Reef Breeders Bricked

[FishLvR]

Got a new phone thought nothing of it. Tried to use old app and it wont allow me to sign in stating there is no internet connection. Downloaded new app. Trying to connect. Keep getting certificate transfer error. All lights now stuck on full blast no cycle. I dont see any documentation on this particular issue. Anyone help me with this? Lights are out of the budget at the moment but if I cant get this sorted these two will be up for sale. I swear if its not one thing its another.

 

[KrisReef]

Bumping for the cure.

I’m very sympathetic to your electronic software lockout challenge. I’m not a fan of the planned obsolescence that comes with so much of everything that is sold that is new and better for a week or two.

 

[FishLvR]

Bumping for the cure.

I’m very sympathetic to your electronic software lockout challenge. I’m not a fan of the planned obsolescence that comes with so much of everything that is sold that is new and better for a week or two.

I think I can still use the old app if i get my old phone back. Its currently an hour away at work. So in the meantime I unplugged them. This is very very annoying at this price point. These kights a couple years old but were not cheap.

I looked online to see what lights are out there now. Nothing. Just same made in china junk. Nobody is doing t5 anymore?

 

[KrisReef]

I think I can still use the old app if i get my old phone back. Its currently an hour away at work. So in the meantime I unplugged them. This is very very annoying at this price point. These kights a couple years old but were not cheap.

I looked online to see what lights are out there now. Nothing. Just same made in china junk. Nobody is doing t5 anymore?

I retired Juneteenth this year and I had to get a new phone to stay in touch, and for a month I was not going to get this phone but I had to have one to get signed up for retirement and healthcare, otherwise I would’ve been locked out.

I dread the day when I lose this phone with all my passwords and phone numbers and the control app for the Kamoer dosing pump that runs the Calcium reactor. The old one had a knob on the face but the new one ( recently purchased when the original one died) runs on the cloud. It’s neat to adjust 14.2 revolutions/min but what happens when the phone dies or the app crashes? Give me my hand dial control back, it can be used without having to remember where I set the phone down at!

 

[exnisstech]

Have you reached our to reefbreeders for help? I've read of this. I'm pretty sure there is a fix for this but don't remember exactly what it was.

 

[Kazumi]

There is a thread on here from a few weeks ago with this problem. I think you have to reset the lights, but I don't actually remember what fixed their light.

 

[FishLvR]

There is a thread on here from a few weeks ago with this problem. I think you have to reset the lights, but I don't actually remember what fixed their light.

I searched here first and could not find any threads. I tried resetting. Pushing the button eight times. All that accomplished was putting the lights on full blast. When one didnt work I tried the other. So now I really dont have any lights. We are off for the holiday so I wasnt going to drive into town but I have too now to get my old phone to see if i can use the old app. What a mess. I didnt forsee this.

I did reach out but its a holiday week so I thought I would try here.

 

[Kazumi]

I think this is the thread I was thinking about. It's not exactly your problem, but might work post #8https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reefbreeders-app.1134695/

 

[FishLvR]

I think this is the thread I was thinking about. It's not exactly your problem, but might work post #8https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reefbreeders-app.1134695/

Yes I did all this. No luck. Got a reply from Reefbreeders. I was chastised for not changing over to the new app. It was short and frankly I took it as rude. I think we were moving to the new house and starting the new business. I think I wrote a thread here asking how to do the change over but then totally forgot about it since at that time it wasn't working. I do have the old app on my old phone so I think I will be good for now. Given that email though. Sheesh. I really do bring out the best in people.

The light is responding how it should. It does what the directions say it should. I just keep getting this certification error. So I reset both lights and now have no control over them and the same error. This is unfortunate. Hoping the old app will give me back control.

 

[Reef Breeders]

Got a new phone thought nothing of it. Tried to use old app and it wont allow me to sign in stating there is no internet connection. Downloaded new app. Trying to connect. Keep getting certificate transfer error. All lights now stuck on full blast no cycle. I dont see any documentation on this particular issue. Anyone help me with this? Lights are out of the budget at the moment but if I cant get this sorted these two will be up for sale. I swear if its not one thing its another.

I want to clear up the situation for anyone who may be confused, because this only affects Photons that were still running on the old app. Anyone who already moved to the new app is not affected.

The new app has been available for about 2 years, and during that time we continued supporting both apps so everyone had plenty of time to switch over at their own pace. We kept the old app active for far longer than originally planned so nobody felt rushed. We recently made the decision to retire the old app, since keeping two platforms running forever is not sustainable.

