Hydros Maven is Delayed

[Dragen Fiend]

I've never used Apex but I've watched enough videos on it. So take my opinion with a grain of salt. But I do find hydros lineup fine. But this is coming from someone who just started. So for those who joined early on. I can see your frustration with how the products have been released.

But I believe what hydros wants to achieve is just that with their lineup. Tons of options for someone and not strictly you need x controller and everything is extras. And it may not suit everyone's needs. Everything that I have bought has worked out the box (minus PH probe). I found the UI simple and easy to configure. Apex is way more advanced from what seen and their product line is easily understood what is required.

 

[nanoreefer23]

Carlos from CV gave a response a few days ago, that was basically "nothing has changed in what we said... so sit tight and it will come one day".

I have a feeling that the accuracy or the mechanics are not where they need to be at. They are hard to make. My only gripe is that the engineers would have known this long before they said it wouldn’t be available. I have a new tank with the hydros but am unable to automate testing, I know they have an alk tester but my alk and calcium do not go up and down perfectly together so I can’t use it to approximate calcium.

 

[corosato]

I have actually liked my Hydros launch. I think it's a great starter controller. that being said I mostly chose it because the Maven was coming. At this point i've switched over to Apex because where I am at in my life right now, testing falls off my todo list far too often with other commitments in my life. I know that my fish and coral would probably prefer the testing gets done so I can react to it, hence just pulling the trigger on the switch. I have nothing against CV, I think they make great products but i do feel like they made it seem the device was much closer to being out than it really was.

 

[n2585722]

This is precisely the incredibly convoluted, half-baked product design that I'm talking about. This is the thread I have with CoralVue support on this topic (one of many open support tickets) and they didn't come up this solution.

This problem could be trivially solved by adding "protein skimmer" as an option in the WEv2 output configuration. The entire pitch of Hydros over Apex (at least to me) is the reduced complexity but that's not the reality for even products within their own line.

My XF330's (prior to their demise and replacement with MP40, anyway) had huge issues on WaveEngine that came down to... the QA on the cable adapters. That was another 30+ 1 month long thread with CoralVue support that I ended up resolving by buying 8 adapter cables and finding that 6 had QA failures in the pinouts. This was supports official response when I raised that cable QA was likely the culprit:



Anyways, I didn't mean to turn this into a Hydros hate thread. I was just trying to address the overreaction comment and add a little colour to why I'm skeptical that they're holding a release because they really, really value QA and product perfection.

I have found it quite easy to get it to do what I want. I got my first Hydros over 4 years ago and it autofill my DI reservoir from my RODI which it controls. It also autofills the fresh saltwater reservoir when it goes low by transferring the contents of the mix tank if it is ready for use. It will then refill the mix tank from the RODI and All I need to do is add the salt mix and press a button when it is ready for use. It does ATO and AWC with those pumps in the garage 35ft from the tank. The RODI unit is also in the garage. It also controls the normal things at the tank and also does auto alkalinity measurements 4 times a day just before one of the 4 auto water changes for the day. It then doses All For Reef and a KH buffer. The KH buffer is dynamically dosed depending on the alkalinity readings, It also has a leak detector at the tank and a couple in the garage. One of the ones in the garage is actually under or central air and heating unit. I was using the Archon from Digital Aquatics and slowly switched things over to the Hydros. I was even able to use a lot of the same sensors and all the heaters and pumps I was using on the Archon. I think it is an easy controller to use.

 

[BeanAnimal]

@n2585722

What consideration or compensation (if any) does CV provide to you for helping them?

 

[n2585722]

@n2585722

What consideration or compensation (if any) does CV provide to you for helping them?

I do not work for them, but I do like the controllers.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I do not work for them, but I do like the controllers.

So no consideration or freebies or anything for basically being their only forum support voice, with ~3500 posts?

Not being accusatory, I just like to know where people stand when they are as positive about a product and company as you are.

And honestly, if they are not feeding you free stuff at this point or offering you some type of reward, shame on them.

 

[n2585722]

I do some beta testing for them but other than that no. I was already helping people setup the controllers on their forum and facebook groups but I also did that with the Digital Aquatics controllers.

