Introducing the Hydros Maven

[BeanAnimal]

I am going to give a few opinions here, purely speculative...

1 - they have some problems and can't release "as is".

2 - it is plausible that in addressing these issues they have fallen victim to feature creep and with that comes more problems and bugs to smash.

But if we dissect that, what else can "it" do that needs more "parts"? I suppose that is either adding more tests, or adding "control" which they mentioned. But if it is more "ports' why delay this product when said "ports" could be simple and small add on modules that talk to it on the BUS?

One way or the other he used the word "months". Add months to Black Friday and you are looking at Q1 of 2025 at best.

Lastly - the "swiss army knife" thing is bothersome. Feature creep is the death of so many products, both due to delay, margin loss or price increase (choose one) or loss of focus on purpose and doing everything but nothing well.

Lastly - the allure of this for me is (assuming it is accurate and cost effective with regard to maintenance and consumables) that it is not proprietary, requiring other components of their ecosystem. I certainly hope that they don't lose site of how important this is to be able to work as a stand alone device.

 

[monkiboy]

Here is an update on Maven

MAVEN update starts @ 11:45

 

[Scottiemac]

Here is an update on Maven

Thanks - looks like that was just released an hour ago. It was an insider secret that they were targeting Black Friday. A couple of venders knew it, but I don't believe it was ever publicly announced.

I have no problem with them delaying it. David suggested four or five more months. I hope they keep us up to date on any further delays.

 

[Scottiemac]

Lastly - the allure of this for me is (assuming it is accurate and cost effective with regard to maintenance and consumables) that it is not proprietary, requiring other components of their ecosystem. I certainly hope that they don't lose site of how important this is to be able to work as a stand alone device.

This is considered a controller. All Hydros controllers are stand-alone as a single device in a collective, or they can be one of multiple controllers in a collective.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Thanks - looks like that was just released an hour ago. It was an insider secret that they were targeting Black Friday. A couple of venders knew it, but I don't believe it was ever publicly announced.

I have no problem with them delaying it. David suggested four or five more months. I hope they keep us up to date on any further delays.

Not a secret.

Everybody knew they were targeting Black Friday / Thanksgiving of 24 because they said it during the shows.

 

[BeanAnimal]

This is considered a controller. All Hydros controllers are stand-alone as a single device in a collective, or they can be one of multiple controllers in a collective.

Hi - I am aware of the current architecture but you never know what kind of changes will be made to a device that continues to undergo revisions. The point was that I hope that nothing changes in context to it being standalone, as it is now.

There is a tremendous behind the scenes battle being waged right now between these companies, healthy or not, to sequester users and lock them into proprietary ecosystems and prevent cross platform operation. It is my opinion that you are going to see some sea changes in this niche in the not so far future where at least one of them exits or partially exits this hobby as their primary focus. And that is all without the pressure from the Chinese deciding to undercut them all.

 

[Scottiemac]

Not a secret.

Everybody knew they were targeting Black Friday / Thanksgiving of 24 because they said it during the shows.

We knew it because a couple of vendors said it, but I've been keeping up on it and as far as I've seen, Coralvue never publicly said Black Friday.

 

[BeanAnimal]

We knew it because a couple of vendors said it, but I've been keeping up on it and as far as I've seen, Coralvue never publicly said Black Friday.

It was public knowledge and also posted on at least one of the pre-order carts that it would be Q4 2024... so parse it as Oct-Dec.

But does it matter?

Add 4-5 months to October 1st or November 1st or 30th or December 19th... what does it matter????

They admitted that they have tacked on months... so the new target is sometime in Q1 of 2025 at the earliest.

 

[backbayreef]

How will it be a game changer for automated water testing? There is already automated water testing using reagents with the Neptune Trident, and Trident NP. Nothing new here outside of a single unit. Hydros does not have a previous standalone solution for Alk, Ca, and Mg so Maven brings all 5 together under a single enclosure. I'm not sure that is a game changer since Kamoer Reef Master does the same thing and Neptune already had Alk, Ca, and Mg covered so it would be sort of silly to redesign and ask existing Trident users to purchase something else. Now if you are talking about a potential feature or features that is different.

Game changer could be something along the lines of using a different tech to do automated water testing and that is covered by GHL using their probe. That is obviously still being worked through as you can read here and around the web but more are getting into the hobbyist hands. Is this a game changer not sure any of them are but my point is that it is using a different tech than reagents.

Nowhere am I suggesting one is better than the other as it related to vendor or tech. That isn't my jam so stay out of it. Game changer though caught my attention as I'm not seeing it but very well could be missing it. All good and hope your day is well.

Now we’re splitting hairs - to me, game changing is when a device can test all the big 5 accurately and economically. So far, we are not there yet.

 

[Fenral]

Now we’re splitting hairs - to me, game changing is when a device can test all the big 5 accurately and economically. So far, we are not there yet.

Guess my daughter will be continuing to be my automated test unit for a while :P

 

[Scottiemac]

It was public knowledge and also posted on at least one of the pre-order carts that it would be Q4 2024... so parse it as Oct-Dec.

But does it matter?

Add 4-5 months to October 1st or November 1st or 30th or December 19th... what does it matter????

