Reef Factory smart tester - other auto testers?

[Reef Puncher]

One common hardware piece with everything you mentioned is also your WiFi router.

so i know its not my router because i live in an apartment building, and my phone not only picks up my 2.4ghz band, but i can pick up all my neighbors 5 and 2.4 bands. i know the problem is the app or device, and not my router, because the app is not detecting ANY bands, not mine, not my neighbors nothing. it just freezes and loads forever when it is searching for wifi. (also my doser is connected to my router as well as my red sea pump, and it works fine)

 

[Reefer1978]

so i know its not my router because i live in an apartment building, and my phone not only picks up my 2.4ghz band, but i can pick up all my neighbors 5 and 2.4 bands. i know the problem is the app or device, and not my router, because the app is not detecting ANY bands, not mine, not my neighbors nothing. it just freezes and loads forever when it is searching for wifi. (also my doser is connected to my router as well as my red sea pump, and it works fine)

Unfortunately that’s not enough to rule out your router. You phone has a much more advanced antenna, and can pick up networks from far away.

 

[pomoev]

Well, whoever is still deciding to buy the Smart Tester or not, I'd wait another month. All online stores in the US are out of phosphate cartridges since about Black Friday. I asked ReefFactory support why no stores carry their product, they said "We are working on getting the reagents added to their next order as they place it."
That's a bummer, because my tester had worked pretty well, I would be happy to keep using it.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Well, whoever is still deciding to buy the Smart Tester or not, I'd wait another month. All online stores in the US are out of phosphate cartridges since about Black Friday. I asked ReefFactory support why no stores carry their product, they said "We are working on getting the reagents added to their next order as they place it."
That's a bummer, because my tester had worked pretty well, I would be happy to keep using it.

I found some on a site. I returned mine now stuck with these reagents

 

[kriskool123]

i spoke with brs yesterday and they have 2 large orders for smart tester PO4 reagent arriving. 1st Feb15th and 2nd April 15

 

[Naturalreef]

I’m heavy into the reef factory ecosystem. When you first setup the KH Keeper and Smart tester, you are exercising your patience. I used to have issues with Wi-Fi, app etc.

Regarding WiFi, it definitely is picky about routers. My eero hated connecting to reef factory and Focustronic equipment. Even using eero’s 2.4 ghz setting hidden in the setup menu. Once I switched to Starlink with one router instead of four eero’s, my connection problems went away. Knock on wood, I haven’t had one disconnect since using Starlink and installing Reef factory equipment to WiFi is super quick and easy.

As far as the app, I like it. Reef factory has come a long way with the app and also how they calibrate. I used to hate using a 100ml flask to calibrate the keeper. It never came out with a steady reading. Reef factory streamlined their calibration with an easier to use app setting and they use a small included scale to measure the weight of the liquid. Now calibration is super quick and I’m finding it holds its calibration for long periods of time where I just check the calibration instead of doing a full calibration.

Bulkreefsupply is the parts dealer for Reef Factory and they are amazing to work with. So you are covered if you have any issues with the equipment and not having to go through foreign customer support. Bulkreefsupply has the best customer service in the business imo!

Smart tester calibration is also extremely easy and the best part of the smart tester, wait for it, is the reagent. Yes the first iteration of reagent had issues with leaking, BUT, I got just shy of 5 months of testing once per day out of them. That. Is. amazing! I have used almost every tester except GHL. Reef factory is the easiest, hands off, very low maintenance tester I have used AFTER you get over the break in period.

Currently using a 2000ml container of alk reagent which costs Pennie’s per test and almost 5 months of po4 reagent with no replacing of consumables other than silicone tubing once per year. Those two keep my tank happy and I’m not constantly maintaining a machine like I did with Focustronic equipment. I praised Focustronic equipment for its cool tech, but the constant costs of replacement needles, caps, etc and constant maintaining pushed me over the edge to Reef factory.

I do love new tech and upgrading, so waiting to see what the Maven brings to the table.

BTW, Keeper is now on sale at bulkreefsupply for $460 which is a heck of a deal!

 

[Reef Puncher]

I’m heavy into the reef factory ecosystem. When you first setup the KH Keeper and Smart tester, you are exercising your patience. I used to have issues with Wi-Fi, app etc.

