AI Hydra Settings Thread

[sepulvd]

Am trying to keep it mounted like this --

 

[dahos]

Am trying to keep it mounted like this --

If you don't already have it, you need the rail itself. That looks like the hanging kit for the rail.

 

[Sonicboom]

You either need the hanging rails or the ext rails.

 

[sepulvd]

Ok thanks

 

[Sonicboom]

Finally pulled the trigger during the Black Friday sale and am upgrading from my AI Gen 2 lights I have had for 7 years. They still work great but have had the bug to upgrade for a while. My tank is 6x2x2 and the lights are hung from the ceiling using their rail system about 8.5" above water and orientated front to back [||||||]. I bought 3 Hydra 52 on the advice of AI. They also suggested moving the lights to 12" above water. Will I get enough spread without shadows with 3 fixtures at the current height or will I need to be at 12" to get enough spread? Looking for opinions and thoughts from anyone with regards to height, number of fixtures and spread. I have gone through this whole thread and still not sure where to start with my light settings since I have run LEDS for years but I am sure they have lost some par. I currently max out the Gen 2's at 60% white and 100% blue but only about 5 hours a day and the rest of the lighting period is either ramping up or down. My tank is mostly LPS with a Birds Nest and going from 2 color options to 7 seems a little overwhelming. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Hi, you can reduce power if you mount them closer to the water. it's hard to give any numbers with so many factors, start low, monitor, and adjust. monitor over the course of a few days to a week or more. some corals react quickly some don't. if you have mostly frags, it's easier since you can just move the frag up down left or right.

 

[mic209]

I just hooked up my hydra yesterday, I have it 9" above an 18" cube and have my peaks at

UV 30
V 85
DB 100
RB 100
R 40
G 85
CW 60

With these settings I get about 150-175 PAR on the sand bed. I currently have it at 50% acclimation for the next 4 weeks, I switched from 150mh that was getting 150 PAR on the sand bed.

And here's my $18 mount, it's an LCD TV mount and some 2" L brackets.

 

[Sonicboom]

I just hooked up my hydra yesterday, I have it 9" above an 18" cube and have my peaks at

UV 30
V 85
DB 100
RB 100
R 40
G 85
CW 60

With these settings I get about 150-175 PAR on the sand bed. I currently have it at 50% acclimation for the next 4 weeks, I switched from 150mh that was getting 150 PAR on the sand bed.

And here's my $18 mount, it's an LCD TV mount and some 2" L brackets.

View attachment 299857View attachment 299858

Love the mount and that you can move lights around!

 

[VegasMike]

mic209 - For clarification, are those PAR numbers at the peak numbers you have detailed or are they at 50% (current setting)?

 

[gregrocks79]

I just hooked up my hydra yesterday, I have it 9" above an 18" cube and have my peaks at

UV 30
V 85
DB 100
RB 100
R 40
G 85
CW 60

With these settings I get about 150-175 PAR on the sand bed. I currently have it at 50% acclimation for the next 4 weeks, I switched from 150mh that was getting 150 PAR on the sand bed.

And here's my $18 mount, it's an LCD TV mount and some 2" L brackets.




View attachment 299857View attachment 299858

Be careful when screwing into the heat sink. I've destroyed a couple pucks due to them being penetrated for lack of a better word lol. The screw goes past the heat sink and into the puck itself.

Looks great otherwise! Very innovative

 

[mic209]

mic209 - For clarification, are those PAR numbers at the peak numbers you have detailed or are they at 50% (current setting)?

That was at my peak settings, and towards the front glass of the tank, I have the light dead center, so I imagine it would be higher if I took the measurement towards the middle of the tank. I'm using apogee mq-200.

 

[mic209]

Be careful when screwing into the heat sink. I've destroyed a couple pucks due to them being penetrated for lack of a better word lol. The screw goes past the heat sink and into the puck itself.

Looks great otherwise! Very innovative

Thanks for the tip, I used the screws that came with the hydra 26 and after I took the picture I ended up having to put some washers between the L bracket and heatsink to keep the bend of the bracket off of the fan grill, any pressure on the grill and the fan won't spin.

