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Anybody running a Hydros? (1 Viewer)

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A friend of mine gave me a Control 4 and WiFi power strip and it was very easy to setup. App always works. Equipment is easy to add. Graphs are poor, but they’re fixing to upgrade that very soon. Their devices will never go obsolete because of their infrastructure, you don't need to sell it to get the new unit. Just tie it in and add on. That is very nice. Email and Text alerts are setup automatically. I have to say it’s a very nice controller with a ton of options.


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I have 3 apex and thinking about adding one more but keep thinking I should try a hydros... its like apple vs driod
 

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its cheap enough to try out.

The wave engine is such a good idea. If anything grab a wave engine and a cheaper controller like and XS or X2.

I've been doing a bunch of home automation stuff lately, but this winter i'll finish my mix station. Hydros controlled mix station.
 
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soymilk

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one nice thing about their implementation of the alk tester is that you can connect multiple tanks to the tester. Its set up as a more diy friendly approach. Connect your choice of 120vac or 12dc dosing pump and set up the programming.

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Hydros for lyfe, wave engines, kraken, alk tester, awc’s, coooool LEDs. Apex who?

been running the system for almost a year and no issues. They said they fixed the wifi disconnect on the power strip, soy can comment on it, bc I still haven’t used mine since I opted for xp8. Someone on here had a sweet peninsula running all hydros and posted pics.
 

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i was talking to @Fr4nkTheT4nk at FJW about hydros vs apex.

Apex is great until god forbid the control dies. Then you lose everything. At least with hydros, multiple units count as a controller. So if one part dies, the rest keep going.
 

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I'm using the Hydros system and like it a lot. It's super easy to set up and the components are surprisingly affordable. I have the starter kit you got and added their ATO system.

The only gripe I have with the Hydros is that I will get randomly logged out of the phone app. Most of the time this isn't a big deal, but it it's not great if you need to do an emergency shutoff of a pump and have to spend precious seconds typing in your password. When this happened to me, it was a month or so after setup and I couldn't remember the password so I ended up having to yank power cords out of the wall plugs to avoid flooding.

Other than that, the system is pretty reliable. The control unit lost contact with the power strip a few times this year but it was really brief and hasn't happened recently.
 

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Yeah, it's a sweet controller once you get it all going. The problem is, you can keep adding and adding and adding.....The XP8 powerbar is the game changer, field leveler IMO. My thoughts are....whatever is either super critical or can nuke my tank go's on the XP8.....Ozone, Feeder, CO2 solenoid etc...what ever that could get stuck on....Everything else thats "oh well" go's on the wifi strips....sump lighting, chaeto reactor, filter roller etc. So far, super reliable, hasn't missed a beat and the support/community is robust. I've been on the phone with Connor one time and he was patient enough to spend an hour + working with my issue (dosing pump). Don't think your going to find that level of support with the other mfrs....

The new products coming out are going to also be serious game changers. I'm particularly interested in the Kraken.



My cheapie $75 iPad running Hydros.

IMG_3456.JPG
 
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Hydros for lyfe, wave engines, kraken, alk tester, awc’s, coooool LEDs. Apex who?

been running the system for almost a year and no issues. They said they fixed the wifi disconnect on the power strip, soy can comment on it, bc I still haven’t used mine since I opted for xp8. Someone on here had a sweet peninsula running all hydros and posted pics.
The WiFi strip is pretty Legit, but I definitely recommend the XP8.
 
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i was talking to @Fr4nkTheT4nk at FJW about hydros vs apex.

Apex is great until god forbid the control dies. Then you lose everything. At least with hydros, multiple units count as a controller. So if one part dies, the rest keep going.
Exactly.

Even if the internet were to go out, everything is still funcitioning locally. If the Wi-Fi router goes down, the strips continue to run in the current state, but the controller is absolutely fine, working over command bus. That is the big plus to the control XP8, wired outlets.

Will add the Control XP8. It’s an additional brain, but that is a benefit because it adds redundancy. If the X4 brain goes down XP8 picks it up. If you have the X4 all you need is a command bus Cable and two Terminators. The most Terminators you'll ever need is two, whenever you want to add more control you just need another command bus cable. There's no limit to the combination of controls you can have in one "Collective.”
 
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Yeah, it's a sweet controller once you get it all going. The problem is, you can keep adding and adding and adding.....The XP8 powerbar is the game changer, field leveler IMO. My thoughts are....whatever is either super critical or can nuke my tank go's on the XP8.....Ozone, Feeder, CO2 solenoid etc...what ever that could get stuck on....Everything else thats "oh well" go's on the wifi strips....sump lighting, chaeto reactor, filter roller etc. So far, super reliable, hasn't missed a beat and the support/community is robust. I've been on the phone with Connor one time and he was patient enough to spend an hour + working with my issue (dosing pump). Don't think your going to find that level of support with the other mfrs....

