Current orbit ic pro vs. AI Hydra 26hd?

Radiolotek · Sep 3, 2020

Ok, had a different thread on here and the guy I was talking to was mistaken. Seems he has the AI Hydra 26hd's for sale. So this is my question.
Which is better to go with, the current orbit ic pro I have now or return it and go with 2 AI Hydra 26s? It'll be on a 20" deep 36" wide 50 gallon tank. The orbit pro was $365+tax. I could get the 26s for about $400 for the set. From what I've seen, that's about the going rate for them. He bought them in 2018.
Thank you.

KorlL · Sep 3, 2020

Between the 2. Easy. Go with the ai hydras. Aqua illuminations has a great track record. With a controller the lights are easily customizable to your liking

Spare time · Sep 3, 2020

Return the orbits. They have extremely low penetration and par with all channels at 100 after about 12 inches unless you have 2 lights sitting on the tank. The hydra 26's are MUCH better

01xp · Sep 3, 2020

It depends on the coral I had 2 48in orbit pros on my old tank I loved them the few Lps I had were happy and the looked really nice. If you want sps then ai 100%

Radiolotek · Sep 3, 2020

KorlL said:
Between the 2. Easy. Go with the ai hydras. Aqua illuminations has a great track record. With a controller the lights are easily customizable to your liking

Do you need a special controller for those? I know with my 32 i use the phone app.

Fishurama · Sep 3, 2020

The AI hydras would be better for SPS, if you want to run softies,LPS, anemones,etc the orbits are fine. I use the older orbits and i have a huge goniopora on my sandbed. Orbit under-rates there PAR while most over-rate their par. That being said, they still aren't strong lights.
I have a goniopora, hammer, frogspawn, elegance, 13 or so anemones(rockflowers and mini maxis), zoa/palys, etc. You will be fine even with SPS at the top but the AIs are just much stronger and will give better growth. So if you want SPS return the orbits. I personally also like how sleek orbits are.

KorlL · Sep 3, 2020

Radiolotek said:
Do you need a special controller for those? I know with my 32 i use the phone app.

The ones I used a few years back had a wireless controller

Spare time · Sep 3, 2020

Fishurama said:
The AI hydras would be better for SPS, if you want to run softies,LPS, anemones,etc the orbits are fine. I use the older orbits and i have a huge goniopora on my sandbed. Orbit under-rates there PAR while most over-rate their par. That being said, they still aren't strong lights.
I have a goniopora, hammer, frogspawn, elegance, 13 or so anemones(rockflowers and mini maxis), zoa/palys, etc. You will be fine even with SPS at the top but the AIs are just much stronger and will give better growth. So if you want SPS return the orbits. I personally also like how sleek orbits are.

Anemones that can't sit high on rocks would not work (ex sandbed anemones)

Spare time · Sep 3, 2020

I'll be honest I have seen more problems with coral growth under the current ic with customers at my work than nearly any other light out there.

Fishurama · Sep 3, 2020

Spare time said:
Anemones that can't sit high on rocks would not work (ex sandbed anemones)

Yes they would. I literally have two pictured above...

Dw79 · Sep 3, 2020

Like 01xp stated above, it depends on what you want to keep. I have two 36 inch IC Pros sitting directly on top of an 18 inch deep tank. They were what I could afford at the time and I was only planning on going with soft and lps when I got them. Everything has grown great and added a Birdsnest a while back that has also shown nice growth. Added a tiny BTA yesterday since my rock work goes high enough that it shouldn't have an issue. That being said, if I would have had the money at the time, I would have gone with the Hydras.

01xp · Sep 3, 2020

Now mind you I want some higher light corals so I did sell my orbits. But if I didn't get velvet in my tank I wouldn't have broke it down and said f it lets go all out. Now I use reefbreeder