Red Sea Reef "controller" just introduced - this is huge...!

[salty150]

Red Sea Reef "controller" just introduced - this is huge...!

 

[Sean Clark]

I suppose the market will tell if there is room for yet another controller.

I was disappointed when they released their ATO and you had to use their app to use it. Having an app is fine but I think that I am not alone in thinking that an app should not be required sor something as simple as an ATO.

Hopefully they have worked the bugs out of their app.

 

[salty150]

I think this is going to be a game changer...

 

[JonoH]

Fingers crossed its much much cheaper than an Apex here in Aus - this would do everything an Apex base model can do - but they cost around 2k here in Australia.

 

[EastonsReef]

It's not Australia but they have the US prices already posted.

 

[spsick]

Run away

 

[JonoH]

It's not Australia but they have the US prices already posted.

So a LOT cheaper than an APEX

Which makes sense, as it doenst have the full capability an APEX can offer. But to me this is a more realistic price for an entry level Salinity and PH meter, which is what all these are essentially.

 

[EliMelly]

Wouldn’t buy anything Red Sea at this point.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Nope

 

[salty150]

So a LOT cheaper than an APEX

Which makes sense, as it doenst have the full capability an APEX can offer. But to me this is a more realistic price for an entry level Salinity and PH meter, which is what all these are essentially.

Did Apex ever get their salinity probes to actually work continually...?

I know their "answer" was to just take it out of their latest packages...

 

[FUNGI]

Agree Nope. No standalone GUI....looks like it forces you to use the app (which means additional thing to buy if I dont want use my phone), or am out of town and tank sitter doesn't have the app......

 

[BeanAnimal]

Will be popular, but I don’t care for their business practices or product quality. The stuff looks nice, but is cheap Chinesium under the surface.

I assume an App registration and RedSea account will be required.

Pricing looks to be the same or even more than A GHL setup within similar functionality.

 

[salty150]

This is geared more toward those who are already in, or are going to be in, the Red Sea ecosystem.

Their complete systems, pumps, lights, wave makers, filter roller, dosing system, etc.

It all works together.

That is where this thing is going to shine.

 

[rtparty]

$700 and won't give you any outlet control at that price. That is another $320 add on. No expansion available. You have to add another controller if you need another probe for some reason. Their app is absolute trash.

Sadly, these will 100% sell. Especially in stores.

Hydros just ceased to exist (or have any chance) in the international market. Red Sea will likely clean up outside of the US.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is geared more toward those who are already in, or are going to be in, the Red Sea ecosystem.

Their complete systems, pumps, lights, wave makers, filter roller, dosing system, etc.

It all works together.

That is where this thing is going to shine.

Good to know their filter roller can talk to their dosing system so neither gets lonely. lol

I’d rather pick and chose optimal devices than live in any single ecosystem.

 

[Ziggy17]

I threw the RS ATO system in the garbage. It was feast or famine. Either no top off or 4 gallons at a time. Not to mention, I switched out 4 probes in a single year (under warranty and prior to eventually going in the garbage) because their Chinese supplied probe kept malfunctioning. I can’t imagine this venture will go any differently.

 

[Ziggy17]

I think this is going to be a game changer...

Doubtful. Just another expensive piece of trash from Red Sea that won’t work reliably.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Awesome! Finally some leak detection to go along with the tanks! Oh I hope that doesn’t jinx me….. knocking on wood

 

[BeanAnimal]

I threw the RS ATO system in the garbage. It was feast or famine. Either no top off or 4 gallons at a time. Not to mention, I switched out 4 probes in a single year (under warranty and prior to eventually going in the garbage) because their Chinese supplied probe kept malfunctioning. I can’t imagine this venture will go any differently.

It is my opinion that RS products (across the entire line) are nice looking and marketed as premium quality with a premium price, when in reality they are low to mediocre quality "good enough for the average person" products. Engineered for margin, not quality. It is a volume business model optimized around acceptable failure rates and tightly controlled warranty and customer service patterns rather than overbuilt reliability and true customer service.

Example:
ReefMat motors are undersized and incur a high failure rate. Replacement motors are sold at ~$25, but likely cost $3 or less to source. Using a cheaper, weaker motor reduces unit cost and shipping weight. Warranty replacements are a controlled and an acceptable loss compared to the margin saved across total production. In reality (in any vertical) most users simply buy spares or entire new units rather than pursue warranty claims. So the poor design is actually a profit center, with some user's even seeing "parts" availability as a customer service bonus.

The model may work for some, especially those who don't know any better, or those who are enamored with popular brand names, etc. It is not their "margin" that bothers me, it is the lack of product quality and true customer care for the price that puts me off.

It is just not a company I would choose to do business with if I have other options, as I don't like the business model.

 

[Ziggy17]

It is my opinion that RS products (across the entire line) are nice looking and marketed as premium quality with a premium price, when in reality they are low to mediocre quality "good enough for the average person" products. Engineered for margin, not quality. It is a volume business model optimized around acceptable failure rates and tightly controlled warranty and customer service patterns rather than overbuilt reliability and true customer service.

Example:
ReefMat motors are undersized and incur a high failure rate. Replacement motors are sold at ~$25, but likely cost $3 or less to source. Using a cheaper, weaker motor reduces unit cost and shipping weight. Warranty replacements are a controlled and an acceptable loss compared to the margin saved across total production. In reality (in any vertical) most users simply buy spares or entire new units rather than pursue warranty claims. So the poor design is actually a profit center, with some user's even seeing "parts" availability as a customer service bonus.

The model may work for some, especially those who don't know any better, or those who are enamored with popular brand names, etc. It is not their "margin" that bothers me, it is the lack of product quality and true customer care for the price that puts me off.

It is just not a company I would choose to do business with if I have other options, as I don't like the business model.

All of the above mentioned is correct. Yet a reputable centre for advice, Reef2Reef, continues to support and promote Red Sea endeavours.