 

[gregrocks79]

Thanks for the tip, I used the screws that came with the hydra 26 and after I took the picture I ended up having to put some washers between the L bracket and heatsink to keep the bend of the bracket off of the fan grill, any pressure on the grill and the fan won't spin.

Nice! If you notice any LEDs not working its due to the screw being set too much. You'll get a new pick from AI but it's annoying lol.

Other than that looks great and good settings too

 

[rishu_pepper]

Bought the 18" EXT rail and the EXT hanging kit yesterday at the LFS. The two Hydras 52 should be arriving today in the mail.

I'll be hanging them up tonight but I won't test them fully, getting a pair of Onyx clowns today also, need to acclimate them with lights out. Lousy timing.

Any tips on mounting the hanging kit? I won't be able to use the alligator clips obviously, since my ceiling is... just a ceiling lol. (bottom floor of apartment)

 

[sepulvd]

Am in the same process rishu. Might do the the tv bracket or get a shelf and attach it to that

 

[Sonicboom]

Bought the 18" EXT rail and the EXT hanging kit yesterday at the LFS. The two Hydras 52 should be arriving today in the mail.

I'll be hanging them up tonight but I won't test them fully, getting a pair of Onyx clowns today also, need to acclimate them with lights out. Lousy timing.

Any tips on mounting the hanging kit? I won't be able to use the alligator clips obviously, since my ceiling is... just a ceiling lol. (bottom floor of apartment)

i didn't use the alligator clips because, well they are insanely big. I just found a stud and screwed right into it.

 

[rishu_pepper]

Am in the same process rishu. Might do the the tv bracket or get a shelf and attach it to that

Yeah I'm second-guessing myself with the hanging kit after seeing the TV hanging DIY. So much cheaper! But then again, I don't want $1k worth of lights dropping into another $1k worth of tank... lol probably shouldn't skimp out on that $80-90. At least if it fails I get to blame AI. :hmm3:

i didn't use the alligator clips because, well they are insanely big. I just found a stud and screwed right into it.

Yeah sounds like an idea.

It's a bit annoying that I can't fully set up my lights today due to the clowns arriving... :headwalls: Guess I'll do the programming first.

 

[mic209]

Yeah I'm second-guessing myself with the hanging kit after seeing the TV hanging DIY. So much cheaper! But then again, I don't want $1k worth of lights dropping into another $1k worth of tank... lol probably shouldn't skimp out on that $80-90. At least if it fails I get to blame AI. :hmm3:



Yeah sounds like an idea.

It's a bit annoying that I can't fully set up my lights today due to the clowns arriving... :headwalls: Guess I'll do the programming first.

I used 75 pound inserts to screw the bracket into the wall, it's going to take a lot to pull that thing off the wall.

 

[Sonicboom]

Yeah I'm second-guessing myself with the hanging kit after seeing the TV hanging DIY. So much cheaper! But then again, I don't want $1k worth of lights dropping into another $1k worth of tank... lol probably shouldn't skimp out on that $80-90. At least if it fails I get to blame AI. :hmm3:



Yeah sounds like an idea.

It's a bit annoying that I can't fully set up my lights today due to the clowns arriving... :headwalls: Guess I'll do the programming first.

Yea you can plug the lights in and program the director, then there's the firmware updates. There's plenty to do...lol

 

[oseymour]

Here are the settings that I've been using for my AI Hydra mounted about 8 inches over my 37 gallon tank. For the last couple of months I've seen incredible growth on my LPS corals. Over the last week I got a birds nest coral which is my first SPS coral and so far looking good. I can see the little polyps extending.

Does anyone use the realtime weather features? In my mind it gives the corals a break from the intense light and mimics nature. But do they need it and is it detrimental? I have the tank in my living room and rain and lightening can be a little annoying for my wife.

 

[Sonicboom]

I do use the real time weather, and I feel it give the corals a break with clouds and changing of intensities but when tornado season comes and we get a few months if rain and lightning I have to shut it off.