App Patch Notes


ReefBreeders App · Patch Notes

ReefBreeders 2.0.0

Our biggest release yet.

This is our largest app update to date, and the vast majority of it is available to current Meridian & Photon V2 Pro owners.

The release includes 14 features and improvements, Bluetooth control, and a long list of quality-of-life upgrades, all added to lights you already own.

Our goal has always been to keep making your lights better after purchase. This update continues that commitment, while also introducing a few optional Premium tools for hobbyists who want to take their system even further.

Meridian & Photon V2 Pro Owners

Included

Bluetooth Control Is Here

Meridian lights can now be controlled without an external WiFi router. Your phone still needs an internet connection while using the app, and 5G/LTE works perfectly. Once your schedule is programmed, the light continues running it without maintaining an active connection.

  • To enter Bluetooth mode, press and hold the reset button for approximately 4 seconds until the indicator LED turns purple. The light will reboot into Bluetooth mode.
  • To return to WiFi mode, press and hold the button for approximately 4 seconds until the LED turns blue, then release.

Bluetooth-enabled firmware began shipping in mid-June 2026. Earlier lights only require a quick firmware update.

*Some older Photons (flat reset button) require a hardware upgrade.

Precision Dimming Slider

The redesigned segment power slider dedicates the first half of its range to 0–10%, adjustable in 0.1% increments. Plus/minus buttons allow precise adjustments, and Android no longer resets segments to 30% when exiting with the back arrow.

Program-Wide Intensity Slider

Scale an entire lighting schedule from 100% to 1% while preserving color balance. The same control is also available in Manual Mode.

Quick-Apply Program Toggle

Apply any saved program with a single tap, ideal for photography or maintenance presets.

Smarter Device Management

A cleaner, more reliable way to manage every light in your system.

Saved WiFi passwords: Your network password is now stored locally, so you no longer have to enter it by hand for every light. Adding multiple fixtures at once is far faster.
Mixed-length Edge bar grouping: Edge bars that share the same color spectrum can now be grouped together regardless of their length, not just bars of matching size.
Automatic pairing after removal: Accidentally deleted a light? It now enters pairing mode on its own. No more resetting the fixture by hand to get it back (June 2026 firmware or newer).
Displayed unique IDs: Each device shows its unique ID, making it easier to tell your lights apart at a glance.
Cleaner device cards: The device cards have been redesigned for a clearer, tidier layout.

Redesigned Program Types

Standard: Set on/off times and add lighting segments. (formerly known as "Auto" mode)
Advanced: More in-depth scheduling with no preset on/off time (don't forget to add one!)

Dual Panel Control

Current Meridian owners will have an upgrade path to independent dual panel control without replacing their entire light. Once the dual panel app board becomes available, compatible existing Meridians can be upgraded to independently control 2 internal lighting zones.

The app already includes support for this functionality, and the new Dual Panel Meridian models launching in 2027 will include it from the factory.

Dual Panel is coming to existing lights as well. We plan to release a dedicated kit that makes the hardware backwards compatible, including for Photons, so older fixtures can join in when it is ready.

Optional Premium Tools

Premium

For hobbyists who want to go further, this release also adds four new Premium tools.

Guided Acclimation Mode

Ease new corals, or an entire new tank, into a future schedule automatically. Pick a starting percentage and a time period, for example 50% over 6 weeks, and your  Meridian or Photon ramps up gradually from there. Every Sunday the app checks in and asks you to confirm before stepping up to the next week. If your corals need more time, you can repeat a week instead of advancing, so you stay in control of the pace the whole way.

Natural Program

Your on and off times follow your local sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, and moon phases, so your tank runs on the same daily and lunar rhythm as a natural reef. 

Location / Offset Hours

Choose a location from the dropdown, enter coordinates, or drop a pin on the map, then offset that location's time to match your own timezone. Pair it with a Natural Program to emulate the daylight and moonlight patterns of the specific reef you want to recreate, anywhere in the world.

Developer API Lifetime License

Lifetime license holders now have access to our developer API for third-party aquarium controllers, custom integrations, and DIY projects.

API documentation: api.reefbreeders.com/api/v2/documentation

Meridian Hardware Keeps Getting Better Too

Meridian hardware continues to evolve, with upgrade paths wherever possible instead of requiring entirely new fixtures. Improvements include 0.1% dimming with Meridian Elite drivers, Dual Panel readiness, and Bluetooth-ready firmware.

Built to Improve Over Time

Whether your ReefBreeders light is brand new or several years old, this update adds meaningful improvements to the light you already own. Our goal is to keep your investment improving over time through substantial updates and optional advanced tools for those who want even more control.

Thanks for reefing with us.