Official apex users q&a....

[Troylee]

I got a apex awhile back and have millions of questions and have found some answers but not everything I wanted to know... R2r has a few threads but I think it would be of great assistance to have all the questions and answers compiled in a single thread for future reference etc...
My first question is I bought a used one so it has some one elses settings in it etc... Is there a way to format it or reset it etc so I can start fresh with all the things I wanna do????
Also I got the gaming bridge thingy mentioned in the unofficial guide and it is currently online but I can't get to it from my pc for some reason or another...

 

[Troylee]

Also I would like to hear some cool things you guys are doing with tour controllers and maybe share how to program it to do those neat things lol...

 

[swannyson7]

I got a apex awhile back and have millions of questions and have found some answers but not everything I wanted to know... R2r has a few threads but I think it would be of great assistance to have all the questions and answers compiled in a single thread for future reference etc...
My first question is I bought a used one so it has some one elses settings in it etc... Is there a way to format it or reset it etc so I can start fresh with all the things I wanna do????
Also I got the gaming bridge thingy mentioned in the unofficial guide and it is currently online but I can't get to it from my pc for some reason or another...

If you go into the system menu on the display itself, it should have a selection called "init memory" which I believe will reset the thing to factory programming. For the wireless gaming bridge, you will have to set up a static IP address on the unit itself as well as a port and whatnot. Then you have to set up port forwarding on your wireless router. Each one is different, but on my Linksys, after I log in to my router, there is a tab for gaming which allows me to set up port forwarding. It will ask for the IP address and allow you to enter a range of ports. You will need to set up a free domain (I use dnsdojo.com) and you can set your apex to send info to your domain so that you can access your data from outside your home network. This will allow you to pull it up from your phone, at work, etc. With DnsDojo, I also had to install a free program called DynDNS which automatically updates the IP address if you decide to use a dynamic IP (I think I had to install it even though I use static). I'm by no means a computer wiz, and after the days of web searching I finally got it to work, but I probably couldn't walk anyone through it again. My advice would be to run a piece of ethernet cable through the wall from your router to the room with your tank... it's not worth the headache IMO.

Also I would like to hear some cool things you guys are doing with tour controllers and maybe share how to program it to do those neat things lol...

First and foremost, Iuse it to send me emails & text messages when parameters fall out of line. It bubbles air into the sump if the pH gets too low to absorb CO2 in the system and if pH is below 8.2 it tops off through my kalk reactor, but it send fresh RO if pH is above 8.2. The pumps are set to run no longer than 30 seconds, with a one hour down time between each top off.

I also use it for redundancy with my heater. My finnex titanium has an external thermostat, but it also runs through my apex with a conditional statement for the temp probe in case the heater malfunctions.
It will also turn fans on over the sump if the temp gets above 80.1 and will shut down lights if the temp gets above 80.3 degrees.
I use it to controll all my lights and pumps, shutting the pumps down when in "feed mode" for a duration of 10 minutes and the skimmer stays off for 25 minutes. The dosing pumps are also hooked up to it for easy reprogramming as my corals grow out.

I can access it from my phone to control anything plugged into the outlets and get my parameters on the go. All in all... I guess I use it for everything, which may be putting too much faith in technology, but it's worked well thus far!

 

[VegasRick]

Have you read through the Unofficla users guide, awesome info. I used it and it covers everything you can think of, including setting up the gamer thing. I am off tomorrow if you want some help
AquaController Apex - Reef Tank Automation

 

[Troylee]

Man have read it a couple times amazingly and most of it complete and udder gibberish to me... I'm not tech savy and I would have never bought the thing but I wanted something to control my new diy led fixture.... " which is like 75% done"

 

[Wy Renegade]

Man have read it a couple times amazingly and most of it complete and udder gibberish to me... I'm not tech savy and I would have never bought the thing but I wanted something to control my new diy led fixture.... " which is like 75% done"

Hhhhmmmm . . . sounds like an idea for another thread to me LOL. Following along as I'm starting to consider some type of controller, but like Lee, I'm about as tech illiterate as you can get. I have to have my kids program the numbers into my cell phone, cause I can't even figure out how to do that.

