I heart my controller

[jef4y]

Neptune Apex. It's saved my butt a number of times and today was no exception.

I woke up this morning and the pH reading of my CA reactor seemed a little bit high but I didn't pay it a second thought. Went home at lunch and it had continued to climb. Now, I knew that the CO2 was fine as I had just replaced it. The CO2 was on, effluent was dripping great and bubble count looked fine.

Then I noticed a small puddle of water beneath my reactor. Looking closer, the top of the bubble counter started leaking. It was bubbling out the CO2 and dripping water along with it.

I shut the reactor off and ran a bead of super glue around the bubble counter as a temporary fix. Hopefully this evening I can start it back up with no issues, but will have to replace the bubble counter.

Without having the visual display of the CO2 in my reactor, I never would have known that it was leaking out or leaking water until things got much worse.

Yet again, another insurance payout with no deductible

 

[budsreef]

They are cool! Have you set the email or alarms? Or configured your outlet to shut off if the PH or Temperature gets out of range?

 

[jef4y]

I have my alarms setup and conveniently got a call from my daughter at like 2:00am before we moved when we were in ATL and she was in WI with the tank because it was making all this noise. Come to find out my AC had stopped working and the tank was at 83deg.

I also manually set off the alarm to wake my wife up when I forgot to set an alarm for her and knew her phone was on silent (house phone was way too far away to be heard).

I have some bugs to work out with the email alarm. I had it working but then it died. I haven't fixed it yet.

Outlets are almost all configured with dependencies. If the lights are on the light fans are on, yet both are on timers. If the main return is off, the skimmer & filter shut off. If the temp gets too high, the lights go out and alarms sound. pH gets too low the ca reactor CO2 shuts off. etc etc etc.

I like the iPhone app as well because I can control everything around the world (and have done so). In fact the app is so convenient, I rarely use the front panel for anything. Even when I'm standing in front of the panel, I'll grab my phone to control the tank.

Additionally I have my vortech on the WXM module and have timers set up to run waves periodically through the day.

It really is a cool thing to play with.

 

[jcusmarine]

Awesome - I can't imagine running a reef system without one now....thanks for sharing and folks should take note.

Also, I have been considering switching my DA for a Neptune, for the iPhone integration. So tempting.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Its definitely saved my butt a few times. I also use the iPhone app versus the display to control stuff when I'm in front of the tank... its just too easy.

I bought a waterbug leak detector so I'll be hooking that up to my Apex too so that I get an email of a leak if I'm not home

 

[jef4y]

Crewdawg1981;577247 wrote:
I bought a waterbug leak detector so I'll be hooking that up to my Apex too so that I get an email of a leak if I'm not home

Setup the alarm to CC your insurance agent. :lol2:

 

[crewdawg1981]

Ugh... yeah. about that. (have you read my build thread...)

 

[jef4y]

LOL.. yeah, I knew you flooded. But what's a flood without a good laugh once it's dry?!?

 

[crewdawg1981]

Haha.... I'll wait till after insurance has finished its work.

Going forward the Apex will in the event of a flood:

- Sound an alarm
- email me
- shut down pumps and close solenoids
- email insurance agent ... prolly a good idea.

 

[jef4y]

Did you order soleniods? I just posted in your build with a link to some auto sensing solenoids from BRS. They looked cool but I haven't tried them. Their video is pretty convincing though.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Yeah I just replied actually. I got the WB setup so that I could tie it into my Apex and get the notifications as well. The small solenoid for the RO isnt too expensive. Its the ones I want for the 1/2 cpvc that feed the faucet that are killer... ~$100 each.

 

[jef4y]

Ouch... but hey, cheaper than a deductible! =)

 

[crewdawg1981]

100% agree. That and the added piece of mind is really worth it.

Is it overkill... you bet. will I sleep better when I'm away... like a baby.

 

[landonl]

jcusmarine;577242 wrote: I have been considering switching my DA for a Neptune, for the iPhone integration. So tempting.

Do it, I did. You won't have any regrets. The Apex is so much better.

 

[mojo]

I love controllers, too, but do be aware that they aren't perfect. My Apex has screwed up several times- the worst of which leaving my heaters off all night last winter. A couple months ago, the ethernet port stopped working, so no email notifications.

Just be sure to design the system so that it fails safe when possible.

 

[jef4y]

mojo;577349 wrote: I love controllers, too, but do be aware that they aren't perfect. My Apex has screwed up several times- the worst of which leaving my heaters off all night last winter. A couple months ago, the ethernet port stopped working, so no email notifications.

Just be sure to design the system so that it fails safe when possible.

Totally agree! I have dual heaters and have them dial-set at 80 so if they get stuck on the tank shouldn't overheat. Obviously it could, but it shouldn't... My worst problem was having a temp probe that failed which stuck my heaters on and freaked me out. I noticed it pretty quick though.

Definitely not a failsafe, but another layer for sure.

 

[schwaggs]

I love my controller too. My latest programming addition is an alarm that tells me when the flow through my CA reactor has slowed. My needle valve that regulates the flow gets plugged every several weeks. This alarm monitors the frequency that the CO2 additions are made and if the period between additions grows too long, the alarm is triggered. Works like a charm!