To prepare for the shutdown, we sent multiple emails over the course of 2 months to every single user who was still connected to the old app. These emails explained that the old app would be removed and encouraged everyone to move to the new platform ahead of time. Even after the October 31 deadline, we kept the old app active for about 3 additional weeks as a grace period to give everyone more time.

There are always situations where someone may not receive an email for reasons beyond their control. Email filters, junk folders, old account addresses, and other factors can cause messages to be missed. We understand that this happens, and none of this is meant to place blame on anyone. What matters is that we sent the notices to every account still on the old app, and we did everything we could on our end to reach people.

While the old app was still online, switching over was fast and simple. Once the old app was removed, the certificate stored within that app became inaccessible. That certificate is what allowed the Photon to move to the new platform. Anyone who switched during the transition window is fully set up on the new app. The only people seeing issues now are those who were still on the old app after it was retired.

To support these users, we are offering the replacement app board for $30 plus shipping, even though the regular price is $175. This allows people to get onto the new platform quickly without taking on the full cost of a new board, and it helps us offset part of the expense of supplying new hardware.

For anyone who does not want to install the replacement board, we are also working on a way to migrate the light on the back end. That will also cost 30 dollars once it’s ready. That fee helps cover the development work involved, since this is not a simple process. This option is not guaranteed until it is fully tested, and we can only offer it once we know it works reliably. For now, the replacement board remains the fastest and most dependable way to move the light to the new app.

This is not a widespread problem, and it is not an issue with the Photon itself. It only affects units that were still using the old app after the transition period ended. We communicated the change clearly, we kept the old app active for an extended period, and now we are doing everything reasonable to help the small group of users who missed the window.

If anyone has questions, I am here to help in any way I can.

 

[FishLvR]

Got a new phone thought nothing of it. Tried to use old app and it wont allow me to sign in stating there is no internet connection. Downloaded new app. Trying to connect. Keep getting certificate transfer error. All lights now stuck on full blast no cycle. I dont see any documentation on this particular issue. Anyone help me with this? Lights are out of the budget at the moment but if I cant get this sorted these two will be up for sale. I swear if its not one thing its another.

I want to clear up the situation for anyone who may be confused, because this only affects Photons that were still running on the old app. Anyone who already moved to the new app is not affected.

The new app has been available for about 2 years, and during that time we continued supporting both apps so everyone had plenty of time to switch over at their own pace. We kept the old app active for far longer than originally planned so nobody felt rushed. We recently made the decision to retire the old app, since keeping two platforms running forever is not sustainable.

To prepare for the shutdown, we sent multiple emails over the course of 2 months to every single user who was still connected to the old app. These emails explained that the old app would be removed and encouraged everyone to move to the new platform ahead of time. Even after the October 31 deadline, we kept the old app active for about 3 additional weeks as a grace period to give everyone more time.

There are always situations where someone may not receive an email for reasons beyond their control. Email filters, junk folders, old account addresses, and other factors can cause messages to be missed. We understand that this happens, and none of this is meant to place blame on anyone. What matters is that we sent the notices to every account still on the old app, and we did everything we could on our end to reach people.

While the old app was still online, switching over was fast and simple. Once the old app was removed, the certificate stored within that app became inaccessible. That certificate is what allowed the Photon to move to the new platform. Anyone who switched during the transition window is fully set up on the new app. The only people seeing issues now are those who were still on the old app after it was retired.

To support these users, we are offering the replacement app board for $30 plus shipping, even though the regular price is $175. This allows people to get onto the new platform quickly without taking on the full cost of a new board, and it helps us offset part of the expense of supplying new hardware.

For anyone who does not want to install the replacement board, we are also working on a way to migrate the light on the back end. That will also cost 30 dollars once it’s ready. That fee helps cover the development work involved, since this is not a simple process. This option is not guaranteed until it is fully tested, and we can only offer it once we know it works reliably. For now, the replacement board remains the fastest and most dependable way to move the light to the new app.

This is not a widespread problem, and it is not an issue with the Photon itself. It only affects units that were still using the old app after the transition period ended. We communicated the change clearly, we kept the old app active for an extended period, and now we are doing everything reasonable to help the small group of users who missed the window.

If anyone has questions, I am here to help in any way I can.

