Is the Apex still as relevant?

[huthain]

I understand there is relevance for sure, but it feels like a product that hasn't significantly evolved in a long time and im finding it hard to justify thr purchase.

Let me explain my situation, being the middle east we dont have the 8 plug version we get the 6 plug and it retails here at around 1300USD with the 6 plug for the pro. Ive already got a reliable teco chiller plus a WiFi inkbird controller that sorts out tenperature. Now bringing in the trident, how often do we need to test calcium and mag? I personally dont test these more than once a month and do ICP once every 2 months. Also keeping in mind thats another 700 dollars for the trident plus a running reagent cost. The only relevant testing I need from that is KH and PH.
With devices like the Aquawiz covering KH without reagent and waste water I feel like its a no brainer!

Between most of my equipment being controlled through apps already, temp controller and possibly investing in the Aquawiz, what would be the selling point for the Apex system in 2026?

Side note Hydros is not available nor supported in our region.

 

[exnisstech]

Sounds like you don't need one lol.
I've never even tested mag and similar to you I only test calcium every couple of months but I have never had to make adjustments. I'm fine testing alk weekly. I don't feel the need to do an ICP. Monitoring pH salinty orp? meh, I don't need that. I've only been reefing 10 years and currently have 4 tanks and have never felt the need for a controller. I'm sure they're a cool toy for people that enjoy tech and tinkering. I see them as a single point of failure that can destroy an entire tank. The only scenario I see where one could be a necessity is for people that have to travel and automation is a requirement.

 

[TokenReefer]

I get alot done with the Jr... Not sure about the need to constantly monitor salinity or orp. But that's just me. Haven't regretted my purchase in the slightest

 

[TokenReefer]

I also have never had wifi or firmware issue where others have. Ymmv with devices, in all arenas

 

[Reeferbadness]

I think the Trident is critical for stability. I sometimes travel for 2 - 4 weeks and can monitor the alk/cal swings from afar and can also make small adjustments with dosing via the Reef Dose via the app. I find that keeping a close eye on Alk/Cal also allows you to pick up issues with the tank ie if your Alk/Cal uptake is slowing .... you likely have some other issue ie high Phos or some other issue that you should look into.

 

[gkprevite]

Sounds like you don't need one lol.
I've never even tested mag and similar to you I only test calcium every couple of months but I have never had to make adjustments. I'm fine testing alk weekly. I don't feel the need to do an ICP. Monitoring pH salinty orp? meh, I don't need that. I've only been reefing 10 years and currently have 4 tanks and have never felt the need for a controller. I'm sure they're a cool toy for people that enjoy tech and tinkering. I see them as a single point of failure that can destroy an entire tank. The only scenario I see where one could be a necessity is for people that have to travel and automation is a requirement

I feel the same way. I don’t need a lot of what it does. My tank is set up fairly old school (timers and device controllers but no apps or gadgets). Some people are into tech and I get that, and it has its uses, I just don’t think it’s necessary to run a successful tank. I leave my tank for up to 2 weeks at a time in the winter when I’m in the mountains and it can run itself during that time. Longer than that and I drive home do a water change, top off my ato res and afr doser, give the fish a kiss and head back to winter wonderland.

 

[Tangdora]

I love the fact it has not changed much lol. These days and age it seems like you can’t go 2-3 years without a company changing its product line to a new version and companies killing all support and spare parts to previous product requiring you to pay even more money for the next product in line.

 

[DmitryB]

I think one big benefit is the automation in one place. Someone above mentioned having timers on everything - and that definitely works - but something like Apex lets you have timers on everything in one place, and let some of these timers interact with each other. Is it essential? Definitely No. Can it be extremely convenient? Absolutely.

 

[exnisstech]

I think one big benefit is the automation in one place. Someone above mentioned having timers on everything - and that definitely works - but something like Apex lets you have timers on everything in one place, and let some of these timers interact with each other. Is it essential? Definitely No. Can it be extremely convenient? Absolutely.

