AI Hydra Settings Thread

[Sonicboom]

It should be listed on the ai box

 

[McGee10]

I just picked a paired of Hydras in blk housing. I am still not sure if I should get the controller or go with the director. Any advice and feedback for these will be greatly appreciated in advance.

I have a Cadlight 100g 48" rimless tank. If I go with the 12" ext rail that will gives ~36" in length for both Hydras and the ext rail. Given that the tank is 48" long, so is there any issue with shadowing on both ends of the tank if hanging abt 10-12" awl and let say if I max at 70-80%?

I have the same setup on my tank and like it.

 

[newe70]

Thank you for the responses...seem like the AI Director is controller with more features to go. I have been ready up with issue regarded to the connection bugs, hoping that it is under control by AI's new firmware. Can someone recently installed can chime in?

Is two fixtures suffice for a 48" long? I am coming for an ATI a Sunpower 6x54W T5. I have been reading up on the Hydras threads and decided to jump ship on a pair of Hydras.

Thx again.

 

[Sonicboom]

I have not had a single issue with connections or stability since the last update..."knock on wood"..lol.
Yes two hydra are perfect for a 48" tank.

 

[newe70]

Thx Sonicboom...would it be better if I get the 12" or 18" ext rail?

 

[Sonicboom]

You can confirm with the vendor, I think it's 16" you will need.

 

[Sonicboom]

I mean 18"

 

[newe70]

I mean 18"

Thx bud.

 

[ZorroV]

I just picked a paired of Hydras in blk housing. I am still not sure if I should get the controller or go with the director. Any advice and feedback for these will be greatly appreciated in advance.

I have a Cadlight 100g 48" rimless tank. If I go with the 12" ext rail that will gives ~36" in length for both Hydras and the ext rail. Given that the tank is 48" long, so is there any issue with shadowing on both ends of the tank if hanging abt 10-12" awl and let say if I max at 70-80%?

I have a 90g that is 48" rimless and have 2 Hydras at 8" awl with no shadowing.

 

[McGee10]

Thx Sonicboom...would it be better if I get the 12" or 18" ext rail?

I would go with the 12" ext rail, I think it is made for the 48" tank. It puts each light over the center of that half of the tank.

 

[gregrocks79]

Got my new lights. 3rd replacement. Works perfectly again. For now lol. AI has amazing customer service

 

[hilgert]

Yes, they do have excellent customer service. A couple of years ago I spent about an hour on the phone with them just talking about general light stuff after I got my AI-related question answered. They really know their stuff.

 

[newe70]

I just got this new pair of Hydras and the Director this week. Finally got them talking and going late last nite. Thx to McGee10 for ur valuable inputs on the Director, which made me go for it ...thx again bud.

I made a switch to AI Hydra to try out from an ATI Sunpower 48" 6x54W.

Here are a few pictures.

 

[McGee10]

newe70, tank look's great! How do you like the lights? What kind of lights are you coming from? BTW what size is your tank?

 

[newe70]

I made a switched fr T5 to led. My luv for the AI Hydra grows as I stare at my tank, a lot today lol...very happy and liking the color. I still have it on acclimation mode tho.

My is a 100g Cadlights tank.

 

[McGee10]

Thanks for the info and the photos!

 

[MounteeFrag]

Well my eyes hurt from reading 81 pages, but I feel more informed. Thanks for all the great ideas. I need to turn down my CW and UV. I just lowered my photo period. Hopefully my SPS will color up again. It would be nice to see some photos of tanks with settings and how long running Hydra's

 

[Sonicboom]

been running mine since preorder AI's came out, now running 3 Hydras and a 26 over my 180. absolutely love the growth. on my old 180 about 9 years ago i used to run 3 400 W MH with T5's but never got around to SPS. Now i can't get around to softies and plan on full sps.

 

[ycnibrc]

Ok last night my hydra flicker and the white , green and violet light turn off. I open the case and found out that the motherboard is toasted and there is moisture inside the case. I hang the light 12" above the aquarium in an open environment. I call AI and water damage is not cover by the warranty. I ask them how to prevent this to happened again in the future and they haven't give me an answer yet. May be the cool water evaporation and the hot heat sink make the water condense inside the housing and fried the board.

 

[newe70]

Sorry to hear that bud. How old is ur Hydra unit?