Switching Controllers from Apex to GHL

[Ditto]

@FirstContact - Going to PM

 

[FirstContact]

Can’t wait to get this up and running.

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

@FirstContact
Hi there,

Send an email to [email protected] and we'll get you taken care of.
Please provide an overview of the issues you're having in the email.

 

[FirstContact]

Thanks Vinny! I’ll work on this tonight after I get home tonight! Really excited to get this working and getting into corals again!

 

[FirstContact]

Email sent.

 

[bdare]

This is dope.

 

[FirstContact]

Hi Vinny,

I sent you an email last week and also left you a voice mail a few days ago. Today, I sent you some screen shots of my phone and left you another voice mail. I am off work today and would love it if we could get my P4 onto my phone or tablet with WiFi. If today does not work for you, can we try in the evening after business hours or on a weekend? I would love to get this controller on my aquarium!

 

[Ditto]

Hi Vinny,

I sent you an email last week and also left you a voice mail a few days ago. Today, I sent you some screen shots of my phone and left you another voice mail. I am off work today and would love it if we could get my P4 onto my phone or tablet with WiFi. If today does not work for you, can we try in the evening after business hours or on a weekend? I would love to get this controller on my aquarium!

@Vinny@GHLUSA tagging for you :)

 

[FirstContact]

Thanks Ditto :) Thanks Vinny :)

 

[FirstContact]

Again, a great thank you to Vinny who did in an hour what I never could have done in a weekend or at all!!!!!!:):):)

Vinny, thank you for getting me started! I appreciate your time and help!:):):)

Thank you Ditto for tagging me to Vinny!! :):):)

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Again, a great thank you to Vinny who did in an hour what I never could have done in a weekend or at all!!!!!!:):):)

Vinny, thank you for getting me started! I appreciate your time and help!:):):)

Thank you Ditto for tagging me to Vinny!! :):):)

Happy to help!
Feel free to reach out anytime if you have any other questions.

 

[Ditto]

@FirstContact - glad I could help!! If you have any questions please let us know!!

@Vinny@GHLUSA - thank you for help!!

 

[turfster26]

@Vinny@GHLUSA

Any ETA ship date for the newer P4 with 6e powerbar? The original ship was 3/25 and still haven't received my P4 yet?

Thanks so much

 

[Ditto]

I am coming up to my two year mark since the switch-out, and I get asked all the time do you have any regrets. The answer is NO, this was and is still the best decision I ever made. When I started the conversion the web interface, and the GCC Connect Phone app was just coming out, and I did most if not all the configuration utilizing the Desktop Application. Two years later you can configure 99.9% of the features within the phone app or within the web interface. The product has been rock solid, I have gone through 2 Doser Blue caps (Covered by warranty), a optical switch(Covered by warranty) and one salinity probe (My Fault I dropped it). I am 100% converted on both tanks to GHL, including Mitras LX7206 lighting on both. A new Frag tank is now underway also utilizing the GHL product line also.

Many have asked do you miss a feature or a function? In the beginning, I would have said the log files were big to me. I like reading the log files (I am a techie) to see everything my tank was doing, but fast forward today and no there is nothing I miss since the switch out. I get my every 2 hours tank messages, and know everything that is going on with my tanks without utilizing the app. I log into the app once per day, to use the feed mode on my tank, and on Saturday's to log all my tank parameters inside the log books and to performs maintenance. It is funny how my attitude has changed, that I let my controller do it job, and no longer worried about when it was going to fail. I have had 3 power failures, and all three times the units worked flawlessly, in power cut mode. And return to normal operation when the generator kicked on, and then to full power once street power was restored. I have been at remote customer sites at least 50 times in the last two years, sometimes weeks on end, and the units have worked without issue. I been able to use the GCC phone app and check in on the tank, while friends and family took care of the tank all commenting how much easier it was to do things use the GHL display. (It pretty easy when the icon's on the display look like feed fish or a wrench that shows maintenance with the label filter sock)

The probes have all been spot on, with the every 6 months calibration, and I have had to replace my dosing tubes this year for the first time more just as part of my upcoming two year maintenance. The KH director has been spot on, keeping both tanks within .2. I am testing 6 times a day on one tank and on my larger tank 12 times a day. The KH Director has been rock solid and can not speak highly enough about the product. I am dosing 3 part on one tank, also utilizing the adaptive settings on the 3 part allowing it to be adjusted also based on the Alkalinity consumption. I test my Mag and Ca once per month manually and log them into the log books and then compare it to the KH graphs. While the other tank is using a Cx Reactor. Even with only testing Alkalinity I have had no issues keeping everything in check. I can not wait for the ION to come out, but believe just having the Alkalinity monitor and keeping those parameters stable has been one of the best things for both my tanks along with Lighting, and Water flow.

I have yet to have to pull off my flow sensors and clean them, and they are showing the same flow rates as they did the day I pulled them out of the box, which just a testament on the design of the flow device.

The GHL Maxi dosers have been solid on doing the ATO, and AWC on the tanks, without fail, they been doing 17 gallons changes per week on one tank and 35 gallons on the other tank. Both utilizing sensors to ensure they pull the same amount of water per day.

I have multiple video's showing how to accomplish these steps not using the GHL desktop app but through the GHL Connect App on my Iphone. Below is a comprehensive list of those video's, and I will update this thread as I produce more. I want to thank Reef2Reef moderators also for posting them also in the aquarium controller sticky thread.

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config a Kessil Light with the use of a GHL 1-10V Breakout Box

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config 1-10V Tunze Powerhead

GHL Profilux 4e Controller - Quick Easy Steps on Installing an Expansion Card

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure A Heater

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Notifications/Alert Sending

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to configure your Refugium Light

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Power Cut

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Feed Pause for Your Skimmer

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – Advance Program Logic Delayed On

GHL Connect - LogBook Option

GHL Connect - Adding and Configuring a new PAB Device to your GHL ProfiLux Controller

In close I also want to thank reef2reef, as being one of the best reefing forums out here. The community, the information, and help from all the members make this one of the best forums out here.

