HYDRA 26HD + LED Strip Combo

[RichtheReefer21]

Hello there,

My first thread got very little attention, probably due to my cheap light purchase. So I stepped up my game when I got my 125 (72" L)Set up and realized the FluvalSea Marine Strip was not going to cut it anymore as it did in my 55g. (48" L)

So, after considering my set up and plan, scape etc... I found a great deal through @truepercs and I am expecting 2 Hydra26 HDs in the mail today with the hard mounts. I have considered OverLap and the fact my perfecto 125 has 1 center brace about 2 inches wide... I laid out my design based around this and have a plan to run softies and LPS in the center under the strip, and everything else (SPS and Acros) under the Hydras directly to created the effect of flow in the center with more solid visuals at each end.

Here's the layout, and I guess my question is....

Should I leave the overlapping areas barren as you see here to avoid burning out corals, or should I incorporate my rockscape to created an area where I can grow SPS at a lower level due to the overlap and get some nice big Acros to fill in the spaces where the overlap occurs?

I am aware that I will have a (weakened) space directly under the center of the strip (archway)

But I am placing non-photo corals there to keep it filled without worrying about the lighting.
I am getting my LFS to do a PAR Mapping in my house once all is mounted, and I will display it here...

Opinions, concerns? Thanks in Advance!

(Excuse the sketching, it's merely an outline)

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Also note, the upper half of the sketch is the tank itself. The lower sketch with the rock scape is what would be in the upper sketch combined, but I did it separate to use as a reference of where I wants tot place my rockscape etc...

So the lights are not actually sitting 2 ft about the tank as the sketch appears at first glance. Think of it as a mirror image that is actually one when superimposed on top of each other.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

bump.........

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Nothing?

 

[pickupman66]

While not familiar with the Fluval strip and its lighting properties, I currently have a pair of the 26 HD over my tank. I absolutely love them. they can get wicked bright and are good and powerful for my 20" deep tank. I have them hanging about 12-14" above the water. Each hydra should offer a effective coverage of about 18x24" from what I see in my system. If i were to walk in and see yours, I personally would feel the middle would be shadowed due to he mis matched lights. I personally prefer a "full coverage", but it may achieve what you want. Below are some images of my tank for example. The foot print is 32x24 and 20" tall. as you can see, I have a very mixed reef. I have also attached a screen shot of my Ai settings showing the highest my lights go. Yes I wash the tank in light and par.

If it were me, and you can afford it, grab 2 more of the 26HD and you have a killer setup.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Thanks for some feedback. I am actually interested in setting the tank up with the lower light in the middle with what will be my area for softies, LPS, and non-photo coral...

I am finishing my scape tonight and setting the lights up.. Saturday I am scheduled to get a par mapping by my LFS. I'll take a few photos of it up and running and the par map once I have them.

My concern was in the overlap of the 2 lights.. Perhaps I'm getting little-to-no feedback because its something no one ever does.

My situation was that I already had the fluval strip, and with a 72" tank and budget concerns, I decided to go with this setup and see how it goes. Down the line, if the results are no good, I plan to add matching hydras.

I know this isn't an ideal setup, if it was, I would have no questions.... hence the thread looking for speculations etc..

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Michael Llabona]

I would be concerned about the strip lighting. The colors won't blend as well. Half you tank my end up looking a different color than the other half. I like AI. Great lights

 

[RichtheReefer21]

The SmartApp on this FluvalMarine3.0 strip has 6 different adjustable colors 0-100%

I should be able to dial it in pretty close... Or I hope so anyways. If not itll just look funky till I can save up for another hydra

 

[cooltowncorals]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07877MS63?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

I run three hydra 26hd with 2 of these blue strips across a 155 bow and get 1000 par at surface 300-400 at 12 and 150 on the sand bed great spread Orphic rip offs.

 

[cooltowncorals]

I run the strips on a timer and the lights handle sunrise set ect. If you kept them in the outside you would have lower par in center and good spread IMO.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

If you look at the sketch I have made of my scape(above), the plan is SPS/Acros on the left and right, directly below the hydras.

Softies and non-photo Corals in the center. So that the middle has this nice center piece of movement. but striking color and appearance on the outsides.

Also, the power head currents will meet up and mix in the center, and should give a nice variety of directional movement for the torches etc... and the current will be moving all over and hopefully give me the "natural" looking eb and flow of a real tidal reef. We shall see

 

[cooltowncorals]

I ran two of the 33 inch bars to cover the 72 inch tank.

 

[cooltowncorals]

Lights are off for another hour bit I could snap photos of light spread later if your interested

 

[cooltowncorals]

Yeah I am somewhat similar in that I have a opening so no sps in center I have clams on sand bed though so I need the light there. The power heads hitting in the center should work well.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Yeah I am somewhat similar in that I have a opening so no sps in center I have clams on sand bed though so I need the light there. The power heads hitting in the center should work well.

We shall see tonight... I will get PAR map and put photos up here as well. That wont be till mid next weekish. My FluvalSEA Marine 3.0, 48" is 59w. 25k I believe... and the one they had running on a tank at LFS was par measured in my face at 160 20" down. Ill get the whole story later after my tank is mapped.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Of course I got RedSea mounts with them, which I should have known... and they wont mount to the back lip on my perfecto 125...

And they are barely hanging on to the side lips right now..

Anyone have any suggestions for me besides getting different mounts or making my own? Bush fix DIY ideas?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Here is the temporary setup...

A floating canopy is my next move I think. This aint gonna work like I hoped.

Anyone know where to find a vendor or custom-built source for floating canopies? I haven't been able to find one all weekend.