Neptune vs GHL

[TylerS]

I'm pretty familiar with Neptune and Apex but until recently I wasn't aware of GHL.

Is anyone familiar with both companies and able to offer a comparison and what each companies strengths are? Things they both do, things only 1 of them does, if there's an overall price trend (in the U.S.) etc.

 

[morpheas]

I know @d2mini and @Lasse both use GHL. I'm not sure how familiar they are with Neptune but I'm sure they'll have some sense.

 

[d2mini]

Here's my take on the Pros of each.
Keep in mind, i don't use Apex but I researched both.
Hopefully others will fill in the blanks or correct me on anything.

Apex
-larger user base = easier to get questions answered
-a few more modules/add-ons vs ghl
-people seem to like the glitz of Fusion and it makes what used to be difficult programming much easier
-a tad cheaper
-better logging capability from what i hear
-can buy just about anywhere

GHL
-build quality is amazing
-it's uber stable, never crashes, never goes down, never malfunctions, never crashes a tank. Google for profilux catastrophic failures and you won't find any.
-it was always the easiest to program. No language to learn, just choose from pull down menus, check boxes and fill in the blanks. Even auto water change programming has always been included and easy to implement.
-customer service and parts availability used to be a little frustrating but great strides have been made and now there is USA offices/warehouses.
-fixable and upgradeable... at home. It opens like a regular computer and new boards can be added or swapped out.
-if you like having an all in one system, their led lights and doser are also top tier pieces of equipment.

I use GHL first and foremost for it's rock solid stability. That's what swung me over. And using it since 2012 I can attest to that quality.
The rest was gravy.

 

[reefwiser]

I have used both and prefer GHL. My real world job is working with industrial PLC's have been doing it for 35 years.:)
I like how compact the GHL system is everything is in one box.

Not in a bunch of boxes so much so that you have to build elaborate boards to mount the boxes on .

Neptune has Fusion while GHL has myGHL
Programing a neptune uses code.

GHL uses a software program call GCC.

Strength's for Apex it has a big user base in the US.
Strength's of GHL has a big user base everywhere else in the world.
What I like about GHL I am not lost in the masses of people trying to get my question answered.
You can even get answers from the owner of GHL. Their use support has been growing stronger with every month.
I will be doing a video series starting with a video introduction of GHL from MACNA this year.

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

I used the ProfiLux controller on my old fish-only tank. They are very much like a PC, as they can be upgraded, opened up and bad components swapped out. Just the design of the controller itself is reminiscent of a PC. I used the ProfiLux up until 2014 and switched everything to Apex. The primary reason was that I found the Apex offered all the features I needed and customer support from Neptune was far better. Like someone mentioned above, GHL's support is said to have gotten better, but at one time it was trying just getting a response and getting needed parts was a hassle.

I also like that Neptune has a wide array of add-ons for the Apex. This includes their automatic feeder (that has a specialty food developed by Reef Nutrition), PAR meter, DOS system, WAV pumps, etc. All of those items are first-rate products in my book and sync automatically with Apex. GHL does make LED lights and a doser (and both are high quality) but for now that's it. Neptune is a U.S. based company and they reach out to domestic aquarium product manufacturers and many are supported by Apex, making syncing and controlling easy. For example, Kessil's A360 lights have a dedicated Apex module offered by Neptune. Customer support however was the deciding factor to me.

There is also the issue of cost. GHL's products aren't a lot more than Neptune's, but they do cost more. For example the new Apex gold package is about 800-900 bucks. The profilux top package is 1100-1200, so there is a $ 300 increase, for a product that does pretty much the same thing as the other. My personal view is that Neptune is the most innovative controller producer on the market, but that is my personal opinion. I found the Apex did everything I wanted and more, for a cost several hundred dollars cheaper.

 

[d2mini]

I also like that Neptune has a wide array of add-ons for the Apex. This includes their automatic feeder (that has a specialty food developed by Reef Nutrition), PAR meter, DOS system, WAV pumps, etc. All of those items are first-rate products in my book and sync automatically with Apex. GHL does make LED lights and a doser (and both are high quality) but for now that's it. Neptune is a U.S. based company and they reach out to domestic aquarium product manufacturers and many are supported by Apex, making syncing and controlling easy. For example, Kessil's A360 lights have a dedicated Apex module offered by Neptune. Customer support however was the deciding factor to me.

Just to clarify a little on this point which is mostly true...
Instead of the Apex WAV pumps, the GHL software can directly control Tunze powerheads (and I believe another I can't think of the brand at the moment).
They've always had a module for Vortech pumps, too.
But no, they do not have their own feeder or other proprietary d00-dads. I think mainly because it's not really needed and their time is better spent elsewhere.

And for price, that top tier for GHL includes the Touch remote display which isn't really needed.
To end up with the same as the Apex Gold you'd be looking at a price closer to $975. Basically you'd get the middle package and add the redox probe and calibration fluid.

 

[TylerS]

Thanks for all of the information.

Is it correct to say that both offer "remote" access to the sensor data when I'm not at home, e-mail or some kind of alerts (alarms...), android app (or access from a phone, browser would be ok), and can be programmed on a PC program or web browser? My hunting on GHL's website makes me think yes...

Also it looks like they both do 0-10V output, so any third party device made to accept 0-10V would work with both products?

 

[Lasse]

I do not know with apex but the 1-10 V ports of ProfiLux is very good. You can by the software make them have which min you want ant which max you want (up to 10 V) It means that you can use 0-5V if you want. 0-5 V is the regulation for Jebao so it is easy to build an adapter for them too. ProfiLux has also an SMS unit (expensive but very good) for alarms.

