AI Hydra 26 or Kessil a360W-E

[PeterG]

I have the Hydra 26 HD'S and I have not had an issue after setup. Setup I did have some issue connecting and setting up parent child. I contacted tech support and I was in business in a few minutes. I just switched internet services and had not issue connecting my light to a different router. Has a firmware update been performed?

Finally pulled the trigger on the Hydra 26's. Thanks for your posts about mounting. I used your photos as a basis for my mount but after laboring with a utility knife with a new blade and then a heated blade, I opted for a pair of Aviation type tin snips. Did the job in no time.

After searching unsuccessfully for a comprehensive manual form AI I've gotten everything up and running with the help of this and other forums.I chose easy setup and used values suggested in one of the threads I read. I'm also using the acclimation mode, set for two weeks.
Questions:
One thing I noticed is that I do not the "+" sign on the toolbar below the timer graph. I do see the "-" sign. I downloaded the firmware about a week or so ago. How would I check to see if there is an update? I'm using IOS and a iPad as a controller.
I've got a standard dimension 90gal tank. How high should I have the lights above the water surface? (Currently set about 11")
I'm also open to suggestions regarding values on all colors. I've currently got only a few soft corals and a polyp or two but plan on visiting my LFS in the next few days and adding a number of LPS & SPS frags.

 

[jsker]

Peter, Congratulations on your Hydra's ;Happy

I opted for a pair of Aviation type tin snips. Did the job in no time.

I did not think of this, great Idea

I noticed is that I do not the "+" sign on the toolbar below the timer graph. I do see the "-" sign

I do not have one either on my I pad mini or PC. On my pc there is the green slider within the graph and that is where one adds levels.

I've got a standard dimension 90gal tank.

How many did you get again?

How high should I have the lights above the water surface? (Currently set about 11")

My dimensions are 48 x 18 and I have my 2 lights 12 inches of the water. I have a brace in the center, and I still have arco growing in the center.

I'm also open to suggestions regarding values on all colors

Here is a link to my settings, download the setting and save them, press the star under the graph the program will load them in. You can also save you current setting using the star also. I would suggest doing a 3 week acclimation cycle. I got mine from @DansReef.co.uk on facebooks and made some changes. Dan has some great information.

I am tweaking my red after reading this link

Do not be surprised if you have some algae outbreaks with the much stronger light, watch your nutrients and that is why I am playing with the reds, and also green promote algae growth. It just tweaking them and husbandry

 

[PeterG]

Peter, Congratulations on your Hydra's ;Happy

I did not think of this, great Idea


I do not have one either on my I pad mini or PC. On my pc there is the green slider within the graph and that is where one adds levels.

How many did you get again?

My dimensions are 48 x 18 and I have my 2 lights 12 inches of the water. I have a brace in the center, and I still have arco growing in the center.

Here is a link to my settings, download the setting and save them, press the star under the graph the program will load them in. You can also save you current setting using the star also. I would suggest doing a 3 week acclimation cycle. I got mine from @DansReef.co.uk on facebooks and made some changes. Dan has some great information.

I am tweaking my red after reading this link

Do not be surprised if you have some algae outbreaks with the much stronger light, watch your nutrients and that is why I am playing with the reds, and also green promote algae growth. It just tweaking them and husbandry

Jsker, Thanks again. I got a pair of them for my 90. It is also 48x18 by 24" deep, also with a center brace. I thought I was too high at 11" but guess that should be ok.
Wonder why we don't have the "+" sign. Not sure what levels are.

Not sure what to do with the link you provided. Is that for PC only? I've got an iMac desktop but skipped the step where you connect the Hydra's to the router. WiFi is turned off on iMac as it is hardwired to the router.
Looked at the link discussing RED Light but might be a bit too technical for me at this point. I've got both Red & Green set at 20% max, now running at 10% during acclimation. I upped the acclimation time to 3wks.

All settings are as follows:
UV 40%; Violet 30%; Royal Blue 90%; Deep Blue 85%; Green 20%, Red 20% Cool White 65%

 

[jsker]

Jsker, Thanks again. I got a pair of them for my 90. It is also 48x18 by 24" deep, also with a center brace. I thought I was too high at 11" but guess that should be ok.
Wonder why we don't have the "+" sign. Not sure what levels are.

