Get Started Guide – Apex Classic

Connect Ethernet Cable

Connect one end of the Apex Classic Ethernet cable to your home router and the other end to your Apex Classic base unit Ethernet port.

 

Connect Ethernet to Router

Do not confuse your router with your cable of DSL modem. Your router is what gives your WiFi internet in the house.

•Note: If your router is not near your Aquarium, that is OK! For initial setup, we will need to be connected to your router. After setup is complete you have the opportunity to make the controller wireless to your home network

 

Connect Energy Bar 8 to Power

Connect your Energy Bar power cord to a wall outlet

 

Connect Apex Classic to Energy Bar 8

Connect the 6′ Aquabus cable from an Energy Bar Aquabus port (gray circle) to the Apex  Classic Base Unit’s Aquabus (orange circle). Both of their status lights should turn Green.

•NOTE: The Ethernet must be connected before powering your unit on. If unit was already powered before Ethernet was connected, then connect Ethernet and power cycle.

 

Connect any Expansion Modules

Connect your Aquacontroller Display screen or any other aquabus modules you may have. Connect each one at a time using the aquabus cable included with them. Use the aquabus port on the side of the EB8 as a hub.

NOTE: It does not matter the order or the port you connect an aquabus module.

 

Initial Connections: Home Network Integration

Connect your AquaController Display Screen. It should take about a (1) minute to start up.  Now use it, push the circular button, and restart the APEX Classic via the netsetup menu

• Go to SYSTEM> NETSETUP> RESTART
• The Apex  Classic will reboot and return momentarily.

 

Set up your Apex Classic Fusion account

Most of your experience to the Apex Classic will be done using our cloud-based Dashboard, Apex Classic Fusion. Start by going to www.ApexFusion.com and click on ‘Create an Account’. You will receive an Email to the registration page to sign up, submit, and log in!

Note: Click on the 2nd link in the invitation email or check out this video

Finding your Apex Classic Fusion Token

You will need a Link Token to sync your Apex Classic to the cloud. Get this ready by going to your Display Screen and clicking on the option ‘ApexFusion: Link’. A token id number will appear.

When you log in to your www.ApexFusion.com account for the first time, you will need to type it in once.

Don’t see this ‘ApexFusion’ option? Update your Firmware

 

Linking Apex Classic to your ApexFusion.com Account

Log into your ApexFusion.com account and you will be prompted to ‘Link Apex’. Click on it and type in your Link Token.

 

Type in your Link Token

Type in your Link Token to your ApexFusion account. The token is case sensitive.

 

Link Successful

After entering the Link Token, press ‘Link Apex’. You should now see a ‘Link Successful’ Message. Select “OK”

 

Apex Classic Fusion: Listings

To see your Apex Fusion Dashboard, select the “list” icon in your Fusion tool bar

 

Selection

Select your Apex from your Apex Listing.

 

Welcome to your Dashboard!

Now you are at your Apex Fusion Dashboard. Here you can begin configuring your

 

Aquarium Installation

After you have connected to Apex Fusion and confirmed green status lights on your modules, then it is time to install the Apex at your aquarium

Make sure the mounting location is free of moisture-above the water line.

• Be sure to utilize drip loops on all power cords, aquabus, and probe cables.

• Do NOT connect your aquarium equipment to the EB8 at this time

 

Aquarium Installation: Connecting Your Probes

Connect probes to their appropriate inputs, but do not mount them in your aquarium or sump yet.

• Temperature connects to ‘TEMP’ Port
• pH Probe connects to ‘pH’ Port

•Be careful handling the probes as they are FRAGILE

 

Aquarium Installation: Wireless Option

If you do not have the recommended hardwired Ethernet connection at your aquarium and need to make your controller wireless, try using a 3rd party adapter, like an Internet Gaming Adapter.

Many users have tremendous success using the Netgear WNCE 3001 Internet Gaming Adapter. If you use Apple Routers, then get an Airport Express instead.

Follow the instructions from the manufacturer

 

Aquarium Installation: pH Probe Calibration

Float your calibration solutions in your tank to bring them to tank temperature for a few minutes.

Remove the cap on your pH probe.

To calibrate pH on your Display Screen: Setup> pH Setup> pH Calibrate> select pH> Follow on screen instructions

 

Aquarium Installation: Temp Probe Calibration

Your temperature probe is calibrated at Neptune Systems. It is ready right out of the package!

 

 

Confirm The Calibration

Confirm the calibration was successful by placing the pH probe in the 7 and 10 solution, and the salinity in the 53,000 uS/cm Solution.

The pH should read ~7 and ~10. If they do not, then please see the FAQ

 

Probe Information

Your temperature probe is calibrated at Neptune Systems.

