Controller Suggestions?

Sawdonkey

Sawdonkey

Premium member
I'm looking to buy a controller and I could use some suggestions.

I'm price conscious, but don't want a piece of junk either. I'd like it to control both sections of my T5 lights, moon lights, and my 500W heater. I'll probably be getting an ATO soon. I don't have a cat5 by my tank, so it would be cool if it worked wirelessly. Are there any probes you would say are "must haves" other than temp?

My tank is a 220 with 75 gal sump. Currently a predator tank, but I'm going to start moving to stinging corals and nems.

The other option I'm considering is just getting the cheap Finnex heating controller and controlling the lights with timers. This would be much cheaper and still get the job done.

I'm curious about your thoughts in general about controllers (are they more hassle than they are worth?) and if you would recommend them, what you would recommend for my system. Thanks in advance!
 
Apex all the way
Wireless is built in
Nice iphone app
Very very very user friendly
I only have the apex jr it's all I need
If I need more ill buy modules for it
And it's very easy to program
 
The Apex JR is WiFi? Not too sure about that.

However I also vote Apex, I've had two RK's in the past and both failed, all three of my Apex's were great.
 
Apex is better in featured but cost more... Reef keeper is the way to go for easy to use and lower price .. just picked up a reefkeeper couldn't believe how easy it was to set up . All I hear are nightmare stories about setting it up..
 
Apex is better in featured but cost more... Reef keeper is the way to go for easy to use and lower price .. just picked up a reefkeeper couldn't believe how easy it was to set up . All I hear are nightmare stories about setting it up..
Click to expand...

The big difference in the 40 dollar price tag is the ability to hook it to the web. Apex JR can already go online, the RKL requires the .NET Module which is 115 bucks more. Dollar for Dollar the APEX is cheaper.
 
I really like reefkeeper. I have one on my 75 and one on my 28g cube. You can get the lower cost one and then add modules as time goes by and you find the need for the other components. And I've had great experience calling their tech support when I've had an issue.
 
rosko23 said:
Have Both. Hate apex programming... Just getting it online was a pita with my router.
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it was easy to hook up within my network, but being able to use it outside the home was a pita for sure, but call neptune, theyll take control of yur pc and do it for u....
 
Your gonna get mixed opinions on any controller
You kinda have to just jump the gun and get what you want
The apex is online out of the box
That's what drew me to it
Nothing else to buy
And I got the jr to save money cause I didn't need the display
I use my phone to control and program it
You can get apex jr that is online already and an extra eb8 for about
300 ish that's 12 outlets total

A reefkeeper lite no display buy the net module and and extra outlet bar which has only 4 outlets for around 315 ish
And you will only have 8 outlets total
 
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