 

[VegasRick]

Man have read it a couple times amazingly and most of it complete and udder gibberish to me... I'm not tech savy and I would have never bought the thing but I wanted something to control my new diy led fixture.... " which is like 75% done"

LOL well let me know if you want help tomorrow, not too hard but not sure if I could put it in plainer language than they did

 

[swannyson7]

When I was trying to set up the port forwarding, I had my brother in law remotely access my router and even he had a hard time figuring out the problem. He does computer networking at the Federal Reserve for a living and it took him a couple hours of screwing around to figure out that I had a typo in one cell on the router homepage. The wireless feature is something Neptune should include on future models so that it isn't such a PITA to set up.

 

[CJO]

The unofficial guide rocks.

To initialize the unit using the display: System -> Init Memory -> Init All

For the wireless, is there a way for you to hard connect it first (with an ethernet cable) for debugging?

What type of things do you want to do? What modules do you have? I have mine setup with email and text alerts when something goes wrong (pH, ORP, temp issues or power outage), dimming and controlling my LEDs for sunrise and sunset, automatic feeding, vortech control, failsafe measures for power outages, control of my ATO, temp control, control of calc reactor, etc.

CJ

 

[Troylee]

see now that sounds really cool!!!!!!!! i have all sorts of things i wanna hook up and i don't even know if i need the controller do it like my bubble magnus dosing pumps i have the head the head unit and a add on so i can dose 7 parts but i believe the unit will dose accordingly without the controller... is anyone running it on a controller and if so does it have any more beneficial use??? i also wanna put a float switch in my skimmer cup and have the unit shut it down if it's full... what do i need to make that happen besides a float switch???

If you go into the system menu on the display itself, it should have a selection called "init memory" which I believe will reset the thing to factory programming. For the wireless gaming bridge, you will have to set up a static IP address on the unit itself as well as a port and whatnot. Then you have to set up port forwarding on your wireless router. Each one is different, but on my Linksys, after I log in to my router, there is a tab for gaming which allows me to set up port forwarding. It will ask for the IP address and allow you to enter a range of ports. You will need to set up a free domain (I use dnsdojo.com) and you can set your apex to send info to your domain so that you can access your data from outside your home network. This will allow you to pull it up from your phone, at work, etc. With DnsDojo, I also had to install a free program called DynDNS which automatically updates the IP address if you decide to use a dynamic IP (I think I had to install it even though I use static). I'm by no means a computer wiz, and after the days of web searching I finally got it to work, but I probably couldn't walk anyone through it again. My advice would be to run a piece of ethernet cable through the wall from your router to the room with your tank... it's not worth the headache IMO.


First and foremost, Iuse it to send me emails & text messages when parameters fall out of line. It bubbles air into the sump if the pH gets too low to absorb CO2 in the system and if pH is below 8.2 it tops off through my kalk reactor, but it send fresh RO if pH is above 8.2. The pumps are set to run no longer than 30 seconds, with a one hour down time between each top off.

I also use it for redundancy with my heater. My finnex titanium has an external thermostat, but it also runs through my apex with a conditional statement for the temp probe in case the heater malfunctions.
It will also turn fans on over the sump if the temp gets above 80.1 and will shut down lights if the temp gets above 80.3 degrees.
I use it to controll all my lights and pumps, shutting the pumps down when in "feed mode" for a duration of 10 minutes and the skimmer stays off for 25 minutes. The dosing pumps are also hooked up to it for easy reprogramming as my corals grow out.

I can access it from my phone to control anything plugged into the outlets and get my parameters on the go. All in all... I guess I use it for everything, which may be putting too much faith in technology, but it's worked well thus far!

 

[CJO]

Man, I type too slow!

