Hydra 26 HD lighting for my Aquaone Mini?

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 07:50 AM

Hello there again guys! Been running my tank for almost two months,i have the AquaOne Minireef 90
Currently have a finger leather,clove polyp and a ric yuma, in a few months i want to start adding more hardy corals.

Ive recognised for a few days now besides my moonlight blues, the MariGlo LED's daytime lights (white, white&blue) are pretty week! Unless i put my corals at the top,until moonlight they look a tad bit colorless

Just wanted to ask will the Hydra 26 be a good fit for my tank? Or will it be TOO powerful? Also i know this is a great forum with great advice so if it is, is there any others you could recommend??

thegrun · 04/08/2016, 08:16 AM

It would certainly work and since the light intensity is adjustable you could easily program it at a lower light level. There are expensive lights that would work (like the AquaIlluminations Prime) for your tank but you definitely could use the Hydra 26.

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

It would certainly work and since the light intensity is adjustable you could easily program it at a lower light level. There are expensive lights that would work (like the AquaIlluminations Prime) for your tank but you definitely could use the Hydra 26.

Thank you for the reply ! Whats the better lighting system? Notice the AquaIlluminations Prime is abit cheaper.. isit any good??

I also got recommended the iLumen Air 600 by my local store

GimpyFin · 04/08/2016, 10:52 AM

The Prime is kinda like half of what a Hydra 26 would be. Neither one is necessarily better than the other, just different usage scenarios. I agree with thegrun. You could definitely do a 26 and dial it down, but the Prime is almost half the price and would work fine on that size tank.

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GimpyFin

The Prime is kinda like half of what a Hydra 26 would be. Neither one is necessarily better than the other, just different usage scenarios. I agree with thegrun. You could definitely do a 26 and dial it down, but the Prime is almost half the price and would work fine on that size tank.

Thank you for the input! So is the AquaIlluminations Prime powerful enough for my tank where softies and hardies would be happy? Id rather go for that considering the price aslong as it does the job and i dont have to go out in the future and buy another for the same tank because the lights wernt good enough

Gagonzalez · 04/08/2016, 04:10 PM

I use a Hydra 26 for my tank and it would be similar. However, I have Mostly LPS and some SPS as well as a Clam and Anemone. However, I don't see why you couldn't just turn down the intensity. When you say hardies, what does that mean? LPS or SPS?

frankv702 · 04/08/2016, 04:34 PM

I'd say go with the 26HD. That way if you decide to get somethin bigger in the future you can use it. The Hydra 26 is an amazing light. The adjustability is amazing on it.

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagonzalez

I use a Hydra 26 for my tank and it would be similar. However, I have Mostly LPS and some SPS as well as a Clam and Anemone. However, I don't see why you couldn't just turn down the intensity. When you say hardies, what does that mean? LPS or SPS?

Tbh ive got quite a few begginer corals, i was thinking how would a frogspawn or hammer coral do

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagonzalez

I use a Hydra 26 for my tank and it would be similar. However, I have Mostly LPS and some SPS as well as a Clam and Anemone. However, I don't see why you couldn't just turn down the intensity. When you say hardies, what does that mean? LPS or SPS?

I think im set on getting it

can you recommend me any led settings to use for my Aquaone minireef 90, would be very helpful once purchased! Currently have leather finger, ric yuma (a challange) and a beautiful clove polyp, also have a rainbow zoanthid frag on the way, plan on adding frogspawn or hammer and a few other corals

Dombake · 04/08/2016, 05:55 PM

I have the same tank and am running the iluminaire 600 and I'm really happy with them. The mariglo was pants.... I can't imagine anyone being able to grow anything with it.

ricosneeks · 04/08/2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dombake

I have the same tank and am running the iluminaire 600 and I'm really happy with them. The mariglo was pants.... I can't imagine anyone being able to grow anything with it.