 

[jrill]

So no consideration or freebies or anything for basically being their only forum support voice, with ~3500 posts?

Not being accusatory, I just like to know where people stand when they are as positive about a product and company as you are.

And honestly, if they are not feeding you free stuff at this point or offering you some type of reward, shame on them.

Your are one suspicious fella

 

[areefer01]

Your are one suspicious fella

Social media, socialites, personalities, influencers, have disclosures that they are responsible for as documented by the FTC. Did the person buy it out of pocket, or at a discount, or given a product, or compensated otherwise by promoting it. Endorsements, etc.

So @BeanAnimal is not being suspicious but rather questioning some who promote but ignore scientific fact(s). I should note that I probably should not speak for BA and very well may be wrong. However that is my interpretation of it.

I think you will find here and elsewhere that often times disclosures are not obvious to the reader.

 

[rtparty]

I do some beta testing for them but other than that no. I was already helping people setup the controllers on their forum and facebook groups but I also did that with the Digital Aquatics controllers.

Are you part of their “user” customer support program?

 

[drolmaeye]

Are you part of their “user” customer support program?

I may be late to the party (and too lazy to read the whole thread), but what do you mean by "user" customer support program? Does CV have a customer support program that relies on users (non-employees)? Or is this a way of suggesting CV relies too heavily on the user community to help support their products?

 

[rtparty]

I may be late to the party (and too lazy to read the whole thread), but what do you mean by "user" customer support program? Does CV have a customer support program that relies on users (non-employees)? Or is this a way of suggesting CV relies too heavily on the user community to help support their products?

I’m not sure if it’s still around but CV used and relied on users to provide support.

My understanding is they are/were not employees of CV.

 

[jrill]

Social media, socialites, personalities, influencers, have disclosures that they are responsible for as documented by the FTC. Did the person buy it out of pocket, or at a discount, or given a product, or compensated otherwise by promoting it. Endorsements, etc.

So @BeanAnimal is not being suspicious but rather questioning some who promote but ignore scientific fact(s). I should note that I probably should not speak for BA and very well may be wrong. However that is my interpretation of it.

I think you will find here and elsewhere that often times disclosures are not obvious to the reader.

I know. Did you miss the smiley face?

 

[rtparty]

I know. Did you miss the smiley face?

There is no smiley face

 

[jrill]

There is no smiley face

Well thats odd. I know i put one. Hmm thanks for pointing that out

 

[n2585722]

Are you part of their “user” customer support program?

Not sure what you mean. I was helping people with setup questions long before I started doing any beta testing. I am a electronics technician and have been repairing electronics equipment since the mid 70's. The largest things I have repaired is ion implanters.

 

[rtparty]

Not sure what you mean. I was helping people with setup questions long before I started doing any beta testing. I am a electronics technician and have been repairing electronics equipment since the mid 70's. The largest things I have repaired is ion implanters.

CV had or has a customer service program that puts users in touch with other users for support.

It’s how I got help on all my issues until they couldn’t be resolved and Carlos had to get involved.

I was just wondering if you are/were part of that since you know the system so well and offer so much help

 

[n2585722]

CV had or has a customer service program that puts users in touch with other users for support.

It’s how I got help on all my issues until they couldn’t be resolved and Carlos had to get involved.

I was just wondering if you are/were part of that since you know the system so well and offer so much help

I thought that was a normal thing will all the controllers. I did the same thing with Digital Aquatics controllers. It has been a while since I have used one to any extent now but if I think I can help on those I will do so also. No one from CoralVue tell me which questions to answer but if I see someone ask one where I think I can help I will reply and do my best to help out.

 

[rtparty]

I thought that was a normal thing will all the controllers. I did the same thing with Digital Aquatics controllers. It has been a while since I have used one to any extent now but if I think I can help on those I will do so also. No one from CoralVue tell me which questions to answer but if I see someone ask one where I think I can help I will reply and do my best to help out.

I’ve only used Neptune customer service a few times over the years and I’ve never once been passed off to a fellow hobbyist. It was always Neptune employees helping me.

For Hydros, I sent CoralVue an email for help and was passed off onto a user to help me out. They didn’t have any authority to replace anything or do advanced troubleshooting. Just simple stuff and then I was told Carlos would have to take over.