Merge Apex Info?

[Cari]

Hi all,
Very interested in more automation for my reef tank. Basement sump with operating equipment and display tank with operating equipment obviously split between upstairs and downstairs.

Here’s my question: If I have an Apex controller for each floor of equipment, can the information from them be merged into one spot or would I have to look in two different places to see the varying reef tank info/parameters.

Thanks!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hi all,
Very interested in more automation for my reef tank. Basement sump with operating equipment and display tank with operating equipment obviously split between upstairs and downstairs.

Here’s my question: If I have an Apex controller for each floor of equipment, can the information from them be merged into one spot or would I have to look in two different places to see the varying reef tank info/parameters.

Thanks!

You may be over complicating things.

To answer your question, you can't merge 2 dashboards. You can have multiple systems on one app, but you would have to back out of one to view and control the other. In my mind a very minor inconvenience.

Another way to approach this, is that in reality you can run 2 (or as many as you'd like) tanks off of one apex. You would need to have double everything (temp probes, pH probe, modules, etc). I've personally done this with a frag tank and main tank.

Both options have their pros and cons. And both are viable ways to accomplish your needs. In the end, it's what would work best for you?

Edit: as I read your post again, it seems like you have 1 tank, split across 2 floors? If that's the case, 1 dashboard is all you need. Everything is connectable via aquabus cables. Basically USB cables...

 

[areefer01]

Here’s my question: If I have an Apex controller for each floor of equipment, can the information from them be merged into one spot or would I have to look in two different places to see the varying reef tank info/parameters.

Each Apex will have a unique name and IP then probably can only view one at a time via the Apex list and selecting the one. I do not have two so can't confirm.

If you want to do this outside of Fusion you can using Grafana, InfluxDB (or whatever you prefer), and telegraf to get the data. Then you can create a single dashboard using what metrics you want.

 

[Coinzmans Reef]

You can view the parameters from both under Apex list but with no control.

 

[OfficeReefer]

Hi all,
Very interested in more automation for my reef tank. Basement sump with operating equipment and display tank with operating equipment obviously split between upstairs and downstairs.

Here’s my question: If I have an Apex controller for each floor of equipment, can the information from them be merged into one spot or would I have to look in two different places to see the varying reef tank info/parameters.

Thanks!

One way I did this was by removing a controller. I use a 1Link, FMM and extra Jr power bar for the other area. You can connect the two by either running a long USB cable, a USB repeater or similar with networking. You will need to copy the 2nd controllers settings to your first.

I believe there is also a way to export the settings or back them up and may be able to restore them onto the first controller. I would check out the Neptune Systems forums for the specifics, as you are certainly not the first to ask.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I believe there is also a way to export the settings or back them up and may be able to restore them onto the first controller. I would check out the Apex forums for the specifics, as you are certainly not the first to ask.

You can pull the data and view it as a readable format to help you copy and paste each line into a new apex. But unfortunately, you can't seamlessly transfer the data.. sucks I know.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I run four tanks off of one Apex, including one temperate tank. Just need good labeling and arranging to what makes sense to you. But yes it would be nice if Apex would support "Multiple Tank Syndrome" better, they would probably sell more head units.

 

[Cari]

Thanks for all your insight. I can always count on R2R for solutions! I think I’ll focus on AWC for now…

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

…and then if you’re a homeassistant dweeboid you could probably make a custom ha dashboard with both. I’m not that proficient in assistant and dashboards aren’t my jam, but I do have my apex connected and have access and control of all the necessities.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

You can pull the data and view it as a readable format to help you copy and paste each line into a new apex. But unfortunately, you can't seamlessly transfer the data.. sucks I know.

I haaaaaatte this. RussM probably will never talk to me again with all the he double hockey sticks I gave him about it on the forum.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I haaaaaatte this. RussM probably will never talk to me again with all the he double hockey sticks I gave him about it on the forum.

In all fairness, there is a legitimate reason.

All the modules connected to an Apex are assigned a position in the order they were added to the apex. And the way fusion identifies isn't by the name you assigned an outlet, probe or switch (RetPump, JebaoSkimmer, ORPsump, etc) it only knows it by the random, generic, alpha numeric identifier fusion assigned it.

Even if you were proactive enough plug all your modules in a new apex in the right order, the random identifier would be different for each sub outlet.

It would be a nightmare for you to comb through the outlets to assign them properly. So the next best thing is to copy all your outlets to a word/excel file and carve out and afternoon and do the hard work of cntrl C > cntrl V.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

In all fairness, there is a legitimate reason.

All the modules connected to an Apex are assigned a position in the order they were added to the apex. And the way fusion identifies isn't by the name you assigned an outlet, probe or switch (RetPump, JebaoSkimmer, ORPsump, etc) it only knows it by the random, generic, alpha numeric identifier fusion assigned it.

Even if you were proactive enough plug all your modules in a new apex in the right order, the random identifier would be different for each sub outlet.

It would be a nightmare for you to comb through the outlets to assign them properly. So the next best thing is to copy all your outlets to a word/excel file and carve out and afternoon and do the hard work of cntrl C > cntrl V.

Been there, it’s no fun. I was able to plug most things in the correct order, then name them as I went, right up until I messed up one. My brain scrambles when I listen to the computer voice read me a config report. It’s pure nonsense and is not really navigable for someone like me. Hats off to their support team as they did offer to spend as long as necesssary to help me remotely when I had an sd card failure. I sent them my previous config but I ended up not being able to wait and just started all over from scratch. Luckily I was well practiced from upgrading from a classic just months prior. I know that’s just how aquabus/apex works but it is a pretty dated protocol that should have been (my opinion here) modernized with the 2016 apex rollout. I know the whole backwards compatibility would have taken a hit, but I’m sure some brain could have figured a way.