Aquarium controlers

[reddhawkk]

Does anyone on here use an aquarium controller such as the Neptune Apex on their tanks?  If so, what do you do with it?

Thanks.

[thefishdaddy]

The only controller I use is for the temperature because when you have a bigger tank you need 2 heaters but you won't be able to accurately set each one of them, I use one temp. Controller and plug a power strip so you can turn it off when doing a water change the added benefit is when you might need to raise or lower the temp to medicate there is no need to go in the tank ang set each heater 3rd is redundancy if a heater gets stuck to on or off it won't kill your fish just set the heater itself to the max you want like 84°F then set your controller to the desired temp. I have use several brands but most of them failed except for and industrial controller called "Ronco" hope this helps.

Chuck

[renoguy]

I use the apex. I run a tropheus tank with plants and co2 injection. My apex controls the co2 (ph), 3 lighting schedules, temperature, wave simulation (I run 2 tunze 6205's for wave action), Automatic feeder (afs), fertilizer dosing (dos), Water top offs (ato), return pump settings (cor-20). I am also able to monitor ALL of my tank parameters from anywhere and make adjustments as needed (if needed). These systems are not cheap but honestly other than the cash there is no reason not use them. I can look at a glance and see my temp, ph, orp, tds, etc. This system also gives me the ability to leave on holidays and no worry.

[reddhawkk]

Renoguy, thanks, that is what I was wondering. If you don't mind I do have a few other questions. I see orp mentioned a lot, what is it and why do you check it? Also, plants and co2 with tropheus, very cool! I understand co2 has an effect on ph but could you give me a quick rundown on that? What ph do you aim for? What type of plants?
I have a reef ready tank I have been planning on setting up for tropheus but keep having life interfere so in the meantime I got interested in the controllers so the tank might have to wait a little longer before getting set up!

[renoguy]

Jun 3, 2018 15:22:27 GMT -5 reddhawkk said:

Renoguy, thanks, that is what I was wondering. If you don't mind I do have a few other questions. I see orp mentioned a lot, what is it and why do you check it? Also, plants and co2 with tropheus, very cool! I understand co2 has an effect on ph but could you give me a quick rundown on that? What ph do you aim for? What type of plants?
I have a reef ready tank I have been planning on setting up for tropheus but keep having life interfere so in the meantime I got interested in the controllers so the tank might have to wait a little longer before getting set up!

I don't mind at all.  ORP gets a bit complicated best to just look it up.  I monitor my orp only to watch for changes.  For instance the ORP in my tank goes for high 300's to high 400's in a 24 hour period.  I know that if it were to drop below the mid 300's something is wrong and it is time for a water change.  "normal ORP" with vary from tank tank but knowing what is normal for your setup will give you a good indicator of coming problems.

My PH out the tap is about 7.8  a good amount co2 for a planted tank is about 35 ppm.  Co2 causes a drop in ph which will not harm the trophs.  A 1 - 1.2 point drop in ph drop co2 injection will result in approx. 35 ppm of co2.  I set my co2 to start injecting 2 hours prior to my lights coming on and that is enough time to get my ppm to 35 for the photo period.  The co2 is programmed to turn off 1 hour prior to lights out for the night.  So basically I have the controller set to start injecting co2 at 6am.  Lights on at 8am, by this time my ph has dropped to the target 6.6.  The co2 cycles on and off all day to keep that 6.1 ph and the shuts off at night when the ph climbs back up to 7.8.  My temp is a steady 78f.

My tank is also a reef ready with a sump, nice to keep all the probes and gear out of the main display tank. 
The plants I keep are:

Vallisneria "Jungle Val"
Amazon Swords
bacopa caroliniana
Anubias
Java Ferns
Ambulia
Ludwigia repens
Rotala macrandra
Rotala Wallichii
African Water Ferns (lots)

Let me know if you have any other questions, I know when I was considering this setup, there was not a lot of information out there on high tech planted tanks with trophs.  I will do my best to help you in any way I can.

Cheers
Lawrence

[renoguy]

Here is a screen shot of my apex desktop

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[reddhawkk]

Again, thanks for the info. I was intending to have some plants in my Tropheus tank, not to the extent of yours, just some Anubias and Bolbitus, maybe Vals. I have planted tanks now but do not do co2 and probably will not for the Tropheus tank either. I find it interesting you lower the ph so much, it doesn't bother the fish? Do they still breed or aren't you concerned with that? When I first started looking at controllers I thought, Apex Jr. It is not as "big" or expensive and still does a number of things. Now as I look into it more, and the scale tips more to the side of getting a controller, I am definitely leaning to the Apex with its expanded abilities. In for a penny, in for a pound I guess!

[renoguy]

Lowering the ph via co2 does not negatively affect the tropheus. My colony of Bembas are about 10 months old. I currently have 12 fry in a grow out tank and there are 4 more females holding 1 of which should be spitting this week. Breeding is not a problem and I have not lost 1 fish since I have had them.

[renoguy]

Here is my tank as it sits now.

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[reddhawkk]

Wow, very nice tank!