What corals do you have in the tank? How are they doing? I was looking at the iluminaire is it much different to the hydra..is there a big difference in lighting ?

killagoby · 04/08/2016, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricosneeks

I think im set on getting it

can you recommend me any led settings to use for my Aquaone minireef 90, would be very helpful once purchased! Currently have leather finger, ric yuma (a challange) and a beautiful clove polyp, also have a rainbow zoanthid frag on the way, plan on adding frogspawn or hammer and a few other corals

I run mine on a 12 hour cycle with a 4 hour ramp. 80% at 18k. That's on a 70 gallon though which is 20" deep

Dombake · 04/09/2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricosneeks

What corals do you have in the tank? How are they doing? I was looking at the iluminaire is it much different to the hydra..is there a big difference in lighting ?

I have Lobos x3, torch, trumpet x2, acan x2, Duncan x2, blasto and brain maze.. All seem to be doing well and I only run at 50% max.

I don't know much about the hydra although looks a bit more controllable.

ricosneeks · 04/09/2016, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dombake

I have Lobos x3, torch, trumpet x2, acan x2, Duncan x2, blasto and brain maze.. All seem to be doing well and I only run at 50% max.

I don't know much about the hydra although looks a bit more controllable.

You have the corals i plan on getting

sounds like a great led system for a good price too.. if you dont mind can i have the settings you currently use for lighting

Dombake · 04/10/2016, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricosneeks

You have the corals i plan on getting

sounds like a great led system for a good price too.. if you dont mind can i have the settings you currently use for lighting

Sure. it might seem complicated but if you do get them, it's really easy to program and will make perfect sense.

Channel A= white
Channel B= Blue
Channel C= Red

Range is 0 (off) to 32 (100%)

3.5 hours A1 B1 C1
2.5 hours A2 B16 C11
4 hours A14 B17 C11
2 hours A1 B8 C6
3.5 hours A0 B3 C0 (basically this is just be being able to view later at night
8.5 hours OFF

I have dialled down the white over the last week as I wanted to see if it had any impact on the small amount of alge I had. It's not had any noticeable effect on the corals I guess as I run it very blue anyway.

P.S I must not forget that I let my 4 year old press the storm button one a week... Just for fun really.

04/08/2016, 07:50 AM	#1
ricosneeks Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 47	Hydra 26 HD lighting for my Aquaone Mini? Hello there again guys! Been running my tank for almost two months,i have the AquaOne Minireef 90 Currently have a finger leather,clove polyp and a ric yuma, in a few months i want to start adding more hardy corals. Ive recognised for a few days now besides my moonlight blues, the MariGlo LED's daytime lights (white, white&blue) are pretty week! Unless i put my corals at the top,until moonlight they look a tad bit colorless Just wanted to ask will the Hydra 26 be a good fit for my tank? Or will it be TOO powerful? Also i know this is a great forum with great advice so if it is, is there any others you could recommend??

04/08/2016, 04:10 PM	#6
Gagonzalez Reef Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 703	I use a Hydra 26 for my tank and it would be similar. However, I have Mostly LPS and some SPS as well as a Clam and Anemone. However, I don't see why you couldn't just turn down the intensity. When you say hardies, what does that mean? LPS or SPS? __________________ George Current Tank Info: JBJ 28g Nano / Aquamaxx HOB-1 / TLF 150 with GFO/ Vortech MP10QD / JBJ ATO / In-Tank Basket / AI Hydra26

04/08/2016, 05:55 PM	#10
Dombake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 83	I have the same tank and am running the iluminaire 600 and I'm really happy with them. The mariglo was pants.... I can't imagine anyone being able to grow anything with it. __________________ 90l DT, 40l sump, skimmer, MP10, 12.5kg LR, 1" fine gravel. Sg 1.026; temp 26; Ammonia 0. Nitrate <5, kh 8.3 LPS tank with pair of clowns.

04/08/2016, 08:16 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It would certainly work and since the light intensity is adjustable you could easily program it at a lower light level. There are expensive lights that would work (like the AquaIlluminations Prime) for your tank but you definitely could use the Hydra 26.

04/08/2016, 10:52 AM	#4
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	The Prime is kinda like half of what a Hydra 26 would be. Neither one is necessarily better than the other, just different usage scenarios. I agree with thegrun. You could definitely do a 26 and dial it down, but the Prime is almost half the price and would work fine on that size tank.

04/08/2016, 04:34 PM	#7
frankv702 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 132	I'd say go with the 26HD. That way if you decide to get somethin bigger in the future you can use it. The Hydra 26 is an amazing light. The adjustability is amazing on it.