AquaIllumination Hydra FiftyTwo HD LED

sonoma2nv · 09/28/2015, 10:22 PM

seeing if anyone has tryed the FiftyTwo HD's yet.
http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/hydra/

Allentown · 09/28/2015, 11:36 PM

$599.00 at Marine Depot

EllisJuan · 09/28/2015, 11:52 PM

I don't really understand the point of what they have done. Hardly anyone runs this light at 100% on any channel with the original version. I have never heard anyone say "Gee...if only I could turn X channel up higher on my Hydra 52". I owned a pair of Hydra 52s.

Mark426 · 09/29/2015, 05:54 AM

I agree with EllisJuan.

LesMartin · 09/29/2015, 07:17 AM

I have 6 Hydra 52's and all channels are at 100% except cool white which peaks at 25%. I've always thought that the lost 75% on the white channel was wasted and wished it could be replaced with blue. If only I was psychic and knew what was coming 3 months ago.

Wazzel · 09/29/2015, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMartin

I have 6 Hydra 52's and all channels are at 100% except cool white which peaks at 25%. I've always thought that the lost 75% on the white channel was wasted and wished it could be replaced with blue. If only I was psychic and knew what was coming 3 months ago.

I run B, B and V at 100%, R, G, UV at 90% and W at 80%. I would like a little more from B, B and V

Allentown · 09/29/2015, 08:58 AM

If you have a deep tank and run close to the 20k color, this change will give you more par at the bottom.

If you run 12k, no advantage. 14k has some advantage.

Those using apex controllers etc. are more likely to run variable K programs throughout the day.

Allentown · 09/29/2015, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMartin

I have 6 Hydra 52's and all channels are at 100% except cool white which peaks at 25%. I've always thought that the lost 75% on the white channel was wasted and wished it could be replaced with blue. If only I was psychic and knew what was coming 3 months ago.

Assuming you acclimate and need more part you could easily just run the whites higher a few hours a day while your at work and have it return to your preferred settings by the time you get home for viewing.

andrek787 · 09/29/2015, 11:44 AM

There is actually a good explanation for HD. AI does its best to maintain an upgrade path for existing owners. Big part of it is the requirement to utilize the same heatsink for newer models. As far as I understand the Hydra52 heatsink is identical to that used by pervious generations of Hydras and Vegas. That heat sink can only safely dissipate 135W worth of heat, even though the LED pucks themselves can handle 190w+ of power ( 2 pucks on hydra 26 are run at 95w ).

The only way to increase PAR without sacrificing color spectrum control and not break the upgrade path for existing owners was to allow "overdriving" a particular channel based on spare heat dissipation capacity available.

Disclaimer, to avoid confusion, the numbers mentioned above are actually from the wall, not fixture itself.

sonoma2nv · 09/29/2015, 01:07 PM

i have 3 hydra 52's on a 90 gal and run b,rb,v at 100% so might try em out if they put an upgrade kit out. and also nice u dont need to have controllers anymore.

Allentown · 09/29/2015, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrek787

There is actually a good explanation for HD. AI does its best to maintain an upgrade path for existing owners. Big part of it is the requirement to utilize the same heatsink for newer models. As far as I understand the Hydra52 heatsink is identical to that used by pervious generations of Hydras and Vegas. That heat sink can only safely dissipate 135W worth of heat, even though the LED pucks themselves can handle 190w+ of power ( 2 pucks on hydra 26 are run at 95w ).

The only way to increase PAR without sacrificing color spectrum control and not break the upgrade path for existing owners was to allow "overdriving" a particular channel based on spare heat dissipation capacity available.

Disclaimer, to avoid confusion, the numbers mentioned above are actually from the wall, not fixture itself.

To me this indicates that they are very near the ceiling of the form factor and that there is a probability of an upgraded form factor coming out next gen to eliminate the bottle neck.

It is bound to happen sooner or later. Although to my eyes the heat sink design looks superior in the hydra over the Radion so advancing this concept is going to take some doing. I mean the whole box is basically one giant heat sink so other than making it larger, how do you improve on it without attaching an H50 corsair water cooler radiator to one?

chercm · 09/29/2015, 06:42 PM

i would like AI to allow the existing hydra 52 users to have the same ability to control the lighting like the prime users

andrek787 · 09/29/2015, 07:19 PM

Yes, I agree they will have to change the heatsink at some point and to me the Radions look cheap with that shiny plastic housing compared to the Hydra. I am really hopping there will be an option to just upgrade the main board and get the HD upgrade without changing out the pucks themselves.

