To get started open up Apex Fusion. Use the unlock button at the top right to access any unused modules or sensors you want to see. Once on your dashboard you can hit the little gear icon above each to access their coding and rename them to something more logical.
For instance on mine I renamed the sensors ATK_Lo (Low optical sensor), ATK_Hi (High Optical Sensor), ATK_Le (Solid surface leak sensor), and ATK_Em (ATO Reservoir empty optical sensor). Once you have them renamed go to the top of the dashboard and click the Task button. It looks like 2 documents. This is the auto setup for your ATK. It will put in the most universal settings. Once you have that complete do the task setup for your leak sensors.
After the code is generated you can hit the gear icon on the ATK module itself and see the code that it generates.
Code:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If ATK_Lo OPEN Then ON
If ATK_Hi CLOSED Then OFF
If ATK_L1 CLOSED Then OFF
If ATK_L2 CLOSED Then OFF
When On > 005:00 Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then ON
Defer 000:04 Then OFF
Min Time 060:00 Then OFF
What does this mean?
Fallback OFF and Set OFF means it starts in an off state and if there is an issue with the Apex itself it defaults to OFF
Things like Fallback ON and Set ON would be good for things like your return pump, you want it to constantly go even if the Apex losses communication.
The rest of the code is all about the sensors and various delays and failsafes.
When the ATK_Lo is open it means its not sensing water so that the ATK will turn on.
All of the other sensors tell it to turn the ATK back off if the water level rises too high and hits the top sensor or it the leak sensors detect water. If any 3 of them touch water the ATK will not turn on.
The next lines of code are delays and safety things. When ON > 5:00 means it prevents your ATK from running longer than 5 minutes. In a freak situtation where it runs for 5 minutes and the sensors still arent turning it off, the Apex will turn the ATK and actually slide the tile from Auto to OFF. This means it can never turn back on until you manually slide it back to auto.
The Defer statement tell the ATK to wait 10 seconds before turning the pump on. The bottom sensor needs to be exposed for a full 10 seconds before it starts. The Defer :04 tells the ATK that once it activates it stays active for a full 4 seconds. This prevents slight fluctuations from triggering it on and off very rapidly. And the last line says the ATK will only run once per hour.
After you know what all of that does you can of course adjust the code specifically for your tank. Here is some of the code I altered to work for me.
Code:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If ATK_Lo OPEN Then ON
If ATK_Hi CLOSED Then OFF
If ATK_Le CLOSED Then OFF
If ATK_Em OPEN Then OFF
If FeedA 005 Then OFF
If FeedB 005 Then OFF
If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF
When On > 000:30 Then OFF
Defer 003:00 Then ON
Defer 000:04 Then OFF
Min Time 060:00 Then OFF
I have an empty reservoir sensor that turns the ATK off when it senses that its empty. When the Feed Modes are active I don't want the ATK to turn on, and when the feed mode end I want to delay any possible top offs for 5 minutes. This prevents top offs from happening when pumps and skimmers are restarting. The same is for when the Apex turns back on after a power loss. I want it to make sure the water has restabilized and is adding the correct amount of evaporation that was lost during that outage.
My When command is really low as I run this on a nano aquarium. My usual top offs last about 5 seconds. If it ran for 30 seconds something really went wrong but its not enough to flood my sump. If I left in the default code of 5 minutes my sump might actually overflow with that much water and my top off reservoir would be empty. My Defer 3:00 instead of :10 means the bottom sensor needs to be exposed for 3 minutes before it tops off. This further prevents accidental top offs when Im screwing around in the sump.
Most of the coding for your pumps, lights, etc can be generated automatically by selecting that piece of equipment when setting up its outlet. Further code can be generated by using the Task feature for things like Skimmers and return pumps. Once those are setup you can access their outlet gear icon and see the advance code its creating. This can always be altered to your needs and saved at the top right.
Good luck with your new Apex
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