What Happened to Digital Aquatics?

NEOgeorge · 07/06/2018, 12:57 PM

I just received my ReefKeeper Lite - tried to find the myReef software and the company web site has been removed. Looks like all online resellers are listing the products as discontinued.

n2585722 · 07/06/2018, 02:45 PM

They got out of the aquarium controller business.

NEOgeorge · 07/06/2018, 04:30 PM

Looks like they abandoned support for the product as well.

tdhnry · 07/07/2018, 08:31 AM

They got "Apexed".

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

NEOgeorge · 07/07/2018, 08:35 AM

I'm considering returning the ReefKeeper Lite. It's a good price, but since Digital Aquatics has removed links to the user guide and myReef software, and there is no technical or warranty support, I'm thinking it makes more sense to dive a bit deeper and get the Apex Jr.

tdhnry · 07/07/2018, 08:42 AM

That makes a lot of sense

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

nikon187 · 07/07/2018, 01:01 PM

um the archon...

NEOgeorge · 07/07/2018, 03:10 PM

don't understand your archon reference???

top shelf · 07/07/2018, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEOgeorge

don't understand your archon reference???

It's another controller made by digital aquatics, I would imagine if they abandoned everything for the reefkeeper that controller would be no different.

NEOgeorge · 07/07/2018, 05:37 PM

I searched on archon, and it appears all support is gone. A reference mentioned that a company name Dynon or something had purchased DA a year or so back. The way that the company discontinued the product and immediately removed all supporting documentation is a raise of the middle finger to the reefing community. Resellers of the product should be informing customers that they are buying an unsupported, non-warranted product, and the price should be reduced by half to account for the associated risk.

windlasher · 07/07/2018, 08:08 PM

This makes me glad I went whole hog and bought the apex 8 months ago when they were on my list of consideration. The very least companies could do when they abandon ship is release the code for the software for free in the public domain so others who might need it and whom supported them can maybe get some use out of it. Just disappearing is sooooo pathetic.

oceanscurve · 07/07/2018, 08:15 PM

Not sure if this helps but here's the archived webpage:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160627...efkeeper-lite/

ReefCowboy · 07/07/2018, 09:49 PM

That should be a warning sign to reefers about new controller companies. They come out promising and can sound interesting, but it is a tough business to be in and when they bail, the customer ends up with a totally useless piece if equipment.

I would be really upset right now if I had gotten a RK

windlasher · 07/08/2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefCowboy

That should be a warning sign to reefers about new controller companies. They come out promising and can sound interesting, but it is a tough business to be in and when they bail, the customer ends up with a totally useless piece if equipment.

I would be really upset right now if I had gotten a RK

They weren't New. Around for many years. Just couldn't hang. Failure to innovate.

nikon187 · 07/08/2018, 11:26 AM

didnt relise they stopped support on the archon as well. ( newest controller )
APEX for the win i suppose. Maybe mindstream will be out this decade

2000se · 07/08/2018, 12:16 PM

Not too sure if I would abandon so quickly if you already have all the equipment. If you have all the necessary pieces it should work as expected whether the company is in business or not. If you're looking to get into the controller scene and are looking to purchase, then yes, probably not go with DA.

NEOgeorge · 07/08/2018, 12:59 PM

All I have is the Basic Lite, just purchased. Had no idea that DA went out of business and took down their web site and all support. The 5% discount that I got from BRS is no where near enough of a "sale" to cover an as-is, non-supported product with no warranty.

2000se · 07/08/2018, 02:54 PM

^ agree.
I meant 'if' you had a bunch of there equipment already...

evolusion · 07/08/2018, 03:15 PM

Is there somewhere to get a mirror of the software?

NEOgeorge · 07/08/2018, 03:19 PM

oceans curve provided an archive link in this thread, although I haven't tested the s/w download yet...

evolusion · 07/08/2018, 03:33 PM

yeah i checked and nope only a few pdf's pull up like a mounting guide... user guides and etc all error out. Would have been nice if they just open sourced their stuff for the people that did invest in their system,

rvareef · 07/08/2018, 03:41 PM

what a bummer!

n2585722 · 07/08/2018, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEOgeorge

I searched on archon, and it appears all support is gone. A reference mentioned that a company name Dynon or something had purchased DA a year or so back. The way that the company discontinued the product and immediately removed all supporting documentation is a raise of the middle finger to the reefing community. Resellers of the product should be informing customers that they are buying an unsupported, non-warranted product, and the price should be reduced by half to account for the associated risk.

Dynon has always been the parent company for Digital Aquatics. They make avionics electronics.

ReefCowboy · 07/08/2018, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windlasher

They weren't New. Around for many years. Just couldn't hang. Failure to innovate.

