(Bio)³

I guess im getting at, why should I go buy a timer to use for 6 months then once the contest is over hook my light into the apex. Now I'm left with a 6 month old timer that I never really needed.

I thought this was the point of the contest. To be able to maintain a small system without relying on high dollar equipment and really testing your husbandry and reef keeping abilities. There are tons of people who cant afford a apex and can keep a system just fine. If you cant afford what you need, you shouldnt be joining the contest anyway. No offense. Im not trying to argue at all and I hope I dont ruffle any feathers but I thought this was the whole point of the contest. Your missing my point, I want to use one outlet as a timer and deduct the cost if a timer from my budget. I'm not using the whole apex just an outlet and taking the appropriate budget hit

i would think so, because there wouldn't be any electrical connection between the two bodies of water. could be wrong though, just a guess. Led light fell in my sump and shocked the dt the current went throw my return water and overflow water...

I'll take one. I can PayPal you in advance or cash on pick up like always.

Also timers at biglots are 3-4 bucks. Easy to fit on the budget when we leave or get home way after lights should be on or off.... I don't want to constantly have an uneven light time on such a small tank. The fish don't need the stress and algae needs to be controlled. Would hate to lose critters due to light being on to long and cooking the tank or growing algae... This could just be cosy defend safety if the tank and we shouldn't loose anything lol!!

If I use it for a timer ill take timer budget off. I don't think the whole price should be counted because I'm not using the whole thing. No ph pen, mp10 control no auto feeder no dimming no auto water change if I use a 5 dollar timer or 500 dollar apex I'm still just turning my light on an off, why's it matter if my apex does if it not? I'm still losing budget money but not having to spend more real money. If I have to go buy cheap parts and waste real money to do the same thing I can already do ill have to rethink doing the contest. I'm on a budget can't waste money rebuying equip.

You should have to budget for timers. That is part of this being a independent system and not fair for the people having to budget for it. I'm fine with that ill budget a timer and use my apex to do it that's fair right? I still take the budget hit but I want all my tanks on the apex.

so what happens if the pico light and such are hooked to my apex for timers and everything? I was going to use it to run my ato also.

Lol shoulda joined our groupbuy we fit to order in bf and get free ship!

coral is part of livestock I thought. $150 tank $150 equip $150 livestock(coral/fish/cuc)

while this does allow more items into the apex. It doesnt solve that I have to program more parts and put more points of failure into my system. Something I'm not fond of doing when I paid a pretty penny for the apex, rather save more ports and control it all by dimming signal. Call me stubborn but I have it already in a DIY form so I want it in manufactured form also.

going to 0 doesnt go to 100% going to 0 goes to 10% unplugging the signal wire from apex takes it back to 100%

go crazy like me and splice in a meanwell if it really bugs you. its what I might do to my BML fixture. Then I plan to try and buy just the light for my next ones if they will sell me it without the drivers

Ya don't just get a dimmer cause you'll still need to unplug or put an outlet on a timer. I'd get an apex, but still not find of losing my outlet.

Correct. It's not like our meanwells. They were looking into it to find a solution, dunno if they had one or not.

I'd use an Apex with a EB8 you can dim both tanks, and hook up the power cords ffor the BML fixture, and then have 6 more ports to control for more automation in the tank.

I know the feeling..... The restart will be more fun this time anyways with that new tank!

Cant we just be simple and have separate containers? Not saying you would do this but.... say you buy a 10 gallon tank and section it off to hold ATO water. turns out when you sectioned it you scootched it back a bit, giving yourself 6 gallon DT or 5.5 gallons DT. I say stick with separate containers so you can prove the size on each one.

tank capacity is 5 gallon,s sump capacity is 1/2 of DT. I don't think you can take a 6 gallon tank and make it AIO but I dunno, perhaps you can could the AIo area as "sump" and get by? I figured sump had to be another vessel all together and the AIO couldn't be more than 5 gal.

My girlfriend LOVES her eheim aquastyles 4. I cant wiat for the contest to start to get it wet!!!

I do plan to use bacteria to cycle the tank... I got a FREE sample from seachem rep the other day. Since mine was free I'd like to see no one lose budget $$$ over buying bacteria... keep it fair and fish happy!