Neptune A3 Apex Pro Aquarium Controller System

Neptune A3 Apex Pro Aquarium Controller System

The Neptune A3 Apex Pro Aquarium Controller System is a complete aquarium controller for monitoring and automating temperature, pH, ORP and water level, with alerts and remote access over WiFi through the Apex Fusion Cloud interface. It is built for serious hobbyists who want one control hub for their tank, sump, ATO reservoir and equipment, with power monitoring on every outlet.

Key Benefits

• Monitors temperature, ORP and pH continuously with the lab-grade, double-junction probes supplied in the bundle.
• Tracks water-level depth with the new LLS Liquid Level Sensor, which measures the exact depth of a liquid rather than just whether it is present or absent.
• Detects leaks with the new LD-3 Optical Multi-Surface Leak Sensor, which is reusable after contact with water.
• Sends alerts to your smartphone when something goes wrong, so you can take corrective action sooner.
• Lets you set reminders and log testing and dosing information, and check your aquarium from anywhere.
• Includes four FMM ports for fluid monitoring sensors, so no separate module purchase is needed.
• Has a soft-touch finish and a new built-in audible alarm on the base unit.
• Works with your existing Apex modules, head units, energy bars and other accessories.

The Apex Fusion Cloud Interface

Built-in WiFi connects the controller to Apex Fusion, a free web-based interface. From there you can calibrate probes, customise outlets and monitor or control your Apex from a computer, tablet or smartphone running Windows, OSX, iOS or Android. Fusion has a drag-and-drop dashboard, so you can place control switches, graphs, video tiles and more where you want them and focus on the readings that matter to your system.

Because Fusion runs in a browser, there are no app updates to keep on top of and no drivers to install. Each time you open it you are running the current version of the software. Setup and configuration follow a guided user interface.

How to Use

• Connect the base unit to your network over WiFi or Ethernet, then open Apex Fusion and follow the guided setup.
• Fit the supplied temperature, pH and ORP probes, then calibrate them from the app dashboard. The dashboard recognises when your readings have stabilised and tells you when to move to the next step, so there is no guesswork and no reading of raw data. The bundle includes pH 7 and pH 10 calibration solutions.
• Because the double-junction pH and ORP probes hold stable readings, they do not need to be calibrated as often.
• Place the LLS Liquid Level Sensor in a sump, ATO reservoir, all-in-one tank, dosing container or mixing station. Readings appear in the app as digital values and animated visual readouts in inches and centimetres, so you can follow the level over time.
• Set the Apex to send an alert or take action when the liquid level changes by an amount you choose.
• Place the LD-3 leak sensor on the surface you want to protect. It works on any surface material, including metal and epoxied cement.
• Plug your equipment into the Energy Bar and set high and low power limits for each outlet. The Apex can then notify you when a device is not drawing power, or draws a different amount than normal.

Power Monitoring with the Energy Bar 632

The bundled Energy Bar 632 was designed from scratch for this generation of Apex. It has six 240V AC outputs and an internal 100W 24VDC power supply, which feeds three built-in 1LINK ports and two 24VDC accessory ports. Each outlet has independent power monitoring and its own LED. The LED shows when the outlet is powered and flashes if there is an overload.

The Apex receives continuous power-consumption data, so it can tell you when a pump, skimmer, UV device or other equipment is not working properly. A return pump showing no power draw is one example. A skimmer with a clogged airline is another, because its consumption differs from normal. The high and low limits can be customised for each outlet. The Energy Bar 632 also meets CE safety standards.

• 11 power connections in total for your aquarium devices.
• 6 x 240V AC outlets, all switched with relays rated for millions of cycles.
• 3 x 1LINK 24VDC smart outlets for devices such as the WAV and DOS.
• 2 x switchable 24VDC outlets for accessories such as small pumps, solenoids and fans.
• Built-in 100W 24VDC power supply.
• Individual outlet current monitoring, with specialised software to help optimise control and use less power.

Connecting additional Neptune accessories such as the DOS and WAV pump directly to the Energy Bar saves room and cuts down on messy cords around the aquarium.

Regional note from the manufacturer: the EnergyBar 832 is for North America (USA, Canada and parts of Mexico) and other locales with 120VAC 60Hz electrical service. It has eight individually monitored outlets, each with its own LED status display, plus three built-in 1LINK ports and two 24VDC accessory ports, and is described as the only UL-certified power bar approved for aquarium applications. For regions using 230VAC 50Hz power, Apex systems are bundled with a region-specific EnergyBar 6 with 6 outlets (UK, EU, AU or Schuko). The manufacturer notes that EnergyBar 6 models do not include the EB832's per-outlet power monitoring, 1LINK or DC24 ports, or per-outlet indicator LEDs.

The A3 Apex Pro Base Unit

The A3 Apex Pro is the most complete and comprehensive monitoring system in the Neptune range. It covers key parameters such as temperature and ORP, water-level depth and individual equipment power monitoring in one unit.

