Reef Breeders Meridians

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Setup is easy, but there’s a catch. You have to create an account, and that means giving up your location with no opt-out. Pretty standard for a lot of these apps, but still worth calling out. Once you’re in, WiFi control is smooth, and scheduling is simple. Channel control is also solid. Pin your indigo, UVA (accurately called Near UV), royal blue, cool blue, and the separate violet/indigo channels. Then bring up the whites until the tank looks right. That becomes your baseline ratio. No master intensity slider, so all adjustments are manual across channels. Also, no manual control out of the box. That’s a $50 add on. As for advanced features, like location-based seasonal tables, you ain’t getting that from this light, but you can set an overly bright fixed blue (475nm) moonlight that's location/cycle-based.

There is no acclimation mode.

The other extras:

• Hanging kit: $50
• Tank mount legs: $50 (silver) or $70 (black)
• Encompass lens: $45 each (!!!)

Paying extra for stuff seems to be a thing, and I guess I'll have to change that "you ain't getting that from this light" thing to "you'll have to pay extra to get features that are included with the less expensive 270W ReeFi Uno 2.1 or the slightly more expensive ($40) 200W GHL Mitras LX7X06."

BTW, owner-selectable account or light assignment of the purchased "advanced" features would be cool. If you're punching out of the ecosystem for something else, passing along an acclimation-enabled light to the next owner would help resale.

 

[NCsalt]

Oh no! My new frags will surely perish without having to pay for acclimation mode!

Or i could just put them on the outer sand bed and turn off my edge bars for a couple days.

The lights are nice. And i’m basicallly running four large pucks and two full length edge bars with full spectrum wifi control with one power supply and cord.

They are worth it for just that imo.

Could you run 4 ecotech xr15s or 3 Radions and two ai blade 48 inchers for a similar price?

No you can’t.

 

[tharbin]

Oh no! My new frags will surely perish without having to pay for acclimation mode!

Or i could just put them on the outer sand bed and turn off my edge bars for a couple days.

The lights are nice. And i’m basicallly running four large pucks and two full length edge bars with full spectrum wifi control with one power supply and cord.

They are worth it for just that imo.

Could you run 4 ecotech xr15s or 3 Radions and two ai blade 48 inchers for a similar price?

No you can’t.

Why do people keep looking at acclimation mode and assuming we are using it to acclimate new corals? I would never use it for that. The only time I ever use acclimation mode is when I change the lights over a tank to allow ALL of the corals to adjust to the new light.

This just pokes fun at the real issue that has nothing to do with acclimation mode, or sun/moon phases or any of the advanced features that may or may not come.

The real concern, and it is a real concern born out by numerous companies in numerous fields of endeavour, of a slippery slope to paid subscriptions that then continue to rise in price and decrease in functionality. It happens constantly. So far the aquarium hobby has avoided this. I understand that what Reef Breeders is trying to do is to build a premium software add-on for their lighting solutions. It doesn't matter whether those features are included or not with other lights as you can factor that into your purchasing decision.

I'm fine with the idea that you can outright purchase the premium software one time. My issue with it is that if we support a subscription service we are encouraging other companies to follow suit. My suggestion is to offer a free one to maybe three month trial of the premium software and at the end of the trial you either purchase it or not depending on your needs. I also think you should have the option to transfer ownership of the premium package to someone else if you decide to change lighting solutions in the future. Ideally, this would be the owner's choice whether to transfer the license with the lights or to hold onto it for your next lights.

 

[NCsalt]

Why do people keep looking at acclimation mode and assuming we are using it to acclimate new corals? I would never use it for that. The only time I ever use acclimation mode is when I change the lights over a tank to allow ALL of the corals to adjust to the new light.

This just pokes fun at the real issue that has nothing to do with acclimation mode, or sun/moon phases or any of the advanced features that may or may not come.

The real concern, and it is a real concern born out by numerous companies in numerous fields of endeavour, of a slippery slope to paid subscriptions that then continue to rise in price and decrease in functionality. It happens constantly. So far the aquarium hobby has avoided this. I understand that what Reef Breeders is trying to do is to build a premium software add-on for their lighting solutions. It doesn't matter whether those features are included or not with other lights as you can factor that into your purchasing decision.

