Is Ecotech ever going to make a controller?

[JoshH]

My bad, I was still thinking of yesterdays's thread content about how reagent is a forced subscription model etc. Was biased. I do agree with your post regarding GHL having the R&D budget and experience to do ionic probes well.

There is also Xepta going the route of ionic probes, but I have not heard anything in months and months about their progress.

No worries, I just really didn't want to see what I said lead down the whole subscription rabbit hole the thread seems to flirt with daily lol

I haven't heard much about Xepta either which is why I sort-of left them out of the convo. They are new to the scene and who knows if things will pan out for them. I hope so, but in today's market it might be a long road.

 

[JoshH]

That's not true, xepta was the pioneer in ion prope. Although they're extremely silent, they're more than likely making progress as well.

Answered above, however I don't entirely by they were the "First" to pioneer the probe route. Maybe the first to open there mouths about it... I also don't agree with there statements that GHL practically "stole" there idea. Just my thoughts and everyone can agree or disagree

 

[User1]

I also thought it would be an ion probe design!
It’s kind of strange that no one has been able to successfully produce an ion based system.

It isn't easy. Probably not impossible but defiantly challenges has we have seen by delays and what not. By no means bashing just pointing out that in the end it does come down to dollars and sense

 

[Letterkenny]

My bad, I was still thinking of yesterdays's thread content about how reagent is a forced subscription model etc. Was biased. I do agree with your post regarding GHL having the R&D budget and experience to do ionic probes well.

There is also Xepta going the route of ionic probes, but I have not heard anything in months and months about their progress.

Agreed - it’s like saying gas is a forced subscription model for a car.

 

[LiamPM]

Agreed - it’s like saying gas is a forced subscription model for a car.

No no no..........Gas is a "pay to play" model

Test kit reagents are a "pay to play" model

Trident reagents are a "subscribe for my time frame or else dont use me" model

just kidding.........or flirting......either one

 

[KarlsReef]

I agree with you, they could be looked at as subscriptions, the only difference being the others stated I get to choose when to renew my subscription and can dictate how it’s used. If I top my car up with one months subscription I could make it last for a year if I want, so I’m not locked into a timeframe and can still use it after a one time purchase.

Trident dictates to you, and you can’t prolong it, just speed it up. If you don’t subscribe to it it’s useless after the subscription time.

Likewise with the trident you can choose to close it down if you wise, just like the car argument. The reason for the minimum daily testing being 4 is so tubes are not clogged, titration liquids don't go bad or got to waste. If you want a Trident you want a Trident and probably don't mind the buying of liquids, but if you don't like the thought of this "subscription" as some of you are negatively calling it don't buy a Trident.. But guess what for sure what ever auto testing option Ecotec may or may not be working on, or any of the other options would also require a purchase of top up kits. It's a personal choice, but it is really like having to buy salt for our beloved hobby. It's needed to continue in what we love, except you don't HAVE to but a Trident if you don't like the idea of it. Testing costs money every way you look at it just varies the option you choose.

 

[YankeeTankee]

ECOTECH - we want a controller from you, a more reliable one, you can charge extra.

 

[naterealbig]

Interesting conversation. Ecotech strikes me as the company that would buy-up Mind Stream and pick up where they left off. Except make it work

 

[KarlsReef]

I'm all for different companies bring competition to the table, but they must be consistent and strong products, if any bugs they need to be fixed quickly. I don't like the thought of a completely cloud based service especially as in Ecotech's case Bluetooth LE is the communication method currently, without a hub there is no way of contacting the system or equipment when not within range. Some for of HUB or hard wired access point would sort this, the individual equipment items all have independent memory so don't require a controller to tell them what to do, however you have no way of knowing about any issues when outside of the range. I'd love to se them sort this issue, like activating the wifi on the products like it quoted would the in a later firmware update... However I think that could have been some marketing speak to make customers think it'd be returning. It seemed like a bit of a backward step techwise to me. Neptune Systems aren't beyond problems, event tho I much prefer their controller based approach, just wise their UK support was stronger and the pricing wasn't so wild... Mind you Ecotech aren't cheap either. I just want great products ✌

 

[JoshH]

Interesting conversation. Ecotech strikes me as the company that would buy-up Mind Stream and pick up where they left off. Except make it work

I agree, It would have been a good way to slide into the testing market with little R&D on there end. But I'm not sure who, if anyone, actually bought mindstream

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Agreed - it’s like saying gas is a forced subscription model for a car.

Likewise with the trident you can choose to close it down if you wise, just like the car argument. The reason for the minimum daily testing being 4 is so tubes are not clogged, titration liquids don't go bad or got to waste. If you want a Trident you want a Trident and probably don't mind the buying of liquids, but if you don't like the thought of this "subscription" as some of you are negatively calling it don't buy a Trident.. But guess what for sure what ever auto testing option Ecotec may or may not be working on, or any of the other options would also require a purchase of top up kits. It's a personal choice, but it is really like having to buy salt for our beloved hobby. It's needed to continue in what we love, except you don't HAVE to but a Trident if you don't like the idea of it. Testing costs money every way you look at it just varies the option you choose.

These points have been made and argued previously.

It boils down to options, $15 for a bag of citric acid to make a lifetime supply of reagent for an alkatronic or $45 a month for the life of your Trident. That's where I based my decision. 7 months of owning and operating Trident paid for an alkatronic. The sad thing is, trident users will still be paying for reagent, while alkatronic users no longer require monthly fee to operate the unit.

