Focustronic Mastertronic Vs Maven Hydros

[kathouqc]

Hi, I already have a hydros x10 with IV testing but I am looking to expend to test magnesium,PO,Nitrate and sure with the alk and calcium.

I know the Maven is not yet out, but I know the Mastertronic seem to be a realible choice more than the Maven because we don't know the pro and con and it's cost almost 200$ more than the Mastertronic.

What is your clue on this?

I am looking to make a choice

Thank

 

[kindafun]

I have a Neptune Trident and would love to have extended automated testing. I'm keeping my eye out for a good solution. As you said, we don't know about the Maven yet. Reading reviews of Focustronic Mastertronic seem to be either very positive or very negative. I'm an early adopter of about any technology, but waiting for more positives for any such testing device at a price of $1K or more.

 

[n2585722]

The Mastertronic is $1300 and I heard the Maven would be $1200. Since I already have 14 Hydros controllers in my collective I will be waiting for the Maven.

 

[David_CO]

Mastertronic essential is coming soonish I would hold out for more details on that.

 

[Jimbo327]

Between those 2, I would wait for the Maven.

 

[JeffB418]

Mastertronic is trash. Mine rusted out from the inside due to reagent fumes reacting with the metal. Even before that it was a maint nightmare.

 

[tmccaff]

I was leaning towards the Kamoer Reef Master Spa or Maven. I would never buy from Focustronic again. Customer service is trash here in USA.

 

[KenJ]

Mastertronic is riddled with problems and noise is ridiculous on both Alkatronic and Mastertronic sold the Mastertronic and just put a ticket in and was
there are no quieter pumps for this unit.
If you can find a retailer that will trade your old Unit in for the Pro then that's our suggestion.

 

[Scottiemac]

Hi, I already have a hydros x10 with IV testing but I am looking to expend to test magnesium,PO,Nitrate and sure with the alk and calcium.

I know the Maven is not yet out, but I know the Mastertronic seem to be a realible choice more than the Maven because we don't know the pro and con and it's cost almost 200$ more than the Mastertronic.

What is your clue on this?

I am looking to make a choice

Thank

As noted, the Maven is not out yet and its release is not imminent. Nobody has any idea when it will be released. The only reason they announced it was that the Neptune NP was coming out and they wanted everyone to know that Hydros was working on something.

The Mastertronic Essential is supposed to be a big improvement over the original Mastertronic. They're eliminating a few tests and concentrating on the...essentials. It also does away with the syringe method of testing and will be using a laser drop-counter, instead. Sounds cool, but we'll see.

Focustronic has terrible customer support, but one thing I'll give them is that they have more experience in the testing realm than Coralvue.

 

[JeffB418]

As noted, the Maven is not out yet and its release is not imminent. Nobody has any idea when it will be released. The only reason they announced it was that the Neptune NP was coming out and they wanted everyone to know that Hydros was working on something.

The Mastertronic Essential is supposed to be a big improvement over the original Mastertronic. They're eliminating a few tests and concentrating on the...essentials. It also does away with the syringe method of testing and will be using a laser drop-counter, instead. Sounds cool, but we'll see.

Focustronic has terrible customer support, but one thing I'll give them is that they have more experience in the testing realm than Coralvue.

You have to remember that Coralvue has distributed MANY auto testers over the years, and part of being a distributor is that you have to support the devices you sell, everything from technical/troubleshooting to actual in house repair and warranty work. In addition, they have evaluated a lot of testers that they didn't end up selling as well to see if it was worth being a distributor. They were evaluating and providing feedback in the early days to Reef Kinetics on the first reefbot, and same on the Xepta line of products. They also have extensive knowledge of many Focustronic products as well since they sold them, including the mastertronic. They also sold the KHG back in the day. As well as the Kamoer line of auto testers as well. They have touched, sold, and evaluated many devices over the years, and that experience is what they used to build on to approach the Maven design. They know where many of these devices fall short, both in the near and long term from their past history.

 

[Scottiemac]

You have to remember that Coralvue has distributed MANY auto testers over the years <snip>

I'm sure they've even taken the Neptune NP apart and looked at that. Coralvue also did a great job of evaluating the Alkatronic and creating the lower-profile iV. Yet even with that they had to make adjustments after the fact and came out with the iV pro (or whatever it's called).
There's always going to be issues when doing something for the first time.

 

[n2585722]

I'm sure they've even taken the Neptune NP apart and looked at that. Coralvue also did a great job of evaluating the Alkatronic and creating the lower-profile iV. Yet even with that they had to make adjustments after the fact and came out with the iV pro (or whatever it's called).
There's always going to be issues when doing something for the first time.

The iV Pro is just a upgraded iV. The cover now comes with it instead of being a separate purchase. I think the way the probes are held is changed, but it is still a beaker with a magnetic stirrer with holders for the pH and salinity probes and the drain, fill and reagent tubing. I guess you could make your own if you want to spend all the time to do it. The original or the pro version will work in the place of each other without changing anything other than removing the probes and tubing from the one being replace and placing them in the new one just transfer the beaker with the water and stirrer pill or pour it into the new beaker. Then disconnect the stirrer plug from the drive port and hook up the new plug instead. That should be it. I am not sure it would be worth it unless you just need to replace the original for some reason. If you don't already have one then that is the one you will get. I don't think the original is available any longer.

 

[Scottiemac]

The iV Pro is just a upgraded iV. The cover now comes with it instead of being a separate purchase. I think the way the probes are held is changed, but it is still a beaker with a magnetic stirrer with holders for the pH and salinity probes and the drain, fill and reagent tubing. I guess you could make your own if you want to spend all the time to do it. The original or the pro version will work in the place of each other without changing anything other than removing the probes and tubing from the one being replace and placing them in the new one just transfer the beaker with the water and stirrer pill or pour it into the new beaker. Then disconnect the stirrer plug from the drive port and hook up the new plug instead. That should be it. I am not sure it would be worth it unless you just need to replace the original for some reason. If you don't already have one then that is the one you will get. I don't think the original is available any longer.

Indeed, I use the iV now with Hydros. In fact, I used that right after it came out, but for some reason was getting very inconsistent results from it. Switched to the Alkatronic and that worked great until I couldn't get it to connect with Hydros anymore.
Now I'm back with the iV and it's been remarkably consistent, despite me making no changes to the original configuration. Point being, one of the updates had to have corrected something.

 

[n2585722]

Indeed, I use the iV now with Hydros. In fact, I used that right after it came out, but for some reason was getting very inconsistent results from it. Switched to the Alkatronic and that worked great until I couldn't get it to connect with Hydros anymore.
Now I'm back with the iV and it's been remarkably consistent, despite me making no changes to the original configuration. Point being, one of the updates had to have corrected something.

There is a break in period for the pumps with new tubing so that also could have been part of the issue. Also new probes tend to drift for a while also.