I'm fine with the idea that you can outright purchase the premium software one time. My issue with it is that if we support a subscription service we are encouraging other companies to follow suit. My suggestion is to offer a free one to maybe three month trial of the premium software and at the end of the trial you either purchase it or not depending on your needs. I also think you should have the option to transfer ownership of the premium package to someone else if you decide to change lighting solutions in the future. Ideally, this would be the owner's choice whether to transfer the license with the lights or to hold onto it for your next lights.

I agree.

But there is some significant bashing to the point of some saying the Meridians shouldn’t even be considered over it. Not talking about your posts.

My point is that there is way more to consider if you are looking for a new light, and the Meridians have a lot to offer to that large mid size to small larger reef setup.

To your point of acclimation mode for full tank transfers. Absolutely could be worth a little extra cost. Which is a point being made by company. But not necessary and it is still an option.

My corals were transferred from under a Maxspect Razor, some for over three years. Seem to have made the transition well. With no acclimation mode.

I have had sps frags double in size under this light in two months. Of course there are many factors that contribute but ode to the meridians.

After all if there were some real shenanigans with the app, subscriptions, or who knows what else the technocracy will require of all future software, you can just delete the app; use the manual controls with a cheap timer and still have a great light.

 

[tharbin]

I agree.

But there is some significant bashing to the point of some saying the Meridians shouldn’t even be considered over it. Not talking about your posts.

My point is that there is way more to consider if you are looking for a new light, and the Meridians have a lot to offer to that large mid size to small larger reef setup.

To your point of acclimation mode for full tank transfers. Absolutely could be worth a little extra cost. Which is a point being made by company. But not necessary and it is still an option.

My corals were transferred from under a Maxspect Razor, some for over three years. Seem to have made the transition well. With no acclimation mode.

I have had sps frags double in size under this light in two months. Of course there are many factors that contribute but ode to the meridians.

After all if there were some real shenanigans with the app, subscriptions, or who knows what else the technocracy will require of all future software, you can just delete the app; use the manual controls with a cheap timer and still have a great light.

I have zero issues with the light. It is the best light I have owned. Having one cord to the three lights is a huge plus that I wish all manufacturers would implement. I do have a little envy of new purchasers because I would have bought the shallow reef Meridian if it had existed. I wanted to try out moonlight but it was just too bright to be useful and having BlueTooth would have been a real asset but I'm okay with not having them because they were not features of the lights I purchased. I have considered trying to change the panel in my Meridian 11 to the shallow reef and see if it would be worth upgrading the 35 to them. Maybe even the moonlight in the 11 if it isn't too costly. I'm going to wait though because I want to see how this plays out before committing to any conversions.

I have an immediate aversion to subscription models however. I just see decent products turned into trash or constant money drags all of the time by subscriptions. HP Inkjet printers are a good example of how subscription services can turn good products into anchors around your neck.

I'm sure Reef Breeders will work this out. I would consider a one-time purchase if the premium software proved really useful but not if subscriptions are even available as that is just inviting more companies to follow suit. Let that fly at one of the companies now controlled by private equity and the reefing hobby will just become too expensive to be viable for most hobbyists.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

The hate is strong, especially considering no functionality was removed.

There is a significant difference between "hate" and disappointment. I've seen no hate in this particular thread.

 

[BrokenReefer]

I am a ReefBreeders customer, and a satisfied one at that.

Some of the premium features can be achieved through current schedules without much trouble, it takes time and effort. Some of which people are willing to give neither of.

You want acclimation mode, fine - set it up as a custom schedule. AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, etc... each with increasing intensities. Oh you want that automated? Then you have a choice, use an AI agent to automate that for you (make sure you pay those API credits) or use the premium feature set.

You want to 'sync' your lights to a Bali/Australia/pick a reef time zone? Great! Schedule your lighting on/off for the custom time zone in the custom setup. It isn't that difficult, just go to Google and figure out what that UTC time zone difference and bob's your uncle.

You want to vary your sunrise/sunset times? I don't see the benefit to this personally, so this is a feature that isn't a blip on my radar.

Also, the moon lighting is one of the few negatives for me. It's way too bright, so I don't use it.

Nobody bats an eye at the free app and constant upgrades from Neptune or Coral Vue; however, we surely do see several threads pertaining to "price gouging" ... how do the consumers think those "upgrades" get pushed out for "free"? Every purchaser funds them, as noted several times in this thread.

