Rossmont Waver world premiere: our first enthusiastic impressions

During the last weekend we had the luck to put our hands on the Rossmont Waver and give it a first preview trial (qui l’articolo in italiano).

We’ve already spoken about it recently but for those who still don’t know what the item is, the Rossmont Waver is an All in One devide that can drive the non-electronic Rossmont Mover pumps and will be also able to control even the new coming product ranges like return pumps, skimmer pumps, test devices (pH? Redox? Density?), or lamps, multisockets and many many others.

Unfortunately we’ve not had the chance to take some photos at the product itself but we can tell you something about it and show you some screenshots of the software.

First of all, though if it seems unbelievable, the product works and it truly works fine. It has been connected with different pump models, a couple of Mover MX11600, but also an MX15200 (that we’ve positively reviewed some months ago) and a smaller M7200. With all of them it had a great behavior and it was able to modulate the flow and create wonderful effects.

We’ve then learned that pumps can be adjusted from the maximum flow up to about 30% of their value, therefore more or less we should have the following flowrates for Rossmont pumps:

In this way we see some fixed flowrate pumps (already sold at a competitive price) to become incredibly attractive because we get easily adjustable pumps by just adding the controller cost.

And I can tell you that, even without instruments on hand, these are pumps which stay very quiet during operation and marea effects creations. It’s important indeed to remember that these pumps have been developed with the idea to be quiet. Moreover the pumps have a 3 year warranty, even if driven with Rossmont Waver, then I would say the possibility they could have an issue is not our concern.

Now let’s take a look at software.

Here above we see the control software with 2 pumps selected, one on channel 1 and the other on channel 2 and we can notice the curves created for each pump, the yellow and the blue ones. This operation is extremely simple, either we’re using a smartphone or a tablet or a PC, and the procedure is very easy and essential.

Just a click on a point on the graph and the pump in that specified time will have the desired flowrate.  With this simple system is very easy to define a practically perfect movement which fits our aquarium. Then the points can be edited, raised, decreased, changed and more.

In addiction to this, it’s possible to create events, like the red one in the graphic, where it is possible to choose different wave patterns, random waves, soft currents, either stopping pumps and many more other possibilities we’ll see in detail when we’ll be able to make a full review. Obviously the events themselves can have a whichever preferred duration and can be unlimited and different one from the other.

Here above it’s shown the moment of fish food function, when pumps are lowered at minimum power for five minutes after the pressure of the dedicated button.

All of this (and now the best news) governed by a web application: instead of creating a touch panel, or custom application for each device, Rossmont has decided to develop an application that through the wi-fi generated by the product itself could interact identically with every accessory in a simple and intuitive manner but especially (up to now) with the same interface for every connected device. This is almost similar to what Ecotech Marine has done with its Ecosmart Live and Reeflink.

From this point of view we can say that Reeflink and Rossmont Waver are really very similar in dimensions but while Reeflink can be controlled only by the application, the Rossmont Waver has a capacitive touch button which allows us in an intuitive and easy manner either to stop pumps or get them at minimum power to let us feed fishes or even to reset the system, in addition to what will be customizable in the future.

In the photo we can see the capacitive touch button in the center and (not visible here but present) two small blue LEDs just below the two channels of the pumps, that pulse by following the selected programs,  with a discrete light which is not annoying even when lights are turned off during the night.

Let’s now arrive at end-users prices with the Rossmont Waver sold at 249 €. Sure it’s not a painless price, but we have to consider that with 2 Mover MX13400 we’re able to create a competitive system vs. Ecotech Marine’s Vortech at about half the price.

Once we’ll be able to fully test it, we’ll let you know if, in our opinion, it’s worth the value, but we can say we’ve liked so much what we’ve already seen. We’ve been enthusiastic!

In addition to the Waver Master, as announced, there will be available the Waver Slave connection modules, which will give the chance to increase infinitely the connected equipment at a price of 199 €. If these prices could be competitive with some pumps by Ecotech Marine and Tunze, fur sure they’ll get more appeal when other applicable devices will be added, for example a return pump, lightings, power units, and many others.

What do you think?