I hope its in the right spot.. controllers??

First let me say I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot. I have a 75gal tank that is pretty much a fish only tank. I'm getting the plains togather to set it up as a real reef tank. The question i have is like a 40590238 part one lol. I'm looking at getting a new apex aqua controller. I like what it does and all the things it can do. I really like not having to write the programing. But i'm not sure on how the wave maker part works. I thank i have to use a tunze stream for it. The big question is .. 400 for the controller.. ok i can handel that if it did it all.. but if i have to add another 400 for 2 pumps and i thank i would like 4 in my tank... then i'm not even going to bother with a controller. the only real thing i want is a wave maker and somthing to help requlate the temp of my water. turn fans on and lights off type of thing. What do you guys thank. Am i over thanking this or am i off or what. i don't have a lot of money so i want to make sure i have all my ducks in a roll before buy abunch of crap that isn't going to do the job! all feed back is welcome.. thank you for any help or ideas you may have..

 

Well I thank all you need is some power heads a lot cheaper, and a good lighting system. The lights will have fans to cool. You can pick this stuff up used on Craigslist or LFS.

 

The only wavemakers that do anything beyond just turning pumps on and off are the ones built into the Vortechs (and the Apex module), and the Tunze units (and the Apex module).

If you just want a wavemaker, pick up a pair of Vortechs. I can tell you that you don't need 4 of them in any tank haha.

Regulating the temperature of your water is something a heater can do on its own, as well. They have thermostats built in for a reason.

 

Sounds like most of what you want to can be done with good old fashioned timers. As for a wave maker, there are a few much cheaper options. I even had a power strip at one time that alternated the pumps. I think it was like $50.