I was referring to other new controllers that just hit the market.

kurt_n · 07/08/2018, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000se

Not too sure if I would abandon so quickly if you already have all the equipment. If you have all the necessary pieces it should work as expected whether the company is in business or not...

It should, but it seemed to be hit and miss. For some folks, there seemed to be a lot of personalized support from DA to get things working right. It's a shame they just washed their hands of it.

07/06/2018, 12:57 PM	#1
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	What Happened to Digital Aquatics? I just received my ReefKeeper Lite - tried to find the myReef software and the company web site has been removed. Looks like all online resellers are listing the products as discontinued.

07/07/2018, 08:31 AM	#4
tdhnry Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New York Posts: 289	They got "Apexed". Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ 3x250w HQI's, 1/4hp Chiller, Tunze Wavebox, Tunze 6100, Reefkeeper 2 and RKL, Litermeter III w/PM Kalkreactor, PM Carbon Reactor, Mag 12, SWC xtreme 180 Skimmer Current Tank Info: 125gal reef tank

07/07/2018, 08:42 AM	#6
tdhnry Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New York Posts: 289	That makes a lot of sense Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ 3x250w HQI's, 1/4hp Chiller, Tunze Wavebox, Tunze 6100, Reefkeeper 2 and RKL, Litermeter III w/PM Kalkreactor, PM Carbon Reactor, Mag 12, SWC xtreme 180 Skimmer Current Tank Info: 125gal reef tank

07/07/2018, 01:01 PM	#7
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	um the archon... __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

07/07/2018, 08:08 PM	#11
windlasher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 504	This makes me glad I went whole hog and bought the apex 8 months ago when they were on my list of consideration. The very least companies could do when they abandon ship is release the code for the software for free in the public domain so others who might need it and whom supported them can maybe get some use out of it. Just disappearing is sooooo pathetic. __________________ --- PLEASE HELP SAVE THE DOLPHINS In case we run out of chicken. ---

07/06/2018, 02:45 PM	#2
n2585722 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Tx Posts: 1,072	They got out of the aquarium controller business.

07/06/2018, 04:30 PM	#3
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	Looks like they abandoned support for the product as well.

07/07/2018, 08:35 AM	#5
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	I'm considering returning the ReefKeeper Lite. It's a good price, but since Digital Aquatics has removed links to the user guide and myReef software, and there is no technical or warranty support, I'm thinking it makes more sense to dive a bit deeper and get the Apex Jr.

07/07/2018, 03:10 PM	#8
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	don't understand your archon reference???

07/07/2018, 05:37 PM	#10
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	I searched on archon, and it appears all support is gone. A reference mentioned that a company name Dynon or something had purchased DA a year or so back. The way that the company discontinued the product and immediately removed all supporting documentation is a raise of the middle finger to the reefing community. Resellers of the product should be informing customers that they are buying an unsupported, non-warranted product, and the price should be reduced by half to account for the associated risk.

07/07/2018, 08:15 PM	#12
oceanscurve Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 50	Not sure if this helps but here's the archived webpage: https://web.archive.org/web/20160627...efkeeper-lite/

07/07/2018, 09:49 PM	#13
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	That should be a warning sign to reefers about new controller companies. They come out promising and can sound interesting, but it is a tough business to be in and when they bail, the customer ends up with a totally useless piece if equipment. I would be really upset right now if I had gotten a RK __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

07/08/2018, 11:26 AM	#15
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	didnt relise they stopped support on the archon as well. ( newest controller ) APEX for the win i suppose. Maybe mindstream will be out this decade __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

07/08/2018, 12:16 PM	#16
2000se Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: charlotte Posts: 532	Not too sure if I would abandon so quickly if you already have all the equipment. If you have all the necessary pieces it should work as expected whether the company is in business or not. If you're looking to get into the controller scene and are looking to purchase, then yes, probably not go with DA.

07/08/2018, 12:59 PM	#17
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	All I have is the Basic Lite, just purchased. Had no idea that DA went out of business and took down their web site and all support. The 5% discount that I got from BRS is no where near enough of a "sale" to cover an as-is, non-supported product with no warranty.

07/08/2018, 02:54 PM	#18
2000se Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: charlotte Posts: 532	^ agree. I meant 'if' you had a bunch of there equipment already...

07/08/2018, 03:15 PM	#19
evolusion Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 6	Is there somewhere to get a mirror of the software?

07/08/2018, 03:19 PM	#20
NEOgeorge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 39	oceans curve provided an archive link in this thread, although I haven't tested the s/w download yet...

07/08/2018, 03:33 PM	#21
evolusion Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 6	yeah i checked and nope only a few pdf's pull up like a mounting guide... user guides and etc all error out. Would have been nice if they just open sourced their stuff for the people that did invest in their system,

07/08/2018, 03:41 PM	#22
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	what a bummer!