That's one if things that always made me hesitate when I was looking at controllers. If the main unit fails every timer goes with it. I guess if a controller is needed one just has to take that risk.

 

[Alexander1312]

I am fully bought into the Hydros ecosystem, with the AquaWiz. I know you said Hydros is not available where you live.

But even if it was, your point about APEX not having evolved for some time could actually be a good thing.

Some of the Hydros imperfections make me wish it was a more stable, mature system, and had as much programming and knowledge available as the APEX has. I get great support on facebook if I have a question, but it still feels it is evolving, changing, and updates often cause a lot of short term pain for folks.

While we throw a lot of tech at our tanks, there is really a finite of things that make meaningful sense. And from what I know APEX can handle this.

So, having a controller to see things remotely when you are away seems to have a lot a value, and if it is APEX, then so be it, even if it feels a bit outdated.

The AquaWiz I would definitely recommend. A great little device.

 

[huthain]

I get alot done with the Jr... Not sure about the need to constantly monitor salinity or orp. But that's just me. Haven't regretted my purchase in the slightest

I wouldnt mind it to test PH but thats a steeeep price to pay for PH testing. Even though I was sceptical about aquawiz im reading great things about it so for KH I think that definitely wins right now. Calcium and magnesium is irrelevant. Salinity is managed ny my ato and I have a miluwakee tester. Not sure if ORP is that helpful maybe you can shed some light there

 

[huthain]

I think the Trident is critical for stability. I sometimes travel for 2 - 4 weeks and can monitor the alk/cal swings from afar and can also make small adjustments with dosing via the Reef Dose via the app. I find that keeping a close eye on Alk/Cal also allows you to pick up issues with the tank ie if your Alk/Cal uptake is slowing .... you likely have some other issue ie high Phos or some other issue that you should look into.

See maybe in your case where you travel sure. I work from home so the tank is always 2 steps away from me plus rarely travel. Again for Alk I just think theres better options out there and u can then adjust via reefdose. Calcium I rarely check

 

[huthain]

I love the fact it has not changed much lol. These days and age it seems like you can’t go 2-3 years without a company changing its product line to a new version and companies killing all support and spare parts to previous product requiring you to pay even more money for the next product in line.

I agree i dont like constant drastic changes but it feels like theres so much innovation with hydros, aquawiz etc and apex are or will start falling behind

 

[huthain]

I am fully bought into the Hydros ecosystem, with the AquaWiz. I know you said Hydros is not available where you live.

But even if it was, your point about APEX not having evolved for some time could actually be a good thing.

Some of the Hydros imperfections make me wish it was a more stable, mature system, and had as much programming and knowledge available as the APEX has. I get great support on facebook if I have a question, but it still feels it is evolving, changing, and updates often cause a lot of short term pain for folks.

While we throw a lot of tech at our tanks, there is really a finite of things that make meaningful sense. And from what I know APEX can handle this.

So, having a controller to see things remotely when you are away seems to have a lot a value, and if it is APEX, then so be it, even if it feels a bit outdated.

The AquaWiz I would definitely recommend. A great little device.

Ive been following hydros even though there seems to be no plans to expand outside the US the voltage won't work here sadly. Also dissappinted with how they haven't made any progress or update with the maven.

Ive been dying to get my hands on aquawiz but also impossible to find here, ive messaged and emailed them to see if they can ship one for me lets hope they reply!

I just wish they created a cheaper version of it without the dosing. Most people already have dosers that are app controlled i just want a device that can give me information without giving me the capability to correct it.

 

[areefer01]

I understand there is relevance for sure, but it feels like a product that hasn't significantly evolved in a long time and im finding it hard to justify thr purchase.

It is one of the longer lasting controller brands in our hobby.

With regards to justify the purchase, that is up to the hobbyist. My requirements may be different than yours as is accessibility to product. Product availability and support would pretty much be one of my deciding factors.