They admitted that they have tacked on months... so the new target is sometime in Q1 of 2025 at the earliest.

CoralVue told them Black Friday so they could be prepared for orders and create purchase orders, but they never announced it to the public, which would make it official. A couple of vendors went rogue and claimed it had been announced.

That said, apparently someone at Saltwater Aquarium mentioned to a customer during the summer that the Maven was at least a year away. This caused quite a stir in the community.

 

[braaap]

I have 2 Apex + Trident and 1 Hydros. I’m also looking for a Maven and I agree with some comments above. The Apex/Fusion ecosystem is very refined and the UI is polished. I don’t want to start a debate war but personally for me, I prefer the Apex better.

The Trident has flaws (ugly shape, Ca & Mg readings are not accurate, can’t test less than 4x/day, etc) but I’ve learned to live with it. Sounds like me irl but my wife learned to live with me as well (so I thought)! lol

Anyway, if the Maven lives up to its promises, I will swap out both Tridents. It’s too early to speculate but one can hope that this will be a game changer in automated water testing.

My Trident is dead accurate. It always matches my salifert and Hanna within margin of error. You can also code it to test as much or little as you want in about 10 minutes.

 

[BeanAnimal]

CoralVue told them Black Friday so they could be prepared for orders and create purchase orders, but they never announced it to the public, which would make it official. A couple of vendors went rogue and claimed it had been announced.

my goodness, none of that matters. They set a late 2024 release date and the public new about it one way or another and if if they didn’t, CV themselves just said they missed their release date.

There is nothing to debate here. The product was delayed and will show up sometime Q1 next year unless there are more delays.

That said, apparently someone at Saltwater Aquarium mentioned to a customer during the summer that the Maven was at least a year away. This caused quite a stir in the community.

And lo and behold they were more than likely correct.

None of it matters. We have been told from the horse’s mouth that it will be delayed several months and any way you slice that is Q1 2025.

 

[backbayreef]

Guess my daughter will be continuing to be my automated test unit for a while :p

Yup - my son has been testing nitrate, phosphate, copper, and ammonia for me. I hate water testing, even with Hanna!

 

[BeanAnimal]

My Trident is dead accurate. It always matches my salifert and Hanna within margin of error. You can also code it to test as much or little as you want in about 10 minutes.

My issue is several fold.

1) I don’t am not buying their controller just to run their tester.
2) my understanding is that maintenance is a nightmare.
3) if I was going to build my own controller for their hardware, I would just build my own hardware.

I am on the verge of ripping the guts out of the reefbot lab and rolling my own controller.

 

[braaap]

My issue is several fold.

1) I don’t am not buying their controller just to run their tester.
2) my understanding is that maintenance is a nightmare.
3) if I was going to build my own controller for their hardware, I would just build my own hardware.

I am on the verge of ripping the guts out of the reefbot lab and rolling my own controller.

1. I agree. But I had it when I swapped to Hydros.

2. Takes me less than 20 minutes to rebuild the pinch valve setup. It’s easy if you can color inside the lines.

3. I get it.

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

PLEASE tell me that ain’t your setup! You did that on purpose so the kids won’t muck with your system? My OCD-self will kill me. ;)

I’m pretty sure that’s a Time Machine or something lol

 

[areefer01]

Now we’re splitting hairs - to me, game changing is when a device can test all the big 5 accurately and economically.

No splitting of hairs but asking for clarity. Thanks for doing so. I don't necessarily agree but nothing to fret over. Hope your day is well.

 

[backbayreef]

My Trident is dead accurate. It always matches my salifert and Hanna within margin of error. You can also code it to test as much or little as you want in about 10 minutes.

Cool - glad to hear. I haven’t had that experience. My 2 Tridents are different from one another in the same tank and don’t match Hanna, esp calcium and magnesium. I’ve learned to just focus on alkalinity to be in range and ignore the rest. I’ve given up a long time ago — since I’m on a CaRx, if alk is good, calcium is good.

Yes, I’m aware that you can “code” the apex to cut power and only test once a day but really? Just give me that option inside the Trident’s schedule.

 

[Fenral]

PLEASE tell me that ain’t your setup! You did that on purpose so the kids won’t muck with your system? My OCD-self will kill me. ;)

Before i really respond... please see title: Village Idiot ;)

We suffered a major flood—my tank is in the basement—and I had to reroute a whole bunch of stuff to compensate quickly. Then, I tossed on the sole pumps, and ... it's pure entropy at work. I've got a lot of repairs, and the chaos is not worth fixing yet compared to the rest. Trust me, it's driving me insane, but then I have these black curtains that I just shut and enjoy my tank anyway—unless I lose my mind.

Even before the mess, the system intimidated most people who saw it (WHEN the wires were all stamped down and routed—YAY, Velcro). Hiding under that nightmare are six sole pumps, three wave engines, XP8, two x10s, 2 kraken... wires going off to X4, three xs, a launch -
and let us not forget the partridge in the pear tree.


I had to gut out 3 wave engine LEs because, just like now, even the wave engine is orange on its heat index. Below is my biggest gripe about the equipment: If you're running within the energy budget the device is capable of, it should not start overheating. The LEs would scream up to 180f and higher.