Programming a night drop in temperature?

[galleon]

Fallback OFF
If Time 08:30 to 19:59 Then
If Temp < 86.7 Then ON
If Temp > 87.0 Then OFF
If Time 20:00 to 08:29 Then
If Temp < 66.7 Then ON
If Temp > 67.0 Then OFF

Doesn't work.

[galleon]

nevermind! Figured out the Virtual Outlets.

[RickHrdlicka]

Your if time does not have anything after it.

you may need to break this up into two virtual outlets one for day temp and one for night temp and then turn your outlet off or on of the virtual outlet is on.

[dentnshell]

Reading this, I know it is not a "Apex" question, but does this seem like a very large temperature swing for an aquarium? 20 degrees? I work to stay inside of 0.3 degrees F.
I am constantly learning, should I create a cooling off during the night? I wouldn't consider 20 degrees, but should I look at 1 or 2 degrees?
Montipora
Zoas
Duncans
Hammer
Birds nest pink and green
Anemone
Frogspawn
Mushroom
Devils Hand Leather

[kenargo]

I agree with other comment; assuming this is a tank with something live in it a 20 degree day/night feels like a guarantee of death for the tank. Water bodies tend to remain relatively stable +/- a few degrees at most.

Are you sure you want to allow the tank temp to drop by 20 degrees (and then raise by as much each morning)?

[Alain B]

Agreed ! Doing this is looking for trouble and a huge bunch of dollars !

[LobsterOfJustice]

I took a quick look at his other threads and my suspicion was confirmed - he is not controlling a reef tank, he is using his apex to control an orchid/python terrarium.

[loki]

I would like to do this in my tank. What fixed the problem?

I would like to drop it a degree or so while the lights are off.

[jeffmcclain]

Just using original poster's pretty extreme temp change, here is how I would setup with two virtual outlets, and the final combination in the Heater outlet (plus a Return Pump Outlet criteria requirement).

NightHeat VO pgm

Set OFF

if Temp < 66.7 then ON

if Time 08:29 to 19:59 then OFF

DayHeat VO pgm

Set OFF

if Temp < 86.7 then ON

if Time 20:00 to 08:30 then OFF

Heater Outlet

Set OFF

if Outlet DayHeat = ON then ON

if Outlet NightHeat = ON then ON

if Outlet Pump = OFF then OFF

[zombie]

Dont use that wide of a temp swing, you will literally kill everything in your tank. Ocean temps range only 1-2 degrees from high day to low night.

What jeff wrote is the correct syntax, but I would recommend doing something more along the lines of this

NightHeat
Set OFF
If Temp < 78 Then ON
If Time 03:00 to 21:00 Then OFF

DayHeat
Set OFF
If Temp < 79 Then ON
If Time 15:00 to 09:00 Then OFF

MidHeat
Set OFF
If Temp < 78.5 Then ON
If Time 09:00 to 15:00 Then OFF
If Time 21:00 to 03:00 Then OFF

Heater
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet NightHeat = ON Then ON
If Outlet DayHeat = ON Then ON
If Outlet MidHeat = ON Then ON

You might be an engineer if...You have no life, and you can PROVE it mathematically.

[jeffmcclain]

Absolutely. Just trying to stay consistent with the original request and provide a dramatic difference. Caveat Emptor.

[Raul-7]

I just got my Apex last night; it's been an ease to setup. But how come you don't have statements for when it should turn off?

Like:
If Temp < 79 Then ON

But won't that keep heating the water without an off statement?

If Temp < 79 Then ON
If Temp > 80 Then OFF

[loki]

No because if it is less than 79 it will turn on. Ie 78.9 = on and 79 = off

[Raul-7]

No because if it is less than 79 it will turn on. Ie 78.9 = on and 79 = off

Makes sense. So that temperature is setpoint; not starting point.

[loki]

Well... I just looked and mine is setup like this.



So you can set it up like you mentioned.

[RussM]

When using probe values, you have two options.

You can use a fixed threshold/set point, like this:

Set OFF
If Temp < 78.0 Then ON

-or- you can have the outlet operate over a range:

If Temp < 78.0 Then ON
If Temp > 78.5 Then OFF

[loki]

And that's why Russ is the best!