Do you want the honest truth? We do not need any controller or automation. They are both, for lack of a better word, luxury items. They are not what defines us nor are they the keys to our success. In fact I'll go a step further and say that we shouldn't have them until our tanks have been up and running for 3 to 5 years. This way we A know we are staying in the hobby and B we have success at keeping water, fish, and corals for any length of time.

I should note that yes, I have a controller. And yes, it was not added until about year 3. And that yes, I've been a long time customer/user of Neptune products going back to 2000 or there abouts. But if I lost my Apex today my reef would continue with the exception of my SKY lights in which case I have a backup for that as well.

Good luck. Was going to ask how the reefing community is out your way but don't want to derail the tread. All the best.

 

[TokenReefer]

I wouldnt mind it to test PH but thats a steeeep price to pay for PH testing. Even though I was sceptical about aquawiz im reading great things about it so for KH I think that definitely wins right now. Calcium and magnesium is irrelevant. Salinity is managed ny my ato and I have a miluwakee tester. Not sure if ORP is that helpful maybe you can shed some light there

I don't have that module/probe. I've had the a3 jr for about 3 years and added some energy bars as I saw it's usefulness and reliability. If I had orp at this stage in the hobby maybe, and I do mean maybe, I'd be able to relate it to something happening in the tank but if i had it earlier on, I'd probably just be confused looking at it and the tank; orp to me seems like the ultimate boss number chase. I ain't there...yet lol

 

[skyrne_isk]

I love the fact it has not changed much lol. These days and age it seems like you can’t go 2-3 years without a company changing its product line to a new version and companies killing all support and spare parts to previous product requiring you to pay even more money for the next product in line.

Agree with this. Mine is indispensable but my programming isn’t very complex. I like have mechanicals relays behind the outlets - makes them hard to kill.

 

[Alexander1312]

Ive been following hydros even though there seems to be no plans to expand outside the US the voltage won't work here sadly. Also dissappinted with how they haven't made any progress or update with the maven.

Ive been dying to get my hands on aquawiz but also impossible to find here, ive messaged and emailed them to see if they can ship one for me lets hope they reply!

I just wish they created a cheaper version of it without the dosing. Most people already have dosers that are app controlled i just want a device that can give me information without giving me the capability to correct it.

I am not using it for dosing at the moment. And I am actually not planning, from a risk management standpoint, to not use their dosing pumps for dosing. These pumps are very inexpensive so I doubt it would make the device cheaper removing them.

I would buy it in the US and let it ship to you. Maybe wait for another sale to fund the shipping cost :). I just checked the power adapter and it should support your voltage.

 

[huthain]

I am not using it for dosing at the moment. And I am actually not planning, from a risk management standpoint, to not use their dosing pumps for dosing. These pumps are very inexpensive so I doubt it would make the device cheaper removing them.

I would buy it in the US and let it ship to you. Maybe wait for another sale to fund the shipping cost :). I just checked the power adapter and it should support your voltage.

The Hydros are at 110volts we use 220 here it would fry everything plugged into it. The only way is a transformer and im not gonna take that route its just an additional fail point honestly.

If you were talking about the aquawiz, they sell them in the UK which has the same voltage but im trying to see if I can minimise shipping costs. Also ive just dished out a ton of money for a new tank so would rather wait! It seems like come out with new gens constantly plus they have a larger controller in the making so may be worth holding for a while.

 

[Alexander1312]

The Hydros are at 110volts we use 220 here it would fry everything plugged into it. The only way is a transformer and im not gonna take that route its just an additional fail point honestly.

If you were talking about the aquawiz, they sell them in the UK which has the same voltage but im trying to see if I can minimise shipping costs. Also ive just dished out a ton of money for a new tank so would rather wait! It seems like come out with new gens constantly plus they have a larger controller in the making so may be worth holding for a while.

Sorry, yes, I was referring to the AquaWiz, not Hydros. Shipping is an issue these days. But I wonder about the price in the UK for this device? I know the price in Germany is much higher (currency converted) than here, specifically when these are on sale.