Hydros and BRS?

[SpyC]

What other retailers are there?

It's not sold on Amazon

Premium Aquatics sells it. But they never have stock of anything these days

And I wasn't speaking of just Hydros from CoralVue, I was speaking of all the product they sell. Writing, my lips didn't move when I wrote that

Without any googling, I know saltwateraquarium.com and tsa sell hydros as well.

 

[n2585722]

Ah

Sounds exactly like what my issue is

The problem is software. The device still works, mine does. I just can't access it

CoralVue has just orphaned the controller, at the software layer

It works fine without the required firmware update, the update that can't happen. But it requires the firmware update before you can access the controller

I suspect it was orphaned intentionally, to force the user to purchase a new device

If this is so, I would NEVER buy, or use, at any cost any product by such a company

All they needed to do, was let the controller continue working, as it did before it as orphaned

Contact CoralVue if it is a firmware update I think they can do that for you remotely but not for sure. The Hydros controllers would also need to be updated to use a new app but there is a update for them that can be done via the app itself. It will force you to update the firmware before using the app and controllers. I have 15 Hydros controllers and one of them I got right after the Hydros controllers came out. All still work and all have updated to the latest firmware. The IceCap controller is a IceCap unit and was not able to be integrated into a Hydro collective so now IceCap supplies a WELE with their pumps instead and it can be in a Hydros collective since it is a Hydros controller. The older WE was replaced with a WEv2 but it is still supported. The main reason on it was it could not be a wifi master. The WEv2 can be a wifi master. The original WE was released before the Hydros controllers were introduced.

 

[n2585722]

I don't know or care what the collective is

I pried it off my stand last night

Before that, the app saw the controller and gyres.(but then went into a loop trying to firmware update that can't be done). Texted me when I turned it on and off. But I could not affect any changes to the programming of the controller

Funny, when you search to buy the Maxspect gyres, the Icecap Hydros controller is still in the marketing images

I'm a reef equipment pack rat, I keep every bit and bob, spare piece of pipe and tubing. It's harder to trash it, than I expected

That is defiantly a IceCap controller and not a Hydros. A Hydros controller would have Hydros on it instead if IceCap. That can be updated by CoralVue and will still work using the Hydros App. In fact there is an expected update for the App coming from what I understand. When they make major changes to the app to add nee features it also requires a firmware update to the controllers so they will still work with the new app. Submit a support ticket with CoralVue to get the IceCap controller firmware updated to the newer app you have for Hydros.

 

[KirM]

We came full-boar into the aquarium automation market, and our network of HYDROS Controls came along, culminating in the release of our flagship items...the Control X10 and LAUNCH. In the meantime, there is little product overlap, rather a variety of options of various ports needed for multiple aquarium jobs. You have seen our path, and it took a little to get there. However, there is NO "discontinued support"; in fact, NO HYDROS CONTROL WILL EVER GO OBSOLETE...because we have those command bus ports, linking to the whole system...a staple of what we call the HYDROS Collective.

We also do announce upcoming HYDROS Controls, such as the heads-up on the X10 months in advance and the recent MAVEN announcement, for consumers to prep, learn, and get started with HYDROS in the meantime. We also use tradeshows like Reef-A-Palooza and Aquashella to showcase new products coming to market, followed by videos and website updates.

I urge anyone to reach out to our support with questions, learn the HYDROS line, what it offers, and how we are taking this head on, which includes multiple HYDROS innovations, without the intention of product overlaps.

I reached out to your technical or support team about 2 weeks ago asking for advice on products as I was thinking of changing to hydros. They NEVER replied to me. Why is that? Now I’m nervous to change if product support is this bad.

 

[n2585722]

Nope. It has coded

It's is dead, Jim

Are you sure it is not the pump itself that got locked up and is causing the fault. also the pump itself will work on the WELE or WEv2 with the proper adapter cable if it is the controller. The newer IceCap pump packages come with WELE which will control up to 2 pumps. The WEv2 will control 4 pumps and also has 4 0-10v outputs for control. A Hydros collective is basically a virtual controller that is the sum of all member controllers. Instead of modules the Hydros has controllers that can work as a independent controller or with other controllers in a collective. In a collective all inputs and outputs are shared so you can use a input on one controller to control an output on another. That is where the command bus comes into play. The controllers communicate with each other over the command bus.I have 15 Hydros controllers in my Hydros collective.

 

[n2585722]

Like I said even the Hydros controllers have to have firmware updated to work with a newer app verison. If they have not been updated in a long time they also may require CoralVue support to get them updated to the newest firmware. If you keep them up to date though that should not be an issue. i don't think the IceCap issue was planned since they have been taking care of updating them for anyone that needs them updated to use the newer app. You may be able to still get it updated and get the pump running again. It is worth a try. Submit a support ticket with CoralVue and see what they say. Here is a link https://support.coralvue.com/submit_ticket#login .

 

[Solo McReefer]

 

[n2585722]

I reached out to your technical or support team about 2 weeks ago asking for advice on products as I was thinking of changing to hydros. They NEVER replied to me. Why is that? Now I’m nervous to change if product support is this bad.

