My experience with the ReefBreeders App (Android)

[Waboss]

Ok, so I promised a review of the app once I got the upgrade module installed, so here it is.

There' s already a video of installing the module in the light itself that was pretty good, so I'm not going to get in to all that (the link to it is included in the box with the module). I will however point out a couple of things that I think are important.

• Take your time and be patient. The process won't take very long, so there's no need to rush and either lose screws, or accidentally knock all the LED's off the board.
• Back to the first point, I didn't realize that all the LEDs are held in place by the bezel/plate you have to remove, but it makes sense. Anyway, it's very easy to knock of few of them off their points on the board, especially when removing and installing the module, but it's not a big deal, just put them back where they were (this part is very important) and all it is well.
• The "tape" (could be an adhesive, but mine looked more like tape) that is on the connectors is pretty sturdy, so I would suggest not trying to just yank them off, a few seconds and an x-acto knife and they were safely cut without damaging the connector and made removing them a breeze (you could just as easily use a razor blade). Now, the one in the video didn't seem to have this tape, but mine did, so maybe not all lights have it, I really don't know. Also, if you're inclined you could likely just peel it back or scrape it off.....I just opt'd to cut it.
• Did I say be patient and take your time?
• When you first connect it to WiFi, it may need to download an update or updates (mine did), so give it plenty of time to do that (I think mine took only a few minutes, but I was doing other things at the same time, so it wasn't an inconvenience for me).

Now that that's out of the way, here's my experience with the app.

While at first it looks too simple, once I messed around with it for a few minutes, I realized it actually does everything I need it to, so it's a winner for me.

Once you get your light added to the app, most things are pretty straight forward. You set your "Sunrise" and "Sunset" times (these will also be the first and last "segments" on your lighting schedule.

Set your moonlight schedule

Then work your way through setting your Deep Red, Green, Royal Blue, White, Cool Blue, and Violet schedules

Also, there's a manual override if you need the lights set a certain way for something (like taking photos). Which, I'll be honest, I didn't use. I just didn't have time this weekend to play around with it as much as I'd like. But I did get it set up for my system, so I guess that's still a win!

So, overall, I'd say it's definitely worth it to add this to the light. The main thing I didn't like in the past was the controller, and this eliminated the need for it (although it's still in a box with the original module.....just in case). The app makes it easy to configure, the light ramping works perfectly (once I realized that the sunrise/sunset times were indeed the first and last segments on my schedule (I know, it's obvious, but at least I figured it out eventually!)

Well, I hope this is useful, or at least moderately entertaining for folks. Enjoy!

 

[littlebeard]

Sweet. Can't wait to get rid of that remote.

I see it's for pre-order on the reefbreeders site, Do we know the release date? Is it only sold on their site?

 

[Reef Breeders]

Expected release date is end of this month/Early April. Pre-orders are mostly sold out, but we have more hardware on the way.