AI Hydra Settings Thread

[EllisJuan]

I have two Hydras on the way that will be going over my standard 65g (36x18x24). I will be mounting them long ways and approximately 6" above the water. Right now I have a Reef Radiance 32" fixture...basically the same as a Reefbreeder Photon 32. I am happy with the growth and color, but I like the extra control and quality of the Hydras. Can anyone give me an idea of where I should start the settings? I will be using a Director and prefer a 12hr light cycle.

 

[will work 4fish]

Hello all, I was hoping I could get some opinions on AI lighting options. I just purchased a 125g (72x18x23 - w/ center brace). I'd like to get hydra 52s but part of me feels like sol blues might be a better value. I have a mixed reef and would like to move towards SPS in the future. Has anybody run two 52's on a 72" tank? How about hydra 52s in conjunction with sol blues? I'd like to spend 1600 or less (excluding mounting and controls), so I was thinking either 3-4 sol blues, 2 hydra 52s, or 2 hydra 52s and a sol blue. Any opinions on what the best lighting combination would be?

 

[das75]

^if you're thinking Sol over 52 for price, have you thought about just the regular Hydra?

 

[Gagonzalez]

I would do 3 normal Hydra's for that 125g and add mounting equip and the Director.

 

[tmc1313]

Hello all, I was hoping I could get some opinions on AI lighting options. I just purchased a 125g (72x18x23 - w/ center brace). I'd like to get hydra 52s but part of me feels like sol blues might be a better value. I have a mixed reef and would like to move towards SPS in the future. Has anybody run two 52's on a 72" tank? How about hydra 52s in conjunction with sol blues? I'd like to spend 1600 or less (excluding mounting and controls), so I was thinking either 3-4 sol blues, 2 hydra 52s, or 2 hydra 52s and a sol blue. Any opinions on what the best lighting combination would be?

I was running two 52's over a 60" tank with a center brace at 9" off the surface. If your looking to light the entire length with no shaded areas two units is not enough (at 9" anyway). Raising the lights for me was not an option, I assume you would get better spread if they were mounted higher. Here is a pic of what it looked like with two units. Notice the middle and ends have dark areas:

image upload no size limit

 

[Kalen]

Sonicboom I am done cycling my tank and today I picked up 10 hermit crabs and 4 nirite snails. And a green starburst soft coral. While I was picking the stuff up I asked my local pet store about the ai hydra b light because that's what they run and they told me that my settings are fine but I could up my blues to 45 which I already did. But since I got the coal I use the acclimation mode at 50% for three days . I will keep in mind about doing the whites, reds and greens.

I have also read through this forum and your right there is a lot of good information I this forum enough to make me go cross eyed from reading it.

I guess I was looking for a quick and simple solution and answer to my question.

Also I no longer . Have the damsels in the tank. I just had . Then to help me cycle the tank. I have a small cleaning crew now.

 

[EllisJuan]

I have two Hydras on the way that will be going over my standard 65g (36x18x24). I will be mounting them long ways and approximately 6" above the water. Right now I have a Reef Radiance 32" fixture...basically the same as a Reefbreeder Photon 32. I am happy with the growth and color, but I like the extra control and quality of the Hydras. Can anyone give me an idea of where I should start the settings? I will be using a Director and prefer a 12hr light cycle.

Do you think one of you guys can point me in the right direction with this? Sonicboom?

 

[Sonicboom]

I would start those bad boys no more than 20% since they will be overlapping light and so close to the water. Also enable clouds at 25% chance with 15 % intensity. That will give corals a break as well. If you use the weather feature then it will handle the clouds.

 

[saltyair]

Do you think one of you guys can point me in the right direction with this? Sonicboom?

If you could I would raise them to 12" above the water.
I would start @50% on blues 20% white 15%uv and 5%red blue keep an eye on the corals and adjust if needed

I have personally found that having a peak hr of uv reds white green has shown nice growth and 0 algae

 

[chercm]

If you could I would raise them to 12" above the water.
I would start @50% on blues 20% white 15%uv and 5%red blue keep an eye on the corals and adjust if needed

I have personally found that having a peak hr of uv reds white green has shown nice growth and 0 algae

is this the same setting for the hydra 52 for the new tank ?