Not sure what to do with the link you provided. Is that for PC only? I've got an iMac desktop but skipped the step where you connect the Hydra's to the router. WiFi is turned off on iMac as it is hardwired to the router.
Looked at the link discussing RED Light but might be a bit too technical for me at this point. I've got both Red & Green set at 20% max, now running at 10% during acclimation. I upped the acclimation time to 3wks.

All settings are as follows:
UV 40%; Violet 30%; Royal Blue 90%; Deep Blue 85%; Green 20%, Red 20% Cool White 65%

This is what I am running, I have the reds turned down to 7%. Once the setting are downloaded one can load them into the light on PC or Mac. Next to the trash can on the screen the is a sideways Y or a star and press on that you the setting can be uploaded to the lights. It take some playing here is link on how

 

[PeterG]

Jsker, Thanks for these settings. I've entered them into my iPad. I downloaded that link but can't open it with any of my iMac apps. I'm not sure how to get the MyAI onto my computer. The local web address they sent me does not work. I've emailed tech support for a link so I can add the program to my desktop.
Couple of other issues:
I set up Moonlight to come on from 10PM to 12AM and set the blue minimum for 5%. But the light stayed on all night. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Also, it looks looks like you've got your lights spiking at various times during the day. How is that done?

 

[PeterG]

This is what I am running, I have the reds turned down to 7%. Once the setting are downloaded one can load them into the light on PC or Mac. Next to the trash can on the screen the is a sideways Y or a star and press on that you the setting can be uploaded to the lights. It take some playing here is link on how

Figured out how to get the MyAI on my computer. Was able to use the slider to add a second "set" to simulate the moon setting. 5% blue to come on at 10pm and go off at midnight. (see above post for prior issue).
Now that I've set my lights at the same power output as yours, do I still need to install that file?
Curiously, I just got a new iPhone and when I downloaded the MyAI to it, the "+" signs shows up. I now have the software on 3 devices and it looks different on all 3. Weird!

 

[jsker]

Curiously, I just got a new iPhone and when I downloaded the MyAI to it, the "+" signs shows up. I now have the software on 3 devices and it looks different on all 3. Weird!

Probably the OS on the devices and what the OS can do with the app. Yes it is different on my devices, and I just use the web login in on my Macbook air and PC

Was able to use the slider to add a second "set" to simulate the moon setting. 5% blue to come on at 10pm and go off at midnight. (see above post for prior issue)

Set the moonlight at 1% blue and that is all you will need. The effect is pretty cool, one can see the DT at night depending on the moon phase.

Now that I've set my lights at the same power output as yours, do I still need to install that file?

Uploading the settings is easier but no you do not have to upload the settings.

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

both are great lights
if you want more of a "plug n play" then go Kessil
if you like having more control then go Hydra 26HD

personally, i like the fact the 26HD has two pucks and that you can control each spectrum. you can set 24 points in the schedule, where kessil you can only set 7 (unless this recently changed)
(i have owned both lights)

If you own an apex you can set as many as you want.

 

[RyanCSGO]

If you own an apex you can set as many as you want.

correct, but not everyone owns an apex and the questions pertained to the light itself.

 

[PeterG]

Probably the OS on the devices and what the OS can do with the app. Yes it is different on my devices, and I just use the web login in on my Macbook air and PC


Set the moonlight at 1% blue and that is all you will need. The effect is pretty cool, one can see the DT at night depending on the moon phase.


Uploading the settings is easier but no you do not have to upload the settings.

I think I'll also use the controls on the Mac. Easier to execute commands with a mouse and the "click & drag" rather than a touch screen. I think it's also a bit odd that the 2nd program (10pm-midnight) does not even show up on my iPad control screen. I assumed that whatever device one uses to set the lights that the info was stored in the lights. The primary program I set does appear on all three devices but the 2nd program only shows up on the Mac where I set it.

Maybe once I get more comfortable. Right now I'm trying to keep things consistent for the sake of my livestock.

 

[Geebs19]

This thread has helped me a ton in my decision! Thanks for all the input here!