I don't think AI can just give existing 52 owners the direct wireless function as that requers a WIFI chip on the mainboard and 52s don't have it.

sonoma2nv · 09/29/2015, 08:52 PM

.....

trueperc · 10/02/2015, 06:26 PM

If you where in the market today, would you buy the discounted pervious model or preorder the new one. As it does look like they also changed some of the leds as well. I would be need mini 3 52s and 2 26s.
Thanks

twon8 · 10/02/2015, 09:01 PM

So if I'm running my hydra 52's on an apex what benefit will the hd upgrade be? Just more blue? My lights shift from 20k to 12k and back during the day so I already have a lot of control

sonoma2nv · 10/03/2015, 12:00 AM

ai claims more par since u can over drive the channels u use with the extra power from channels u dont use alot of.they claim 52's hd will be 725par and reg 52's are 575 par at 20k .Hydra FiftyTwo HD. Units in µMol m-2 s-1. Scans at 12 in. over air. http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/hydra/ link if u wanna read it on there site.

spifftempo · 10/03/2015, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twon8

So if I'm running my hydra 52's on an apex what benefit will the hd upgrade be? Just more blue? My lights shift from 20k to 12k and back during the day so I already have a lot of control

I don't think these will work with the AWM- they don't work with the AI Director and the same RF chip that is in the AI director is in the AWM.

sonoma2nv · 10/03/2015, 10:07 AM

yeah it will work over wifi and u wont need a controller. im looking forward to getting rid of the director

TURKLET0N · 03/12/2016, 09:53 PM

Do you need the regional controller with the hydra 52 HD in order to get the weather effect?

racedout · 03/13/2016, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TURKLET0N

Do you need the regional controller with the hydra 52 HD in order to get the weather effect?

No regional weather with the HD currently. I emailed AI and asked. Only if you are using the non-HD series with the Director. Hopefully they will add this feature back in the future.

TURKLET0N · 03/13/2016, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racedout

No regional weather with the HD currently. I emailed AI and asked. Only if you are using the non-HD series with the Director. Hopefully they will add this feature back in the future.

That is pretty stupid not to have it on the upgraded version.

drummerboyevil · 03/13/2016, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TURKLET0N

That is pretty stupid not to have it on the upgraded version.

Kinda what I thought when I had mine. Seemed like there was no reason NOT to include that functionality.

frey · 03/23/2016, 09:01 PM

For those that do have the HD's what are you running at? I just got 3-52 HD's and am changing from mostly softies and LPS to SPS and advice on height above water and % would be great. I am at 11" with B and V at 80% W at 40% and Red and Green at 20% and UV at 30%. I am afraid to go much higher for fear of bleaching.

kurfer · 03/23/2016, 10:14 PM

I'd give anything to swap my 8 Hydra 52's for Kessils. The weak shimmer on the AI is the worst of all the current higher end LED lights.

09/28/2015, 10:22 PM	#1
sonoma2nv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Richmond,VA Posts: 177	AquaIllumination Hydra FiftyTwo HD LED seeing if anyone has tryed the FiftyTwo HD's yet. http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/hydra/

09/28/2015, 11:36 PM	#2
Allentown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 975	$599.00 at Marine Depot __________________ NEW Build: 225g 72x27x27 Tigger Emerald 39 Sump, ConeS CO-3, 3xHydra 52, BRS 2 part dosers, Vortech MP-40 QD Gyre XF150, Neptune Wav x2, 2x Jaebo RW-4, SMR-1, MR-1

09/28/2015, 11:52 PM	#3
EllisJuan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 1,366	I don't really understand the point of what they have done. Hardly anyone runs this light at 100% on any channel with the original version. I have never heard anyone say "Gee...if only I could turn X channel up higher on my Hydra 52". I owned a pair of Hydra 52s. __________________ 24x24x12 Rimless RR * Apex * Reeflink * Radion Pro G2 * MP10wQD * JNS CO-1 Skimmer * Advance Acrylics Custom Sump * Jebao DC2000

09/29/2015, 08:58 AM	#7
Allentown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 975	If you have a deep tank and run close to the 20k color, this change will give you more par at the bottom. If you run 12k, no advantage. 14k has some advantage. Those using apex controllers etc. are more likely to run variable K programs throughout the day. __________________ NEW Build: 225g 72x27x27 Tigger Emerald 39 Sump, ConeS CO-3, 3xHydra 52, BRS 2 part dosers, Vortech MP-40 QD Gyre XF150, Neptune Wav x2, 2x Jaebo RW-4, SMR-1, MR-1

