AI Hydras vs. Photon 16 for 180g

[SloppyJ]

I'm up in the air. I am setting up a 180g mixed reef and I'm trying to decide on the lighting so I can pull the trigger. My tank is the standard 6'x2'x2' footprint with two cross braces. I plan on hanging 3 LED fixtures over the tank, 1 fixture in each cross brace section. I was dead set on the reef breeder photon 16's until I saw the hydras. The only problem I see with the hydras is that compared to the reef breeders, they have less than half the LED's. I made an excel sheet of the color spectrum and it seems the hydra has a broader spectrum. I'm not sure that 3 hydras would handle a 180g with a few SPS colonies. Any thoughts?

 

[SloppyJ]

According to AI, 3 hydras on a 180g tank would be enough to grow SPS. Any thoughts?

 

[ReefLEDLights]

According to AI, 3 hydras on a 180g tank would be enough to grow SPS. Any thoughts?

You can grow SPS on your tank with three 175 watt MH. I prefer a scheduled intensity equivalent to a 400 watt MH.

The AI Hydra has only 12 Primary Grow LEDs 4- XT-E Cool White, 4 XT-E Royal Blue and 4 Osram Deep Blue.

The 4 UV and Hyper Violet are not powerful enough to add significantly to the growth spectrum but will add to the looks especially if they do not bin their Cree LEDs.

The Reef Breeders do not use Cree LEDs but should provide more PAR for the price.

As far as looks you really need to see both fixtures over liver coral for the best answer.

Bill