AI HYDRA settings

[slimfitz]

Anybody run Hydra's? I've been playing with these settings for about 6 months now on my 90 gal. I have two Hydra 52 HDs. I cant seem to find a setting that will give good growth and color. Ive downloaded profiles from all over the web. Who is running these with good results? And would you care to share your profile with me? This is the current one that I am running.

 

[DaveK]

I use four Hydra 52 on my 125 gal reef system. This is an older model compared to the Hydra 52 HD. However, I do use them with a director.

I use a very simple system. Light ramp up for an hour starting at on at 9 AM and start to ramp down at 9 PM. I run the most of the colors at about 85% max, except white which I run at about 55% max, and green that I run about 70% max. No "special effects" are used. At night the deep blue are run at 5% max.

You are going to find that just about any reasonably normal profile will work just fine, and as long as your profile isn't extreme there isn't really too much too much difference as far as coral growth goes. I have found it nice to be able to cut back on the red or green as part of controlling algae.

If your happw with the way you have it set up now, no need to alter it. In my opinion, it's a waste of time to "hyper tune" the lighting profile to get it "absolutely perfect".

 

[kschweer]

Alex over at @Reefabout runs them maybe he can help out.

 

[Mark_C]

I dont know if this will help or not. I was running 2 hydra 26s over my 90 and ran a par meter with the lights on various settings.
Unsure how this would transcribe over to the 52s, but at least its some info...

 

[slimfitz]

Awesome thank you for the replies. Ive been getting pretty good growth running them on the setting like I have it. I just wish the colors would pop more. I think Im going to leave them alone and quit messing with them.

 

[DaveK]

If you want the colors to "pop more", set the colors you want to emphasize at a greater level relative to the other colors. This can take some playing around. Often in reef systems people seem to like the blues. Note how some tanks seem to use almost all blue light, so you'd turn up the blues or turn down the other colors.

Keep in mind that changing the lighting can have other side effects, such as algae growth. This is why I sometime keep the red and green dialed down. Yet you might want more red and green to get the colors better.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I tried to setup AI module similar to a ATI Blue Plus as far as wavelengths go. The Blue Plus has been a go to T5 bulb for a reason as it appears to have best all around growth plus color. It took a little fiddling but the HD you can overpower the blues and purple bulbs to get that profile.

 

[jose7878]

Alex over at @Reefabout runs them maybe he can help out.

THis is what he runs at his store. Cause I run the same as he does. It suppose to mimic the Radium halide bulbs.