Man have read it a couple times amazingly and most of it complete and udder gibberish to me... I'm not tech savy and I would have never bought the thing but I wanted something to control my new diy led fixture.... " which is like 75% done"

What type of driver did you use for your LEDs?

CJ

 

[Troylee]

this is my thought's exactly!!!!!!!! i want eveything you said besides the calcium reactor i have a doser in place of that... im in the works of finishing my diy led build and i wanna have the sunrise,sunset etc.... my vortecs hooked up the whole works everything you said......lol

The unofficial guide rocks.

To initialize the unit using the display: System -> Init Memory -> Init All

For the wireless, is there a way for you to hard connect it first (with an ethernet cable) for debugging?

What type of things do you want to do? What modules do you have? I have mine setup with email and text alerts when something goes wrong (pH, ORP, temp issues or power outage), dimming and controlling my LEDs for sunrise and sunset, automatic feeding, vortech control, failsafe measures for power outages, control of my ATO, temp control, control of calc reactor, etc.

CJ

 

[Troylee]

i have the meanwell eln60-48d i read bills page on his site reef led lights and it doesn't seem to complicated.. right now im just having a hard time trying to connect my pc to it so i can acsess the user menu..... i didnt get a book or instructions with the thing my best bet is the unofficial user guide lol....

Man, I type too slow!



What type of driver did you use for your LEDs?

CJ

 

[VegasRick]

to control vortechs you will need the wireless expansion module
for a floatswitch you will need an iobreakout box
both are accessories from APEX

 

[swannyson7]

see now that sounds really cool!!!!!!!! i have all sorts of things i wanna hook up and i don't even know if i need the controller do it like my bubble magnus dosing pumps i have the head the head unit and a add on so i can dose 7 parts but i believe the unit will dose accordingly without the controller... is anyone running it on a controller and if so does it have any more beneficial use??? i also wanna put a float switch in my skimmer cup and have the unit shut it down if it's full... what do i need to make that happen besides a float switch???

If you hook up a float switch to a breakout box (CJO said you can make one in another thread, but I don't personally know how) which is like $35 and that plugs into your I/O port on the brain. Then you can write code to shut down the pump when the switch is open/closed.

 

[CJO]

i also wanna put a float switch in my skimmer cup and have the unit shut it down if it's full... what do i need to make that happen besides a float switch???

You need a breakout box. You can purchase one from Neptune or make one yourself (I made mine).

CJ

 

[Troylee]

another thing was i downloaded aqua notes on my iphone and when im hooked to wifi at my house i can acsess the controller well it see's it anyways but i can't do anything becuse im not using the plugs on the apex it's self yet lol... anywho when im away from the house like right now i open the app and it just searches and never recognizes the controller???

 

[CJO]

i have the meanwell eln60-48d i read bills page on his site reef led lights and it doesn't seem to complicated.. right now im just having a hard time trying to connect my pc to it so i can acsess the user menu..... i didnt get a book or instructions with the thing my best bet is the unofficial user guide lol....

The unofficial user's guide is better than the manual anyway. I have the same drivers. I'm assuming that you also have the Apex and not the Apex Light. The Apex has 4 variable ports. You will hook up one of these to the DC input on the LED drivers. You can just cut the end off of the network cable and use this to patch them together. I can look tonight to see which color wires these are. You do not want to hook them up to the incorrect wires or you can blow the variable ports (I've done this too).

CJ

 

[Troylee]

im not sure what all mine came with i will take some pics when i get home today... the only thing i know is a dc8 or what ever apex calls it and i have ph,orp, temp... it has the controller a seperate box im guessing the "brain?" and a power outlet....

 

[CJO]

another thing was i downloaded aqua notes on my iphone and when im hooked to wifi at my house i can acsess the controller well it see's it anyways but i can't do anything becuse im not using the plugs on the apex it's self yet lol... anywho when im away from the house like right now i open the app and it just searches and never recognizes the controller???

You have to setup the port forwarding on your router. That can be some work to get setup correctly. It tells you how in the unoffical user's guide.

CJ