Neptune Systems Apex or Hydros controller, which is better?

[SunnyJohn]

I am tired of manually doing maintenance on my aquarium. It is a pain in the butt and I would like to ease off on hands on stuff. I saw that there are controllers out there that allows you to connect all of your equipment into one controller and control them through an app. Unfortunately, I am not sure which to choose. An Apex or a Hydros. What is easier to control, set-up, and convenient? I would like some advice from experienced hobbyist that has messed around with controllers and would love to hear the opinions out there!

 

[tmccaff]

That be cool if you can find that info. I asked for feature request of Fan Speed control which be nice feature I would assume you could use 0-10v port for that.

 

[n2585722]

That be cool if you can find that info. I asked for feature request of Fan Speed control which be nice feature I would assume you could use 0-10v port for that.

Here is a link to it on the Hydros forum https://forum.coralvuehydros.com/th...detection-w-o-icecap-battery-or-we-wele.1428/

 

[Moonraker76]

GHL has ION Director. and Kh Director both very good. Trident Apex has had issues or they fix it? Hydros can use mastertronic, alkatronic, kh carer for testing at moment.

You can't get ION Director at present. They aren't taking orders because of a global supply issue so you'll need a different option for that.

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

Great content everybody! I love seeing the perspectives from every side, obviously my viewpoint is going to be a bit biased given my username. I wanted to also touch on, as I saw this information about Hydros not having Alkalinity testing...we do :)

In fact, we've given the software away to every single Hydros control. You do not need the x10 to facilitate this test, however it does come with everything needed and is quite complimentary. Yes as mentioned, users should have their option of device, if you own a separate device, you should be able to hook that up to your aquarium controller. So we've also partnered with Kamoer for their KH Carer, Focustronic for Alkatronic and Mastertronic, and Sicce for their pumps.... while still giving the software away for our method for free.

 

[Moonraker76]

Great content everybody! I love seeing the perspectives from every side, obviously my viewpoint is going to be a bit biased given my username. I wanted to also touch on, as I saw this information about Hydros not having Alkalinity testing...we do :)

In fact, we've given the software away to every single Hydros control. You do not need the x10 to facilitate this test, however it does come with everything needed and is quite complimentary. Yes as mentioned, users should have their option of device, if you own a separate device, you should be able to hook that up to your aquarium controller. So we've also partnered with Kamoer for their KH Carer, Focustronic for Alkatronic and Mastertronic, and Sicce for their pumps.... while still giving the software away for our method for free.

Will this be available in the UK any time soon?

 

[nanoreefer23]

I too have used all 3 and would rank them as
1st Apex
2nd GHL
And a far distant 3rd Hydros

What’s so bad about the hydros? I heard it’s better than apex in a lot of ways, when the maven has its bugs ironed out you’ll only need one auto tester instead of trident and trident NP.

 

[Peair]

I am tired of manually doing maintenance on my aquarium. It is a pain in the butt and I would like to ease off on hands on stuff. I saw that there are controllers out there that allows you to connect all of your equipment into one controller and control them through an app. Unfortunately, I am not sure which to choose. An Apex or a Hydros. What is easier to control, set-up, and convenient? I would like some advice from experienced hobbyist that has messed around with controllers and would love to hear the opinions out there!

I use Hydros, I never tried Apex, I don't know if it is better or not, but my life in saltwater is much easier and automated now that I use Hydros for just about everything.

 

[n2585722]

What’s so bad about the hydros? I heard it’s better than apex in a lot of ways, when the maven has its bugs ironed out you’ll only need one auto tester instead of trident and trident NP.

I use the Hydros and it can do everything I want and more. It is also easy for me to understand and setup. I have had no issues getting it to do what I want it to do. I was using a Digital Aquatics Archon before switching to Hydros. I have never used a Apex but from the settings I have seen posted it looks to be a lot harder to setup and use to me.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

What’s so bad about the hydros? I heard it’s better than apex in a lot of ways, when the maven has its bugs ironed out you’ll only need one auto tester instead of trident and trident NP.

I would say that hydros being better is definitely a subjective opinion. As is mine, just an opinion. I tried it and I couldn't get it to do certain tasks that you think would be commensurate to their so called competition.

I reached out to them in hopes that they would work with me to make things more on the level of the other controllers. Instead I got the canned statement of, resources are limited, we'll look into it. My choice was to sell it and never look back.

CV has definitely invested heavily in hydros as their partial departure from distribution has left them in what can be percieved as a serious situation. People should be very concerned that there's a strong possibility hydros won't be around long. And if that happens all the devices that are tied up in SaaS will be nothing more than paper weights.

Not trying to single just this one brand. But at least Apex can still be used locally if ever neptune systems (a pet life) goes out of business.

 

[n2585722]

I would say that hydros being better is definitely a subjective opinion. As is mine, just an opinion. I tried it and I couldn't get it to do certain tasks that you think would be commensurate to their so called competition.

I reached out to them in hopes that they would work with me to make things more on the level of the other controllers. Instead I got the canned statement of, resources are limited, we'll look into it. My choice was to sell it and never look back.

CV has definitely invested heavily in hydros as their partial departure from distribution has left them in what can be percieved as a serious situation. People should be very concerned that there's a strong possibility hydros won't be around long. And if that happens all the devices that are tied up in SaaS will be nothing more than paper weights.

Not trying to single just this one brand. But at least Apex can still be used locally if ever neptune systems (a pet life) goes out of business.

Not sure what task those were but mine controls my RODI, mixing station, ATO and AWC in my garage. The DI reservoir is refilled when it goes low and the fresh saltwater reservoir will transfer water from the mix tank when it goes low if the mix tank is ready for use and once the transfer complete it will refill the mix tank with DI from the RODI. All I need to do is add the salt mix and press a button when it is ready for use. It also does alkalinity testing 4 times a day and uses the test results to dynamically dose a KH buffer and All For Reef. It controls my heaters, cooling fans, skimmer, return pump and flow pumps. It also controls my feeder. I even have it controlling things that are not aquarium related. I use it to recharge cameras which I can do from anywhere as long as I have internet where I am at. It also monitors for leaks under my central air conditioner since it would ruin the wooden floors in our sunken living room if it starts leaking which has happend and I got an alert. I also control some ornamental lights for my wife but I also use those secondarily to display alerts for the controllers. There are 4 banks of lights and they are normally either all off or all on. If the globes only are on then there is a active yellow alert on the Hydros. If the globes and jelly fish ornaments are on then there is a active orange alert. If the globes jelly fish ornaments and the right bank of light houses are on then there is a active red alert. If we are home we spend most of our time in that room and the lights are either beside or above the TV. The tank is in a different room and out of sight. It also monitors pH, salinity and temp and alerts if any of those are out of the safe zones. So I have it doing all I have tried with it so far. It does everything the Archon was doing and more.

 

[Jonreefer]

I had a hydros on my last 2 tanks I had and they worked great.
I got an Apex on Black Friday this time and well I wish I woulda got the hydros launch. Apex on WiFi is trash. Had to run hardwire to it so it would stay connected. It took like 10 times trying to get the probe calibrated out of the box. It just kept erroring out.
It is so much easier to setup things on the hydros vs the apex.
The hydros units you could feel it had a better build. Also the Apex is not a very good looking controller.
It’s working now but if I ever do another tank it won’t be with an Apex again.