Bye bye Reef Factory - Hello Apex!

[hanny012]

Unfortunately I do not think you were unlucky

My reef factory thermos controller failed after just one week it turned both the heaters and chiller on at the same time lucky I was home.

In the last 5 weeks reef factory have sent me two new ph. meters and now the third has failed after just two days. And I have started a new support ticket.

I now cannot get my salinity meter to calibrate in reference solution.

The support is great but just how much time do you waste doing tests and calibrations over and over. I even got a few reefer friends over with huge experience just to check I was doing everything correct and we even tried to use the product on their tanks.

Apex does not make a power bar for Australia anymore and our ghl distributer is no existence.

 

[JoJosReef]

Also will be cutting out Reef Factory in the near future, or at least by end of year.

Other issues I have had with RF equipment:
- Dosing pump continuously loosing WiFi connectivity
- Salinity probe changed three times
- Dosing pump recalled / replaced

I, too, have been having continuous issues with wifi connectivity, which is a bear since the unit ONLY works through wifi (unless I'm missing a big something). Like everyone, service has been great, but I just want something that works. For now, if I unplug it and replug it in I can make an adjustment to the schedule maybe 1/3rd of the tries with 2/3rds losing connection before I can do anything.

 

[sark]

The alkatronic connects to the apex via a BNC connector, it’s my “ALK” labeled chart.

you won’t want to use the dosing pump in the alkatronic with AFR, the alkatronic dosing pump is meant to be used for low alk adjustments not regular dosing. When my all goes below a certain threshold it puts in a certain amount of alk solution. AFR takes a long time to work, you want soda ash or similar for that dosing pump.

David, I tried what you have accomplished but no luck. Apex will not recognize the Alkatronic. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[josh57]

Kinda confused that you made a post after this praising how much you loved reef factory?

 

[Cool tangs]

Following along

We're I'm from your lucky to get a trident, let alone reagents or support. No hydros either.

Kamoer is reliable equipment, but I hate the app, it's garbage. I was thinking of getting the KH carer and waiting for the reef master spa, but it's taking too long and yeah, the app lol

I pulled the trigger on a mastertronic essentials first as the support here is top notch. The app looks better then kamoer and I do like that you can use 3rd party reagents and possible future upgrades. It also has a integration with trident ICP so curious to see how it pans out. If good I might pull the trigger on a alkatronic pro and dosetronic. Again I've heard mixed reviews and I know they have recently had some issues with there SDA & ODA, but I honestly don't care for pin point stable alk if I decide to automate, and that's a big if currently. I'll just use it with the default auto dosing setting

Curious to see how you go

 

[Naturalreef]

I understand and feel your pain for wanting a reliable controller. I have used them all, and they all are not 100% reliable. I liked the Neptune/trident system, but left them after the ebb died twice unexpectedly due to cheap parts. If I wasn’t home, tank would have died with no way to talk someone through it. That was unacceptable.

Alkatronic/Mastertronic were also nice, but a SD card rewrite seemed to be the theme every 6 months with the equipment giving wrong readings until the rewrite was done and then it was back to brand new. Maintenance on the Mastertronic was exhausting!

Current reef factory KH Keeper and Smart tester are my favorite to date. They both need to be run for a week to break in and recalibrate, but once that is done, they seem to be solid with a hiccup every now and then. Both of them have long lasting reagents. I can mix KH Keeper reagent which gives me over a month and Smart tester Phosphate reagent which gives me 5 months with a one time calibration of phosphate which is fantastic!



These controllers need to give me piece of mind and low maintenance which at the moment, Reef factory wins. Always on the hunt though for better.