First off this could have been a response to my email instead of the short rude repsonse I didnt deserve. Yes you were rude. Secondly, Im thinking the email was sent to another email I dont have any longer (yahoo). Lastly one of these lights is only one year old. Sure the 2022 light might need a new board but the one I bought last Feb? So the light is bricked because of an app? Oh lawrd. I just cant catch a break. Seems to be a bad design.

All you had to write is hey here is the fix this is what it costs to fix. Nope. Im very disappointed. Im so freaking done with this hobby. Fix one issue then get boned somewhere else.

 

[Reef Breeders]

First off this could have been a response to my email instead of the short rude repsonse I didnt deserve. Yes you were rude. Secondly, Im thinking the email was sent to another email I dont have any longer (yahoo). Lastly one of these lights is only one year old. Sure the 2022 light might need a new board but the one I bought last Feb? So the light is bricked because of an app? Oh lawrd. I just cant catch a break. Seems to be a bad design.

All you had to write is hey here is the fix this is what it costs to fix. Nope. Im very disappointed. Im so freaking done with this hobby. Fix one issue then get boned somewhere else.

I am not trying to be confrontational, but I am confident that nothing rude was said in our conversation. If you would like me to post the screenshots of our full email thread so everything is completely clear and transparent, I am happy to do that. Just let me know.

Just to clarify the technical side for anyone reading. When an app board is first set up, it assigns itself to whichever app the user chooses during that initial setup. This happens no matter when the light was purchased. Whether a Photon was bought two months ago or two years ago, once the board pairs to either the old app or the new app, it stays on that platform unless a migration is done. It cannot switch back and forth on its own.

A manual migration is required to move from the old app to the new app. We posted the migration instructions almost two years ago when the new app first launched, so anyone who was still on the old app had the ability to switch over at any time before the old platform was retired.

Now that the old app has been fully removed, any replacement board purchased today will only connect to the new app. There is no longer any option for a board to attach to the old platform, because that app does not exist anymore. This means new boards will automatically be on the correct platform with no concern about switching.

For context, the old app was not owned by ReefBreeders. We were simply paying for access to that platform. The new app is owned by us directly, which is important for long-term stability and security. When we do not own the app, we have no control over what happens with it. Owning the new app allows us to ensure it is supported, maintained, and updated for our users in the future.

Regarding the emails, we sent every notice to the exact email address that was registered in the app for each account. That is the only information we have access to. If someone changed their personal email later but did not update the email inside the app, we would have no way of knowing that. We can only send notices to the email that is actively being used as the login for the app. Nothing more and nothing less.

My intention is not to argue with anyone. I only want the information to be clear so people understand how the system works and why certain steps were needed. I am here to help however I can.

 

[FishLvR]

First off this could have been a response to my email instead of the short rude repsonse I didnt deserve. Yes you were rude. Secondly, Im thinking the email was sent to another email I dont have any longer (yahoo). Lastly one of these lights is only one year old. Sure the 2022 light might need a new board but the one I bought last Feb? So the light is bricked because of an app? Oh lawrd. I just cant catch a break. Seems to be a bad design.

All you had to write is hey here is the fix this is what it costs to fix. Nope. Im very disappointed. Im so freaking done with this hobby. Fix one issue then get boned somewhere else.

I am not trying to be confrontational, but I am confident that nothing rude was said in our conversation. If you would like me to post the screenshots of our full email thread so everything is completely clear and transparent, I am happy to do that. Just let me know.

Just to clarify the technical side for anyone reading. When an app board is first set up, it assigns itself to whichever app the user chooses during that initial setup. This happens no matter when the light was purchased. Whether a Photon was bought two months ago or two years ago, once the board pairs to either the old app or the new app, it stays on that platform unless a migration is done. It cannot switch back and forth on its own.

A manual migration is required to move from the old app to the new app. We posted the migration instructions almost two years ago when the new app first launched, so anyone who was still on the old app had the ability to switch over at any time before the old platform was retired.

Now that the old app has been fully removed, any replacement board purchased today will only connect to the new app. There is no longer any option for a board to attach to the old platform, because that app does not exist anymore. This means new boards will automatically be on the correct platform with no concern about switching.

For context, the old app was not owned by ReefBreeders. We were simply paying for access to that platform. The new app is owned by us directly, which is important for long-term stability and security. When we do not own the app, we have no control over what happens with it. Owning the new app allows us to ensure it is supported, maintained, and updated for our users in the future.

