LazRodriguez
New member
Upgrade was easy, 5 min a light. It's cheaper to upgrade. Unless you want a slimmer heat sink. Otherwise I say upgrade.
AI Hydra Settings Thread
- Thread starter hilgert
- Start date
joeman1881
Member
So 2 units should be sufficient for my tank? I don't need more? There is a crossbar in the center so I would have to do 2, or 4.
LazRodriguez
New member
What are your dimensions?
My tank is a 75gallon deep blue rimless
48" x17"x20 two are perfect. No shadows or dark spots. I have them 12"awl
If your dimensions are close to mine, 2 is all you need.
joeman1881
Member
My 90 is 48x18x20. I had the feeling this was sufficient but there is dead areas so I wasn't sure. I am talking with AI via email now about my options. I don't know if I should just upgrade lenses for 100/unit or do hydra upgrade for 175/unit. Waiting to hear back from them now on which will give me better performance. I am assuming Hydra running parallel with the tank yea?
LazRodriguez
New member
Yes they run parallel , since they're less pucks and are configured different than the sol's. Either way you go you won't be disappointed. The hydra is full spectrum and my corals mix of sps,lps. Zoa's and soft corals are getting more color back. And growing nicely.
Wanted to see what readings the AI hydra is putting out on my set up. I have it 11" above water line. My tank is 18X18X18..It is pushing 450 right above the water line. On the sand bed it is 110 center. And around the middle it is 180 center. Now if you move to the sides it drops. Especially in the corners. I was getting readings of 50 in the back right corner of sand bed.
These were taken at my current levels
White 23%
Royals/deepblue/uv/violets 75%
Red 6%
Green 19%
The par above my rbta is 180
The par above my gold torch on the sandbed is 110
Par over orange hammer is 180
Par over frog is 150
Par over Duncan /middle frog 180
Par over rics 120
Par over green hammer 110
Par over metor 80
Par over soul favia 50
Par over nephthea 80
These were taken at my current levels
White 23%
Royals/deepblue/uv/violets 75%
Red 6%
Green 19%
The par above my rbta is 180
The par above my gold torch on the sandbed is 110
Par over orange hammer is 180
Par over frog is 150
Par over Duncan /middle frog 180
Par over rics 120
Par over green hammer 110
Par over metor 80
Par over soul favia 50
Par over nephthea 80
I believe these lights are good. Love the colors and the functions. Especially the sunrise/sunset. But a few weeks after installing lights my rbta moved. It hasn't moved since over a year that I got it. It moved up to the top. So I'm assuming it wasn't getting enough light where it was. I know I can raise the whites higher to get higher par but I don't like the look. Looks ugly to me. Washes out the colors
Other than the rbta moving. All my corals including the rbta have colored up nicely since the hydra. All my corals were bleached from the old stock non dimmable jbj leds.
Other than the rbta moving. All my corals including the rbta have colored up nicely since the hydra. All my corals were bleached from the old stock non dimmable jbj leds.
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joeman1881
Member
That Ricordea looks sick! Thats a lot of mouths, do you spot feed?
Side note, just confirmed with AI the Hydra 52 upgrade kit will be available for Sols, Vegas, and Hydras. Also confirmed that the hydras and 52s are still modular, so can be upgraded later (I think someone mentioned they weren't). The downside is the 52's upgrade kit won't be available until after the first of the year according to the rep I spoke to. I think it will be worth the wait for me. Guess I will start saving.
Stickboy97
Member
Seems the Hydra is pretty strong, why would you need the 52? Depth maybe?
I've been reading a ton on the Hydras since Apex announced they will be able to control them. I was leaning heavily toward the new dimmable onyx but may be headed to the hydra.
I've been reading a ton on the Hydras since Apex announced they will be able to control them. I was leaning heavily toward the new dimmable onyx but may be headed to the hydra.
Sonicboom
Addicted to salt
That's great info, mine should be significantly higher since my lights are only 7" from the water and my rock work brings most of my corals up About 10 inches from the water surface.
joeman1881
Member
Why would we 'need' anything, my sols really work fine aside from the spread across my tank. I'm just thinking, if I am going to get the Hydra upgrade, I may as well save up a little more (I'm assuming the upgrade kit will be more), and get the 52's with more than double the amount of LED's. Still the same lense spread it seems. Then I won't be running my units anywhere near 90% like I do now. I pulled the specs from there site just for comparison between hydra and hydra 52:
Hydra:
4 - Cree XT-E Cool White (> 70 CRI)
2 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Red
2 - Cree XP-E Green
4 - Cree XT-E Royal Blue
4 - OSRAM OSLON Very Deep Blue
2 - SemiLED 415nm Violet
2 - Edison Opto 400nm UV
Hydra 52:
16 - Cree XT-E Cool White (> 70 CRI)
4 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Red
4 - XP-E Green
12 - Cree XT-E Royal Blue
8 - OSRAM OSLON Very Deep Blue
4 - SemiLED 415nm Violet
4 - Edison Opto 400nm UV
jbraslins
Member
Upgrade kit is easy. If you want Hydra, go upgrade kit route. But i'd wait for Hydra Fifty Two and get that, or 52 upgrade kit if that will exist.
A frag fam
New member
Hi there. My settings are identical to yours- however I have them on 20% acclimation. It seems to be working out for right now. I started to bleach an encrusting superman chalice but I don't think it's the lights. All my other chalices are doing great. I might raise them a little higher than what they are now. I have them on a 24x24x24 deep blue cube.
Thanks for asking
I'll attach a picture before I put anything in it. 
Stickboy97
Member
It just seems that when I see someone who has a Hydra, they have it dialed down because it is too strong. So why would you want more LED's and more power?
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