Advice? Apex programming for return and skimmer

I picked up another energy bar and I would like to hook up all major pieces of equipment to apex except dosers so if there is a problem and I am away I can shut it down. I already control the lighting, heating, cooling, and power heads but I need some help with pump and skimmer and probably some reactors.

I want the return and skimmer to run all the time. I set everything else up in fusion using the easy setup NOT the advanced. So do I just set up
Fallback: ON
Initial Off Time: ???
On Time: ???
Off Time: ???
Do I set these all to Same time so it runs 24/7? I can setup a feed timer but probably wont use it. If I do I think I will set skimmer to stay off a few minutes longer than return to prevent overflowing.

How is your setup? And How can I do mine in easy setup or is it better to do advanced setup?

 

Fallowing.

 

Another question. Anyone have chiller hooked up to controller? I have a 1/3 hp JBJ Artica chiller. It has its own temp control. Do you just let it control itself or run through apex?

I calibrated temp to be same as display. there is a little variance but not enough to worry about. I have it controlling its self now. Any problems or anything to controlling with apex?

 

I am apex illiterate but I think if you just set outlet to on instead auto it will always stay on.

 

I thought about that to but does it go back to on after power outage?

 

Check this place out, has 99% of what you're lookin for.
http://forum.neptunesystems.com/

Otherwise I can say with my tank, I turn the skimmer off a few times a day as to not overskim the tank.
If Time 12:00 to 13:00 Then OFF (turns off noon to 1pm)

Set ON or Set OFF is a perma set. (but as you go down in the programming, the next line down CAN negate the last line)

So:
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 13:00 Then ON
would turn the skimmer on from noon to 1pm, but otherwise it's set off all the time

As far as chiller/heater stuff goes, set the internal thermostat on the device, then set the apex.
Not too sure about chillers (perhaps setting a little under vs heater is set a little over) but someone made the good comment about heaters therostats failing. Either they'll fail off, or melt and then stay on. So for heaters, set the heater thermostat to 78, but set the apex to turn it on and off like this:
If Temp < 77.5 Then ON
If Temp > 77.7 Then OFF

Then the heater thermostat will "always" be on, so it's the apex doing the work vs the heater's internal thermo. Of course if the apex ever fails, the internal will catch, but you won't have any undue wear and tear on the internal.

As far as power outtages, the entire system will boot back up.. Not sure what you're asking..

 

I have the heaters already setup on there. The chiller has a controller so running through apex the outlet is either on or off. so when off the chiller controller shuts off. I cant remember when it powers back up if it remembers last temp setting of goes to a default. I guess would I be better off letting the chiller control its self or through Apex.

And the skimmer and pumps will run all the time. I could just bypass the program and set outlet to ON or program to run all the time just not sure how to set program that way.

The initial off time:
On time:
Off Time

I don't want them to shut off unless I manually shut them off. Do I set on and off time the same? And what does the Initial off time do?

 

The apex doesn't loose programming during a power outage. At least I haven't experienced it.

 

Thanks.

 

My jbj chiller controller goes back to default if power is lost too. For the Apex I would set it to turn on at 80 then off at 75. Then set your chiller controller to say 77. That way the chiller controller will run your chiller and not the apex. Apex will have a shut off as a safeguard if you lose power and the chiller controller resets back to 70.

 

Thanks.

 

Thanks Kungpaoshizi. I got on Neptune's forum a they helped me.
For my return and skimmer I had to change to advanced setup and...
Fallback ON
Set ON
Works great.
And for chiller with temp control. Turn down chillers temp 1 degree below what you want apex to control then if outlet on apex stays on only off 1 degree.
Don't know if this helps anyone but thought I would share.

 

Once you get everything set how you want it save it all. Doing this will let you reload and install all saved programs as you saved them with one click.

 

Sav on my computer or can I do that on Fusion?

 

I need to add delay on skimmer to prevent overflow. The people on the forum are great. I told them what I wanted and they wrote it up for me.

At least now I have a little bit of an idea what I am doing.

 

Here's mine
Return pump
Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF

Shimmer
Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 005 Then OFF
If FeedB 005 Then OFF
If FeedC 005 Then OFF
If FeedD 005 Then OFF
If Sw3 OPEN Then OFF

Sw3 is a float in my skimate collector. It shuts down skimmer when it's full.

I would use those feed modes man. That way your corals get a crack at some food every time you feed the fish. I shutdown return and skinner 30min every time I feed fish. There is always a clear feeding response from corals.

 

I use the feed mode on my vortex pumps for feedings. I leave skimmer and return running.