BRS Facebook group but it was something like 70% had issues with the salinity probe. How much of that is user error I'm not sure. Doesn't matter though because you can make the best items on earth but if the average person can't use them, they're pointless.

That is a large number on the surface without knowing the finer details like sample size. But your point is valid. Can't use them, pointless.

SPS2020 · May 27, 2022

The 'value' edition is the EL. No salinity, orp or dimming. Add modules later if you change your mind.

Gtinnel · May 27, 2022

SPS2020 said:
The 'value' edition is the EL. No salinity, orp or dimming. Add modules later if you change your mind.

No is apparently a new package that seems to just remove the salinity probe.

Apex Controller System - Value Release

Offered only for a limited time and at a special value price-- don't miss out on this opportunity to get the best aquarium monitoring and control system on the market! The Apex Value Release Bundle includes everything featured in the Apex Controller System Bundle except for the Salinity Probe...

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