2x Hydra 26s Lighting

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

Hey all,

I have just recently hooked up my Hydras to the Apex via the Iota devices. While the lights were controlled under the AI app I was running blues/violets/uv all at 100%, reds/greens at 5% and whites at 15% with a 1.5 hr ramp up and 1.5hr ramp down. Very simple program but was experiencing slow growth.

My lights are 12" off the water and the tank is 16" tall.

NOW. Since I hooked up the IOTA device I see the Apex controls the lights a bit differently and I am not quite sure how this works now.

I set the colours at the same levels, blues/violets/uv at 100%, Red/Green 5% and White at 15% with the same ramp. HOWEVER, I put the line on the graph to 80%.

Should I be okay at this level or should I be cranking them up to 100%? AND is it possible the 100% on the AI app was too much light?

EDIT: the tank is 80g (48x24x16) and I am dosing ESV 2part about 30mls a day to keep 8-8.5 alk

Ca: 420ish
Mag: 1350-1400
No3: 4
Po4: .04

pH: 7.9-8.1

Thank you,

Ian

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Calli said:
Hey all,

I have just recently hooked up my Hydras to the Apex via the Iota devices. While the lights were controlled under the AI app I was running blues/violets/uv all at 100%, reds/greens at 5% and whites at 15% with a 1.5 hr ramp up and 1.5hr ramp down. Very simple program but was experiencing slow growth.

My lights are 12" off the water and the tank is 16" tall.

NOW. Since I hooked up the IOTA device I see the Apex controls the lights a bit differently and I am not quite sure how this works now.

I set the colours at the same levels, blues/violets/uv at 100%, Red/Green 5% and White at 15% with the same ramp. HOWEVER, I put the line on the graph to 80%.

Should I be okay at this level or should I be cranking them up to 100%? AND is it possible the 100% on the AI app was too much light?

Thank you,

Ian

How wide is the tank?

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

45ZoaGarden said:
How wide is the tank?

48x24x16, I added params in there and dosing information.

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Calli said:
48x24x16, I added params in there and dosing information.

I’m assuming the lights are the non hd ones? What corals do you plan on keeping?

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

They are the HD lights. I have a fully stocked system right now.

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Here’s the settings I use over my 26x19x21 cube. And no, it’s not a Red Sea max, it’s a jbj45 and the light won’t listen to me LOL

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

See that's the thing I am confused about... Those %'s vs the IOTA %'s... The IOTA has the % for each colour AND an overall % on the graph. I set it at 80% on the graph so I didn't burn anything.

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

That’s confusing . Why not just use the ai app?

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

The Apex allows me to have Dashboard control.

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Calli said:
The Apex allows me to have Dashboard control.

Ooohhh I got you now. I have an apex too but I don’t control it with the apex.

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

Like this.

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Calli said:
Like this.

So can you go to the sliders and adjust the individual %’s?

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

I think. But I don’t really understand. That’s kinda what I need to know. Lol

45ZoaGarden · Jan 16, 2020

Grab a slider and put them at the % that you want and see if it does anything.

member 99594 · Jan 16, 2020

Basically what I think I don’t get is that the overall percent on the AI app is not shown.
The Apex provides that controllability.
Would I assume the overall % I had the AI app at 100%?

Coral Reef Keepers · Jan 16, 2020

I noticed this when I used APEX to control my 26's as well. That graph represents the max intensity of the whole light. If you look at the control interface for Radions, they are set up like you see yours in APEX. You can choose the intensity of each individual spectrum and over all intensity via the graph. In the AI app I believe the power usage "wheel" is what controls overall intensity. Overall, I would rather run my 26's through APEX because I like the controls better than the AI app but I cannot because my router does not play nice with them.

You should also get a PAR meter to map your tank too. That will help with knowing how much light your corals are getting.

jk1151 · Jan 16, 2020

Coral Reef Keepers said:
I noticed this when I used APEX to control my 26's as well. That graph represents the max intensity of the whole light. If you look at the control interface for Radions, they are set up like you see yours in APEX. You can choose the intensity of each individual spectrum and over all intensity via the graph. In the AI app I believe the power usage "wheel" is what controls overall intensity. Overall, I would rather run my 26's through APEX because I like the controls better than the AI app but I cannot because my router does not play nice with them.

You should also get a PAR meter to map your tank too. That will help with knowing how much light your corals are getting.

I also have those lights and I couldn’t get the IOTA set up over Wifi because I have google mesh WiFi and it doesnt’ seem to want to play nice. I may try a temporary long Ethernet cable to set it up and then see if it will work over Wifi. I hope you figure out the APEX programming. I will be following to see.

Porpoise Hork · Jan 16, 2020

45ZoaGarden said:
Here’s the settings I use over my 26x19x21 cube. And no, it’s not a Red Sea max, it’s a jbj45 and the light won’t listen to me LOL

There are/were two versions of the Hydra 26. The AI branded one that shows up as a Hydra in the app/web portal and a Red Sea Max 26 version that shows as.. Well you guessed it. They are the exact same lights except the Red Sea variant is coded into the firmware and has a pair of drilled holes on the back side of the heatsink just above the power reset and LED status light. This is where you could mount them to the Red Sea mounting arms instead of using the top mount bracket.