LLS Liquid Level Sensor

Most liquid level sensors only detect liquid at a fixed height. The LLS is one continuous vertical sensor that reports the exact depth of a liquid in inches and centimetres at any moment. That finer measurement can help you spot changes in evaporation, consumption and dosing levels in sumps, ATO reservoirs, AIO tanks, dosing containers, mixing stations and more.

LD-3 Optical Multi-Surface Leak Sensor

The LD-3 improves on the analog LD-2 Solid Surface Leak Detection Probe by using optical sensing instead of conductive strips.

• Reusable and corrosion-resistant: the LD-3 can be reused after contact with water. Its epoxy-coated optical sensors keep detecting leaks after repeated contact with saltwater, with no risk of corrosion, whereas the LD-2's conductive strips are prone to saltwater corrosion.
• Multi-surface use without false alarms: conductive strips can sometimes false-alarm on metallic surfaces. The optical LD-3 can be used on any surface material, including metal and epoxied cement, without that risk.

Lab-Grade, Double-Junction Probes

The Apex Pro includes quality probes for temperature, pH and ORP. Calibration runs through the app dashboard, and the double-junction pH and ORP probes help your readings stay stable between calibrations.

Suitable For

• Aquarists who want full monitoring and control of tank parameters and equipment from a single system.
• Sumps, ATO reservoirs, all-in-one tanks, dosing containers and mixing stations, using the Liquid Level Sensor.
• Setups where leaks near the aquarium could be a risk, including metal and epoxied cement surfaces.
• Hobbyists who want to be alerted on a smartphone and check on their tank from anywhere.

Compatibility

• Backwards compatible: older Apex modules, head units, energy bars and other Apex accessories work with the new controller.
• The Energy Bar 632 is compatible with the ApexEL Entry Level Kit and the Apex Lab Grade Kit.
• The 1LINK ports suit devices such as the WAV and DOS.
• Apex Fusion works on Windows, OSX, iOS and Android, on computers, tablets and smartphones.
• The base unit connects over both WiFi and Ethernet.

Specifications

• Base unit ports: 4 FMM ports, 2 Aquabus ports, 2 pH/ORP probe ports, 1 salinity probe port (salinity probe sold separately) and 1 temperature probe port.
• 4-channel 0-10V variable output.
• 6-switch digital input.
• Connectivity: WiFi and Ethernet.
• Finish and alarm: soft-touch finish with a built-in audible alarm.
• Head unit dimensions: 12.1 cm L x 13.3 cm H x 8.3 cm W (4.75" L x 5.25" H x 3.25" W).
• Energy Bar 832 dimensions: 25.4 cm L x 16.5 cm H x 5.7 cm W (10" L x 6.5" H x 2.25" W).
• Energy Bar 632: six 240V AC outputs, 100W 24VDC internal power supply, three 1LINK ports and two 24VDC accessory ports.
• LLS Liquid Level Sensor length: 38 cm (15").
• Aquabus cable length: 1.8 m (6').

What's Included

• 1 x A3 Apex Pro Base Unit
• 1 x Energy Bar 632
• 1 x Temperature Probe
• 1 x pH Probe
• 1 x ORP Probe
• 1 x 38 cm (15") LLS Liquid Level Sensor
• 1 x LD-3 Optical Multi-Surface Leak Sensor
• 1 x 1.8 m (6') Aquabus Cable
• Calibration solutions (pH 7 and pH 10)
• Mounting screws
• Getting Started card

Not included: Apex Display Module, smartphone and tablet. The salinity probe is sold separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Apex Pro come with a salinity probe?
No. The base unit has a salinity probe port, but the salinity probe is sold separately. Temperature, pH and ORP probes are included.

Do I need to buy a separate module for fluid sensors?
No. The Apex Pro has four FMM ports for connecting fluid monitoring sensors, so no separate module purchase is needed.

What is the difference between the LLS and a standard float-style level sensor?
Standard sensors detect liquid only at a preset height. The LLS is one continuous vertical sensor that reports the exact depth in inches and centimetres, so you can track gradual changes in evaporation, consumption and dosing levels.

Can the LD-3 leak sensor be reused after getting wet?
Yes. The LD-3 uses epoxy-coated optical sensors and can be reused after contact with water. The manufacturer states there is no corrosion risk after repeated saltwater contact, and it can be used on any surface type, including metal and epoxied cement.

Which power bar comes in this bundle, and what mains does it use?
The bundle includes the Energy Bar 632, with six 240V AC outputs, a built-in 100W 24VDC supply and CE safety compliance. The EnergyBar 832 is intended for regions with 120VAC 60Hz power.

Will my older Apex accessories still work?
Yes. The manufacturer states that older Apex modules, head units, energy bars and other accessories are backwards compatible with the new controller.