AI Hydra vs. Hydra FiftyTwo

[Avgou]

What rail size would you recommend for 2 52 HDs on a 48x24x21 tank? 12 or 18 inch? Thank you!

[JoeBatt]

I bought an 1x 18 and 1x 12. and its set up longitudinally along the tank in an oblong hole I made in my hood. I cut the 18 in half and put one either end and the 12 in the middle like thus.... My tank is a Reefer 350 so 120cm long

--oooo---oooo-- If that makes sense

[Avgou]

Thanks Joe. I plan on putting them laterally. I guess I'll buy the 18" and cut it if need be...?

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by Avgou

What rail size would you recommend for 2 52 HDs on a 48x24x21 tank? 12 or 18 inch? Thank you!

Since your aquarium is 48" long, you'll want the 48" rail kit (link).

[Avgou]

Originally Posted by MarineDepot

Since your aquarium is 48" long, you'll want the 48" rail kit (link).

I want to hang two 52 HDs. My tank is also rimless. Thanks for the response but I'm not sure still if the 12 or 18 better. I'm thinking 18"

[MarineDepot]

The 12" EXT rail will set the lights 3.75" - 9" apart, while the 18" EXT rails will set the lights 12"-14.25" apart.

If you plan to have the lights closer to the aquarium, say 6"-10", the 18" rails should work well.

If you plan to hang your lights a little higher (12"+), we would probably go with the 12" rails.

[Avgou]

Thank you. I though preferred distance was around 12 inches?

[MarineDepot]

It really depends on your setup (tank dimensions, rockscape) and preference. Higher, you will get better coverage and more even blending. However, you will have to run the intensities a little higher and will have more light spillage.

Lower, narrow coverage and colors will not blend quite as well. However, higher intensities and less light spillage.

10"-12" is fairly typical.

[Avgou]

Thank you!

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by JoeBatt

Just for your own info MarineDepot the HD lights do not have the following features despite it saying they do on their website........

1) Layout so Sunrise/Sunset movement across the tank is not possible.
2) Local weather
3) Cloud movement across the aquarium.

Thanks for the info JoeBatt. We did confirm with AI that you are correct and the functions are currently unavailable with the HD series. However, they are continually working to improve the software so hopefully these features will return in the near future.

[dlai531]

If i want to hang 3 Hydra 52 perpendicular using the classic rail kit over a 48x24x20 tank, should i get the 36in or 48in? first thought was 48in since that's the length of my tank.. but since i wont be mounting the lights at the very edge for even spread would it make sense to get the 36in instead?

Thinking 1 hydra in the middle of the classic kit and other 2 hydras at the very ends of the rail kit would position it perfectly over the tank? thoughts?

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by dlai531

If i want to hang 3 Hydra 52 perpendicular using the classic rail kit over a 48x24x20 tank, should i get the 36in or 48in? first thought was 48in since that's the length of my tank.. but since i wont be mounting the lights at the very edge for even spread would it make sense to get the 36in instead?

Thinking 1 hydra in the middle of the classic kit and other 2 hydras at the very ends of the rail kit would position it perfectly over the tank? thoughts?

The 36" Rail kit would indeed work out just fine and would actually make the installation look a little cleaner. As you noted, you wouldn't want the lights at the very edge anyways.

[dlai531]

Originally Posted by MarineDepot

The 36" Rail kit would indeed work out just fine and would actually make the installation look a little cleaner. As you noted, you wouldn't want the lights at the very edge anyways.

perfect. thanks for that feedback.

Have been reading reviews of customers having a hard time mounting Hydra 52 using the screws for the rail kit and requiring a lot of fiddling. are you aware of similar complaints? Just curious if this is a valid concern or what my other mounting options would be so that i can still use my existing conduit hangers over my tank.

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by dlai531

perfect. thanks for that feedback.

Have been reading reviews of customers having a hard time mounting Hydra 52 using the screws for the rail kit and requiring a lot of fiddling. are you aware of similar complaints? Just curious if this is a valid concern or what my other mounting options would be so that i can still use my existing conduit hangers over my tank.

It's been a while since we last mounted one. I believe the screws included were indeed a little short. However, they are common 5/32 screws and you can very easily pick up longer screws from any hardware store.

[jeff240gallon]

My tank is 6ft long, 2.5 ft tall, and 2 feet deep. Should I get three hydra 52s or 5-6 hydra 26's? Some people are saying the 26 is more powerful? How's that?

