AI Hydra Settings Thread

ScreenShot2014-06-03at100324PM.png
 
Sonicboom said:
See the little cloud next to the picture? See what % intensity the cloud is at?
Click to expand...

The cloud icon seems to linger for some reason. As soon as I refreshed the page the cloud logo turned into the Sun. I had just refreshed the little intensity graph on the left and it showed the intensities in the screen shot. Even when I turn on manual mode and set the setting to the ones I have listed above it looked very blue and dim. Maybe I just have to get used to it.

The fixture I took off was 80 3w Bridgelux diodes. The hydras are about half of that, so it would make sense that it would be dimmer I suppose.
 
One of my BTAs has moved more in the first 3 hours with these lights than it has since I put it in the tank. Unfortunately it moved to the back side of the rock it was on. :(
 
Sonicboom said:
That looks great, is that the T square stuff?
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yeah, it is T-Slot. It is called 80/20 Extruded Aluminum. It is the same stuff that AI uses to make the rails. The 1/4 round pieces they use is called 80/20 1012, the pieces I used are 80/20 1010. I cut it to length, then tapped the ends for 1/4-20 screws. Screwed in some 3/4" Truss screws and slid it all together.

I actually have 4 more pieces cut to length if anyone needs them.
 
EllisJuan said:
The cloud icon seems to linger for some reason. As soon as I refreshed the page the cloud logo turned into the Sun. I had just refreshed the little intensity graph on the left and it showed the intensities in the screen shot. Even when I turn on manual mode and set the setting to the ones I have listed above it looked very blue and dim. Maybe I just have to get used to it.

The fixture I took off was 80 3w Bridgelux diodes. The hydras are about half of that, so it would make sense that it would be dimmer I suppose.
Click to expand...

Click on effects, the first box is for clouds, if weather is enabled it will show a percent for probability and one for intensity, if you also have acclimation enabled it will be much darker so I wouldn't use it if weather is used.
 
EllisJuan said:
Thanks. Yeah, it is T-Slot. It is called 80/20 Extruded Aluminum. It is the same stuff that AI uses to make the rails. The 1/4 round pieces they use is called 80/20 1012, the pieces I used are 80/20 1010. I cut it to length, then tapped the ends for 1/4-20 screws. Screwed in some 3/4" Truss screws and slid it all together.

I actually have 4 more pieces cut to length if anyone needs them.
Click to expand...

That is some good info and very handy stuff!
 
Sonicboom said:
Click on effects, the first box is for clouds, if weather is enabled it will show a percent for probability and one for intensity, if you also have acclimation enabled it will be much darker so I wouldn't use it if weather is used.
Click to expand...

I turned off the local weather because it was staying cloudier than I would like. I set a simple 12hr light cycle with 4hr ramp up and 4hr ramp down. A question about the cloud and lightning settings. The probability number, is that the probability of it happening in 24 hrs or the probability of it happening every 15 minutes? I ask because it says "Every 15 minutes, the Director determines whether to start cloud effects based on the probability. The intensity determines the darkness of the passing clouds.".
 
Sonicboom said:
just as you read it every 15 minutes it determine if it's going to happen
Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks. So if I have clouds at 10% and Lightning at 5%, so this should mean that the probability is that I will have clouds once every 2hr 30m and storms every 5hrs?

Thanks for answering all these questions Sonic. There is just a lot of features in the Director and I want to completely understand all the aspects of what I am setting. I wish there was some better documentation out there by AI.
 
No worries, I think there is more documentation on this thread than the ai site. Not every few hours, every hour there is a chance.
 
Quick question...................I am going from 105w CF Lighting in my 28g JBJ Nano to a Hydra26. For those with experience in acclimation, I have a few questions:

1) What height should I mount the light at? (Main DT is an 18" cube) currently planning for approx 8-10" from water surface.
2) What should I set/start my settings at?

Thanks
 
1) Height looks good, although you could start higher if you want. I have a regular Hydra over a 93g cube (24x24...try lighting a large cube sometime) and found that I had to raise it up higher and turn up the power to avoid dark spots. You likely won't have an issue.

2) Dial the power *way* back at first. "Less is Best" is how you should start off.

Remember that you will be getting a much fuller spectrum than you are used to (more lights with different wavelengths than you are used to, so more concentrated energy), so these things are a light brighter than they appear if you have not used LEDs before. You could take the Hydra26 and put it on a wood table and get some burns in the table (and no, I did not accidentally do this on our kitchen table when I got my first Hydra, allowing my wife to forever humiliate me when we have guests over).

If you use the AI controller there is an acclimation mode (I've not used it...I just dial everything back a bit myself).
 
Last edited:
I got a 400g 72x36x36 with 4 Hydras 12" from the water surface
White 30%
Green 15%
Red 5%
UV 25%
Blue 45%
Royal Blue 45%
Violet 45%


Do the Violet led browns out the corals like the UV less? I have the Violet led on my hydras set to 45 just like with the other blues and have the UV set to 25, should I lower the Violet like the UV?

The reason I ask is because I have a Nano with a DIY led light set up and my LPS had very nice colors with just Royal Blue, Blue, Cool Blue, Red and Green. I added a couple of UV leds to increase the coral flourescence and a month later most of my LPS and soft corals turned brown specially my GSP, mushrooms and leathers.
 
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