Playing semantics over the use of the word "subscription" is irrelevant. There is a monthly cost to operate this piece of equipment?

But again, we're being dragged down into this argument again...

 

[TheHarold]

These points have been made and argued previously.

It boils down to options, $15 for a bag of citric acid to make a lifetime supply of reagent for an alkatronic or $45 a month for the life of your Trident. That's where I based my decision. 7 months of owning and operating Trident paid for an alkatronic. The sad thing is, trident users will still be paying for reagent, while alkatronic users no longer require monthly fee to operate the unit.

Playing semantics over the use of the word "subscription" is irrelevant. There is a monthly cost to operate this piece of equipment?

But again, we're being dragged down into this argument again...

If you're going back into it.... get the cost numbers right . T

$45 is for 2 months, and it is down to $33 for 2 months when they offer the 6 month package again after covid ($200/year). And the Alkatronic measures one thing rather than Trident's 3.

$900 for an Alkatronic unit that just measures alk, or $600 +$200/year for a Trident measuring Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Clear decision for me.

Lets just stop bringing it up here . Agree to disagree on the Trident (While please presenting actual valid information), and lets talk about Ecotech's controller

 

[LiamPM]

Likewise with the trident you can choose to close it down if you wise, just like the car argument. The reason for the minimum daily testing being 4 is so tubes are not clogged, titration liquids don't go bad or got to waste. If you want a Trident you want a Trident and probably don't mind the buying of liquids, but if you don't like the thought of this "subscription" as some of you are negatively calling it don't buy a Trident.. But guess what for sure what ever auto testing option Ecotec may or may not be working on, or any of the other options would also require a purchase of top up kits. It's a personal choice, but it is really like having to buy salt for our beloved hobby. It's needed to continue in what we love, except you don't HAVE to but a Trident if you don't like the idea of it. Testing costs money every way you look at it just varies the option you choose.

It was completely tongue in cheek, although I disagree to the extent that you can’t just stop testing then start testing again when you want because as you say, it’s to stop clogged lines. I can leave my car for a 3 month vacation it will still work when I’m back, I guess my trident will be clogged with out of date reagent, or will it, anyone left it to clog?

Does the DOS need to constantly run to prevent clogged lines too?

What was the original post about Again?

 

[LadyTang2]

If Ecotech made a higher quality power bar with a low failure rate that alone would sell me. Happy to pay more for quality. Them making the mindstream work is pretty unlikely but if they did, that would be a gamechanger.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I think whether or not they admit it, most companies are trying to offer a solution into automated testing.

For me, the hard part is going to be, how to keep monthly costs down while still providing accurate reliable results. Although that's not top priority for any company, but as a user that's what I value.

 

[joshwaggs]

Xepta seems too good. Like someone-is-punking-the-hobby, good.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

$900 for an Alkatronic unit that just measures alk, or $600 +$200/year for a Trident measuring Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Clear decision for me.

I'm of the camp that if alk is stable so are all the others. Although those numbers can fall out of line, it's very unlikely and doesn't happen over night. Plus if you're using a CaRx they may never. Although it's a warm fuzzy to have your calcium and magnesium presented to you daily, there's zero need for it.

I would've like to see trident test alk, po4 and no3. Then I wouldn't have a hard time with recurring reagent costs.

But for alk alone? I'd ride the alkatronic train all day long.

 

[Letterkenny]

I'm of the camp that if alk is stable so are all the others. Although those numbers can fall out of line, it's very unlikely and doesn't happen over night. Plus if you're using a CaRx they may never. Although it's a warm fuzzy to have your calcium and magnesium presented to you daily, there's zero need for it.

I would've like to see trident test alk, po4 and no3. Then I wouldn't have a hard time with recurring reagent costs.

But for alk alone? I'd ride the alkatronic train all day long.

I just want automatic No3 and PO4 period. Looks like it might be coming with the Mastertronic?

 

[robbyg]

If Ecotech made a higher quality power bar with a low failure rate that alone would sell me. Happy to pay more for quality. Them making the mindstream work is pretty unlikely but if they did, that would be a gamechanger.

The Mindstream is out of their reach but as Arnold would say.

 

[User1]

If you're going back into it.... get the cost numbers right . T

$45 is for 2 months, and it is down to $33 for 2 months when they offer the 6 month package again after covid ($200/year). And the Alkatronic measures one thing rather than Trident's 3.

$900 for an Alkatronic unit that just measures alk, or $600 +$200/year for a Trident measuring Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Clear decision for me.

Lets just stop bringing it up here . Agree to disagree on the Trident (While please presenting actual valid information), and lets talk about Ecotech's controller

You had to go there, didn't you Just kidding.

I personally wish they wouldn't make a controller but rather look at GHL and Apex to see if they can tie to the two together like middleware in the software industry (tibco, dell boomi, etc). Junction box for others to use to connect if that makes sense. I was thinking Coralvue was going this route possibly since they did the Hydros thingy. Actually is one banging device that clears up power bricks and cables honestly. Not that I own one but the idea is sound.

Too many apps, dongles, and other doo hickeys in our hobby. There is room for the two controllers because oddly enough they do sort of complement one another. I mean neither will put the other out of business so we are safe that way with our investment. I like that. You start cluttering the market and we will get stuck with popular rather than functional.

Just my opinion anyway.