About to dump my Apex

[MuralReef]

I am so sick of these systems. I am not an idiot to hat cannot trouble shoot electronics or computer systems, but these things are beyond frustrating! Convince me why I really need one of these? I rarely check it outside of school. I don’t monitor my parameters with it closely. why shouldn’t I just go back to appliance timers, Ranco temperature controllers, and pinpoint controllers?

Again I cannot connect to the internet. Now manual control doesn’t even seem to work. The Ethernet cable is properly lit. The status lights are all lit. It resets, but when I tried to manually shut down the lights nothing happened. Junk Apex is JUNK!!!!

 

[Bdk1786]

I'm with you Mike. Burn it! Or be practical and sell it to someone who is willing to deal with it.

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

I love mine.... but! It frustrates the crap out of me whenever I add something or need to update that thing. Buggy as hell IMHO and they shouldn’t be!

 

[Cherub]

I've been having issues with my new controller too, the eKoral. It does not stay calibrated and my PH currently shows as 2.4... That's like sulpheric acid levels. I have been trying to get the company to exchange the head unit but they are insistent on me doing never ending PH calibrations only for them to end up off by the next day. I do not recommend this controller anymore if anyone is considering it. The customer service is lacking and the company is quick to deny that it's their controller. I currently have a dispute with paypal to get my money back but as of now this controller only controls my heater and sump light. Not worth 800 dollars for that... I tried hard to work with them but I keep buying these calibration packets for no reason and the company has become very defensive. Stay away from eKoral...

 

[zombie]

The classic can be a bit buggy (the 2016 is much more user friendly), isnt the most user friendly thing out there, and has a steep learning curve, but I would never consider running a tank without one. When set up properly, the interoperability between devices, failure detection, and customizeability is something that simply can't be done with individual controllers.

Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I know updating the firmware is never a fun task, but have you tried that? I dunno, maybe it's a bug that could get patched with a new edition? Anymore, I feel like I am about 2 steps up from the bottom rung on the ladder of technology....so I'm probably the last person who should be giving advice on the Apex. I'm like Mike, when it is running issue free I love it...when I add something new I get really tense and nervous about it. Good luck, hope it can get resolved quickly for you!

 

[MuralReef]

So I think it might be the USB cables but if I remember correctly you can only use their Aquabus cables because the units are super picky is that still true or is there a cheaper cable that is more readily available?


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

 

[zombie]

So I think it might be the USB cables but if I remember correctly you can only use their Aquabus cables because the units are super picky is that still true or is there a cheaper cable that is more readily available?


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

That was never the case. They use standard USB cable. The issue is you cant use a USB cable that has repeaters in it, which is often the norm for longer cables. That warning was there to prevent someone from buying a "high quality" 50' cable from best buy that would have repeaters and fry their system.

Your issue is most likely either a problem with DHCP addressing (if you cant connect to even local) or DNS (if you can connect to local and not fusion).

Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app

 

[jda123]

You do not need one. You need a Ranco or other good temp controller and that is about it. I have a few extra Rancos if you need one - let me know and I will donate it.

It is hobby grade equipment. As such, they are full of bugs and failures. As long as you do not do anything but monitor & alert with them and never plug anything critical into one, you will not be too disappointed. ...maybe frustrated at times, but at least nothing will crash.

I wrote a really nice controller in J2EE and used a MacMini - I took it down after a while. Here are all of my thoughts on an aquarium controller that I just posted on R2R (post #124 and beyond):
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/thank-you-apex-for-letting-me-quit-the-hobby.395935/page-7

I am not even sure why you need a PH controller or monitor. My life got easier when I quit checking PH about a decade ago.

 

[MuralReef]

I know updating the firmware is never a fun task, but have you tried that? I dunno, maybe it's a bug that could get patched with a new edition? Anymore, I feel like I am about 2 steps up from the bottom rung on the ladder of technology....so I'm probably the last person who should be giving advice on the Apex. I'm like Mike, when it is running issue free I love it...when I add something new I get really tense and nervous about it. Good luck, hope it can get resolved quickly for you!

The firmware is up to date. I do love it when it’s working.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

 

[zombie]

I am not even sure why you need a PH controller or monitor. My life got easier when I quit checking PH about a decade ago.

Kalk dosing or calcium reactor are musts, otherwise I don't bother checking pH either. More likely to have drifted than for there to actually be a problem.

Sent from my SM-G965U using MASC mobile app

 

[jda123]

If anybody needs help setting up a CaRx or kalk reactor without a PH controller, then send me a PM - I can talk you through it or even come and help. I have never run a PH controller with any CaRx since I got my first one in 1992 when I was 16 years old.

If you drop the controller, you need something like this for your light timers since they are large and take up more than one outlet in a power strip:
https://www.amazon.com/Listed-Miady...ocphy=1014570&hvtargid=pla-416079108410&psc=1

 

[MuralReef]

I actually don’t run my calcium reactor with the Apex. I just keep an eye on the pH in the reactor and tank. I don’t even really pay attention that closely. Mine just runs all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

 

[Haddonisreef]

Must say the 2016 apex is great easy to set up and so many options to play with. I’d never run a tank with out a controller.

 

[MuralReef]

I'm not giving up yet! I was just angry yesterday for wasting almost 4 hours trying to get this thing to connect. I have ordered new USB cables and I am hopeful that this fixes the problem. If not I have no idea how to move forward. I cannot get this thing to get connected!

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

I'm not giving up yet! I was just angry yesterday for wasting almost 4 hours trying to get this thing to connect. I have ordered new USB cables and I am hopeful that this fixes the problem. If not I have no idea how to move forward. I cannot get this thing to get connected!

Mike, you may want to contact customer service and set up a time for them to call you. It takes a couple days but I found them to be very helpful. They spent time helping and ended up logging into mine to find a bug and correct it. I’m sure they would be willing to help.

That being said, mine is kinda a fancy set of timers with a couple alerts programmed in. I have the classic pre 2016 model.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

 

[MuralReef]

Mike, you may want to contact customer service and set up a time for them to call you. It takes a couple days but I found them to be very helpful. They spent time helping and ended up logging into mine to find a bug and correct it. I’m sure they would be willing to help.

That being said, mine is kinda a fancy set of timers with a couple alerts programmed in. I have the classic pre 2016 model.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

I have an older unit too. I did that with the one in the library, but I was able to get that one to partially connect. This one disconnected and I don’t have a clue. I will try one more thing this afternoon. I’ve already been in touch with them online.


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app

 

[NickP]

Only issue I have ever had was a chip went out in the brain earlier this year disconnecting it from fusion and the eb8. The earthnet port was a solid color and wouldn't blink like they normally do. Lucky I only use it to monitor everything so the only change was the tank slowly started heating up ( +2 degrees) because 1 of the 2 heaters was on fallback on which is how I wanted it. Personally I love the thing, never had a issue updating or anything else. Programming can be difficult at times to get right but thats about it. Now if a eb8 failed that could be very bad, but I would be notified.

 

[MuralReef]

I'm back! They called me and got it back up and running!!! For some reason the IP address changed don't know how or why, but I know its working again.

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

I'm back! They called me and got it back up and running!!! For some reason the IP address changed don't know how or why, but I know its working again.

Always something. Glad it’s back!


Sent from my iPhone using MASC mobile app