Meridian Manual Controller Guide
ReefBreeders / Programming Guide
Manual Controller
Two knobs for white and blue intensity, one button for everything else. The controller has a built-in timer with a one hour sunrise and a one hour sunset, and you choose an 8, 10 or 12 hour run time. No app or network required.
The four modes
Press and hold the button for 1 to 2 seconds, then release, to move to the next mode. The four modes form a loop, so holding once more from app control brings you back around to manual. The indicator LED on the controller tells you where you are.
Manual mode
Teal blue indicator LED. The light runs continuously at whatever the knobs are set to.
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Enter manual mode
Press the button on the controller for 1 to 2 seconds, then release. The indicator LED turns teal blue.
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Set your intensity
Turn the knobs to adjust the Meridian from 0% to 100% power, one knob for the white LEDs and one for the blue.
Sunrise and sunset mode
Green indicator LED. The light ramps up over an hour, holds at your set intensity, then ramps down over an hour, on the same schedule every day.
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Enter the mode
Press and hold the button for 1 to 2 seconds, then release. The indicator LED turns green.
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Choose your run time
Press the button to change the indicator LED color. Each color is a different total run time.
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Wait 10 seconds
After 10 seconds the Meridian dims and begins the sunrise. From then on it turns on at that same time each day and turns off after your chosen run time.
| Indicator | Total run time | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 8 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 6 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset |
| Red | 10 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 8 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset |
| Blue | 12 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 10 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset |
Sunrise, sunset and moonlight
Flashing green indicator LED. The same daily cycle as above, with the cool blues held at 1% through the lights-out hours.
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Enter the mode
From sunrise and sunset mode, press and hold the button for 1 to 2 seconds again, then release. The indicator LED starts flashing green.
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Choose your run time
Press the button to change the flashing indicator color. The moonlight period fills the rest of the 24 hours automatically.
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Wait 10 seconds
After 10 seconds the Meridian dims and begins the sunrise, then repeats daily.
| Indicator | Total run time | Breakdown | Moonlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flashing green | 8 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 6 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset | Cool blues at 1% for 16 hours |
| Flashing red | 10 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 8 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset | Cool blues at 1% for 14 hours |
| Flashing blue | 12 hours | 1 hour sunrise, 10 hours at set intensity, 1 hour sunset | Cool blues at 1% for 12 hours |
App control mode
Indicator LED off. Control passes from the knobs to the ReefBreeders app.
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Hand control over to the app
Press and hold the button for 1 to 2 seconds once more, three holds in total to get from manual mode across to app control. On release the indicator LED turns off, which is how you know the Meridian is now taking its instructions from the app.
Alternatively you can simply unplug the controller to deactivate it.
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Set up in the ReefBreeders app
From there, add and configure your Meridian in the app. Pairing, scheduling and connection troubleshooting are all covered in the app guide.
Common questions
The things people ask us most about the manual controller.
How do I set what time my lights come on?
There is no clock to set. The schedule starts from the moment you finish programming, so whatever time of day you set the run time is the time your sunrise will begin every day after that. If you want lights on at 10am, program the controller at 10am.
What is the difference between a short press and a press and hold?
A press and hold of 1 to 2 seconds moves you to the next mode. A short press, once you are inside a timer mode, cycles the run time between 8, 10 and 12 hours. Both change the indicator LED color, so it is worth being deliberate about which one you are doing.
Can I change the sunrise and sunset length?
No. Sunrise and sunset are fixed at one hour each. What you choose is the total run time, which sets how long the light holds at your knob intensity in between.
What does the knob setting control in timer mode?
The peak intensity. The light ramps up to whatever the knobs are set to, holds there for the middle portion of the run time, then ramps back down.
Why is my controller LED off?
An unlit controller means it has handed control over to the ReefBreeders app, and the knobs will not do anything while it is in that state. If you did not intend it, press and hold the button to cycle back around to the mode you want. If you are not using the app at all and the LED is still off, check the controller is properly plugged in.
Can I use manual mode with a smart outlet?
Yes, and that is what it is designed for. In manual mode the Meridian runs at a constant intensity with no dimming of its own, so an external timer or smart outlet handles the schedule. Note that you lose the gradual sunrise and sunset by doing this, since the outlet cuts power outright.