Getting Started With Coralvue Hydros

[Black Dog Reefing]

Hi all!

I’m looking to buy into the Coralvue Hydros system wanted some opinions on how I plan to do it.

What I am looking to achieve:
I want to have the basic controller features (salinity, temp, ph) as well as dosing and auto testing. I also want to control my pumps (2 wavemakers and a return pump) as well as be able to set up custom modes like a feed mode that shuts down pumps and my skimmer with one push of a button (if this is possible). With auto testing done through the Maven, I would like that to communicate with the Minnow and tell it to dose what the tank needs to achieve a certain number (again, if this is possible?)

What I am looking at and why:

• X4 Pro Pack- I plan to use the X4 as the main controller and the XP8 to plug in things that more or less just need power, not full control such as my skimmer, heaters, and lights. I have 1 Ecotech XR30 (center of the tank where sps is) and 2 AI primes (left and right side of the tank where my spa and euphylia gardens are). I can use the mobius app to control those and don’t really need to change them much on a day to day basis.
• Minnow- I currently and only plan to dose All For Reef (covers DKH, Calc, Mag, and trace) and ESV Nitrate as my nitrates are always low in my systems. This is why I chose the minnow/X4 over the X10. I’d hate to have two dosing heads sitting idle especially for how much the X10 cost. With the Minnow/X4 combo I will get more usable ports and still save a little money. Like I stated before, my main desire for this whole system is for the minnow to automatically dose either of my two additives based on the results of the Maven testing, is this an option? Or will I have to manually change dosing amount for the minnow?
• Wave Engine- I will be using 2 Icecap Gyre 2ks and a Sicce SDC 9.0. The gyres will hook right in and work seamlessly. I understand Coralvue added the capability to add a Sicce pump into the Hydros app but not hook it into any of the controllers (I think?). Ideally I would like the wave engine to power all three if possible, but to my understanding you just get wifi connection to the Sicce devices and can monitor it in the Hydros app. (Please correct me if I am wrong).
• Maven- Obviously not out yet but will be purchasing upon release to run along side the minnow as long as my plan stated above would work.

Questions:

• What kind of odds and ends will I need? I know the pro pack comes with a few cables but I know I’ll need more than that
• What all does the XP8 do? Is it just a power strip or will i have control over the things plugged into it?
• For what i’m looking to achieve, is there any other modules I should consider?
• I am sure I will think of a million more questions lol so I apologize in advance

 

[slogan315]

I’ve been thinking about doing something similar. The only change I would suggest is to look it using the hydros launch with independent dosing pumps instead of the x4 and minnow.

Pros:
1. Only the x10 and launch have salinity ports
2. The launch gives you 2 more drive ports (4 in total), which can be used with hydros dosing pumps. This gives you the 2 pumps you need with the flexibility to add more if you ever need.
3. Single controller instead of 2
4. Overall cost

Cons:
1. 4 less controllable outlets.
2. A few less sense ports


But you know your needs better than me. Your plan sounds well thought out either way!

 

[Black Dog Reefing]

I’ve been thinking about doing something similar. The only change I would suggest is to look it using the hydros launch with independent dosing pumps instead of the x4 and minnow.

Pros:
1. Only the x10 and launch have salinity ports
2. The launch gives you 2 more drive ports (4 in total), which can be used with hydros dosing pumps. This gives you the 2 pumps you need with the flexibility to add more if you ever need.
3. Single controller instead of 2
4. Overall cost

Cons:
1. 4 less controllable outlets.
2. A few less sense ports


But you know your needs better than me. Your plan sounds well thought out either way!

That’s an interesting thought! I really liked the launch when I first came across as well as I already have a Kamoer dosing pump. My only concern was the 4 less outlets, which I’m on the fence about. I guess I still don’t fully understand what the dedicated outlets do. If there’s no advantage of plugging things my lights into the controller, then I can just plug them into the wall and that frees up three more plugs which I think would work out for the launch. The other advantage the minnow has in my thought process would be the advantage of it being able to talk with the maven (which I’m also unsure if that’s true) do you know if that’s the case? Would the same be true with something like a kamoer since it’s also the coralvue family?

 

[n2585722]

That’s an interesting thought! I really liked the launch when I first came across as well as I already have a Kamoer dosing pump. My only concern was the 4 less outlets, which I’m on the fence about. I guess I still don’t fully understand what the dedicated outlets do. If there’s no advantage of plugging things my lights into the controller, then I can just plug them into the wall and that frees up three more plugs which I think would work out for the launch. The other advantage the minnow has in my thought process would be the advantage of it being able to talk with the maven (which I’m also unsure if that’s true) do you know if that’s the case? Would the same be true with something like a kamoer since it’s also the coralvue family?

