Connecting your Apex to your network is an easy process, and this article will walk you step by step to get you connected both wirelessly and with a wired connection. **Pro Tip - We recommend the redundancy of using both types of connection to ensure your Apex stays continuously connected.

If you have not yet mounted your Apex, it's best to start with that step before moving to the network connection.

Wired Connection

We'll begin by setting up your Apex on a wired connection to your network. This is the preferred type of connection because a wired connection is more secure and less likely to experience any interruptions. Since your Apex is typically controlling many of the life support systems of your reef tank (e.g. lighting, flow, ATO, heater, etc.), it's important to make sure your connection to your network is as stable as possible.

Connect Your Apex to Your Router

The first step is to connect your Apex to the router. Your Apex should already be on with a cable connecting the aquabus port on the base unit to the EB832.

On the back of your Apex base unit, locate the ethernet port (see image below), and connect your ethernet cable to the base unit. Then, connect the ethernet cable to one of the auxiliary ports on your router. As you make this connection, you will see the status light on your base unit change from blue to orange indicating that it is connected to the network.

Sign Into Your Apex Local Dashboard

Congratulations! Your Apex is now connected to your network. You can sign into the Apex Local dashboard at Apex.local via an internet browser connected to that same network. When logging in for the first time, your username and password will be:

• Username: admin
• Password: 1234

When you log into your dashboard, you will notice that the dashboard is divided into 3 columns of information. These columns will provide you with the readouts from the probes and sensors monitoring your tank (once you get them set up) as well as the control panels for manipulating your equipment through the Apex controller.

Wireless Connection

The ability to connect wirelessly to your network without the need for an additional module is one of the upgrades that Neptune has added to the newest Apex system.

Verify That Apex is in Wi-Fi Setup Mode

Start by disconnecting the ethernet cable from your Apex base unit. When you do this, you will see the status indicator light on the base unit (the Neptune logo) change from orange to blue indicating that it is in Wi-Fi Setup mode.

Connect to The Apex Wirelessly

On your computer, find and select the Apex Hotspot in your Wi-Fi networks. Your Apex Hotspot will be "Apex Setup_***" (with *** being whatever your Apex serial number is).

Then visit any of the following links to access the Apex wirelessly:

• https://apex.local/
• https://apex/
• https://172.16.0.1/

Set Up Your Apex on Your Wireless Network

The above links will open up a page with a selection of available wireless networks.

From this list, select your wireless network name.

You will then be prompted to enter your wireless network's password and click the "connect" button.

You will see the screen below while your Apex connects to your network. This process takes a few minutes, and you will notice the Apex base unit's status indicator light cycles through various colors (off -> green -> purple -> green -> orange) during this process.

After the status indicator light returns to solid orange, double-check to be sure that your computer is now connected once again to your normal wireless network (NOT the Apex Hotspot). If you happen to be redirected to a "Connect Your Apex to Fusion" page, click skip or proceed with Fusion connection should you wish to do so. Otherwise, open a new browser window and log into Apex Local again.

Apex Local is the classic interface for connecting and programming your Apex in network. Fusion is their Cloud-based software that allows connection with your Apex from any internet browser. Before accessing Fusion, you must create an account and link your Apex to that Fusion account but only AFTER you have connected the Apex to the internet outlined here. Fusion unlocks a variety of control features and functionality not available via the local interface and is highly recommended for all Apex users. 

Reconnect Your Ethernet Wired Connection to Your Apex

At the beginning of the wireless setup process, we disconnected your Apex from the wired network by removing the ethernet cable from the base unit. You will now need to reconnect the wired connection by reconnecting that cable. Congratulations! Your Apex has now connected to your network with both wired and wireless connections!