AI Hydra TwentySix HD LED

Balanje · Apr 8, 2018

In my current quest to find the right lighting for my 90-gal mixed reef, ive zeroed in on a pair of Hydra TwentySix LEDs. Looks to be a premium light but not quite as expensive as the Radions. With RedSea going with these lights in their setups I’m thinking they are probably pretty good. There are mixed reviews online but it all seems in relation to the WiFi.

Anyone here with experience ? Are they good or is it better to just bite the bullet for the Radions??

Thanks!

jsker · Apr 8, 2018

I am very happy with my 26Hd's. What are the measurements of your tank?

Curtie44 · Apr 8, 2018

I have 2 52HD’s over my 120 and love them. I’ve had T-5’s and diy leds over this tank in the past and i’m glad I made the switch. The WiFi works fine but is a little wonky to set up the first time because the instructions aren’t that great. That’s a one time deal though. I was worried that 2 52’s wouldn’t be enough to cover the 120 but these things really put out some light.

Balanje · Apr 8, 2018

jsker said:
I am very happy with my 26Hd's. What are the measurements of your tank?

48” w x 24” deep.

I’m thinking of getting 2x 26 units

SDboatguy · Apr 8, 2018

If you plan on "higher" light corals , you may want a third unit or go with the 52s. Depending on how high you can mount the lights, you will probably lose quite a bit of light around the edges and ends of the tank. IMO the 26s have more of an 18x18 spread. FWIW I run 3 x Hydra 26 and 4 T5(48") on a 60L x 18w x 20D. Lights are only about 7-8" off the water - if I could I'd raise them to 12"

jsker · Apr 8, 2018

The 26 HD's will work and the higher up the hydra's are mounted the spread is better that @SDboatguy is on the money. You will have some low light areas and just place corals according. I have the HMS mounts and have mine at 12" with a 48L X 18 W X 21 deep.

Mariner00 · Apr 8, 2018

I have a 26 HD over my 24x17x12 lagoon with the unit mounted on the HMS single arm at 12" awl. Also using a tweaked AB+ with respiratory light profile and I'm happy with the coverage. Setup was easy and I find the AI software pretty intuitive. Like mentioned above by other members, you may want to look at a third unit if you plan on higher light demand corals.

Balanje · Apr 9, 2018

I'm looking at the Hybrid T5HO fixture which would allow me to mount 2x 26 HD along with the T5s running along side. Have you seen that solution before? If I go that route, what size fixture would be needed for a 48" tank? Would I need to go with the 48" long fixture or would that create too much spillage and I'd be better with the 36"?

SDboatguy · Apr 9, 2018

There a bunch of people on here that have gone that route. I don't have the hybrid fixture, I have a canopy , but I do run 2x B+ and 2x C+ with my hydras. You could probably go with the 36" , but I would go with the 48" if it was me. I wouldn't worry about to much spillage as the T 5s are not really 48" (45.8") and you get more light to the end of the tank.

Balanje · Apr 9, 2018

SDboatguy said:
There a bunch of people on here that have gone that route. I don't have the hybrid fixture, I have a canopy , but I do run 2x B+ and 2x C+ with my hydras. You could probably go with the 36" , but I would go with the 48" if it was me. I wouldn't worry about to much spillage as the T 5s are not really 48" (45.8") and you get more light to the end of the tank.

Awesome, thanks! The more I look into this the larger the price tag!! I need to just pull the trigger already

.

That does seem like a good solution though. For about the same price as a third unit I can go with a full hybrid solution...

Yati · Apr 9, 2018

I have 4 HD 26's over my 120 and its SPS dominate! They are doing the job just fine under that lighting and I run a basic 14k setting

Balanje · Apr 10, 2018

Yati said:
I have 4 HD 26's over my 120 and its SPS dominate! They are doing the job just fine under that lighting and I run a basic 14k setting

How tall is your tank? I think I'm not going to do the hybrid solution right now... I'm thinking my options are either:

3x 26's - but with a center support that may cause shadows

Or...

2x 52's - this may be overkill but I think it would provide the better spread and depth...