09/29/2015, 11:44 AM	#9
andrek787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 378	There is actually a good explanation for HD. AI does its best to maintain an upgrade path for existing owners. Big part of it is the requirement to utilize the same heatsink for newer models. As far as I understand the Hydra52 heatsink is identical to that used by pervious generations of Hydras and Vegas. That heat sink can only safely dissipate 135W worth of heat, even though the LED pucks themselves can handle 190w+ of power ( 2 pucks on hydra 26 are run at 95w ). The only way to increase PAR without sacrificing color spectrum control and not break the upgrade path for existing owners was to allow "overdriving" a particular channel based on spare heat dissipation capacity available. Disclaimer, to avoid confusion, the numbers mentioned above are actually from the wall, not fixture itself. __________________ SCA starphire 150 gallon, custom Advanced Acrylics 50g sump, 3 x Hydra52 Hybrids, 2 x Gyre xf-150, 2 x Kessil A150 6700k fuge lights, ATI 250is Skimmer, Skimz RR-153 bio-pellet, Kore 5th Doser

09/29/2015, 05:54 AM	#4
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	I agree with EllisJuan.

09/29/2015, 07:17 AM	#5
LesMartin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: UK Posts: 471	I have 6 Hydra 52's and all channels are at 100% except cool white which peaks at 25%. I've always thought that the lost 75% on the white channel was wasted and wished it could be replaced with blue. If only I was psychic and knew what was coming 3 months ago.

09/29/2015, 01:07 PM	#10
sonoma2nv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Richmond,VA Posts: 177	i have 3 hydra 52's on a 90 gal and run b,rb,v at 100% so might try em out if they put an upgrade kit out. and also nice u dont need to have controllers anymore.

09/29/2015, 06:42 PM	#12
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	i would like AI to allow the existing hydra 52 users to have the same ability to control the lighting like the prime users

09/29/2015, 07:19 PM	#13
andrek787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 378	Yes, I agree they will have to change the heatsink at some point and to me the Radions look cheap with that shiny plastic housing compared to the Hydra. I am really hopping there will be an option to just upgrade the main board and get the HD upgrade without changing out the pucks themselves. I don't think AI can just give existing 52 owners the direct wireless function as that requers a WIFI chip on the mainboard and 52s don't have it. __________________ SCA starphire 150 gallon, custom Advanced Acrylics 50g sump, 3 x Hydra52 Hybrids, 2 x Gyre xf-150, 2 x Kessil A150 6700k fuge lights, ATI 250is Skimmer, Skimz RR-153 bio-pellet, Kore 5th Doser

09/29/2015, 08:52 PM	#14
sonoma2nv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Richmond,VA Posts: 177	.....

10/02/2015, 06:26 PM	#15
trueperc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, On, Canada Posts: 788	If you where in the market today, would you buy the discounted pervious model or preorder the new one. As it does look like they also changed some of the leds as well. I would be need mini 3 52s and 2 26s. Thanks

10/02/2015, 09:01 PM	#16
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	So if I'm running my hydra 52's on an apex what benefit will the hd upgrade be? Just more blue? My lights shift from 20k to 12k and back during the day so I already have a lot of control __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

10/03/2015, 12:00 AM	#17
sonoma2nv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Richmond,VA Posts: 177	ai claims more par since u can over drive the channels u use with the extra power from channels u dont use alot of.they claim 52's hd will be 725par and reg 52's are 575 par at 20k .Hydra FiftyTwo HD. Units in µMol m-2 s-1. Scans at 12 in. over air. http://www.aquaillumination.com/lighting/hydra/ link if u wanna read it on there site.

10/03/2015, 10:07 AM	#19
sonoma2nv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Richmond,VA Posts: 177	yeah it will work over wifi and u wont need a controller. im looking forward to getting rid of the director

03/12/2016, 09:53 PM	#20
TURKLET0N Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchase Posts: 334	Do you need the regional controller with the hydra 52 HD in order to get the weather effect? __________________ 150 gallon aquarium 72x18x27. Refugium, 3 Radion Pros with wide angle lenses, 2 MP40 QD's, Vectra L1, I-Tech 200, Tunze 3155 & an Emperor Aquatics SMART UV 40 Watt Sterilizer.

03/23/2016, 09:01 PM	#24
frey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Jersey Shore, Pa Posts: 92	For those that do have the HD's what are you running at? I just got 3-52 HD's and am changing from mostly softies and LPS to SPS and advice on height above water and % would be great. I am at 11" with B and V at 80% W at 40% and Red and Green at 20% and UV at 30%. I am afraid to go much higher for fear of bleaching.

03/23/2016, 10:14 PM	#25
kurfer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 285	I'd give anything to swap my 8 Hydra 52's for Kessils. The weak shimmer on the AI is the worst of all the current higher end LED lights.