new to Apex EL controller and have questions.

[reefmaster70]

Hi all. I am setting up a 75g reef tank, and purchased a Apex EL model, but also came with flow meter, and a few other add ons, like salinity monitor, etc. Anyway. I purchased an inkbird heater controller, and I have two BRS titanium 500w heaters. Should I power the inkbird via the Apex EB832, or should I forget the Inkbird, and power the two heaters with the Apex only? Any help or advice would be great. Thanks.

 

[SliceGolfer]

First, that is a lot of heat for a 75 gallon tank. I run two 200w heaters on a 120 gallon tank.

Now to your question, plug the heaters into the Inkbird and plug the Inkbird into the EB832. Set the heaters to your preferred temp, then program the Inkbird (once calibrated) to your preferred high/low temp range. Lastly, program the Apex temp probe (once calibrated) to shut off at your preferred critical high temp.

For example, my Inkbird low temp is 76.5, my high temp is 77, and my critical high that shuts off the Inkbird is 78.

Good luck!

 

[reefmaster70]

First, that is a lot of heat for a 75 gallon tank. I run two 200w heaters on a 120 gallon tank.

Now to your question, plug the heaters into the Inkbird and plug the Inkbird into the EB832. Set the heaters to your preferred temp, then program the Inkbird (once calibrated) to your preferred high/low temp range. Lastly, program the Apex temp probe (once calibrated) to shut off at your preferred critical high temp.

For example, my Inkbird low temp is 76.5, my high temp is 77, and my critical high that shuts off the Inkbird is 78.

Good luck!

Yep, it is indeed a lot of heat, but I have always kept my wattage way over what I needed rather than "Just enough" and it's always worked well. Thank you for the setup help. I've never run an Apex before, and just don't know what SHOULD be plugged in and run by the Apex and what should be stand alone. I have a return pump, I assume that'll plug into the EB832, as well as my MP10 and Nero3 power heads?? Skimmer? my algae scrubber? my under tank stand lighting? my tank lighting? Should I also use the Apex setup for ATO? I don't currently have the Apex ATO system, but could probably get it.

 

[buzzfin]

Yep, it is indeed a lot of heat, but I have always kept my wattage way over what I needed rather than "Just enough" and it's always worked well. Thank you for the setup help. I've never run an Apex before, and just don't know what SHOULD be plugged in and run by the Apex and what should be stand alone. I have a return pump, I assume that'll plug into the EB832, as well as my MP10 and Nero3 power heads?? Skimmer? my algae scrubber? my under tank stand lighting? my tank lighting? Should I also use the Apex setup for ATO? I don't currently have the Apex ATO system, but could probably get it.

Basically anything you want to be able to control or monitor, plug into the Apex. For example - you can program the return pump and heaters to shut off if your flow meter senses no water flow (and obviously send you an alert). If you have all your stuff plugged into the Apex, you can also program virtual or manual buttons to turn off flow, skimmer, powerheads, etc for maintenance or feeding. With the salinity probe, you can have Apex shut off your ATO if your salinity gets too low. I wouldn't plug in your stand lights unless you have outlets to spare and you want to put them on a timer or wire into a switch so that Apex turns them on when you open the cabinet doors. So, first decide what you need automated or monitored and then determine if Apex can do it. It will change over time as you get more gear and your needs change.

 

[landlubber]

Yep, it is indeed a lot of heat, but I have always kept my wattage way over what I needed rather than "Just enough" and it's always worked well. Thank you for the setup help. I've never run an Apex before, and just don't know what SHOULD be plugged in and run by the Apex and what should be stand alone. I have a return pump, I assume that'll plug into the EB832, as well as my MP10 and Nero3 power heads?? Skimmer? my algae scrubber? my under tank stand lighting? my tank lighting? Should I also use the Apex setup for ATO? I don't currently have the Apex ATO system, but could probably get it.

you only get 8 outlets to control equipment so you have to be selective.
To narrow it down I basically chose equipment that either needed timers (display lights, refugium lighting), require a failsafe (heaters) and controllability for maintenance (skimmer and return pump, reactor, under-stand lighting, algae scrubber etc).
I tend to keep powerheads on a separate power bar as they typically include their own controller and anything else I need is generally always on or plugged in separately for temporary use.

