GO TO THE LIGHT or not?? Hydra 26

[orbitee2015]

I want to hear from someone you has been running standard Hydra 26 on a Reefer 350 and getting good growth in Lps or Sps.

I have had mine anout a year and Im on the fence as to keep or dump.

Love the color effects and look. Just not sure if its me or the lights but im not happy with the growth.

Ive had 2 big leathers shrink and i have an elegance thrive. Mush good some zoos died.

Lets talk hopefully i can get some opinions and pointers and input!!

 

[jsker]

I have the Hydra 26 Hd's and love them. The Hydra's are a bright light and after having mine for 3+ months I am still tweaking them. I actually have to turn them down even at 40% you might have them on to long or two bright for some of the corals. My corals have doubled in size in the past three months but I am getting a ton of algae growth which I will work through. A member and I have a friendly comparison thread with some Hydra member posting over there. You could go over there and post this question or not and also ask a couple of member for the input by using the @ and there name. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/our-lighting-comparison-ati-t5-sunpower-hydra-26-hds.243852/

 

[orbitee2015]

Thanks. I too love them . I love the look and functionality but I think they lack the power for my reefer 350. I get some growth at 70 blues 50 white but ill never be able to sps unless its growing out of the top of the tank

 

[themcnertney]

You could always upgrade to the HD's. I have 3 52's over my 220 and I love this light.

 

[orbitee2015]

You could always upgrade to the HD's. I have 3 52's over my 220 and I love this light.

How deep is your 220. Are you having sucuss with sps?. What do you max the blues at?

And yes it was a consideration just on the fence to risk it

Thanks

 

[themcnertney]

How deep is your 220. Are you having sucuss with sps?. What do you max the blues at?

And yes it was a consideration just on the fence to risk it

Thanks

The tank is 30" deep, lights are hung 8" above that.

I went from metal halides to LED's. The transition was hard on my tank. I bleached a lot of coral. Some came back and some didn't. Unfortunately I lost my monti in my profile pic. I broke down the piece and placed my small acro colonies throughout the tank. They are settling in and I am extremely happy with the results thus far.

 

[orbitee2015]

Nice. Why the switch from MH just want to try Led or nor getting results of some type?

 

[tankstudy]

Nice. Why the switch from MH just want to try Led or nor getting results of some type?

Most switch because of energy efficiency and sleeker look.

 

[themcnertney]

Nice. Why the switch from MH just want to try Led or nor getting results of some type?

Most switch because of energy efficiency and sleeker look.

Energy efficient, cooler temps. Looks had nothing to do with it as everything is in a fish room. Temp is the greatest factor. No longer a sauna in the room and throughout my house. It was hard to control temp in the house as the fish room is in the middle. The farthest rooms were cold while the fish room was hot. My thermostat was right outside of the fish room which made things even more complicated with temp control.

The growth from MH was hands down the best as I started with T5's on my 55, upgraded to my 220, used MH and now on to LED's.

Hope this helps.

 

[orbitee2015]

I get it. And Im aware of the pluses and minius of all. Heat on MH no shimmer on T5. Great look at features of Led. But i believe while I am maintaining Lps and softies. I do want strong growth. ATI hybrid while expensive looks to be solid with led shimmer and proven T5 power.

Thanks again for your input. !!

 

[themcnertney]

ATI hybrid

Nice, do that.