Regarding WiFi, it definitely is picky about routers. My eero hated connecting to reef factory and Focustronic equipment. Even using eero’s 2.4 ghz setting hidden in the setup menu. Once I switched to Starlink with one router instead of four eero’s, my connection problems went away. Knock on wood, I haven’t had one disconnect since using Starlink and installing Reef factory equipment to WiFi is super quick and easy.

As far as the app, I like it. Reef factory has come a long way with the app and also how they calibrate. I used to hate using a 100ml flask to calibrate the keeper. It never came out with a steady reading. Reef factory streamlined their calibration with an easier to use app setting and they use a small included scale to measure the weight of the liquid. Now calibration is super quick and I’m finding it holds its calibration for long periods of time where I just check the calibration instead of doing a full calibration.

Bulkreefsupply is the parts dealer for Reef Factory and they are amazing to work with. So you are covered if you have any issues with the equipment and not having to go through foreign customer support. Bulkreefsupply has the best customer service in the business imo!

Smart tester calibration is also extremely easy and the best part of the smart tester, wait for it, is the reagent. Yes the first iteration of reagent had issues with leaking, BUT, I got just shy of 5 months of testing once per day out of them. That. Is. amazing! I have used almost every tester except GHL. Reef factory is the easiest, hands off, very low maintenance tester I have used AFTER you get over the break in period.

Currently using a 2000ml container of alk reagent which costs Pennie’s per test and almost 5 months of po4 reagent with no replacing of consumables other than silicone tubing once per year. Those two keep my tank happy and I’m not constantly maintaining a machine like I did with Focustronic equipment. I praised Focustronic equipment for its cool tech, but the constant costs of replacement needles, caps, etc and constant maintaining pushed me over the edge to Reef factory.

I do love new tech and upgrading, so waiting to see what the Maven brings to the table.

BTW, Keeper is now on sale at bulkreefsupply for $460 which is a heck of a deal!

ive heard the products are good, its just their app that needs some more development. i mean, they have nothing but bad reviews, the app itself, not the products. i dont think the problem was my router in my case, because it wouldnt detect ANY signals from any routers i tried, including all my neighbors. it just had a loading symbol circle that kept spinning, and never ever showed a list of routers or signals to connect too.

 

[Naturalreef]

Sorry you are going through that. If you go through Reef factory support enough, and they can’t fix it, they will send you another machine. Oversea support is slow, but competent. BRS also is great for support.

 

[kriskool123]

Sorry you are going through that. If you go through Reef factory support enough, and they can’t fix it, they will send you another machine. Oversea support is slow, but competent. BRS also is great for support.

Have you had the issue with the smart tester and po4 reagent staining the testing cuvette? I have had my unit 6 months and have gone through 2 dosing pump heads and now the cuvette is so stained that 24 hours in bleach still hasnt removed the stain. BRS doesnt have any spare dosing heads so they send you a new unit each time. They also do not stock the spare cuvette either so you have to get a new unit or somehow clean your existing one

 

[Naturalreef]

Yes, I have had some issues with the Smart tester. Pump head nipples broke off causing tubing to fall off. Circuit board failed on another. BRS sent me new ones as well. I have been cleaning the curvette with ph probe cleaner using a cotton swab once a month and haven’t run into the problem yet. The tester is accurate and as long as they replace any defective products, I’ll stick with them.

All similiar products have weaknesses. Neptune Trident curvette needed to be cleaned frequently to prevent staining. Focustronic suite had issues they had to address as well. I’m looking for that perfect tester, just hasn’t arrived yet. Reef factory is pretty close. I’m hoping Maven or Mastertronic essentials brings us closer.

 

[kriskool123]

ph probe cleaner

any reason you chose ph probe cleaner instead of vinegar or something else?

 

[Naturalreef]

When I owned the Mastertronic, the manual had us use ph probe cleaner for the curvette which worked well.

 

[kriskool123]

When I owned the Mastertronic, the manual had us use ph probe cleaner for the curvette which worked well.

I will try it thank you

 

[Reefer1978]

I’m heavy into the reef factory ecosystem. When you first setup the KH Keeper and Smart tester, you are exercising your patience. I used to have issues with Wi-Fi, app etc.

