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Thread: Help a novice to choose APEX for cichlid tank

  1. #1
    New User
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Helsinki
    Posts
    1

    Help a novice to choose APEX for cichlid tank

    APEX pros, please set me up here! APEX seems to be the best controller on the market. I have once set up a build with GHL controller and it was flimsy plastic POS.

    Im building a 1000L freshwater cichlid tank and need advice which controller to choose
    and isn't my track of thought fundamentally flawed.



    Filtration:
    • Deep-sand planted refugium, Carbon reactor, UV steriliser
    • 100L/24h drip system. Max water level is the sump. I choose slow drip over dayly water change, because tap water is filled with bubbles.


    Problem:

    Water level above the overflow comb in display tank will result in 150-200L water loss, if recirculation pump stops for some reason. Sump is maxed out by default because of the drip system. I need a controller to activate large solenoid valve to Auto Top Off, while running Recirculation pump at low gear until sufficient water level is achieved.

    Abstract of the solution:
    2 water level probes (LEVEL_LOW and LEVEL_OK) + AutoTopOff solenoid valve to the tap (400L/h) + Recirculation pump with variable speed. (Can Vectra L1 can do that?)

    Possible "code":

    IF LEVEL_CriticalLow "sensor = out of the water"
    do activate ATO valve
    run Recirculation pump on "slow"

    IF LEVEL_OK "sensor = submerged"
    stop ATO valve
    run Recirculation normal

    Additionl tasks of controller: temperature and lights.

    Questions overview:


    • Which controller should I choose?
    • Isn't my track of thought fundamentally flawed?
    • Can Vectra L1 be controlled via APEX?
    • Do any of you have controlled third-party solenoid valves with APEX?
    • Which LED system should i use? EcoTech Marine LEDs are available in EU, but they are kind of costly for a cichlid tank that needs very basic illumination. Any suggestion on this topic?

    -
    Note, that i'm in Europe, and we use 220V. Not all APEX products are available here as well.
    -

  2. #2
    Regular Vistor
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    eastern
    Posts
    49
    heres my thoughts
    are u looking for full control with an apex or just a top off in the event of the drip system stopping

    on my fresh water tank i use a hydroponics timer with a separate small pump for 8 minutes every 3 hours with the atk to refill this allows about 25 gallon a day change
    on a 125 gallon tank


    also your level low needs to be much higher in my opinion as that would be a lot of water for an ato to refill by the looks of it
    really only needs to be slightly lower

    also plumb your ato fill right next to drip system not to the sump

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