For those of us who, like me, were looking forward to picking one up this month: it's been delayed from its original release date of black friday, and there is no new confirmed release date.
Hydros Maven delayed
- Thread starter IOnceWasLegend
- Start date
Some people got an e-mail; I placed a preorder through an LFS, though, and I found out via the Hydros FB group.
@phatduckk How'd your Trident NP end up working out?
Also, responding to the second part of your comment: all we have is conjecture, but I'd imagine that NO3/PO4 testing in the format they're using (air bubbles IIRC) is probably challenging to get dialed in, which could be a reason for the delay. I'm a bit frustrated, since I thought, "Surely they won't delay it when it's only a month away" and started migrating my system to Hydros, and will now have to maintain an Apex/Trident along with my Hydros equipment until it releases.
MarcosD
Supporting Member
That is frustrating. I thought the timing was perfect because it would line up around when I would be setting up the new tank and I wanted to get it setup from the start. Hopefully the new date is not too far out from the original release date.
I'd like to be cautiously optimistic, but given the challenges of automated NO3/PO4 testing and the fact they waited till this late to announce a delay, I'm doubtful.
SupraSaltyReefer
Supporting Member
Hydros Maven Release Date Delayed: No Longer Available For Black Friday | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
Hydros manufacturer Coral Vue told its customers yesterday that the release date for the much anticipated Maven had been delayed. Originally penciled in to be available to purchase on November 29…
reefbuilders.com
I would not base your controller decision on the delay of a nutrient testing device. Hydros is pretty awesome.
MarcosD
Supporting Member
I just feel like I’m going to get lazy and not setup a controller later on if I don’t do it during initial setup of the new tank lol. I just got confirmation that new tanks are getting delivered next Thursday. So waiting around a few months for something that still isn’t even ready doesn’t sound like the best plan. I do have to look up reviews on the new neptune NP though. If they’re not good I’ll probably just end up with no controller again haha
My suggestion would be one of two things, if you're interested in Hydros but just don't want to wait for the Maven:
1. Pre-set up where it will be mounted in the cabinet, where bottles will go, etc.
2. Ask if you care about nutrients, or if you just care about the big elements, or if you just care about alkalinity.
If nutrients, and you don't want to wait: Trident NP is pretty much the only way to go right now.
If big elements: Trident original.
If you just care about alkalinity: Hydros X10 and IV.
phatduckk
Supporting Member
It’s ok. I sent it back and got a second one which seemed correct compared to other tests. But as the reagents got low it go way out of whack and nitrate was off by like 30ppt. Changing reagent fixed that.
It’s a meh unit. Not something I would 100% recommend
I have a hard time trusting any automated testing and monitoring equipment. It requires constant (human) monitoring and calibration. I’d use human medical monitoring and testing equipment as a direct comparison. It’s all fallible - could be hardware, could be software… could be as simple as testing probe is dirty, not plugged in right, sensor is too expensive to replace quarterly, etc…
Even then when dealing with a reputable system, something dropping a weird bomb in your tank, sensor doesn’t know it’s not specifically related and the doser empties the container. Oops.
TL;DR of the video for those who didn't watch it: No release date still, reveal that reagents are going to be DRM'd, and give an update a bunch of the issues they had (and how they solved them).
Feels like my suspicion after the delay was right: they didn't have a product, announced way earlier than they should have to try and blunt Neptune's momentum, and waited until shortly before the initial launch date to announce the delay when they knew WELL in advance they weren't going to make it.
MarcosD
Supporting Member
I watched the video, is it just me or did they not mention all the “new features” they were going to be adding that was partially cause for the delay. To me it just seemed like the delay was simply due to not having a finished product to release
100%, and I called that the moment they delayed it. The delay was only a few weeks before its original release date; at that point you should have design finished and final models in production, not 'adding additional features.'
The cherry on the top is them encouraging third-party reagents for the Neptune system, while DRMing reagents for the Maven to ensure people can't do the same for them, under the guise of 'ensuring reagent quality.'
KH Guardian takes it a step further. If you use non-genuine reagent, it bricks your machine and you have to send it back to the company to have it unlocked. For you safety and to protect the machine from malfunction they say
No one has fully figured how it knows, but the reagent has a green tint that the machine someone reads to determine if it's genuine.