CONTROLLERS! Which one is your favorite and why?

[Daniel@R2R]

Let's talk controllers!! It seems we've had a while since our last controller comparison thread, and some new players have entered the ring since then. So tell us which controller you like best and why. What are your favorite controller options?

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Trying to decide which controller to go with right now, so this will be super helpful!

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Wow! No discussion?

 

[Miami Reef]

Apex. I never owned a controller but almost everyone has one and says they can’t live without it. I like how it tests and alerts when something is off.

 

[aquaman3680]

Trying to decide which direction to go with as well. I don't need something super complex. We used to run Reef Keeper controllers and I loved them, but they went out of business while I was out of the hobby. What are some opinions about the Hydros controller?

 

[design.maddie]

Smart Surge protector + Google Home. Up and running in under $100.

 

[shakacuz]

Trying to decide which controller to go with right now, so this will be super helpful!

+1 to this!

hopefully the discussion picks up.

 

[haitian_reefer]

Neptunes Apex. I have one on both my tanks and water changing station

 

[DHill6]

Had the Apex stuff but decided to go the ‘less is more’ mode. Sold all of it. Waited a while and went with Hydros4 which I really like, smaller, looks nicer I think. It’s a small tank and I’m using their ATO. Helios heaters, Royal Exclusive skimmer (and reservoir), Vectra and mp 10s all have their own controllers.

 

[Not an IT guy]

GHL>Apex.

 

[169468]

None. They all have their good and bad points.

Software-wise, maybe Apex (although I haven’t used it). Hardware-wise, GHL (aside from the Wi-Fi). Price/modular design, Hydros.

They all have their pros and cons; unfortunately none of them tick all of the boxes so it depends on where your personal requirements lay.

 

[DaddyFish]

So far I'm very impressed with Hydros. At present I have a Control-4 and Control-XS configured as a collective on a 215 peninsula, and a Control-X3 on a 38-Bowfront. I use several of their pH, temperature, leak and water level sensors, along with two WiFi Power Strips and several individual WiFi Smart Plugs. I have not yet gone down the Mastertronic path with Hydros.

Hydros is easy super easy to setup if you are connecting one of their named supported devices. There's plenty of generic functions that can be combined in ways to create pretty much whatever you want to do.

There's excellent documentation and available info for doing DIY cables and connections. But not that much documentation for all the programming features available. I think that has to do with how rapidly they've been expanding the flexibility and feature set.

Component build quality is superb, rugged and definitely has the look and feel of something that will last a very long time.

Since there's no code to write, if you have programming skills (as do I) and want to setup sophisticated functions, you'll have to play around with the predefined setups to understand the logic and stack them together to get what you want. That can be frustrating for someone who has become comfortable writing Apex code and just want X to make Z turn on if Y is also ON. But the ability is there once you spend some time learning Hydros.

Most recently I replaced all the mechanical float switches and associated wiring on my Trigger Systems Platinum Sump fleece system with a single Hydros Water Level Sensor, a couple connectors and some wire off Amazon, along with one Generic Output defined in Hydros that uses a Hydros Drive Port to power the fleece motor. The new setup is more sophisticated and way more reliable, with protection against fleece/motor jams, programmable fleece consumption rate and more. Hydros brings a lot of two opposing worlds into one system, the I Don't Want To Write Any Code For Anything and the DIY Frustrated Engineers.

 

[markwayts]

I've only ever had an apex and setting it up sux but it is a complete game changer. I used to be a slave to mixing, testing, and manually dosing. Now my tank can survive without me for a week no problem. Plus the ability to look at my parameters any time i want takes a load of worry off of my mind when I'm away. And the added stability made my tank take off.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Apex is all I have used. I see a lot of negative comments concerning programming the Apex and it can be difficult. Everything you want to know is out on the web though. I do think they have been a little lazy. Like they don't have pictures of pumps and skimmers just fans and arrows and stuff. They could put a little effort into that. It is still a very powerful platform though and if you can dream something up you can probably get it to work with some research on programming the Apex.

I will probably try Hydros products one day because they are actually rated for use around water. They also seem to move a little faster than Neptune in response to the customers wants.

Neptune just doesn't innovate much or put much quality in their products.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Let's talk controllers!! It seems we've had a while since our last controller comparison thread, and some new players have entered the ring since then. So tell us which controller you like best and why. What are your favorite controller options?

Depends on your needs.

If you need rock solid reliability, you can't really beat Neptune Apex or GHL Profilux.

There are many cheaper options, possibly the best DIY is reef-pi.

I routinely go away for 2-3+ weeks and leave the tank unattended, so my tanks are using a GHL Profilux. Can't beat german products for reliability :-)

Graham.

 

[kpc01]

I have the hydros x4 and x2. So far I love everything about it. I have not had apex but I feel like the hydros will slowly surpass it. Very easy to use and already a lot of Accessories with more coming. The wave engine is awesome too, hoping to get one soon. Check out the new xp8 bar too

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Update; after reading more about stuff I decided to go with the Hydros, just seems like it offers the most flexibility, they are continuing to add the most products, and I can get into one of their systems for the cheapest.

 

[Fishguywc]

I just switched everything over to a new Hydros set up and am very pleased so far. I was initially just going to use a wave engine to consolidate my power bricks/controllers to help declutter(lost 3 power bricks and 3 controllers!! 2 2ks and 1 VS4 return), but after installing that and seeing the system, sold all my APEX and now I have added a control X3, X2 and an XP8 to my collective.

 

[Cell]

No controller for me, just Kasa smart strips, but I'm intrigued by the Hydros and might get one on my next upgrade.

 

[Kalinina]

Timely thread! I’ve just started researching controllers for my new build.

For my wants/needs, Apex and hydros are out. Lots of personal opinions on Apex/trident, but really, I bet if I did decide to go that route it would work for my needs. Hydros, is out because I want an automation/controller, not a monitor and hydros is a monitor at this point in time.

GHL has my attention with their Ion and KH directors. I also like the KH Guardian Pro for automating testing/dosing of alk.

Is it crazy I am thinking of the GHL Ion for cal/mag/etc testing/dosing and the KH Guardian for alk? I’m not one who is a brand loyalist, I will mix and match equipment to suit my needs.

If anyone has any input on the above equipment, I’m all ears!