AI Hydra Settings Thread

Frost, how have your corals been in terms of growth with these settings? I have a really similar setup (2x Hydra 52, 90g, 9" AWL, mixed kinds of corals), for about 3 weeks. The only difference is I run the whites a bit more than you (40).

Things are great, most things seem to grow well.
I find any unhappiness comes from poor placement, and moving something unhappy to various locations to find it's "home" is what I end up doing, but the overall happiness of the tank is great.

FrostSetup.jpg
 
It's worth noting growth wise that I dose with a Jebao DP-4 and maintain Mg, Alk, and Ca at stable ~1380, ~9.2, ~440

I see what I would consider great growth from Monti's and Digi's, and fair growth for Zoa's. I have to imagine placement affects that to a degree though and I tend to favor available locations over ideal ones.

Monti's LOVE my tank, and the 3 large colonies of Neon Green Star Polyp I've raised are out of control. Pulsing xenia I enjoy, but it's become a weed in my tank and I regularly remove that stuff now. Many of my zoas recently sprouted new heads, rasta, atomic fireball, rockstar supernova, nuclear green, and a bunch of others that I have no idea what they are called.
 
Quick question - when setting up a new set of AIs is it OK to use the lunar cycle when acclimating? The LEDs I'm currently using don't have one. I was thinking of putting the lunar max at 5%.
 
Quick question - when setting up a new set of AIs is it OK to use the lunar cycle when acclimating? The LEDs I'm currently using don't have one. I was thinking of putting the lunar max at 5%.

Lunar is absolutely fine during acclimation since it will be max 5% on only one color
 
Thanks very much Sonic!! If you have a moment, could you comment on my initial post in this thread? (I appreciate the extra input).

100(ish) Gallons
60 w
18 D
22 H

Currently using Marineland Reef LEDs
Ordered X3 AI Hydra 26s, which will sit approximately 2-3 inches AWL

I have a mixed tank with primarily LPS' and Zoas but I have a couple of softies and SPS' scattered about.

So, some thoughts on the best way to acclimate this tank? I'm pretty worried because it's so close to the water line and likely way more intense than my current settings.
 
Thanks very much Sonic!! If you have a moment, could you comment on my initial post in this thread? (I appreciate the extra input).

100(ish) Gallons
60 w
18 D
22 H

Currently using Marineland Reef LEDs
Ordered X3 AI Hydra 26s, which will sit approximately 2-3 inches AWL

I have a mixed tank with primarily LPS' and Zoas but I have a couple of softies and SPS' scattered about.

So, some thoughts on the best way to acclimate this tank? I'm pretty worried because it's so close to the water line and likely way more intense than my current settings.


That's pretty low above the water line. Especially if it's not a SPS dominated tank.

You can use the acclimation mode settings to acclimate.

What are your tank dimensions?! Also depends how much water is between the coral and lights
 
Thanks very much Sonic!! If you have a moment, could you comment on my initial post in this thread? (I appreciate the extra input).

100(ish) Gallons
60 w
18 D
22 H

Currently using Marineland Reef LEDs
Ordered X3 AI Hydra 26s, which will sit approximately 2-3 inches AWL

I have a mixed tank with primarily LPS' and Zoas but I have a couple of softies and SPS' scattered about.

So, some thoughts on the best way to acclimate this tank? I'm pretty worried because it's so close to the water line and likely way more intense than my current settings.

As gregrocks said, that's probably the closest I've seen Awl, is there any reason you can't go higher? Acclimation shouldn't be too bad, try starting as low as 10% with a month acclimation. I would imagine you would not need to go any higher than 20% on white and 40% on blues
 
Thanks Sonic/Greg. The only issue is that I have a canopy which is ~ 9 inches AWL. Assuming I can hang it correctly, I need about 3 inches of clearance for the fans so that would actually give me ~ 5-6 inches AWL.
 
Thanks Sonic/Greg. The only issue is that I have a canopy which is ~ 9 inches AWL. Assuming I can hang it correctly, I need about 3 inches of clearance for the fans so that would actually give me ~ 5-6 inches AWL.

5 or 6 inches awl would be much better than 2, any chance of cutting opening for the fans in the canopy, then you might be able to go higher.
 
AI Hydra Settings Thread

Thanks Sonic/Greg. The only issue is that I have a canopy which is ~ 9 inches AWL. Assuming I can hang it correctly, I need about 3 inches of clearance for the fans so that would actually give me ~ 5-6 inches AWL.


That's better than 2" for sure. This is one reason I won't do canopies. I love the hanging from the ceiling look too imho it's sexy haha

Like sonic said, acclimate 10% to 20% to 40% max for a month or so to let the corals adjust. I'd even set up the cloud functions to help out

For the height of your tank I would go around 9" above water level or you're gonna kill certain non SPS corals...
 
Thanks guys! Question though, doesn't AI sell racks that you can mount these on (non-EXTs). Those racks are only ~ 7 inches AWL aren't they?
 
Thanks guys! Question though, doesn't AI sell racks that you can mount these on (non-EXTs). Those racks are only ~ 7 inches AWL aren't they?

Yes AI does sell a rack but I think they are shown with the standard hydra, not the 26 which is more powerful.
 
Ah OK. I didn't know that!! Thanks again guys! I'll update this thread after I've had the lights running for a bit with my findings.
 
I have 3 52s 7" awl and tank is 60x27x27 190g with 12k setting on apex with 65% from 8 to 6 and grow sps at the sand.
8a139747d113f0b40f6e4afeacac2550.jpg

https://vimeo.com/115499276
I'm still not done with lighting either I have 3 more 52s on order to bring me to 6 above the tank and will be adding in 4 T5.

I don't see how some of you get away with 100% on blue channels and not scorch anything. Do any of you have T5 added to your lights if so what's a good combo to go with these lights? Any feed back would be great thanks in advance.
 
Quick question - any ideas how one can use both a Controller and a Director? When I setup with my Controller first the Director couldn't detect any lights. I had to reset the lights and set everything up via Director.
 
Quick question - any ideas how one can use both a Controller and a Director? When I setup with my Controller first the Director couldn't detect any lights. I had to reset the lights and set everything up via Director.

Why do you want to use the controller if you have the director setup?
 
Director is great so far.. just worried that I may have network issues at some point (I want to kill my WiFi printer at times).
 
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