Also I was suggested to supplement with t5's.. Thoughts?


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[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by jeff240gallon

My tank is 6ft long, 2.5 ft tall, and 2 feet deep. Should I get three hydra 52s or 5-6 hydra 26's? Some people are saying the 26 is more powerful? How's that?

Also I was suggested to supplement with t5's.. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In most cases, 3 Hydra 52's so do the trick. However, if you are planning having a pretty packed SPS tank then 5-6 Hydra 26's may be preferable as you would have more light fixtures that puts out light from more different angles to minimize shadowing.

Supplementing with T5's is a possible option as well. However, is probably not something you need to consider for a year or two as most reef tanks do not get that dense that quickly.

As for power, not every LED on the Hydra fixture is operated at 100%. The Hydra 52 uses up to 135W while each Hydra 26 uses up to 90W. At pull power, the Hydra 26 operates the LED's at a higher power: which is the reason why two Hydra 26's operating at 100% would be more powerful than one Hydra 52 operating at 100%.

[jeff240gallon]

Thanks for the info


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[jeff240gallon]

Originally Posted by MarineDepot

In most cases, 3 Hydra 52's so do the trick. However, if you are planning having a pretty packed SPS tank then 5-6 Hydra 26's may be preferable as you would have more light fixtures that puts out light from more different angles to minimize shadowing.

Supplementing with T5's is a possible option as well. However, is probably not something you need to consider for a year or two as most reef tanks do not get that dense that quickly.

As for power, not every LED on the Hydra fixture is operated at 100%. The Hydra 52 uses up to 135W while each Hydra 26 uses up to 90W. At pull power, the Hydra 26 operates the LED's at a higher power: which is the reason why two Hydra 26's operating at 100% would be more powerful than one Hydra 52 operating at 100%.

Last question, if I get multiple hydras hd, will I be able to control each one individually?

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by jeff240gallon

Last question, if I get multiple hydras hd, will I be able to control each one individually?

Yes, you are able to set the light as "parent" or "child". "Parent" fixtures can be controlled individually.

[ADVRESOURCE]

I have a 72"l x 24"w x 33"h. I have 3 Hydra 52 HD. The rock is a peninsula with rock separated in the middle. I purchased the standard rail system and the lights are perpendicular to the rock structure. I measured PAR with the Apogee meter. Directly under the lights are very high PAR (around 370) however, due to the narrow spread of the light, the PAR drops off pretty significantly when tested outside of direct light path. In the bottom corners the PAR will go down to 5.

The LFS has come up with rails that can mount to the Hydra 52's to have them mounted parallel to the rock structure. This has put a lot more light across the peninsula. The rails slide down the AI standard rails. When the rails are mounted to the Hydra, the assembly looks like an H.

Marine can probably purchase from ReefH2O.com and sell to reefers with longer tanks.

[ADVRESOURCE]

I have 3 Hydra 52 HD controlled as a parent and 2 child lights. Thus, control is very clean. If I want to add more child lights, will it be a simple configuration change or do I have to reset and setup all at one time?

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by ADVRESOURCE

I have 3 Hydra 52 HD controlled as a parent and 2 child lights. Thus, control is very clean. If I want to add more child lights, will it be a simple configuration change or do I have to reset and setup all at one time?

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the rails. We will forward the information to our purchasing team.

In regards to the programming, we would assume that you can simply add more child lights. However, it is not something we have had a chance to try out ourselves.

[kaiserdeleon]

What did he use to raise the AI classic mounting rail?

Originally Posted by MarineDepot

Joe from our tech team runs 3 AI Hydra LED lights over his reef. So who better to try out Aqua Illumination's latest innovation, the Hydra FiftyTwo?

Find out what makes the FiftyTwo so special in Joe's review — Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!













Read Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!

[MarineDepot]

Originally Posted by kaiserdeleon

What did he use to raise the AI classic mounting rail?

They were a couple of 'risers' made out of hardwood and siliconed to the aquarium. The rail kits now come with taller legs that get the lights about 6" above the aquarium, so there is not as much of a need to raise the lights.

[THERICK]

I was the lucky recipient of a 150 gallon reef tank and 2 Hyde 52's(which are awesome). I'm having th hardest time finding an AI Director as it has been discontinued. I constantly scour the intern t and eBay with no luck. Any suggestions.