Orsamax
New member
Howdy all. I have 2 AI Prime (non-HDs) over my 40 gal nuvo. I have heard that the Hydra 26 is the same as 2 AI Primes. I ask because I don't have access or the funds to purchase a reliable PAR meter, and I don't like the concept of just guessing that my lights are putting out the kind of PAR I need. I have both of my primes rotated outwards 90 degrees so that both of their mounting screws face each other and then I just put them both on the same screw shaft so that the center of the pucks are approximately 8-9inches apart from each other (makes me only need one central mount which I find more aesthetically pleasing). I should also add that the lights are both on nearly identical light settings such that their output should be almost equal (slight differences based on livestock on different sides of the tank, but they are in the 5-7% range). So when looking at PAR charts, should I be looking at the Hydra 26 or should I look at Prime charts and then just estimate that the overlap increases the output to by some unknown multiple? My corals are all doing just fine (different types of montis and some other LPS lower down). I'm mostly concerned because I have a clam that SEEMS to be doing well. But I know that if they aren't getting enough light, the SEEM to be fine until they die of starvation (usually all of the sudden over nigyht). I'm not worried about too much light (it's a blue maxima and I've heard you just about can't give them too much light), I just want to make sure that it is enough. Finally, IF it is pretty darn close to a Hydra 26, what settings do you suggest? Right now I've almost got both of them going full blast following my ramp up period. Again, my corals are fine, so nothing is bleaching. But if I had some room to tweak the spectrum, that would be nice. I don't want it purely actinic, but I'd like to use the blue to have the colors pop a little more if possible. (Don't destroy me actinic haters).
