Going bald researching LEDs

[Railcar79]

I have pulled out the last tuft of hair trying to decipher leds. Anyone have some advise? I have a reef ready 72 bow, keeping LPS (ACANS) I do have a hood and apex is on its way. Currently using 4x 48" T5s. No clams, no SPS. I want to be able to control it entirely via Apex, sunrise sunset, clouds, lunar phases the works, If I am dropping the coin on the apex might as well use it to the limit!! I want a decent light, Radions are too expensive, they are off my list, and I have read and heard alot of bad juju from AI Hydras.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I've recently set up a Hydra, lemme tell you bout this thing. It puts my 250w metal halide to utter shame, I mean utter shame. The coloring, the brightness. It works and looks absolutely fantastic. Lil pricey, but well worth the cash.

 

[Railcar79]

I used to work in a coral shop (lfs/coral farm) and I heard many things about the hydras, wrecks the color of acans, inconsistant par and poor general performance, we had 5 people return the lights because of poor performance compared to T5HO

 

[cdness]

I am installing the Apollo Solar Blasts this weekend. They are dang close to the spectrum of my Evolution 120W I have been testing for a couple years. It will be amazing and they are APEX controllable.

Now I need to add that clod simulation is by no means beneficial to your acans or any coral to be honest. It can be done with a custom program, but with only two lights the effect is very minimal.

Also lunar cycles are difficult to reproduce with many budget friendly units. However with the APEX you can add the lunar sim and it is great! I had one and should never have sold it with my ACIII. I want one again It actually matches the time and intensity for the day at a specific offset so you can have true moon cycles, not just a moon light.

 

[Railcar79]

I don't need the clouds and lunar sin, but if the apex can do it, and the light can, why not use the system to its fullest

 

[mcarroll]

I used to work in a coral shop (lfs/coral farm) and I heard many things about the hydras, wrecks the color of acans, inconsistant par and poor general performance, we had 5 people return the lights because of poor performance compared to T5HO

How long have the Hydras been out again?

A lot of people still have no idea how to use LEDs - just likely caught in a full-spectrum buying hype. (pun intended ) Bad experience is a natural side-effect if you aren't fairly careful. I wouldn't let hearsay like that speak badly about the LEDs. Not IMHO, anyway.

-Matt