I'm leaning toward going with 2x 52's instead of 3x 26's... my tank is 48"w x 18"d x 24"h

Brautumn · Apr 10, 2018

We have radions mixed in with other lights on one tank and hydras on the other. I prefer the hydras over the radions as the colors seem to pop more for me. We do plan on replacing the radions with the hydras down the line.

SDboatguy · Apr 11, 2018

Either option should work great for you ! The 52s might be better for your depth (24") , coverage wise your at 18"x 24" and you get 8 pucks. But 3 x 26 you get a little more overlapping coverage (16" x 18") if evenly spaced , so you'd have a light dead center over the brace but the other 2 lights help spill(blend) into the center. How high can you mount them? Also what are running now?

Balanje · Apr 11, 2018

SDboatguy said:
Either option should work great for you ! The 52s might be better for your depth (24") , coverage wise your at 18"x 24" and you get 8 pucks. But 3 x 26 you get a little more overlapping coverage (16" x 18") if evenly spaced , so you'd have a light dead center over the brace but the other 2 lights help spill(blend) into the center. How high can you mount them? Also what are running now?

I currently have the Fluval Sea & Marine 48" strip LED. Everything in the tank is pretty happy but it's a very limiting light and I have a ton of dead spots. I have the option of tank mount or hanging the lights from the ceiling... I'm planning to do the tank mount and then move to a ceiling mount if I end up going with the hybrid T5 fixture.

Speaking with BRS last night they suggested 2x 26's would be sufficient for the tank... Always refreshing to hear a store tell you the least expensive option is the best way to go! So my plan now (seems to change by the hour) is to get two Hydra 26 lights and mount them to the tank. See how that works for a few weeks and either get another 26 if needed for the center or move to the T5 hybrid.

SDboatguy · Apr 11, 2018

Cool ! I think you'll be happy with 2 x 26 hd to start. Adding a third or going hydrid later is always an option. Make sure an do some research into what profile you want to use, there are a ton of options there as well !! MYAI has some (customer generated) that they recommend. BRS has some , the hydras have a "Kelvin " slider scale so you could do 14000k or 20000k however you like the tank to look. Just try to play around at first and then settle on one - set it up and try not to tinker with it ! Lots of people had issues do to to many adjustments... I'd definitely use the acclimation mode for at least a month as well. Sounds like a lot more light than you have now , so acclimate accordingly.

Balanje · Apr 11, 2018

SDboatguy said:
Cool ! I think you'll be happy with 2 x 26 hd to start. Adding a third or going hydrid later is always an option. Make sure an do some research into what profile you want to use, there are a ton of options there as well !! MYAI has some (customer generated) that they recommend. BRS has some , the hydras have a "Kelvin " slider scale so you could do 14000k or 20000k however you like the tank to look. Just try to play around at first and then settle on one - set it up and try not to tinker with it ! Lots of people had issues do to to many adjustments... I'd definitely use the acclimation mode for at least a month as well. Sounds like a lot more light than you have now , so acclimate accordingly.

Really good point! I'll likely do the install on Saturday so I have a few days to research. I definitely plan to acclimate slowly. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll likely get lost in YouTube land until I get throughly confused and come back here for some help!

.

Jake Tully · Jul 7, 2018

I have a new 50 gallon (36" x 18" x 18"). Would a single Hydra twentysix work? Or multiple AI Primes? Multiple Twentysix?

Yati · Jul 7, 2018

I would go with multiple the single 26 will cover a 2x2 section so would need a bit more so you don't have shadowing

Jake Tully said:
I have a new 50 gallon (36" x 18" x 18"). Would a single Hydra twentysix work? Or multiple AI Primes? Multiple Twentysix?

astillwell · Jan 31, 2023

Hello all. New to the site. Just picked up an innovate sr-60. Below are dimensions. Someone selling a hydra 26hd for $200 on CL. Will try and talk him down (it’s $250 new now). Would one light suffice? Soft coral tank.

Tank Dimensions - 35.43" L x 23.62" W x 16.14" H