 

[mikieb]

If you could I would raise them to 12" above the water.
I would start @50% on blues 20% white 15%uv and 5%red blue keep an eye on the corals and adjust if needed

I have personally found that having a peak hr of uv reds white green has shown nice growth and 0 algae

+1 I have started doing this as well, for about two hours midday I have UV at 100%

 

[dahos]

Just wondering as these are my first LED's and I have no experience with DIY'ing LED's......would taking the lenses off give you a better spread of light? Can the lenses be taken off and the lights ran? Other than water splash and corrosion...would there be any negative side affects? My lights are in a canopy so I am not worried about light spillage.

 

[saltyair]

Just wondering as these are my first LED's and I have no experience with DIY'ing LED's......would taking the lenses off give you a better spread of light? Can the lenses be taken off and the lights ran? Other than water splash and corrosion...would there be any negative side affects? My lights are in a canopy so I am not worried about light spillage.

The lenses actually give you better spread if you take them off it would not diffuse the light and you would get a strait beam

 

[EllisJuan]

I would start those bad boys no more than 20% since they will be overlapping light and so close to the water. Also enable clouds at 25% chance with 15 % intensity. That will give corals a break as well. If you use the weather feature then it will handle the clouds.

Thanks. Good call on the clouds to give the coral a break. I was not sure how much more powerful these are than the fixture I have now with 80 3w Bridgelux diodes. So I should be looking for 20% average across all channels?.
Such as

30% Royal Blue, Deep Blue, Violet
12% Cool White
5% Red & Green
9% UV

If you could I would raise them to 12" above the water.
I would start @50% on blues 20% white 15%uv and 5%red blue keep an eye on the corals and adjust if needed

I have personally found that having a peak hr of uv reds white green has shown nice growth and 0 algae

I am going to be using the AI tank mount. Hanging them is not really an option for me.

 

[Sonicboom]

Thanks. Good call on the clouds to give the coral a break. I was not sure how much more powerful these are than the fixture I have now with 80 3w Bridgelux diodes. So I should be looking for 20% average across all channels?.
Such as

30% Royal Blue, Deep Blue, Violet
12% Cool White
5% Red & Green
9% UV




I am going to be using the AI tank mount. Hanging them is not really an option for me.

Yes, those settings are also not bible. you will need to watch your corals closely and adjust accordingly. If you have frags it may be easier since you can move the frag plug into shade or closer to light. Those settings will also depend on your rock structure.

 

[Sonicboom]

Just wondering as these are my first LED's and I have no experience with DIY'ing LED's......would taking the lenses off give you a better spread of light? Can the lenses be taken off and the lights ran? Other than water splash and corrosion...would there be any negative side affects? My lights are in a canopy so I am not worried about light spillage.

Here is a video i made on tearing down the Hydra,
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22605796&postcount=1123, the lenses diffuse the light as saltyair stated so it may look all crazy but it can be done.

 

[EllisJuan]

Yes, those settings are also not bible. you will need to watch your corals closely and adjust accordingly. If you have frags it may be easier since you can move the frag plug into shade or closer to light. Those settings will also depend on your rock structure.

OK, thanks. Nothing is on frag plugs, everything is attached to the rock work. Here is what I am working with to give you an idea of the rock work, placement, etc.:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8k0-zqURz6M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Sonicboom]

OK, thanks. Nothing is on frag plugs, everything is attached to the rock work. Here is what I am working with to give you an idea of the rock work, placement, etc.:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8k0-zqURz6M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

AWESOME video, nice and slow!, you might have to do like i did after some of my frags attached, the ones I needed to move that i stuck with epoxy i stuck a small screwdriver under the epoxy and pulled it off the rock, then reattached it. The other time i just had to redo some of my rockwork.:headwally:

 

[EllisJuan]

AWESOME video, nice and slow!, you might have to do like i did after some of my frags attached, the ones I needed to move that i stuck with epoxy i stuck a small screwdriver under the epoxy and pulled it off the rock, then reattached it. The other time i just had to redo some of my rockwork.:headwally:

Thanks man. I am hoping I can find the right setting to avoid having to move to much around, but I can if I need to.

 

[Blazen]

Does anyone have duncans under the Hydras? If so any info would be most appreciated, mine won't open and I would love to hear anyone whom is having success or not, thanks