Reef Factory bankruptcy

[mcarroll]

Reef factory works without the cloud - it just works and integrates better with it.

If you wish, simply do not connect it to Smart Reef and control locally with your phone.

I think when I asked the rep about this, they said an account on the Reef Factory server is required for most of the gear.....if you already have an account, you're set, but there's apparently no way to set up new accounts.

I'm curious if you delete your app and all the settings and data if you can still commission (eg) a new return pump just from the app without any login/credentials. Even though I was trying to buy a return pump, I was dissuaded from doing it on this basis.

 

[reefmaster70]

Reef factory works without the cloud - it just works and integrates better with it.

If you wish, simply do not connect it to Smart Reef and control locally with your phone.

that's all well and good, BUT the app also requires a log in occasionally if you have phone updates, etc. and then when you can't log into the "app" there is no way to get back in, as the company certainly won't reply or help.

 

[reefmaster70]

I think when I asked the rep about this, they said an account on the Reef Factory server is required for most of the gear.....if you already have an account, you're set, but there's apparently no way to set up new accounts.

I'm curious if you delete your app and all the settings and data if you can still commission (eg) a new return pump just from the app without any login/credentials. Even though I was trying to buy a return pump, I was dissuaded from doing it on this basis.

You are correct. I did some "testing" of this with my fleece roller, and it does indeed work without the "cloud" however, to adjust settings and controls, you need the "App" and I had to contact the company to get me logged in when I first set up the "app" as you have to set up an account and log in as well, otherwise nothing functions. I did a reset once and again the app was useless when I was logged out. Luckily, I remembered my log in info Reef Factory set me up with to get me successfully logged in, and I was able to get back in. Seems like a waste to me. The Reef Factory roller now sits in my closet collecting dust, and has been replaced by a Red Sea Reef Mat 1200.

 

[gbroadbridge]

that's all well and good, BUT the app also requires a log in occasionally if you have phone updates, etc. and then when you can't log into the "app" there is no way to get back in, as the company certainly won't reply or help.

You don't need to use the app.

You log directly into the device using its web interface.

 

[mcarroll]

You don't need to use the app.

You log directly into the device using its web interface.

The devices themselves have unsecured web interfaces?

How does that work? It seems like a serious security hole.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The devices themselves have unsecured web interfaces?

How does that work? It seems like a serious security hole.

Up to the point where you connect to smart reef, yes there is an open web interface.

Originally, the open web interface coexisted with smart-reef, they removed that maybe 4 years ago.

If you hard reset the device you can control the device without any cloud connection.

 

[mcarroll]

Interesting.