- Neptune Systems just released the latest evolution
of Apex, the A3 Series controllers,
and today we're gonna be looking at the new A3 Apex Pro.
There have been quite a few updates to what is essentially
their new flagship Apex controller,
from new ports, to new accessories,
and even a new in-app experience.
There's a lot to cover, so let's get cracking,
as in, let's crack this box open.
The very first thing you're gonna notice
when you get the Apex Pro out of the packaging,
is the base unit has a new finish to go along
with that Pro emblem.
Neptune systems made sure that the Pro model stood out
from the pack by giving it
the same rubberized soft-touch coating that we first saw
on the Sky LED light.
Although it doesn't change
the way the Apex functions at all,
it does add a really nice premium feel
and I totally dig it.
Something else I really dig
is the new selection of probes included with the Pro.
The one that specifically caught my eye is the newly
redesigned temperature probe.
Rather than the stubby
and bulbous temp probe that we've been using for years,
Neptune Systems finally made the switch to a sleeker
and much more practical temp probe
that mirrors the standard Ph, ORP and salinity probes,
meaning, we can finally fit our Apex temperature probe
into standard probe holders,
as well as inline probe holders
like the ones from Adaptive Reef.
As expected, you'll also receive high quality,
double-junction pH and ORP probes
which can be incredibly useful tools for reefing.
What you won't see is a salinity probe.
That probe has actually been replaced
with some very useful sensors
that the majority of reefers
are gonna get far more use out of.
And that includes the brand new
Optical Leak Sensor, the LD-3,
and a 15 inch LLS Liquid Level Sensor.
Both of these sensors
can add some very much needed redundancy
and safety, not just for your pets, but also for your home.
The LD-3 sensor has a couple of big upgrades
over the LD-1 and LD-2 sensors.
First off, being an optical sensor,
it's fully sealed in epoxy and waterproof,
meaning, it can be used over and over to detect liquids
without any damage to the sensor.
And secondly, because it doesn't use conductive strips,
it can be placed on more surfaces,
even conductive surfaces like metal
without accidentally tripping the sensor,
which is a perfect match for this Pro Apex bundle.
The LLS is also worthy of that Pro badge
in my humble opinion,
and is actually an industry first
for granular liquid level monitoring.
Unlike a simple optical eye that can tell you
whether or not a liquid is touching it,
the LLS can tell you the depth of a liquid
it is submerged in, when that level changes,
and by how much.
This opens up some very cool opportunities
for monitoring all sorts of liquid levels,
like your ATO, your mixing station,
and where I think most of us will be using it, in our sumps.
Not only can you set up multiple alarms
for various water depths as the level in your sump drops,
you can even trigger your DC return pump to slow down
as the water level gets too low to prevent cavitation
in the event your ATO reservoir is empty,
or that your ATO failed to refill,
saving the pump from burning out
or the system being without critical life support.
But that's just one example.
With the widgets in the app always showing you
the current level of the liquid in inches or centimeters,
and the fully graphed history,
There are gonna be tons of new
and useful ways to harness this type
of liquid level monitoring.
Including these two sensors instead of the salinity probe,
is a huge win in my opinion.
I will mention that previously,
in order to use these kinds of sensors
you would also need to pick up an FMM module,
but when you flip the base unit up and look at the ports
you're gonna notice four new ports
that do not currently exist on the A2 Apex.
Those four ports are actually FMM ports
for fluid monitoring,
and not only do they work for the included LD-3
and LLS sensors, but they also work
with optical level sensors
and flow sensors, meaning, you no longer need
a separate FMM module to take advantage
of those accessories,
and instead, can plug them right into
the A3 Apex Pro base unit, which basically saves you
a hundred bucks, if all you want to do
is grab a couple accessory sensors to add to the system.
This is so smart,
and it's a really nice added value
that makes the new A3 Apex Pro
a great way to add some always appreciated redundancy,
right outta the box.
There is one more new feature that you're not
gonna be able to see right outta the box,
and that is the built in audible alarm.
This one is another big win for me personally.
Instead of having to purchase a separate device
to act as an audible alarm to draw your attention
to the tank if you're at home
and you just don't happen to have your phone in your hand,
Apex now has a shrill attention-grabbing audible alarm
built directly into the base unit.
So for those who prefer it, you won't need to spend extra
or dedicate space on your controller board or wall
for a separate alarm.
A lot of the new A3 Apex Pro is going to be very familiar,
just like the A2 Apex, you still have a power port,
two AquaBus ports, a temperature pro port,
a pair of pro ports for either pH or ORP probes,
a salinity pro port,
a pair of dual channel zero to 10 volt control ports,
an ethernet port, and an IO port.
Both the base unit
and the EBA-32 still have their fantastic mounting solutions
for attaching them to a controller board.
The physical setup
and the app experience for both iOS and Android devices
is also virtually identical.
The app does a great job of walking you through
the initial setup, which only takes about 10 minutes
from start to finish.
Once you pair up your Apex to the fusion app,
you're gonna see that all of the outlets
are already preconfigured for the most popular reefing gear,
and you can just plug in your devices
to those respective outlets on the EBA-32
and you're off to the races.
One thing that has changed with the app experience
is that Neptune now serves up
customizing your setup right away
with improved setup features in the A3.
The tasks function makes adding new gear super simple
with zero coding skills.
If you are a control freak, though,
you can get as in-depth and nerdy as you like with it,
create your own custom codes
and really make the Apex Pro your own.
Now, if you're thinking to yourself, the Pro looks great
but I was an Apex EL fan, you weren't left out.
While the El badge was dropped,
the spirit of the El was not,
and you can check out the brand new A3 Apex
and everything that it comes with by clicking right here.
(mellow music)