Went to the dark side, bought a controller.

[90gDreams]

First reef circa 2008. Held out til 2023 to convert to LED from Halides. Now 2025 I guess Im no longer low tech. Got a Hydros launch. Still not even sure why but I did. I figure leak/overflow alert and being able to shut off pumps when using an Auto feeder are probably the main excuses I used to convince myself. Went ahead and went with their ATO solution along with a solenoid cut off for the RO supply as well. Just extra insurance in case my float valve every goes out I guess. In the theme of condensing things I'm also going to use their doser in place of the Jebao DP-3 that I've run for years. I'm not a Luddite just always so buried in tech elsewhere in my life and found old school reefing fine for my goals but here we go....

 

[shanepike]

I like mine for control, but the main reason I use controllers is for monitoring.

 

[gill]

I loved my Hydros. Wouldn’t set up another tank without it.

 

[dball711]

Love Hydros for controlling, I think Apex is better for monitoring

 

[shanepike]

Love Hydros for controlling, I think Apex is better for monitoring

Interesting! Why is that?

 

[dball711]

Just my experience…could also be user error on my part.

 

[90gDreams]

Well got the feeder set up and to cut power to PowerHeads when it turns on and got the temp probe up and running, as well as the ATO system. So far so good. Still need to do the rope leak sensor, RO cutoff solenoid, and PH probe

 

[90gDreams]

Hate this thing already. Been a fairly successful reefer on and off over the course of nearly 20 years. Now I'm paranoid every time I look at this stupid app. Might go back to sticking my head in the sand and never testing for anything but Alk again lol. Ph is always 7.7-7.8. I now find myself caring even though I literally never tested Ph ever.

 

[CherylG]

Hate this thing already. Been a fairly successful reefer on and off over the course of nearly 20 years. Now I'm paranoid every time I look at this stupid app. Might go back to sticking my head in the sand and never testing for anything but Alk again lol. Ph is always 7.7-7.8. I now find myself caring even though I literally never tested Ph ever.

Haha. I also hate the constant reminder of my pH but even though it is regularly in that sub-ideal range, things keep growing

 

[90gDreams]

Haha. I also hate the constant reminder of my pH but even though it is regularly in that sub-ideal range, things keep growing

I've believed for a long time stability more than makes up for less than idea specs for almost. Only trying to tease out every spec of florescence on super touchy acro do you need stability and perfect specs. That's why I stay away from expense acros lol. PC Rainbow and Bali Green Slimer are fine for me.

 

[project1004]

I use to be a heavy smoker and hotboxed my condo for years when i had 120. One time, I was gone for a week and when I came back, my tank was lookingso amazing and corals starts to grow. (SPS), Thats when i realize how the air quality is so important. which contributes to water quality. Our tank need to have good air. I have 3 pH probs and they all read diffrent. I just look at the trend but dont chase them. I had tons of CO2 media I had from buy out… but i ran out. SO, I just run skimmer. But i do think my skimmer need to be upgraded eventually for more aeration.

 

[90gDreams]

I can only assume the tank has pretty much stayed at 7.8-8.1 since I've never monitored it. I don't run a skimmer, I just do a refugium and will run filter socks when I'm cleaning glass or blowing detritus off stuff. Need to get my doser going tonight and get all for reef back in play. Tank looks like poop after a power outage when we were out of town. Got some really awesome SPS skeletons to decorate our living room with. It's almost like starting over. Typical red slime GHA mess.

 

[project1004]

Sounds like what “Sanjay Patel” went thru from power outage….. He lost pretty much everything in 500Gal packed tank. So, we know how important the back up power is.

Funny thing is I am prepping for long power outage and my tank is not in the list of things that will matter…. So living on the edge… Keke >.<

 

[90gDreams]

Sounds like what “Sanjay Patel” went thru from power outage….. He lost pretty much everything in 500Gal packed tank. So, we know how important the back up power is.

Funny thing is I am prepping for long power outage and my tank is not in the list of things that will matter…. So living on the edge… Keke >.<

I've had two power outages. One was in 2009? Back during the real big flood. I was in an apartment in Lithia Springs still in college. Had no power for 3 days. Was just a 20g nano. Kept a powerhead going hooked to a car battery inverter. Worked out alright. This one sucked way worse. Still not sure exactly what my plan is. I was ready to tear it down and both kids and my wife wanted to keep it so now just trying to make it more resilient I guess.