 

[chefjpaul]

I am coming up to my two year mark since the switch-out, and I get asked all the time do you have any regrets. The answer is NO, this was and is still the best decision I ever made. When I started the conversion the web interface, and the GCC Connect Phone app was just coming out, and I did most if not all the configuration utilizing the Desktop Application. Two years later you can configure 99.9% of the features within the phone app or within the web interface. The product has been rock solid, I have gone through 2 Doser Blue caps (Covered by warranty), a optical switch(Covered by warranty) and one salinity probe (My Fault I dropped it). I am 100% converted on both tanks to GHL, including Mitras LX7206 lighting on both. A new Frag tank is now underway also utilizing the GHL product line also.

Many have asked do you miss a feature or a function? In the beginning, I would have said the log files were big to me. I like reading the log files (I am a techie) to see everything my tank was doing, but fast forward today and no there is nothing I miss since the switch out. I get my every 2 hours tank messages, and know everything that is going on with my tanks without utilizing the app. I log into the app once per day, to use the feed mode on my tank, and on Saturday's to log all my tank parameters inside the log books and to performs maintenance. It is funny how my attitude has changed, that I let my controller do it job, and no longer worried about when it was going to fail. I have had 3 power failures, and all three times the units worked flawlessly, in power cut mode. And return to normal operation when the generator kicked on, and then to full power once street power was restored. I have been at remote customer sites at least 50 times in the last two years, sometimes weeks on end, and the units have worked without issue. I been able to use the GCC phone app and check in on the tank, while friends and family took care of the tank all commenting how much easier it was to do things use the GHL display. (It pretty easy when the icon's on the display look like feed fish or a wrench that shows maintenance with the label filter sock)

The probes have all been spot on, with the every 6 months calibration, and I have had to replace my dosing tubes this year for the first time more just as part of my upcoming two year maintenance. The KH director has been spot on, keeping both tanks within .2. I am testing 6 times a day on one tank and on my larger tank 12 times a day. The KH Director has been rock solid and can not speak highly enough about the product. I am dosing 3 part on one tank, also utilizing the adaptive settings on the 3 part allowing it to be adjusted also based on the Alkalinity consumption. I test my Mag and Ca once per month manually and log them into the log books and then compare it to the KH graphs. While the other tank is using a Cx Reactor. Even with only testing Alkalinity I have had no issues keeping everything in check. I can not wait for the ION to come out, but believe just having the Alkalinity monitor and keeping those parameters stable has been one of the best things for both my tanks along with Lighting, and Water flow.

I have yet to have to pull off my flow sensors and clean them, and they are showing the same flow rates as they did the day I pulled them out of the box, which just a testament on the design of the flow device.

The GHL Maxi dosers have been solid on doing the ATO, and AWC on the tanks, without fail, they been doing 17 gallons changes per week on one tank and 35 gallons on the other tank. Both utilizing sensors to ensure they pull the same amount of water per day.

I have multiple video's showing how to accomplish these steps not using the GHL desktop app but through the GHL Connect App on my Iphone. Below is a comprehensive list of those video's, and I will update this thread as I produce more. I want to thank Reef2Reef moderators also for posting them also in the aquarium controller sticky thread.

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config a Kessil Light with the use of a GHL 1-10V Breakout Box

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config 1-10V Tunze Powerhead

GHL Profilux 4e Controller - Quick Easy Steps on Installing an Expansion Card

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure A Heater

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Notifications/Alert Sending

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to configure your Refugium Light

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Power Cut

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Feed Pause for Your Skimmer

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – Advance Program Logic Delayed On

GHL Connect - LogBook Option

GHL Connect - Adding and Configuring a new PAB Device to your GHL ProfiLux Controller

In close I also want to thank reef2reef, as being one of the best reefing forums out here. The community, the information, and help from all the members make this one of the best forums out here.

Great write up again.

Thank you Ditto for all you do regarding the GHL brand, videos, etc. and helping the rest of us GHL folks out.

Definitely the best switch I have made....ever.

 

[FirstContact]

Thanks Ditto

 

[Ditto]

@chefjpaul - Thanks!! I have enjoyed helping people both in public forums and across numerous PM.

@FirstContact - Thanks!! I still remember your original posts :)

And before I forget also thanks to @Vinny@GHLUSA , @Matthias Gross and @Marco@GHLUSA for my questions and support when I was first setting up!!

 

[reefwiser]

Great write up. I never worry about my GHL equipment. Always works I just my basic checks and make sure everything is clean and things just work.
I have had controller since they first came out. An have helped club members with them so I have used all the various brands down they the years.
So when I first saw GHL at MACNA years ago it was the booth I spent a lot of time at getting to know the product.
I started with a Doser SA and build up my equipment. Till I have a whole wall of my garage with my GHL command center. [emoji3] I will be doing a whole fish room starting this fall with GHL helping control the whole room. Will be doing videos on the whole process. As I will be retired and have more time to share videos. [emoji3][emoji106]

 

[Ditto]

@reefwiser - Thank you!! And whooohooo more GHL video’s looking forward to them. Not retired yet in a few more years :)

 

[bubblemytip]

I transferred my Apex gear today and did my best to make the wiring presentable. Had been using the P4e as a monitor only for a few weeks so I could get used to the programming. Then I just labelled all my equipment on the switches, programmed them (even did some double-programmable logic!), and it was a very easy switch! All done through the GHL connect App.

I have to say, it was much easier to manage the cables with the GHL than it was with the Apex.