AI Hydra 26 or 52?

[blstravler]

Just getting back into the hobby after 10 years away. Last time I had all MH (400w) on a SPS dominant tank. This time I’m going LED. New tank is a Red Sea 425xl - so dims are roughly 47 x 22 x 22 - and I want to do all SPS again. I’m new to LEDs and after reading a lot I’m still not sure if I should go with 2 Hydra 26’s (or maybe 3?) or just 2 Hydra 52’s?

 

[Angrywalnut]

I have a 450 and 3 26's I would prefer 4 for more even lighting. They cover 18 inches well, rated for 24. They get dim fast outside that 18 inches. Being that that tank
in deluxe model comes with 2 I would say full SPS you would want 3. Look at the AI website signature series tanks. The one has 3-52's on a reefer 250 the other has 2-26's
on a 30 gallon. I cant speak for the 52 I have no experience with them.

 

[blstravler]

I have a 450 and 3 26's I would prefer 4 for more even lighting. They cover 18 inches well, rated for 24. They get dim fast outside that 18 inches. Being that that tank
in deluxe model comes with 2 I would say full SPS you would want 3. Look at the AI website signature series tanks. The one has 3-52's on a reefer 250 the other has 2-26's
on a 30 gallon. I cant speak for the 52 I have no experience with them.

Yup just found the tank - I already picked up 2 52’s - think I will start there and if a third is needed I will put one on. Can’t believe he has 3 on a 250 - though I am brand new to LED lighting so that could make sense. Do most people run the lights at the same height off the tank for better coverage?

 

[FMF0331]

 

[blstravler]

What is the size of your tank it looks huge but something tells me it isn’t?

 

[FMF0331]

What is the size of your tank it looks huge but something tells me it isn’t?

My tank is the ELOS 160XL

 

[BYU]

fmf0331
sweet looking tank
[emoji12]

 

[FMF0331]

fmf0331
sweet looking tank
[emoji12]

your screen name looks familiar .... do i know you ?

;Spiderman

 

[PatW]

LEDs have very directional light. Corals can have plenty of light on one side and virtually none on the other.

There are a couple of ways to handle this.

You can do a hybrid setup with LED and T5.

Or you can run more LED lights and hang them a bit higher and let light overlap smooth out the lighting.