The ORP probe does not need calibrating. Simply remove the cap an put in the tank. The ORP probe has roughly a week break-in period before it will report accurate readings.

If you need further assistance in calibrating any of your probes please see the Comprehensive Reference Manual

 

Time Zone Set Up

Now that your Apex is installed at your Aquarium, you can begin to configure your Apex on how to control and monitor your Aquarium.

Set the time zone in your controller. On your display screen: System> Clock Setup> Time Zone (East, -5, Central, -6, Mountain, -7, and Pacific, -8).

International Time zones will vary, check what time zone you are in here.

Confirm the time is correct by selecting “Tank Time Set”

 

Energy Bar Programming

To begin programming outlets in Apex Fusion you must first go to the outlet configuration page.

To navigate to this, select the “outputs” icon.

 

Configuring Your Apex: Output Configuration

On the output configuration page all of the outlets for your Apex are listed. There are three main type of outlets.

Variable- Variably controlled 0-10V outputs to control Apex Ready devices
Alert- Your audible sound and email alarm outlets
Outlet- Physical on/off outlets on your EB8

In the next couple steps will program your Energy Bar.  If you prefer you can check out a great video of this as well

Configuring Your Apex: Identifying Outlets

Configure outlet #1 on your EB8. First to select this outlet in Apex Fusion we know this is outlet #1 on your EB8 because its device is labeled as “3_1.” The “3” identifies the EB8 and the “1” comes from this being outlet #1 on EB8.

 

Configuring Your Apex: Outlet Properties

Regardless of the device plugged into the EB8 outlet, all outlets will have several common properties. Fill out and select the appropriate information for the device you plan to connect to outlet #1:

Device: How the outlet is identified : “3_1”
Name: What you want to call the outlet: i.e. “Return_3_1” or “Heater_3_2”
Icon: The graphical image of that outlet on your Apex Display Screen

 

Configuring Your Apex: Outlet Control Types

Select “Control Type.”
A drop down of several wizards that can be used to program outlets will appear. These wizards and examples to use them will be described in the next few steps. The general wizard types include:

• Advanced
• Light
• Pump
• Heater
• Chiller
• pH control
• ORP control
• Feeder (for AFS)

 

 

Control Type: Light

If you wanted to configure a light to turn on at 8am and off at 7pm. Select “Light” option in “Control Type”

On Time: 8:00
Off Time: 19:00
Shutdown Probe: Temp
Shut Down Value: 81.0
Hysteresis: 30:00

• Notes: Shutdown Probe/Value: If temperature goes above 81.0 the light will turn off.
• Hysteresis: How long the light will be off if it goes above shutdown value

 

Control Type: Heater

If you wanted to configure a heater to control temperature to 77 degrees. Select “Heater” option in “Control Type”

On Temp: 76.5
Off Temp: 77.5

Notes: Heater will turn on when temperature falls below 76.5 and turn off when it goes above 77.5
If heater has internal thermostat, set it slightly above the “Off Temp,” so 79.0

 

Control Type: Advanced

If you wanted to configure a Return pump to be on all the time except during a feed mode and maintenance mode, then select “Advanced” option in “Control Type”

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then Off
If FeedB 000 Then Off

Notes:
Any wizard can be switched to advance control type after updating the outlet to add more
FeedA and FeedB have been configured to be 5 and 30 minutes long:
Display screen: Setup> Outlet Setup> Feed Interval> Select Feed> Feed Interval

 

Control Type: Chiller

If you wanted to configure a chiller/fan in outlet #1 to control temperature to 77 degrees. Select “Chiller” option in “Control Type”

On Temp: 78.0
Off Temp: 77.0

Notes: Chiller will turn on when temperature rises above 78.0 and turn off when it goes above 77.0 If chiller has internal thermostat set it slightly below the “On Temp,” so 76.0)

 

Control Type: Pump

If you wanted to configure a powerhead to turn on/off every 30 seconds and off when a “feed mode” is activated. Select “Pump” option in “Control Type”

Initial Off Time: 0:00
On Time: 0:30
Off Time: 0:30
Feed Timer: A
Feed Timer Delay: 0

Notes: A power head programmed to run opposite of this one would reverse the Initial Off (0:30) and Off time (0:00)

 

References

We have not covered the pH Wizard (Calcium Reactor Setup), ORP wizard (Ozone Control), and Feeder Wizard (AFS) as their complexity and application is outside the scope of this document.

Please refer to the Apex Comprehensive Reference Manual and Automatic Feeding System documentation for assistance in configuring outlets for these applications

 

Saving Your Work

After configuring an outlet to the needed function, the configuration needs to be uploaded to your Apex.