Semantics aside, not being in the market for a new light and coming into a thread to simply state "oh this is a bridge too far for me I will never be purchasing this companies products!!" is pointless and a waste of energy. Engage in discussion, understand perspectives, and leave the conversation with no malice. Being "disappointed" over a decision that does not, nor likely ever will, affect you and your reef tank is a idiotic.

 

[sl0th]

I am a ReefBreeders customer, and a satisfied one at that.

Some of the premium features can be achieved through current schedules without much trouble, it takes time and effort. Some of which people are willing to give neither of.

You want acclimation mode, fine - set it up as a custom schedule. AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, etc... each with increasing intensities. Oh you want that automated? Then you have a choice, use an AI agent to automate that for you (make sure you pay those API credits) or use the premium feature set.

You want to 'sync' your lights to a Bali/Australia/pick a reef time zone? Great! Schedule your lighting on/off for the custom time zone in the custom setup. It isn't that difficult, just go to Google and figure out what that UTC time zone difference and bob's your uncle.

You want to vary your sunrise/sunset times? I don't see the benefit to this personally, so this is a feature that isn't a blip on my radar.

Also, the moon lighting is one of the few negatives for me. It's way too bright, so I don't use it.

Nobody bats an eye at the free app and constant upgrades from Neptune or Coral Vue; however, we surely do see several threads pertaining to "price gouging" ... how do the consumers think those "upgrades" get pushed out for "free"? Every purchaser funds them, as noted several times in this thread.

Semantics aside, not being in the market for a new light and coming into a thread to simply state "oh this is a bridge too far for me I will never be purchasing this companies products!!" is pointless and a waste of energy. Engage in discussion, understand perspectives, and leave the conversation with no malice. Being "disappointed" over a decision that does not, nor likely ever will, affect you and your reef tank is a idiotic.

Why are other people taking criticism of Reefbreeders business decision so personally? There has been no malice here.

And this decision will affect us and our reef tanks. It's not about the features being locked behind the subscription, it's the fact that subscription models are unethical. If we allow one lighting company to roll out a subscription model with no backlash then what's to stop every other company selling some piece of reef hardware to lock software features behind an app with a subscription model?

If you disagree with me about your feelings towards these models then fine. But don't act like these decisions don't have knock-on effects. Look to Netflix / Amazon Prime / Disney / Paramount + for what happens when we collectively buy into these models...

 

[tedstalcup]

I am a ReefBreeders customer, and a satisfied one at that.

Some of the premium features can be achieved through current schedules without much trouble, it takes time and effort. Some of which people are willing to give neither of.

You want acclimation mode, fine - set it up as a custom schedule. AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, etc... each with increasing intensities. Oh you want that automated? Then you have a choice, use an AI agent to automate that for you (make sure you pay those API credits) or use the premium feature set.

You want to 'sync' your lights to a Bali/Australia/pick a reef time zone? Great! Schedule your lighting on/off for the custom time zone in the custom setup. It isn't that difficult, just go to Google and figure out what that UTC time zone difference and bob's your uncle.

You want to vary your sunrise/sunset times? I don't see the benefit to this personally, so this is a feature that isn't a blip on my radar.

Also, the moon lighting is one of the few negatives for me. It's way too bright, so I don't use it.

Nobody bats an eye at the free app and constant upgrades from Neptune or Coral Vue; however, we surely do see several threads pertaining to "price gouging" ... how do the consumers think those "upgrades" get pushed out for "free"? Every purchaser funds them, as noted several times in this thread.

Semantics aside, not being in the market for a new light and coming into a thread to simply state "oh this is a bridge too far for me I will never be purchasing this companies products!!" is pointless and a waste of energy. Engage in discussion, understand perspectives, and leave the conversation with no malice. Being "disappointed" over a decision that does not, nor likely ever will, affect you and your reef tank is a idiotic.

