AI Hydra vs. Hydra FiftyTwo

MarineDepot · Dec 26, 2013

Joe from our tech team runs 3 AI Hydra LED lights over his reef. So who better to try out Aqua Illumination's latest innovation, the Hydra FiftyTwo?

Find out what makes the FiftyTwo so special in Joe's review â€” Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!

Read Aqua Illumination Hydra FifityTwo: That's a LOT of light!

beach chair · Dec 26, 2013

Great review. AI really needs to work on their leg stand-offs. I haven't seen a single person with them at the incredibly low height they are set for. Everyone rigs up some contraption like in the shots above (although the one above is much higher than I have seen). A set with vertical adjustability would really improve their product.

MarineDepot · Dec 26, 2013

beach chair said:
Great review. AI really needs to work on their leg stand-offs. I haven't seen a single person with them at the incredibly low height they are set for. Everyone rigs up some contraption like in the shots above (although the one above is much higher than I have seen). A set with vertical adjustability would really improve their product.

Thanks! You're not the first—or second... or third person to tell us they'd like to see taller legs. For DIYers like Joe (our reviewer here), it's no biggie... for the rest of us, it would certainly be nice to have other options. Thanks for reading and weighing in!

revhtree · Dec 26, 2013

Yes great review! Sharing on FB!

MarineDepot · Dec 26, 2013

revhtree said:
Yes great review! Sharing on FB!

Sweet! We've got more reviews in the works, so we'll be sure to keep you guys updated. Thank you so much for reading and sharing!

Maximus · Dec 26, 2013

Are you sure you don't see the "disco" ball effect with the Hydra 52's?

ontop27 · Dec 27, 2013

I have the regular hydra over a nano cube and I don't see any type of disco. I would think that more leds help it even better

MarineDepot · Dec 27, 2013

I did not notice any "disco" effect with the Hydra 52 in my tank. Having all the colors on every LED puck definitely helps to reduce/eliminate it.

Even with the regular Hydra, the disco effect is pretty well muted compared to other LED's due to their diffused TIR lens. Do note that the more surface agitation there is, the more noticeable the disco effect has as a turbulent surface will refract the light more.