You can always add an XP8 later and start a collective. You can expand your system by adding more controllers with the ports you need. It would take enough command bus cables to connect them together and a couple of terminators. Two terminators is all you will need per collective.

 

[slogan315]

I’ll start by saying, I don’t know for sure on any of it. I haven’t used any of the equipment personally.

For outlets: My guess is like the apex power bars, they can track power usage and other stats. Also, I think hydros has a limit to the number of wifi controllable devices. So WiFi outlets would have a limit. But I’d guess you can chain as many xp8 bars together as you’d like and have “unlimited” controllable outlets.

for maven connectivity: my guess is the maven results can be a trigger/event. And you can perform any hydros action based on the event.

Not sure on the kamoer integration. It would be cool though if the kamoer 4 head wifi dosing pump (F4 I think?) was controllable through hydros.

 

[SliceGolfer]

There is a great source of product information in CoralVue’s YT channel and FB group. Have been learning a lot myself from these two sources.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/hydrosgroup/?ref=sharehttps://m.facebook.com/groups/hydrosgroup/?ref=share&exp=93fa

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

I know people using hydros with great success and very happy with it.

It’s the route I’ll be going.

 

[Black Dog Reefing]

You can always add an XP8 later and start a collective. You can expand your system by adding more controllers with the ports you need. It would take enough command bus cables to connect them together and a couple of terminators. Two terminators is all you will need per collective.

So if I have the launch/X4 connected to the wave engine through command bus and then I connect the 2 ice cap gyres to the wave engine, do the gyres still need to plug into an outlet? Or does the wave engine power them?

 

[slogan315]

So if I have the launch/X4 connected to the wave engine through command bus and then I connect the 2 ice cap gyres to the wave engine, do the gyres still need to plug into an outlet? Or does the wave engine power them?

The wave engine will power the gyres. For power to flow from the controller to wave engine, make sure you get the data+power command bus cables. Otherwise, you’ll need to power the wave engine separately. https://www.coralvue.com/hydros-sys...nd Bus,communicates with other HYDROS devices.

 

[Black Dog Reefing]

The wave engine will power the gyres. For power to flow from the controller to wave engine, make sure you get the data+power command bus cables. Otherwise, you’ll need to power the wave engine separately. https://www.coralvue.com/hydros-system-command-bus-cable#:~:text=This HYDROS System Command Bus,communicates with other HYDROS devices.

Okay that was one thing I was concerned about, thank you!

 

[n2585722]

The wave engine will power the gyres. For power to flow from the controller to wave engine, make sure you get the data+power command bus cables. Otherwise, you’ll need to power the wave engine separately. https://www.coralvue.com/hydros-system-command-bus-cable#:~:text=This HYDROS System Command Bus,communicates with other HYDROS devices.

The Wave Engine will needs it own power supply for the direct drive ports to have any power. That can be done with the power supply that comes with the Wave Engine or using a Kraken force port. Also you will need adapter cables to go from the type of connector on those pumps and the GX12 connectors on the Wave Engine.

 

[n2585722]

Okay that was one thing I was concerned about, thank you!

The pumps themselves will plug into the direct drive ports of a Wave Engine using adapter cables so you will not be using the pumps controller. Also the Wave engine will need power connected to it's power port by either the power supply that comes with the Wave Engine or using a force port of the Kraken.

 

[Black Dog Reefing]

The Wave Engine will needs it own power supply for the direct drive ports to have any power. That can be done with the power supply that comes with the Wave Engine or using a Kraken force port. Also you will need adapter cables to go from the type of connector on those pumps and the GX12 connectors on the Wave Engine.

I believe they come with the proper connection as they are shipped with the wave engine as its primary controller? I could be wrong but I just figured they would match up if that’s how they are shipped.

IceCap 2K Gyre Flow Pump With WaveEngine LE WiFi Controller

Max Flow 2,000gph | 8~25 watts | 20-90+ gallonsIncludes 2K Gyre Pump, power supply and WaveEngine LE WiFi ControllerApplicable for glass or acrylic aquariums up to 1/2 in thick.

www.coralvue.com

 

[n2585722]

I believe they come with the proper connection as they are shipped with the wave engine as its primary controller? I could be wrong but I just figured they would match up if that’s how they are shipped.

IceCap 2K Gyre Flow Pump With WaveEngine LE WiFi Controller

Max Flow 2,000gph | 8~25 watts | 20-90+ gallonsIncludes 2K Gyre Pump, power supply and WaveEngine LE WiFi ControllerApplicable for glass or acrylic aquariums up to 1/2 in thick.

www.coralvue.com

That one comes with the Wave Engine LE. It will probably have one adapter since it comes with the one pump. If you get another pump you will need to get the adapter also to hook it up. The old IceCap controllers used the Hydros app but could not become a member of a Hydros collective. The WELE can be a member of the collective so now the new IceCaps come with the WELE.