Need some help understanding some lighting control options for my tank.
I'm running two 32' Photon V2's on top of my CADE1800 with remotes and have an Apex on the way. I'd like to manage the lights with the Apex, but need to know what degree of control over channels I'll have, and what else I'll need. It looks like there are two options:
Photon to Apex control board
The Apex board seems to offer the ability to control the lights on a limited bases (i.e., not all channels can be individually programmed) which is a problem for some things I want to do.
ReefNexus control board
It seems the Nexus board gives full control of all channels via their app, but there doesn't appear to be anything said about whether or not the lights can also be controlled by the Apex.
Scenario: I'd like to set up 'traditional' time-based lighting schemes (dawn/dusk, full sun) but also have an all-red mode for when introducing or removing fish (since our reef critters don't see that spectrum very well) and a 'moonlight' mode for pod-watching' at night. Obviously, I'd want for those lighting modes to be triggered by the Apex to correspond with pump outputs to dial down the flow at night - i.e. switch to 'dusk' mode for lighting at that time. I presently also have a Hydros Wave Engine and two Maxspect XF350 Gyres for that, I'll eventually be adding a DC controlled return pump.
Question: If I get the Nexus control board, can I use the Nexus app to set up the lighting modes, but then use the Apex to trigger those modes? I don't really need the Apex to set up the lighting schemes, I'm perfectly fine with programming the channels and outputs with another app. But once they're set, being able to switch among them with the Apex is key.
Looking forward to your input on this. Thanks in advance!
I'm running two 32' Photon V2's on top of my CADE1800 with remotes and have an Apex on the way. I'd like to manage the lights with the Apex, but need to know what degree of control over channels I'll have, and what else I'll need. It looks like there are two options:
Photon to Apex control board
The Apex board seems to offer the ability to control the lights on a limited bases (i.e., not all channels can be individually programmed) which is a problem for some things I want to do.
ReefNexus control board
It seems the Nexus board gives full control of all channels via their app, but there doesn't appear to be anything said about whether or not the lights can also be controlled by the Apex.
Scenario: I'd like to set up 'traditional' time-based lighting schemes (dawn/dusk, full sun) but also have an all-red mode for when introducing or removing fish (since our reef critters don't see that spectrum very well) and a 'moonlight' mode for pod-watching' at night. Obviously, I'd want for those lighting modes to be triggered by the Apex to correspond with pump outputs to dial down the flow at night - i.e. switch to 'dusk' mode for lighting at that time. I presently also have a Hydros Wave Engine and two Maxspect XF350 Gyres for that, I'll eventually be adding a DC controlled return pump.
Question: If I get the Nexus control board, can I use the Nexus app to set up the lighting modes, but then use the Apex to trigger those modes? I don't really need the Apex to set up the lighting schemes, I'm perfectly fine with programming the channels and outputs with another app. But once they're set, being able to switch among them with the Apex is key.
Looking forward to your input on this. Thanks in advance!
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