I’ve got close to $3K in reefbreeders lights, mounts and pumps. It’s a non-trivial part of my build budget. I’m not averse to paying for features not on the table when I bought the lights. We can’t expect free upgrades for life. Even Apple declares old hardware obsolete and stops providing upgrades or refinements. However. Acclimation mode was never listed as “coming soon for an additional price.” Even now reefbreeders has webpages (retrieved in the past 24 hours) stating their lights have an acclimation mode but not stating it’s a paid add on. While I don’t expect sun-moon simulation for free since it wasn’t ever advertised, I do think I was promised a functional moonlight mode. Not light blues locked at 1%. Nowhere does the literature state this limitation or that it’ll be $99 per puck to achieve dimming to, you know, moonlight. I don’t care if RB wants to do subscriptions, that’s their prerogative and they can price it however they want. I do care that I was mislead, apparently intentionally, on the features I was getting. That deceptive practice prevented the consumer, me, from making an apples to apples comparison between competing items. In my state at least, that’s not legal.

 

[jt0117]

Well here is what you've all been waiting for...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reefbreeder-paywall-feature-good-or-bad.1163991/
Post your thoughts so we can see the wood from the trees.

 

[|FATHOM|]

New app update

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Because this discussion jumped ship to another thread, I wanted to share something here and there that I think is important to buyers.

My opinion is that the subscription aspect is just one area where the Meridian falls short of the similarly priced competition, but much of what has been shared is preference over data. Although there are preference metrics noted in this comparison, this big-picture comparison of a mature fixture/marketing vs the Meridian 24 may be helpful for some.

Competitor vs. ReefBreeders Meridian 24

Please note any errors, and I'll fix them immediately.

 

[Zuluuz]

Because this discussion jumped ship to another thread, I wanted to share something here and there that I think is important to buyers.

My opinion is that the subscription aspect is just one area where the Meridian falls short of the similarly priced competition, but much of what has been shared is preference over data. Although there are preference metrics noted in this comparison, this big-picture comparison of a mature fixture/marketing vs the Meridian 24 may be helpful for some.

Competitor vs. ReefBreeders Meridian 24

Please note any errors, and I'll fix them immediately.

Bro this forum is like .1% of what people are saying. Look at Reddit

 

[areefer01]

Because this discussion jumped ship to another thread, I wanted to share something here and there that I think is important to buyers.

My opinion is that the subscription aspect is just one area where the Meridian falls short of the similarly priced competition, but much of what has been shared is preference over data. Although there are preference metrics noted in this comparison, this big-picture comparison of a mature fixture/marketing vs the Meridian 24 may be helpful for some.

Competitor vs. ReefBreeders Meridian 24

Please note any errors, and I'll fix them immediately.

One would argue wifi is a check in the competitor column. They both offer app connectivity without a wire or dongle but one has a longer range, distance vs line of sight. May not be a big deal or matter in the big picture but I would have checked competitor.

 

[areefer01]

Bro this forum is like .1% of what people are saying. Look at Reddit

And look at the Reddit thread - they are having a field day with it.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

Bro this forum is like .1% of what people are saying. Look at Reddit

Oh, I've seen it.

 

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

One would argue wifi is a check in the competitor column. They both offer app connectivity without a wire or dongle but one has a longer range, distance vs line of sight. May not be a big deal or matter in the big picture but I would have checked competitor.

I hear ya, but the point is local wireless control. Both have. Now, I don't know if all Merdians shipped with wireless local control, but that ship has already sailed.

 

[Zuluuz]

I hear ya, but the point is local wireless control. Both have. Now, I don't know if all Merdians shipped with wireless local control, but that ship has already sailed.

Idk if I’m beating a dead horse or not but I preordered my lights based on the several of these videos saying that these lights could run off one power supply / have dual panel controls and the app would be getting an update in the future. Later did I realize you needed to buy a $600 power supply. Dual panel control was forgotten. And now I have to pay for the updated app. All the features that separates them from other black box LEDs aren’t even there 2 years later. So frustrating.

 

[Troylee]

Idk if I’m beating a dead horse or not but I preordered my lights based on the several of these videos saying that these lights could run off one power supply / have dual panel controls and the app would be getting an update in the future. Later did I realize you needed to buy a $600 power supply. Dual panel control was forgotten. And now I have to pay for the updated app. All the features that separates them from other black box LEDs aren’t even there 2 years later. So frustrating.

I mean if you’re handy with a soldering iron these are the way to go! You can eliminate many bricks in your system with this.. lights or most pumps etc.

 

[areefer01]

I mean if you’re handy with a soldering iron these are the way to go! You can eliminate many bricks in your system with this.. lights or most pumps etc.

It can be done, but also is a single point of failure. Nothing you don't already know though :D