Hydra FiftyTwo controller, necessary?

Tommy081708 · 11/21/2014, 03:19 PM

Hey guys and gals,

The time has cum to purchase my Hydra FiftyTwos for the soon to cum 95 rimless starphire that will be ringing in the new year. Marinedepot is doing a site wide 15% black friday sale so I figured I'd jump on it. Only thing is I don't know weather to purchase controller or director. I know they can be programmed via computer but the computer I have is far from usable. So with that being said, would it be a smart idea to buy the controller or director (I don't know the difference between the two)? Would I need to buy two of them or can I use one for both units? Anything else you think is worth knowing about the lights please share. Thanks!

AudiSportB5S4 · 11/21/2014, 03:46 PM

I have a Hydra 26 and have the white controller.. You wouldn't get both. You have to decide what is best for you and what kind of control you'd like with your lights. I decided against the director at the time I was purchasing a few months ago because I didn't find the use in being able to change my light's settings with the over the air capability being that you tether it to the internet. Also at the time, the firmware was still going through its problems and was intermittently not communicating with the lights so that led me to the white controller. With that said, I've had two problems in just 4 months where my lights were stuck in the off position, one of the times I went away for a week so that sucked.. Luckily didn't lose anything and the corals came back to life but still, wasn't nice coming home to a dark tank so who knows if the director will be more or less stable which is why I am tempted to eventually try the director but the white controller gets the job done. Easy to use and I think now they've stopped shipping them with the power adapters that were causing interference.

Cliff notes: Controller = No internet, still can play with a big array of settings and have things like coral acclimation mode, weather effects, etc.. Director = Internet and slightly more control with things like real time weather effects, can control lights via app or internet, but still dealing with instability issues.

Tommy081708 · 11/21/2014, 04:14 PM

Big thanks man, you cleared it up. Now with the director, I said a computer is out of the question but will all the features in the software (as far as adjustability) be available in the app? I have an iPad and an android phone, those are my only options. Just clearing it up, I would only need one controller right?

11/21/2014, 03:19 PM	#1
Tommy081708 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 158	Hydra FiftyTwo controller, necessary? Hey guys and gals, The time has cum to purchase my Hydra FiftyTwos for the soon to cum 95 rimless starphire that will be ringing in the new year. Marinedepot is doing a site wide 15% black friday sale so I figured I'd jump on it. Only thing is I don't know weather to purchase controller or director. I know they can be programmed via computer but the computer I have is far from usable. So with that being said, would it be a smart idea to buy the controller or director (I don't know the difference between the two)? Would I need to buy two of them or can I use one for both units? Anything else you think is worth knowing about the lights please share. Thanks!

11/21/2014, 03:46 PM	#2
AudiSportB5S4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 286	I have a Hydra 26 and have the white controller.. You wouldn't get both. You have to decide what is best for you and what kind of control you'd like with your lights. I decided against the director at the time I was purchasing a few months ago because I didn't find the use in being able to change my light's settings with the over the air capability being that you tether it to the internet. Also at the time, the firmware was still going through its problems and was intermittently not communicating with the lights so that led me to the white controller. With that said, I've had two problems in just 4 months where my lights were stuck in the off position, one of the times I went away for a week so that sucked.. Luckily didn't lose anything and the corals came back to life but still, wasn't nice coming home to a dark tank so who knows if the director will be more or less stable which is why I am tempted to eventually try the director but the white controller gets the job done. Easy to use and I think now they've stopped shipping them with the power adapters that were causing interference. Cliff notes: Controller = No internet, still can play with a big array of settings and have things like coral acclimation mode, weather effects, etc.. Director = Internet and slightly more control with things like real time weather effects, can control lights via app or internet, but still dealing with instability issues.

11/21/2014, 04:14 PM	#3
Tommy081708 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 158	Big thanks man, you cleared it up. Now with the director, I said a computer is out of the question but will all the features in the software (as far as adjustability) be available in the app? I have an iPad and an android phone, those are my only options. Just clearing it up, I would only need one controller right?