Whenever there is work to be saved the ‘Cloud’ button on the top right will turn orange. To upload and save select the upload button in the top right hand corner of your Apex Fusion page.

 

Successfully Uploading Save

After the configuration for that outlet has successfully be uploaded to your Apex , then you will see a “Successful Update” message.

Select “Ok”

 

Output Configuration

To continue configuring your outlets select the output configuration icon and repeat the steps starting here for your other EB8 outlets.

If you do not plan on utilizing some of the outlets at this time, then label it as “NotUsed1”, “NotUsed2,” ETC.

 

Home Dashboard Icon

After the configuration of your outlets is complete, it is time to start having your controller do what it is all about- controlling your aquarium.

If not already there, go to your Apex Fusion Dashboard by selecting the dashboard icon.

 

Apex Fusion Tiles

On your dashboard you will see the different Apex Fusion tiles. The EB8 outlets now have the custom names you programmed.

They have an “Off,” “Auto,” and “On” state. Selecting “Off” or “On” will bypass the outlet’s configuration and turn it off or on immediately. To resume normal programming you must set the outlet back to “Auto”

 

Powering New Devices

When initially connecting new equipment/devices to your Energy Bar it is best practice to have these outlets power “off.”  Turn all of your Energy Bar outlets to “Manually Off.”

 

Test Control

Now plug in your aquarium equipment into their appropriately configured outlets.

Confirm that you can turn piece of equipment manually on, then back manually off. Then set the outlet to auto so it will being its normal operation.

If you find a device cannot be turned on or off, please see the FAQ

 

Set up Alerts

The Apex System cannot only control your equipment but also can alert you via an audible and/or an electronic alarm when things do not go as planned- It is your tank insurance.

To set this up, first select your account settings

 

Set up Alerts (Cont.)

Select “Notification” by clicking on the square box on the top left first and scrolling down.

 

Set Up Alerts (Cont.)

Select the plus sign in the top right hand corner.

 

Set Up Alerts (cont.)

Select an email address to enter-This is the email address where you want to receive alerts

Click “Add Recipient” again to add a SMS/text message alert. Choose your carrier, and enter your phone number (no dots or dashes)

 

Set Up Alerts (cont.)

You’ll first need to verify your alert number/address.  You’ll receive an email with a verification code and enter this.

Test to make sure that your can receive alerts at the email and SMS/test message address you entered.

Select the Gear, then select test.

You should receive the test alert within a few moments. If you do no get a text, confirm your cell/email address is correct before testing again.

 

Set Up Alerts (Cont.)

To configure the conditions that will activate an Email/SMS alarm navigate to your output configuration page and select your email alarm outlet.

 

Set Up Alerts (Cont.)

There are many possible conditions that can trigger an alert. By default you will receive an alert if temperature goes above 82 or below 75. If you wanted to receive emails regarding pH you might add:

If pH > 8.5 Then On
If pH < 7.7 Then On

Please refer to the Apex Comprehensive Reference Manual for additional alarm examples.

 

Set Up Alerts (Cont.)

To receive audible alerts select the base_Alarm or base_Warn from your outputs page. This alert can be configured exactly as your email alert.

Each of the audible alert outlets will use a different sound tone. To configure these tones on the display screen go to System> Sounds Setup> Alarm Sound/Warn Sound

 

Customizing Your Apex Fusion Unused Tray

After selecting the unlock button a new “unused tray” will open. Here you can drag and drop items to and from your dashboard.

For example, if you are not using some of your EB8 at this time, then place the those outlets into your “unused tray.”

 

Mobile First!

A word about positioning your tiles. Apex Fusion is designed to be “mobile first.” Meaning if it doesn’t work on a phone or tablet, then it doesn’t work in Apex Fusion

On your smart phone or tablet you may not have the space to display all three of these columns at once.

Therefore, they will be displayed column 1, column 2, or column 3 from top to bottom.

 

Bookmark It!

To access your Apex Fusion account on a mobile device, open your phone/tablet’s Internet browser. Navigate to www.ApexFusion.com and sign in.

After signing in, bookmark the page to your home screen, so that you have quick and easy access to your Apex Fusion account from your mobile device (iOS displayed)

 

Apex Fusion Safety Covers

You’ll notice on your mobile device/tablet that your outlets are greyed out- This is a safety feature to prevent your from inadvertently turning an outlet on/off

To remove the outlet cover simply swipe your finger left over the outlet cover. Swipe your finger right to close the outlet cover.

Use the unlock button to open/close all the outlets all at once.

 

Apex Fusion Safety Cover Settings

You can change your outlet cover settings by navigating to your account settings.

Select Display and choose your appropriate preference.