Help: Kessil vs AI Hydra 52

andyman · 10/29/2014, 09:21 PM

So I've got 4 AI Hydra 52 over my main tank ( 30x30 cube). Par reading is about 300-350ish at midpoint where the corals are. On my frag tank I've got 2 AI Vegas running at 100 percent with a PAR of 200 midway down (first row of frags).

Things are ok but with a 100 par difference from the main tank, corals will get shocked if I move them from frag tank to main tank. I really like the looks of kessil in the tanks I've personally seen. Should I make the switch and sell my AIs? Or do I even need to sell them..

Has anyone just run both?

andy

NaturalReef · 10/30/2014, 07:01 AM

Andy,
I have owned every Aqua Illumination light starting with the Sol Blue. These lights are very powerful and it has taken a lot and I mean a lot of trial and error to get coral to thrive. Imo, it has more to do with led's and acclimating coral slowly versus switching between manufacturers. I say, why don't you raise one fixture to match par intensities between tanks or move coral to the sides to prevent coral shock? AI has a coral acclimation feature on their controllers which would also help to prevent coral shock. I'm def biased towards AI fixtures because once you find that sweet spot , coral has shown the deepest colors and very fast growth. The biggest problem is led's have a very narrow band between photo inhibition from too much par to loss of color and growth from too little.

andyman · 10/30/2014, 12:38 PM

I've had Ai Sol -> upgraded to Vega -> upgraded to Hydra 52 so I'm no stranger to AI's.

What I have noticed is that my torts don't do well with AI but everything else grows like a freakin weed. I even have SPS at the very bottom of a 30" cube tank growing like it was a GSP, spreading and growing up the side (I've got a bare bottom tank). Perhaps it may not be a lighting problem.

But I just saw a few tanks with Kessil and I really like the look. Do you have any Torts and if so hows the success? Also do you have a quantum meter, i.e. apogee? I would love to know what the PAR reading is under your AI's where your torts are. That way I can rule out lighting.

Andy

10/29/2014, 09:21 PM	#1
andyman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,133	Help: Kessil vs AI Hydra 52 So I've got 4 AI Hydra 52 over my main tank ( 30x30 cube). Par reading is about 300-350ish at midpoint where the corals are. On my frag tank I've got 2 AI Vegas running at 100 percent with a PAR of 200 midway down (first row of frags). Things are ok but with a 100 par difference from the main tank, corals will get shocked if I move them from frag tank to main tank. I really like the looks of kessil in the tanks I've personally seen. Should I make the switch and sell my AIs? Or do I even need to sell them.. Has anyone just run both? andy

10/30/2014, 07:01 AM	#2
NaturalReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kankakee,Illinois Posts: 369	Andy, I have owned every Aqua Illumination light starting with the Sol Blue. These lights are very powerful and it has taken a lot and I mean a lot of trial and error to get coral to thrive. Imo, it has more to do with led's and acclimating coral slowly versus switching between manufacturers. I say, why don't you raise one fixture to match par intensities between tanks or move coral to the sides to prevent coral shock? AI has a coral acclimation feature on their controllers which would also help to prevent coral shock. I'm def biased towards AI fixtures because once you find that sweet spot , coral has shown the deepest colors and very fast growth. The biggest problem is led's have a very narrow band between photo inhibition from too much par to loss of color and growth from too little.

10/30/2014, 12:38 PM	#3
andyman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,133	I've had Ai Sol -> upgraded to Vega -> upgraded to Hydra 52 so I'm no stranger to AI's. What I have noticed is that my torts don't do well with AI but everything else grows like a freakin weed. I even have SPS at the very bottom of a 30" cube tank growing like it was a GSP, spreading and growing up the side (I've got a bare bottom tank). Perhaps it may not be a lighting problem. But I just saw a few tanks with Kessil and I really like the look. Do you have any Torts and if so hows the success? Also do you have a quantum meter, i.e. apogee? I would love to know what the PAR reading is under your AI's where your torts are. That way I can rule out lighting. Andy