The new products coming out are going to also be serious game changers. I'm particularly interested in the Kraken.



My cheapie $75 iPad running Hydros.

IMG_3456.JPG


They going next level bro. Just wait…it’s coming.
 
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I'm using the Hydros system and like it a lot. It's super easy to set up and the components are surprisingly affordable. I have the starter kit you got and added their ATO system.

The only gripe I have with the Hydros is that I will get randomly logged out of the phone app. Most of the time this isn't a big deal, but it it's not great if you need to do an emergency shutoff of a pump and have to spend precious seconds typing in your password. When this happened to me, it was a month or so after setup and I couldn't remember the password so I ended up having to yank power cords out of the wall plugs to avoid flooding.

Other than that, the system is pretty reliable. The control unit lost contact with the power strip a few times this year but it was really brief and hasn't happened recently.
Yeah, it’s pretty good. No doubt about it. If it looses connection it’s very brief. I’m gonna eventually get a XP8. My buddy gave me this little setup, but in my option if somebody is going to buy at minimal try to get an X4 because you get so much more for just a slightly higher cost. There’s no doubt it kinda gets addictive once you see what it’s capable of.
 
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Yeah, it's a sweet controller once you get it all going. The problem is, you can keep adding and adding and adding.....The XP8 powerbar is the game changer, field leveler IMO. My thoughts are....whatever is either super critical or can nuke my tank go's on the XP8.....Ozone, Feeder, CO2 solenoid etc...what ever that could get stuck on....Everything else thats "oh well" go's on the wifi strips....sump lighting, chaeto reactor, filter roller etc. So far, super reliable, hasn't missed a beat and the support/community is robust. I've been on the phone with Connor one time and he was patient enough to spend an hour + working with my issue (dosing pump). Don't think your going to find that level of support with the other mfrs....

The new products coming out are going to also be serious game changers. I'm particularly interested in the Kraken.



My cheapie $75 iPad running Hydros.

IMG_3456.JPG
I’m digging the wall mounted iPad for a 24/7 screen.
 
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If I would have just bought a package myself…I would have got this:


They can keep that Pinpoint probe though.
 
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They also sell these little beauties.

EA8B7893-9B8A-41FD-9899-86D670447CEF.jpeg

 

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I'm using the Hydros system and like it a lot. It's super easy to set up and the components are surprisingly affordable. I have the starter kit you got and added their ATO system.

The only gripe I have with the Hydros is that I will get randomly logged out of the phone app. Most of the time this isn't a big deal, but it it's not great if you need to do an emergency shutoff of a pump and have to spend precious seconds typing in your password. When this happened to me, it was a month or so after setup and I couldn't remember the password so I ended up having to yank power cords out of the wall plugs to avoid flooding.

Other than that, the system is pretty reliable. The control unit lost contact with the power strip a few times this year but it was really brief and hasn't happened recently.


Maybe this could help?

119876AF-6EC7-4B34-9C4A-F0CB965FEC32.jpeg

Some things you can do with this box:
Use a button to enable FEED MODE, WATER CHANGE MODE, or any other pre-defined mode on your Hydros Control 4

Use a button to toggle OFF and ON any output device such as a return pump, lights, skimmer, and more.

Hydros can be programmed to toggle OFF/ON with the first push and then toggle the output ON/OFF with a second push. Or you can set a timeout for Hydros to automatically reset the output after a set time.

You can also use this box with the Hydros Wave Engine's 0-10V input port to select your preprogramed modes also!

Also have breakout boxes and all that for further customization if desired.


Looks like Hydros for the win..
 
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Gotta admit, hydros looking pretty dope even for this old school GHL guy. Wonder if coralvue customer support is different than mastertronic lol.
I love GHL equipment and I’ve had 3 or 4 of their 2.1 SA pumps. I have one running now. The problem with GHL is that their app pretty much sucks. You also need to have very good PC skills to get their equipment up and running. In fact, I don’t even try anymore. I buy a pump and get Vinny or Josh to come in remotely on Teamviewer. Once the equipment is up it’s solid, but if you do have a problem it can take a while to get fixed. If I buy another pump it will be a Red Sea Reef Dose 4.


Knowing what I know about Hydros now and all the issues I’ve been hearing from Apex uses, I’d be skeptical to upgrade to anything they have coming out new. I was waiting on a new upgrade from them for a while, but have changed my mind. Hydros is fixing to take over the controller world. They have a graph update coming soon, and many more upgrades coming down the pipe. Trust me, it’s the way to go at this point, and this is coming from a guy that’s only known Apex and the old Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper’s. My opinions are completely unbiased and I’ll prove it below:

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