AI Hydra vs. Hydra FiftyTwo

[MarineDepot]

My tank is 6ft long, 2.5 ft tall, and 2 feet deep. Should I get three hydra 52s or 5-6 hydra 26's? Some people are saying the 26 is more powerful? How's that?

Also I was suggested to supplement with t5's.. Thoughts?


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In most cases, 3 Hydra 52's so do the trick. However, if you are planning having a pretty packed SPS tank then 5-6 Hydra 26's may be preferable as you would have more light fixtures that puts out light from more different angles to minimize shadowing.

Supplementing with T5's is a possible option as well. However, is probably not something you need to consider for a year or two as most reef tanks do not get that dense that quickly.

As for power, not every LED on the Hydra fixture is operated at 100%. The Hydra 52 uses up to 135W while each Hydra 26 uses up to 90W. At pull power, the Hydra 26 operates the LED's at a higher power: which is the reason why two Hydra 26's operating at 100% would be more powerful than one Hydra 52 operating at 100%.

 

[jeff240gallon]

Thanks for the info


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[jeff240gallon]

AI Hydra vs. Hydra FiftyTwo

In most cases, 3 Hydra 52's so do the trick. However, if you are planning having a pretty packed SPS tank then 5-6 Hydra 26's may be preferable as you would have more light fixtures that puts out light from more different angles to minimize shadowing.

Supplementing with T5's is a possible option as well. However, is probably not something you need to consider for a year or two as most reef tanks do not get that dense that quickly.

As for power, not every LED on the Hydra fixture is operated at 100%. The Hydra 52 uses up to 135W while each Hydra 26 uses up to 90W. At pull power, the Hydra 26 operates the LED's at a higher power: which is the reason why two Hydra 26's operating at 100% would be more powerful than one Hydra 52 operating at 100%.

Last question, if I get multiple hydras hd, will I be able to control each one individually?

 

[MarineDepot]

Last question, if I get multiple hydras hd, will I be able to control each one individually?

Yes, you are able to set the light as "parent" or "child". "Parent" fixtures can be controlled individually. :thumbsup:

 

[ADVRESOURCE]

I have a 72"l x 24"w x 33"h. I have 3 Hydra 52 HD. The rock is a peninsula with rock separated in the middle. I purchased the standard rail system and the lights are perpendicular to the rock structure. I measured PAR with the Apogee meter. Directly under the lights are very high PAR (around 370) however, due to the narrow spread of the light, the PAR drops off pretty significantly when tested outside of direct light path. In the bottom corners the PAR will go down to 5.

The LFS has come up with rails that can mount to the Hydra 52's to have them mounted parallel to the rock structure. This has put a lot more light across the peninsula. The rails slide down the AI standard rails. When the rails are mounted to the Hydra, the assembly looks like an H.

Marine can probably purchase from ReefH2O.com and sell to reefers with longer tanks.

 

[ADVRESOURCE]

I have 3 Hydra 52 HD controlled as a parent and 2 child lights. Thus, control is very clean. If I want to add more child lights, will it be a simple configuration change or do I have to reset and setup all at one time?

 

[MarineDepot]

I have 3 Hydra 52 HD controlled as a parent and 2 child lights. Thus, control is very clean. If I want to add more child lights, will it be a simple configuration change or do I have to reset and setup all at one time?

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the rails. We will forward the information to our purchasing team.

In regards to the programming, we would assume that you can simply add more child lights. However, it is not something we have had a chance to try out ourselves.

 

[kaiserdeleon]

raising the classic mounting rail

raising the classic mounting rail

What did he use to raise the AI classic mounting rail?

Joe from our tech team runs 3 AI Hydra LED lights over his reef. So who better to try out Aqua Illumination's latest innovation, the Hydra FiftyTwo?

Find out what makes the FiftyTwo so special in Joe's review "” Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!

Read Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!

 

[MarineDepot]

Hydra LED

Hydra LED

What did he use to raise the AI classic mounting rail?

They were a couple of 'risers' made out of hardwood and siliconed to the aquarium. The rail kits now come with taller legs that get the lights about 6" above the aquarium, so there is not as much of a need to raise the lights. :dance:

 

[THERICK]

I was the lucky recipient of a 150 gallon reef tank and 2 Hyde 52's(which are awesome). I'm having th hardest time finding an AI Director as it has been discontinued. I constantly scour the intern t and eBay with no luck. Any suggestions.

 

[lovefish77]

What is the thing you are using with AQUAILLUMINATION CLASSIC RAIL KIT to raise it to the sides of the tank? I am looking for something similar. thanks

 

[MarineDepot]

What is the thing you are using with AQUAILLUMINATION CLASSIC RAIL KIT to raise it to the sides of the tank? I am looking for something similar. thanks

They were a couple of 'risers' made out of hardwood and siliconed to the aquarium and built by Joseph of XP Aqua. The rail kits now come with taller legs that get the lights about 6" above the aquarium, so there is not as much of a need to raise the lights.

 

[lovefish77]

thanks i have those 6" ones but i want to raise it higher to get better coverage and spread on a 75 gallon (i have 2 AI sol blue).

 

[MarineDepot]

thanks i have those 6" ones but i want to raise it higher to get better coverage and spread on a 75 gallon (i have 2 AI sol blue).

Joe is super friendly, if you want tips to DIY you can send him an email: service@xpaqua.com

 

[lovefish77]

Joe is super friendly, if you want tips to DIY you can send him an email: service@xpaqua.com

cool, thanks a million

 

[MarineDepot]

cool, thanks a million

Always happy to help! :beer: