So I bought a hydra a couple weeks ago and wanted to post my thoughts on it. I own a couple Vegas so I wanted share the differences I've seen. The vega is a new slim body with a slick mounting rail on top. The hydra is the same body as the sol 4 lenses instead of 8. The vega is soo much brighter than the hydra. I'm not sure if its because of the diffuser lenses on the hydra but they are at least double the brightness. The hydra lenses are frosted looking and I'm pretty sure they are plastic, not very impressive. The top to the hydra fan has this plastic grill that seems very flimsy. The single mounting screw on the hydra really makes me worry that the lit is going to fall into the tank. I love the colors I get out of the hydra, the violet is amazing and makes corals look sweet. I'm not very happy with this light especially since after you buy the controller you are in $500. I am not able to run the vega software and the hydra software on the same controller and that is really lame. If someone knows how to do that let me know. A guy said that I could before I bought the hydra but I think he was full of it. Let me know what you guys think of the hydra! I love Ai and I love the Vega but not the Hydra.
AI Hydra
- Thread starter saltymix
- Start date
bmullikin1
New member
what kind of coverage are you getting out of it, im setting up a reef savvy rimless, 30l x 24dx 16h, was wondering if i could get away w 1 hydra, or perhaps vega color. thanks for the review.
Well, that's not what I was hoping to hear. I am wanting to set up 2 vega colors and 2 hydras on my 120. I have been wrestling with this decision for weeks now waiting to hear more feedback from these lights. I would have already gone with the radion pros if it were not for the director coming out soon. That software looks incredible! Guess I'll keep wrestling.
liquidfunk
Premium Member
Saltymix you can run both of them on the same controller, but you need to update your firmware on your controller. The notes about the firmware from a while back said it allowed you to combine all fixtures models on one controller.
I've updated my firmware a few times, its super easy on a PC.
Im confused by your thoughts on the Hydra, from what I have read in the past most people claim the Hydra is brighter than the Vega?
I've updated my firmware a few times, its super easy on a PC.
Im confused by your thoughts on the Hydra, from what I have read in the past most people claim the Hydra is brighter than the Vega?
Sonicboom
Addicted to salt
Saltymix, as liquidfunk stated, youjust need to upgrade the firmware, it's insanely easy to do, just download the file from the site, plug the controller into your pc via the USB cable delete the old firmware.bin file and copy the new one, then reboot. I love my Hydra, I only have one on my 180 as i can't afford to order all 3 with controller and mounting kit at once. At 8 inches from the water surface there is excellent coverage front to back and side to side, i am only running them at 46% and can already see growth on a few frags i added.
The storm effect is great and lots of fun to watch, you can specify times for it to run, it dims the lights as if there was cloud cover and strobes the white LED's to simulate lightning. at 46% my fan does not kick on, at 48% it kicks on momentarily but can barely be heard.
I will be ordering my second Hydra this Friday. and my third two weeks after that.
The storm effect is great and lots of fun to watch, you can specify times for it to run, it dims the lights as if there was cloud cover and strobes the white LED's to simulate lightning. at 46% my fan does not kick on, at 48% it kicks on momentarily but can barely be heard.
I will be ordering my second Hydra this Friday. and my third two weeks after that.
psychocoralchopper
New member
Both lens on the Hydra and the Vega are plastic. The Vega has a clear TIR lens, while the Hydra has a "diffuse" TIR lens for better color blending (less disco effect). If you are looking at the LED light itself, the Vega may look brighter because of its clear lens.
I had 2 Hydras and 1 Vega running on my 150 and I prefer the Hydra over the Vega because of the spectrum... and the lower price tag. The tank is now running with 3 Hydras and I LOVE them
I had 2 Hydras and 1 Vega running on my 150 and I prefer the Hydra over the Vega because of the spectrum... and the lower price tag. The tank is now running with 3 Hydras and I LOVE them
ReefingHavoc
Member
Considering Hydra...
Considering Hydra...
Glad someone finally has some input on these. I'm looking to upgrade my lights from a not-so "Reef Capable" light from Marineland. I was curious if you've had any issues with SPS or any other more challenging corals. My lfs talked me out of a Razor and tried to talk me into a Radion but the price tag is a little alarming. Running a 29 gal. right now with plans to jump somewhere north of 100 gal. within the next year and want something to move to the next tank. I don't want a light that will limit the corals I can grow.
Thanks ~
Considering Hydra...
Glad someone finally has some input on these. I'm looking to upgrade my lights from a not-so "Reef Capable" light from Marineland. I was curious if you've had any issues with SPS or any other more challenging corals. My lfs talked me out of a Razor and tried to talk me into a Radion but the price tag is a little alarming. Running a 29 gal. right now with plans to jump somewhere north of 100 gal. within the next year and want something to move to the next tank. I don't want a light that will limit the corals I can grow.
Thanks ~
ReefingHavoc
Member
What's the director? Did some research and couldn't find anything.
psychocoralchopper
New member
Don't have a whole lot of light-loving SPS yet. On top of that, the lights are only running at 50%. I do have a few varieties of monti's and birdsnests that are doing very well and growing. All the LPS and softies are doing great too.
Added about 10 frags of acros in the past month: all are very healthy but don't know what direction it going to go with the coloration yet. Most of the acro frags came from tanks with halides, so I'll have to wait and see.
Added about 10 frags of acros in the past month: all are very healthy but don't know what direction it going to go with the coloration yet. Most of the acro frags came from tanks with halides, so I'll have to wait and see.
Sonicboom
Addicted to salt
I have a birdsnest frag and some green polyps which are doing great. you cant go wrong with a hyrda over a 29, and once you upgrade the tank you are good on at least one light.
Director is the desktop app to control the lights from anywhere including the web. It will be followed by android and IPhone app
liquidfunk
Premium Member
http://www.aquaillumination.com/director/
Its like a gateway between your AI lights and your home network. It allows you to setup multiple tanks and run different settings for each one etc. You can do all of this from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Pretty damn cool.
Sonicboom, its actually hardware you access via the internet. It has its own built in software but its not something you'll install on a PC or Mac.
ReefingHavoc
Member
Being a tech geek, the Director might be what sways me towards AI products!!
I upgraded my firmware on the new controller that came with the hydra. You have to update the firmware because most of the controllers shipped now are old and don't have the hydra software yet. I don't see how it is possible to control the vega and the hydra, you have to choose between which mode you run the controller when you set it up ( vega ,hydra ,sol ect...) If someone is actually running these on the same controller let me know, not that you read that you could.
Both lens on the Hydra and the Vega are plastic. The Vega has a clear TIR lens, while the Hydra has a "diffuse" TIR lens for better color blending (less disco effect). If you are looking at the LED light itself, the Vega may look brighter because of its clear lens.
I had 2 Hydras and 1 Vega running on my 150 and I prefer the Hydra over the Vega because of the spectrum... and the lower price tag. The tank is now running with 3 Hydras and I LOVE them
I think you are right about the vega lens being plastic, I always thought it was glass, it looks like it. I wonder what par readings are between the vega and hydra. Just because it looks dim doesn't mean that it's not enough light for corals. I agree that the spectrum is great but you have to admit that the white is really lacking with the hydra. How did you mix the hydra with vega in your tank?
One vega has enough coverage for a 2' square area no problem. I put the Hydra over a 2'x2'x2' 60 gallon cube at about 7" off the water and it works but the top sides are shadowed and the tank just isn't as bright as my other one running the Vegas. I have a 75 gallon 30" tall running two Vegas and it is like they are way brighter, more than enough. I think you could get away with one vega but there might be some shadows up high because you are going 30" wide. I love the violet on Hydra it is beautiful, but I can't really se whats going on in my tank because its too dim!
