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Today on BRStv we have our seventh episode of our Neptune apex series in this episode
we are going to give a brief tour of the new cloud based fusion configuration tool.
Hi, I'm Ryan host of BRStv where each week we cover a new topic related to reefing. This
week are going to explore the new fusion interface Neptune has created. We will show you how
the new display works. Check out the new input log and graphs, do some sample outlet programing,
and checkout the new authorization tool.
This stuff is all great but I think the biggest gain is in the networking and email set up.
At the end of this demo we will show how this feature that everyone wanted but was a major
pain in the butt to set up previously is now ridiculously easy.
At its heart fusion is just a simpler, easier way to program your Apex, monitor your tank,
access the information from anywhere and set up alerts that go to your phone or email.
If you are familiar with the old browser based set up the home page to fusion won't be all
that foreign to you. Still displays your tanks temp, pH, ORP, power usage, salinity, switch
statuses, all of your outlets and profiles and the ability to trigger or cancel feed
mode.
It's super easy to change the layout of how the information is displayed. Just hit the
unlock button and drag all the items you are not using or don't need to see into the grey
area. You can also move things around based on how you want to see them once you are done
just hit the lock button again and make sure it is closed.
What's nice is the display is dynamic so it can be viewed on phones and tablets just as
easily. You can see here that it turns into a nice single column on an iPhone which is
easy to navigate. Also, it's super easy to use on an iPad.
Selecting the input log button shows you an updated graph page. While the old graph page
suited the purpose and wasn't bad. The new fusion based graphs are much more attractive
and functional. Selecting the period you want to look at is much easier by simply sliding
the bar. Expanding the range you want to look at is also as simple as grabbing one end of
the range and dragging until you have the range you are looking for. Stacking things
like pH and ORP in the same graph is also easy. Over all the graphs area is significantly
improved.
If you have programed the apex outlets using the older utility you will see it is pretty
similar here. Find the outlet you want to program and hit the small settings gear next
to it. This will open the configuration for this screen. In this case I want to make it
a heater outlet so I select heater and it gives me the appropriate options for a heater.
Setting the fallback to off means if the energy bar ever lost connection to the apex base
module it would default to off which is what we would want with a heater. We will select
the correct available probe which in this case is temp. Then select the on and off temperature
settings we want for the heater and send to apex. A progress bar is displayed and moments
later the apex has been updated. it is really impressive how quickly the system responds.
There are some available presets for lights, pumps, chillers, pH control, ORP control and
the feeder. There is also the advanced tab for those of you looking to program some more
advanced options.
There is also a nice authorization tool which allows you to give others access to your tank
which is nice if you are on vacation or away for some reason. You can set it to just allow
them to view the tank, control it, program it or even allow them to create other users
as well. They can also receive the same email or text alerts as you. This is pretty nice
because you can safely put tank monitoring in the hands of other reefers like someone
in your local reef club rather than a friend who might not know anything about aquariums
So we saved the best for last. The ability to access your tank from a mobile phone or
get email and text alerts is something everyone wants from their controller. With the previous
configuration tool this was more complex than it was worth for many people or they had issues
with getting it to work. That just isn't the case now, absolutely anyone could do this.
So you want to see your Apex from your phone, tablet or PC anywhere in the world? Well,
all you need to do is log into fusion and there it is. No more network set up BS. If
you can figure out how to enter your username and password into the log in screen you can
access your apex from anywhere in the world
Want to set up email alerts? Pretty much just as easy. Under your username, select settings,
notification and there is a list of recipients you can add to get a text message or email
any time an email alarm is triggered.
Click add recipient, email or SMS text message and your email or phone number and it is done.
You will now be notified of any issues that occur with your tank based on the alarms you
set up.
Setting up the alarms is as easy as going back to your outlets and selecting the gear
next to the outlet labeled gear alarm. By default there is one already set up that sets
off the email alarm. You could also right in some commands about PH , ORP, water level,
Leaks, really all kinds of ideas which will ultimately save your tank or home someday.
One last note is they are also introducing really cool interfaces that get away from
the complexity of setting up profiles and long threads of advanced code. Like this one
for setting up your VorTech pumps. If you have any questions about Neptune's new apex
fusion or advice for other reefers checkout the comments area down below. If this is your
first time with us hit that subscribe button because we do this every week. See ya next
week with another episode of BRStv.