 

[reefmaster70]

Sounds good. I think I'll plug my under tank/stand lights into a separate plug in, as well as my in tank powerheads as they are also controlled via a separate App. Also, my AI 32HD's have their own app control, so maybe those don't get plugged into Apex either. So I would just have my heaters, ATO, Algae scrubber and protein skimmer plugged into the Apex. along with monitoring with the pH, salinity, and temp probes that are with it.

 

[SliceGolfer]

I would just have my heaters, ATO, Algae scrubber and protein skimmer plugged into the Apex. along with monitoring with the pH, salinity, and temp probes that are with it.

Exactly!

 

[SliceGolfer]

I've never run an Apex before

This guide by @SuncrestReef is highly detailed and should give you a solid baseline of what's possible:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials-part-1.685/

 

[landlubber]

I figured I should add, while i mentioned you get 8 outlets to work with there is a caveat to that. Neptune equipment grants you the ability to use one-link to power and run data through the connector.
Depending on the device, it may allow linking devices through only one power plug that can be from a power strip outside of the apex and still maintain the data/controllability.
Some of these that i can think of is their larger return pump, DOS, the WAV powerheads and possibly even the Trident.

 

[buzzfin]

I figured I should add, while i mentioned you get 8 outlets to work with there is a caveat to that. Neptune equipment grants you the ability to use one-link to power and run data through the connector.
Depending on the device, it may allow linking devices through only one power plug that can be from a power strip outside of the apex and still maintain the data/controllability.
Some of these that i can think of is their larger return pump, DOS, the WAV powerheads and possibly even the Trident.

You can also run multiple EB8s. I run two so I have 16 outlets and I'm still maxed out, but 4 of those are my lights. If I need more, I'll combine them or take them off of the EB8.

 

[underwaterwonders]

I think it’s a mistake to plug two 500w heaters into a single apex outlet, and that’s what you’re doing if you plug your inkbird into the apex. I would run a single 500w heater with the inkbird plugged into the apex. And keep the other for when the first heater dies. You will be alerted to any sort of heating mischief by your controller.

We have found exceeding 800w on any of the apex outlets causes them to prematurely fail, and this includes the two high amp outlets 4 and 8.

 

[reefmaster70]

I think it’s a mistake to plug two 500w heaters into a single apex outlet, and that’s what you’re doing if you plug your inkbird into the apex. I would run a single 500w heater with the inkbird plugged into the apex. And keep the other for when the first heater dies. You will be alerted to any sort of heating mischief by your controller.

We have found exceeding 800w on any of the apex outlets causes them to prematurely fail, and this includes the two high amp outlets 4 and 8.

Thanks for that info. I think I'll do that, use one and keep one as a spare.

 

[Tangdora]

I’m running two eb832s and squeeze as many devices on to them as I can and just ensure I’m adhering to there recommendation below. All light are plugged into a splitter and get plugged into a single outlet. Same for my wave makers. I do keep heaters separated on both EBs. However I do. Keep a third plugged in as a back up. That is program to kick on only if one of the other two fail. Main reason I also try to keep everything on the ebs is to take advantage of all the power monitoring options and alarms and it’s nice to see how much collectively my tank is costing me to run


WARNING – DO NOT EXCEED ELECTRICAL RATINGS:


• The maximum load rating of each individual AC outlet is 7 amps; do


not exceed this.


• The total current/power draw for all active outlets must not exceed


15 amps or 1500 watts, whichever is less.


• The combined total maximum load on the (2) DC24 outputs and the


(3) 1LINK ports must not exceed 100 watts.