Description

Short Description:
The Neptune Systems Apex EL is the accessible entry point into the Apex ecosystem — bringing built-in WiFi, temperature and pH monitoring, and full equipment control via the free Apex Fusion cloud platform. The included EnergyBar 832 provides 8 individually monitored AC outlets plus 1LINK ports for direct DOS and WAV pump integration. Expandable with the full range of Neptune Systems modules.

Product Description:
The Neptune Systems Apex EL is the controller that puts the full power of the Apex ecosystem within reach of every serious reef keeper. Where the standard Apex packs in salinity, ORP and variable speed ports from the box, the EL focuses on what matters most for the vast majority of reef tanks — rock-solid temperature and pH monitoring, complete equipment control and cloud-based remote access — at a price that doesn’t require justification. And crucially, everything the EL omits at launch can be added later as your system grows.
Monitoring that protects your tank around the clock
The Apex EL head unit monitors temperature and pH continuously from the moment it powers on. Temperature deviation from the safe zone — caused by a heater failure, chiller malfunction or a hot summer day — triggers an immediate alert to your phone before the tank reaches a critical point. The included double-junction pH probe holds calibration longer than standard single-junction designs, reducing the frequency of recalibration and delivering more stable, consistent readings over time.
Calibrating either probe through Apex Fusion is guided step by step — the interface tells you when readings have stabilised and when to proceed, removing the guesswork from a process that confuses many first-time controller users.
EnergyBar 832 — the most capable power bar in reef keeping
The EB832 that ships with the Apex EL is not a simple timer strip. Each of its eight 120V AC outlets is individually relay-switched, independently monitored for power consumption in real time, and fitted with its own status LED. This means the Apex EL isn’t just turning equipment on and off — it’s watching how much power each device draws every moment of the day.
A return pump that stops drawing current while the outlet is on indicates a seized impeller. A skimmer whose power consumption shifts outside its normal range may have a clogged airline or a stuck pump. A heater drawing continuous full power when it should be cycling is likely stuck open and overheating. The Apex EL detects all of these conditions automatically and sends alerts to your phone — catching failures at the equipment level, not at the livestock level.
Beyond the eight AC outlets, the EB832 includes a built-in 100W 24VDC power supply feeding three 1LINK ports and two 24VDC accessory ports. This allows up to three Neptune 1LINK accessories — DOS dosing pumps and WAV circulation pumps — to connect directly to the EB832 via a single cable each, with no additional power supplies and no additional AC outlets consumed. Cable management becomes significantly cleaner as a result.
Apex Fusion — control from anywhere in the world
All monitoring, control and programming is handled through Apex Fusion, Neptune’s free cloud-based platform accessible from any browser on any device, plus the native iOS app for push notifications directly to iPhone and iPad. Firmware updates happen over WiFi with no USB cable required.
From Apex Fusion you set outlet schedules, create conditional logic (turn off the skimmer when the pH drops, reduce flow during feeding, trigger an alert if temperature hasn’t changed for 30 minutes), log manual test results, track dosing records and receive instant notifications when any parameter or device behaves unexpectedly — all from your phone while away from home.
The configuration wizard walks new users through setup in five steps, making the Apex EL approachable without requiring any programming knowledge.
Expandable to match the full Apex ecosystem
The Apex EL lacks salinity and ORP monitoring compared to the standard Apex — but both are simple additions. A Neptune PM2 module adds conductivity/salinity monitoring, a PM3 adds dissolved oxygen, and additional probe modules can extend monitoring as far as the system needs. All existing Apex modules, energy bars and accessories are fully compatible with the EL head unit.
The three AquaHub connections on the EB832 allow expansion to virtually any current or future Neptune module, making the EL a long-term investment rather than a stepping stone that needs to be replaced as the system grows.
Who the Apex EL is for
It’s the right choice for reefers who want the reliability and ecosystem breadth of the Apex platform without paying for salinity and ORP monitoring they don’t yet need. It’s also the natural companion for anyone already running Neptune DOS dosing pumps — the 1LINK integration makes the pairing seamless, with the DOS appearing directly in Apex Fusion alongside all other equipment.
Specifications:

Monitoring: Temperature + pH (out of box)
Expandable monitoring: Salinity, ORP, dissolved O2, flow (via modules)
Connectivity: Built-in WiFi + optional wired
Outlets: 8× individually controlled and monitored AC outlets (EB832)
DC ports: 2× 24VDC accessory ports + 3× 1LINK ports (EB832)
DC power supply: 100W built-in (EB832)
AquaHub connections: 3 (for module expansion)
Head unit dimensions: 4.75″ L × 5.25″ H × 3.25″ W
EnergyBar 832 dimensions: 10″ L × 6.5″ H × 2.25″ W
Platform: Apex Fusion (free, cloud-based, iOS app available)

In the box: Apex EL head unit, EnergyBar 832, temperature probe, double-junction pH probe, 6ft AquaBus cable, 7.0 and 10.0 pH calibration solution packets