Hydros Maven is Delayed
- Thread starter argiBK
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Cloud connection for most, if not all, consumer electronics that use an app is a standard requirement these days. Very little, if any, devices use built in servers or services. Legacy devices that were developed years ago before cloud connectivity was standard may still have local interfaces but that’s just left overs from how things used to be. That’s unfortunately the new standard that comes with tech. In the reefing world it’s a rare exception that a connected device doesn’t require cloud connection these days. Not what I like either but that’s where the market moved to.
I actually purchased one of those dosing pumps for my DIY AWC setup and even if I didn't get fantastic deal they are $130-$140 new. I was going to get a second one but ended up getting a slower 600 ml/min pump for $40 as it does the job.
I do think the fact that it can be slowed down to 0.1 ml/min. Not sure if I can do that with the pump if you purchase it solo but for me it's just for AWCs so I want it running 100% to drain and fill as quickly as possible.
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Their "big problem" was that they announced a product to siphon sales from two competitors, but they didn't actually have a product or even an engineered idea. They had no clue what they were getting into or how to make it work and have spent two years gaslighting to put a positive spin on that fact.
The chemistry is not novel. Automated colorimetry is not novel. They are trying to do it all with a single metering pump in a small package and appear to have bit off far more than they can chew with a reasonable R&D budget and as manufactured cost that preserves margin and any reasonable recovery of the R&D. That is why they already admitted that they consumables will be a DRMd profit center.
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Or to "scan in" your Maven consumables to enable them.
This is not necessarily true. They utilize local wifi and bluetooth. Talked with CoralVue just a couple days ago. The Maven is having some design kinks worked out and some programming is being dialed in before release. A lot of hobbyists are really pushing hard on them to churn this thing out, they are just trying to ensure it goes right on release. They dont want to represent their brand poorly with a failed device or one with poor reception. An X10 and IV Pro can be used to monitor Alk. I have just about the entire ecosystem from Hydros for my new build.
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Battlecorals
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Yeah, I feel the same way. I would be perfectly happy in fact, maybe even more happy with smaller modules for individual tests and most of those I don’t even test for myself lol. Ultimately just like an automated hanna tester I would honestly love that.
phosphate and alkalinity would get me by probably more than anything else. As well
Im happy to have any of this stuff. I remember reefing with none of it, and because of that also dont really NEED it.
But it is true, the available documentation for hydros controllers is actually very clear on that even though it doesn’t seem to even be mentioned by their marketing materials.
Even if the maven does eventually come out and prove to not be vaporware… I still don’t care, because it doesn’t meet my other requirements.
We will see. I doubt its vaporware but time will tell. Im not a fan of Aqua Illumination and decided Apex wasnt a good fit for me due to that so I went with Hydros. Seems like it will do what I need it for. I see the cloud connection is for updates to firmware. The app pulls files from the internet for this.
I like AI lights well enough, but apex is expensive for how cheap it feels build-quality wise and I’ve seen way too many people have the power bar just die to be super comfortable with that platform either
I’m working on making my own controller instead, it will be substantially more work but at least that way I can get exactly what I want
Still on the hunt for reliable auto-testing
BriDroid
I glue animals to rocks.
They released a video today talking about the launch of a controller with basically two Sole pumps on it, 4 sense ports and a drive port. Basically for AWC and a list price of $799. At the end of the video they say that the Maven is moving along in testing. The issue that they claim is the mixing of reagents since they are using a single pump, cuvette, etc for the testing. They did say they "hope" it will be out by the end of the year... We will see! At this point, I'm guessing that we are looking at well north of $1500 when all is said and released! That is my guess anyway.
areefer01
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I can only speak for my use of it, and yes. It is.
With regards to initial feedback, that is also true.
With regards to Neptune and their NP they made some firmware updates after the launch while also adding in an option to calibrate using manual test kit results. They also added in a new cleaning task for some of the higher nutrient systems. How that effects the various hobbyist who had issues I can't say.
Hanna Phosphate test takes 3 minutes to count down and give a number. Hanna's Nitrate takes 7 to give a number. Doing both from start to end (results) probably takes maybe 10 to 11 minutes of the hobbyist time. That is pretty good. Throw in maybe Alkalinity which is more or less instant you have 3 tests to help guide you. Probably cheaper than the NP.
Note: I was part of the Trident NP so have a lot more reagents through my system than most. I've seen the changes.
Note 2: not promoting the product - I feel the hobbyist needs to understand why they want the automation and what they hope to get out of it. That is why I mentioned how fast the Hanna kits are.
Had 6 AI lights, every one died before by 2 years. Melted lenses, internal wiring issues, connectivity issues and other problems. AI did not want to do warranty work, they wanted to charge me to replace faulty products instead so I passed. Id rather not burn my home down or have a tank full of photosynthetic life die because of cheap quality products. I just gave up on them and tossed them all in the trash, went out and got Kessils. Never had a problem with the Kessils.
Funny enough my cheap high bay led lights I used to use on planted tanks still work 9 years later flawlessly
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