Is there a question you have that one of us users may be able to answer here. Also there is a Hydros facebook group and a Hydros forum that you can join and post also.

 

[SpyC]

I reached out to your technical or support team about 2 weeks ago asking for advice on products as I was thinking of changing to hydros. They NEVER replied to me. Why is that? Now I’m nervous to change if product support is this bad.

Weird, I had a call scheduled with them days after I first contacted them for advice since I am also looking into switching. What contact .ethod did you use? I selected sales when I submitted the form. Probably spent an hour on the phone with someone going over options and best bang for my buck.

 

[KirM]

Weird, I had a call scheduled with them days after I first contacted them for advice since I am also looking into switching. What contact .ethod did you use? I selected sales when I submitted the form. Probably spent an hour on the phone with someone going over options and best bang for my buck.

Same. Sent a message to sales. Nothing.

 

[KirM]

Is there a question you have that one of us users may be able to answer here. Also there is a Hydros facebook group and a Hydros forum that you can join and post also.

I was looking for advice on what I need to setup a hydros system. 137 gallon tank that my goal is to have it testing and dosing.

 

[kenchilada]

Same. Sent a message to sales. Nothing.

I’d try again, or submit a support ticket and ask. I emailed sales recently about a bunch of T5 bulbs and they were super responsive.

 

[slythy]

They are just doing what corporations do

Consolidation and monopolization

A least it didn't do what Dr Fosters and Smith and Marine Depot did

Fold up their tents and close

I mostly said it in jest and kinda shocked it got so much traction. I still buy from brs lol.

I am concerned the writtings on the wall and they are gonna follow drs and marine depot. Not even sure Ryan is involved anymore

 

[n2585722]

I was looking for advice on what I need to setup a hydros system. 137 gallon tank that my goal is to have it testing and dosing.

What are the things you want to monitor such as temp and pH? The main entry system now is the Launch if you want salinity. It has 4 AC outputs and 4 drive ports which are 12v DC outputs and can control small DC pumps and 12v dosing pumps. There is a pH input port and a salinity port. There are 4 sense ports which are a input for temp, water level sensors, flow sensors and several others. Then there are 4 0-10v inputs also but these are not currently working because of a firmware glitch but will be fixed in the next firmware release, The 4 AC outlets on the Launch do not have any power monitoring on them so if that is a must and you don't need salinity then a X4 Pro Pack is what you would probably want to start with. It has the X4 and the XP8 controllers and the cable and terminators to connect them together and create a collective. The XP8 has 8 AC outlets with power monitoring. The XP8 has no inputs but in a collective inputs on other controllers can be used to control the outputs. The X4 has 2 pH or ORP ports. It has 4 sense ports and 4 0-10v inputs. It has 2 drive ports and 4 0-10v outputs. If you get to where you need more of a certain input or output then get the controller with the inputs and outputs needed and a command bus cable if you already have the Pro Pack and add it to your collective. If you do not already have a collective you will need a command bus cable for each controller you add and 2 terminators. So it is quite easy to add to the collective when needed. They Hydros system instead of a main brain and modules they decided to make each module a stand alone controller or they can be added to a collective to create the system with the inputs and outputs that you need for your system. There is also the Kraken which had 8 24v DC power outputs and 4 12v DC power outputs and it has a battery input so it will supply power to the command bus and 12v DC to it's outputs. The 24v outputs force ports as they are called is also the power input on a lot of the other controllers so you can power them with the Kraken to eliminate their power supplies. I got rid of several doing this. Below is a photo of the things I removed after getting the Kraken.

 

[areefer01]

I reached out to your technical or support team about 2 weeks ago asking for advice on products as I was thinking of changing to hydros. They NEVER replied to me. Why is that? Now I’m nervous to change if product support is this bad.

That is odd.

I sent two emails last week and both received acknowledgement within a couple of hours. Both emails had answered via Carlos within 24 hours. One was within 12.

First email in question was about the Phillips Coral Care Gen 2. I may be replacing lights and have always been interested in trying these. For planning purposes I reached out asking if they know about any changes or possible being discontinued. I said I understand if they may not be able to answer but appreciate anything they could share. They did.

Second email again went through their portal and this time asking about taking a Wave Engine LE offline and sharing it with a fellow hobbyist. To try the Hydros line with their Gyres. Anyway I got a reply back within 12 hours with a link on how I can go about unregistering so they could register and use it.

I have to say as a small user of only 1 device that I'm honestly going to give to another hobbyist they replied rather timely.

 

[SpyC]

I mostly said it in jest and kinda shocked it got so much traction. I still buy from brs lol.

I am concerned the writtings on the wall and they are gonna follow drs and marine depot. Not even sure Ryan is involved anymore

He did mention on the black friday streams he was taking a break and pursuing other ventures in the hobby. More diving and talks.

 

[rtparty]

I mostly said it in jest and kinda shocked it got so much traction. I still buy from brs lol.