Regarding the emails, we sent every notice to the exact email address that was registered in the app for each account. That is the only information we have access to. If someone changed their personal email later but did not update the email inside the app, we would have no way of knowing that. We can only send notices to the email that is actively being used as the login for the app. Nothing more and nothing less.

My intention is not to argue with anyone. I only want the information to be clear so people understand how the system works and why certain steps were needed. I am here to help however I can.

Instead of helping me you were curt. I told you the error i was getting and all you wrote was "we sent emails". No help at all.

So I am sorry if i am coming off a little terse.

I have never heard of a light being bricked over an app. I never even thought that would be a thing. I'm glad I'm an isolated case. Because this really sucks. Not having working lights because of an app. Madness.

 

[NanoSteam]

The obsession with everything requiring an app to use these days is absurd. Why on earth does my Christmas tree need an app just so I can control the lights, it's insane, half the apps on my phone are to control physical things in my home. If a company goes out of business what happens? The physical thing you paid a lot of money for is suddenly useless I suppose.

There was a video on this topic I saw not to long ago where an individual purchased a dishwasher but can't use some of the features without downloading an app.

Hopefully ReefBreeders will be able to sort this out for you.

 

[FishLvR]

No here is the fix, it will cost this, nothing. Just we sent the email stoopid.

Liam, what do i do now? Put yourself in the customers shoes for a second. You have to understand this puts me in a bad spot. I need lights ok? You want more money fine, email me who I send the money to. Because what is my recourse? You bricked them and I have no lights until I fix or buy new.

Yes that was my old yahoo email I havnt had access to if you are using log in emails. I did start a thread here about the new app and didn't get a response however I didnt tag you. I should have.

I'm just so frustrated and your email didnt help.

 

[FishLvR]

The obsession with everything requiring an app to use these days is absurd. Why on earth does my Christmas tree need an app just so I can control the lights, it's insane, half the apps on my phone are to control physical things in my home. If a company goes out of business what happens? The physical thing you paid a lot of money for is suddenly useless I suppose.

There was a video on this topic I saw not to long ago where an individual purchased a dishwasher but can't use some of the features without downloading an app.

Hopefully ReefBreeders will be able to sort this out for you.

Liams answer is above. Send more money. $30 per pight I guess? Could have emailed me.

 

[NanoSteam]

Liams answer is above. Send more money. $30 per pight I guess? Could have emailed me.

I just saw that

 

[FishLvR]

Liams answer is above. Send more money. $30 per pight I guess? Could have emailed me.

I just saw that

I feel sort of old. I'm without one light. I got the newer one to work sort of. Its stuck on 50%. I'm so dang frustrated.

 

[Reef Breeders]

Instead of helping me you were curt. I told you the error i was getting and all you wrote was "we sent emails". No help at all.

So I am sorry if i am coming off a little terse.

I have never heard of a light being bricked over an app. I never even thought that would be a thing. I'm glad I'm an isolated case. Because this really sucks. Not having working lights because of an app. Madness.

As I mentioned earlier, we have not yet figured out how to complete the manual app migration on our end now that the old app has been fully closed. We are actively working on it, but at the moment there is no way for us to perform that process in the background. That was our original plan, and we fully expected it to work, but we did not realize it would be as difficult as it turned out to be until we attempted it firsthand.

Because of that setback, we came up with a new solution within the last 1 or 2 hours to give customers a fast and reliable option. We are offering a replacement app board at an 83% discount so people can get their lights working again without needing to wait for a manual migration. The purpose of the discount is simply to provide the quickest and most practical fix, not to profit from the situation.

When you first reached out, the only information I had was that we did not yet have a workable solution. My choices were to tell you that directly or to wait and not respond until something was finalized. I chose to answer right away because I felt clear and immediate communication was better than silence. Maybe waiting would have come across differently, but based on what I knew at the time, being direct seemed like the most respectful approach.

For context, ReefBreeders is a small company, and only a few of us handle all of the day to day operations. We put most of our resources into improving our products, so communication is handled personally by us. I tend to be very direct because I work through a large number of requests daily, and I try to give people clear information without wasting anyone’s time. It is never meant to come across as rude or dismissive.

 

[FishLvR]

Liams answer is above. Send more money. $30 per pight I guess? Could have emailed me.

I just saw that

Boy howdy like surface of the sun. This should help my hair algae. Lol! I moved them up super high and will just unplug and plug in until new light gets here. Actually looks ok in photo. In person its bright.