Regarding WiFi, it definitely is picky about routers. My eero hated connecting to reef factory and Focustronic equipment. Even using eero’s 2.4 ghz setting hidden in the setup menu. Once I switched to Starlink with one router instead of four eero’s, my connection problems went away. Knock on wood, I haven’t had one disconnect since using Starlink and installing Reef factory equipment to WiFi is super quick and easy.

As far as the app, I like it. Reef factory has come a long way with the app and also how they calibrate. I used to hate using a 100ml flask to calibrate the keeper. It never came out with a steady reading. Reef factory streamlined their calibration with an easier to use app setting and they use a small included scale to measure the weight of the liquid. Now calibration is super quick and I’m finding it holds its calibration for long periods of time where I just check the calibration instead of doing a full calibration.

Bulkreefsupply is the parts dealer for Reef Factory and they are amazing to work with. So you are covered if you have any issues with the equipment and not having to go through foreign customer support. Bulkreefsupply has the best customer service in the business imo!

Smart tester calibration is also extremely easy and the best part of the smart tester, wait for it, is the reagent. Yes the first iteration of reagent had issues with leaking, BUT, I got just shy of 5 months of testing once per day out of them. That. Is. amazing! I have used almost every tester except GHL. Reef factory is the easiest, hands off, very low maintenance tester I have used AFTER you get over the break in period.

Currently using a 2000ml container of alk reagent which costs Pennie’s per test and almost 5 months of po4 reagent with no replacing of consumables other than silicone tubing once per year. Those two keep my tank happy and I’m not constantly maintaining a machine like I did with Focustronic equipment. I praised Focustronic equipment for its cool tech, but the constant costs of replacement needles, caps, etc and constant maintaining pushed me over the edge to Reef factory.

I do love new tech and upgrading, so waiting to see what the Maven brings to the table.

BTW, Keeper is now on sale at bulkreefsupply for $460 which is a heck of a deal!

After much testing, 2.4 Ghz, Channel 11, 20 Mhz band seems to work the best. It's not an issue of starlink or eero, but reef factory uses ESP32 chips which have issues with mesh networks if not coded correctly, and seems to pick AP far away. With starlink you have a single point and thus are not running into this issue.

I sent sample open source networking code to Reef Factory team for ESP32 last week and hope there's a fix in the works that will come out soon.

 

[Naturalreef]

After much testing, 2.4 Ghz, Channel 11, 20 Mhz band seems to work the best. It's not an issue of starlink or eero, but reef factory uses ESP32 chips which have issues with mesh networks if not coded correctly, and seems to pick AP far away. With starlink you have a single point and thus are not running into this issue.

I sent sample open source networking code to Reef Factory team for ESP32 last week and hope there's a fix in the works that will come out soon.

Nice job, I hope they can implement your code. There is no reason we should have connection issues with any equipment nowadays!

 

[Reefer1978]

Nice job, I hope they can implement your code. There is no reason we should have connection issues with any equipment nowadays!

I am lucky to have a friend who works for an open source company, and uses the same chipsets.

I agree with you fully, we should not have connectivity problems with best mesh networks out there. I right away thought it's a code issue, as my doser was connecting to an AP all the way on the other side of the house, while I have eero pro sitting 12 feet away.

 

[Reefer1978]

Also wanted to mention, if you are in my boat running multiple Reef Factory devices, multiple power cables are making me a little bit crazy. I am playing around with this setup this week. 2 amps should be enough to run 4 devices.

 

[Naturalreef]

Thanks. Just the keeper and smart tester. Not too crazy with cords yet.

 

[pomoev]

i spoke with brs yesterday and they have 2 large orders for smart tester PO4 reagent arriving. 1st Feb15th and 2nd April 15

Well, it's Feb 19 and the reagents are still out of stock everywhere. They've been out of stock everywhere online since November. I'm back to Hanna testing.

 

[kriskool123]

My cuvette on the smart tester is so stained that even a 5 day soak in citric acid mixed with vinegar doesn’t clean it up. I tried soaking in bleach a week prior with no luck.
These reef factory smart testers are great for the first 4-5 months but good luck after that. BRS is the only US distributor and doesn’t carry and spare parts for them.

If you own one make sure to maintain the cuvette and clean it off like once a month