I am concerned the writtings on the wall and they are gonna follow drs and marine depot. Not even sure Ryan is involved anymore

Ryan is gone. He and Jason did a live stream back earlier this year. January or February timeline. Ryan said he was taking the rest of 2024 off from YouTube to reset. He is giving talks at the RAP shows this year. So 2 more. Then he will sail off into the sunset.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

BRS videos definitely were charismatic, and they did an excellent job using selective facts to sell ideas.

I wish I could view them from the same lens as the people who found them educational. Unfortunately, I always viewed what they were doing as infomercials. Getting paid to make videos to sell products, pushing unnecessary equipment to unsuspecting new (and old) hobbyists.

That's not to say all videos were paid sponsorships, some were masked as educational and presented as factual in order to promote sales. After coming to that conclusion, I had a hard time watching them and an even harder time taking away anything that could be implemented in my day-to-day routine.

In the back of my mind, I always felt bad for the newer hobbyists who had no other means of comparison and were pulled in by the dynamics of the message and how it was presented. It manifested into a culture of people becoming blindly loyal to anything that was said, and the person who got hooked would have an easier time purchasing anything that was recommended in the hopes that it provided the slightest edge toward success.

One other thing that took a long time for me to figure out is how their videos shaped conversations in the forums, with topics being discussed based on whatever the latest offering was. It seemed as if the threads were an extension to solidify one person's opinion about a particular topic. To the unsuspecting reader that see's the same information written all over the place, they can take that as fact.

Giving credit where credit is due, BRS is/was a powerful influence in our hobby. Perhaps the lack of new content is the reason why we're seeing all this dissension. People have been told how to think for so long, and now that there isn't any guidance, they're having to either find someone else to guide them or flex their own cognitive muscles to develop a thought and carry it out on their own.

TL;DR:

The most convincing voice in the room doesn't mean it's worth listening to.

 

[KirM]

What are the things you want to monitor such as temp and pH? The main entry system now is the Launch if you want salinity. It has 4 AC outputs and 4 drive ports which are 12v DC outputs and can control small DC pumps and 12v dosing pumps. There is a pH input port and a salinity port. There are 4 sense ports which are a input for temp, water level sensors, flow sensors and several others. Then there are 4 0-10v inputs also but these are not currently working because of a firmware glitch but will be fixed in the next firmware release, The 4 AC outlets on the Launch do not have any power monitoring on them so if that is a must and you don't need salinity then a X4 Pro Pack is what you would probably want to start with. It has the X4 and the XP8 controllers and the cable and terminators to connect them together and create a collective. The XP8 has 8 AC outlets with power monitoring. The XP8 has no inputs but in a collective inputs on other controllers can be used to control the outputs. The X4 has 2 pH or ORP ports. It has 4 sense ports and 4 0-10v inputs. It has 2 drive ports and 4 0-10v outputs. If you get to where you need more of a certain input or output then get the controller with the inputs and outputs needed and a command bus cable if you already have the Pro Pack and add it to your collective. If you do not already have a collective you will need a command bus cable for each controller you add and 2 terminators. So it is quite easy to add to the collective when needed. They Hydros system instead of a main brain and modules they decided to make each module a stand alone controller or they can be added to a collective to create the system with the inputs and outputs that you need for your system. There is also the Kraken which had 8 24v DC power outputs and 4 12v DC power outputs and it has a battery input so it will supply power to the command bus and 12v DC to it's outputs. The 24v outputs force ports as they are called is also the power input on a lot of the other controllers so you can power them with the Kraken to eliminate their power supplies. I got rid of several doing this. Below is a photo of the things I removed after getting the Kraken.

Thank you for that response!!!

Currently I have a GHL system and have been very frustrated about the ION D not being available for years.
So I was thinking of changing to hydros.
Someone in here offered to sell me an ION D but then it became weird and he stopped responding. I am very happy with GHL but the ION D thing has made me want to change.
I want to monitor pH, salinity, temp and everything the Maven can.
I want auto dosing as well, and a controller for my pumps, protein skimmer, fan etc.
Sounds like the Maven is due to be released in fall, the same time the GHL ION D is supposed to be ready (which I highly doubt).
I am thinking if I do not get the ION D by fall I will change to Hydros.

 

[KirM]

That is odd.

I sent two emails last week and both received acknowledgement within a couple of hours. Both emails had answered via Carlos within 24 hours. One was within 12.

First email in question was about the Phillips Coral Care Gen 2. I may be replacing lights and have always been interested in trying these. For planning purposes I reached out asking if they know about any changes or possible being discontinued. I said I understand if they may not be able to answer but appreciate anything they could share. They did.

Second email again went through their portal and this time asking about taking a Wave Engine LE offline and sharing it with a fellow hobbyist. To try the Hydros line with their Gyres. Anyway I got a reply back within 12 hours with a link on how I can go about unregistering so they could register and use it.

I have to say as a small user of only 1 device that I'm honestly going to give to another hobbyist they replied rather timely.

I thought it odd too. I have heard that they respond quickly but that's not been my experience so far unfortunately.