Here in Europe GHL ProfiLux is more common but Apex has grown in popularity.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[reefwiser]

There is an phone app and myGHL for on the go monitoring and emergency changes. There is even a sms module for txt alerts.

 

[csb123]

Does the Profilux send email alerts like the Apex?

 

[monkiboy]

how much is the sms module for GHL so it can send text messages like the apex does out of the box?

 

[d2mini]

when setting up alarms, instead of putting in your email address as the recipient you can do something like "[email protected]".
I guess it varies by carrier.

 

[monkiboy]

when setting up alarms, instead of putting in your email address as the recipient you can do something like "[email protected]".
I guess it varies by carrier.

very simple work around. what other benefits does the SMS module have if it's that easy to get texts from the main unit without it? how much is the SMS module?

 

[Clayton Jessup]

That's really cool to know d2mini ..

 

[d2mini]

very simple work around. what other benefits does the SMS module have if it's that easy to get texts from the main unit without it? how much is the SMS module?

https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/sms-module-pab/

Pricey. But the advantage is you will get an alert in the event of a power outage since the sms module has a small backup battery.
Even if you have the Profilux plugged into a UPS, I don't think there is a way for it to know you lost power.

I'm not very familiar with this module though so maybe someone else can confirm.

 

[TylerS]

https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/sms-module-pab/

Pricey. But the advantage is you will get an alert in the event of a power outage since the sms module has a small backup battery.
Even if you have the Profilux plugged into a UPS, I don't think there is a way for it to know you lost power.

I'm not very familiar with this module though so maybe someone else can confirm.

I was actually wondering about that today. If I have my router, modem, and controller on a UPS is there a way for them to tell if the power is even out? Some kind of module or sensor? The best I could figure is a float valve in the sump that triggers when the water level rises, which would also trigger if the pump fails, but if I have a short term pump backup then that method also wouldn't work. I can get notifications from my alarm system but that's only whole house outage. Still wouldn't help if it's a breaker trip or gfci trip.

 

[TylerS]

I was actually wondering about that today. If I have my router, modem, and controller on a UPS is there a way for them to tell if the power is even out? Some kind of module or sensor? The best I could figure is a float valve in the sump that triggers when the water level rises, which would also trigger if the pump fails, but if I have a short term pump backup then that method also wouldn't work. I can get notifications from my alarm system but that's only whole house outage. Still wouldn't help if it's a breaker trip or gfci trip.

I found the answer on google. It actually wasn't that hard. Of course this is from others reporting in forums so I could be wrong.

GHL method
It seems that the sms module mentioned by @d2mini is stand alone with a small battery backup that can send a text when power goes out, and presumably inform the pofilux of the outage. Although that module is kind of expensive and I read it requires a sim card from a mobile carrier. -- Edit: I somehow missed that d2mini literally just posted this exact info...

Neptune method
An EB8 bar not on a UPS or a 12V stand alone auxiliary power supply for the apex are required ($15). For the 12V power supply method you would plug the apex into a UPS and the 12V power supply into the wall. The apex can detect loss of power from the 12V supply but keep running from the UPS. If you happen to have an EB8 bar that's not on a UPS it can also tell the apex of an outage.

At least here it looks like the apex is cheaper and simpler to implement.

 

[Defiant Arms]

so neptune is android and GHL is apple in a off comparison? haha

side note i ordered the Vertex cerebra and it hasn't shipped from BRS yet I'm debating on canceling and getting the profilux

 

[Lasse]

If you use the PAB communication protocol (the latest communication protocol in Profilux) and d2mini´s workaround – you can do the same with profilux. Put the profilux computer and your networks devices on a UPS and your other GHL devices (like power bars) directly in the wall. If the power shout down – you get a communication error and the computer will send this away.

But I prefer the SMS unit

I use the SMS unit in 4 different set ups. The advantages with this unit is that you can get a sensor report when the alarm goes away. You can text back to the SMS unit and get a status report. You can get a status report at certain times – you can see that everything is up working. With my phone – I can program that text from different sender have a special tune or signal. Therefore I do not wake up in the middle of the night because of a normal text message or notification that I have got an email. You can send the alarm to more than one recipient and they can get different alarms.

I have been using the unit for 1,5 years in critical systems and is very satisfied with it

Disadvantages

– Price as mentioned,

Its also recommended to have a spare battery at home because the life time seems to be short and if you got a failure with the battery – the unit act very strange. It can lose all configurations and does not work.

In large installation you sometimes get some communication error for 10 – 20 seconds. There is no adjustable delay in the SMS unit so it can send false alarm messages. But I´m sure that the GHL people will fix this in the future.



Sincerely Lasse

 

[garias]

I have been an apex user for the last 4 years I have decided to jump ship and have ordered all GHL products stability is my number one priority at this point since my investment is huge in sps and the new tank will be over 900 gallon I currently run 3 new apex 2016 I think they are making products in china since the build quality has dropped

Ive had heaters get stuck on
it dosed 700 ml of pohls extra into a 300 gallon tank old apex not new one doser just got stuck and kept dosing

I sent in a new pm1 3 days old and was told it had water damage never worked out of box

most recently new apex crashes customer support has tried really hard to keep customers happy but product should not crash

The last straw was 3 weeks ago new apex froze for no reason but it dosed 1500ml into my sump with thousands of dollars of coral in tank, the good news was that since apex froze my return pump shutdown and the alk stayed in sump.

I got lucky since alk was off the chart even after 100 gallon water change in sump

Apex alot of products but unstable

GHL less products but the ones they have work very well