Introducing the Hydros XHO LED Light

[areefer01]

I was strictly referring to their form not function.. i.e shoe box black box, Coralcare industrial heatsink, ATI thin panel..

But even the form isn't the same. I guess if you are looking at it as it relates to passive cooling maybe but that is a stretch even. Phillips went the route of incorporating power supply and thermal in a single unit. ATI went the route of power conservation and number of LED's per panel and external power source which allowed a thinner panel.

The weight part threw me because it really isn't applicable. Hobbyist who use them will factor that in. 15 lbs isn't that big of a deal but duly noted.

Bars are all the rage it seems as GHL announced their Mitra Lightbar 3.

Edit: BTW not arguing with you - just yapping and asking for clarity. Thanks for doing so and this is just my thoughts/opinion. Hope your day is well.

 

[Rolliad]

To me, it fits the Hydros aesthetic. Their controllers are also industrial.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

But even the form isn't the same. I guess if you are looking at it as it relates to passive cooling maybe but that is a stretch even. Phillips went the route of incorporating power supply and thermal in a single unit. ATI went the route of power conservation and number of LED's per panel and external power source which allowed a thinner panel.

The weight part threw me because it really isn't applicable. Hobbyist who use them will factor that in. 15 lbs isn't that big of a deal but duly noted.

Bars are all the rage it seems as GHL announced their Mitra Lightbar 3.

You bring up a few areas which really perturb me in "innovation". These companies are not developing anything new and considered forward progression. They're simply using some existing products to rearrange and resell as NEW, GROUND BREAKING, etc. It's absolutely an insult to the reefing world.

Let me see, GHL. I had their first fixture and it was just the same as their current fixtures, more or less. Now, the "brand new" light bar! They somply took the pucks of the LX series and put them in a straight line. I guess some things are measured on a different progression level....

Red Sea 90s and 160s - a direct knockoff of Kessil. Nothing more to say.

Orphek - The only fixture I think I've never used and owned. They actually did make progress as far as spectrum, lenses, etc. Now, in the last couple of years, they're doing the same thing.
OR3 bars stacked with a controller - light bars - nothing new, nothing different, but can't argue they provide coverage.
I do really like their Icon series. I wish they would have left the deeper 390 to 365 spectrums like they had in previous versions.

I could go down the list and I'm not picking on any one vendor. Instead of repurposing existing, stale technology, innovate and let's make it easier for hobbies to get lighting right.

I don't know, companies are getting very lazy and producing subpar equipment and jacking up the prices. I guess the best example is the AI Blades..... Give me a break. Those are the cheapest pieces of junk in 2024. Those are literally a few LEDs mounted on some cheap plastic. It's just insanity.

I mean look up the guy that has the huge tank, I forget his name. Toolio hangs out there a lot. I the last 2 or 3 years, the ones I can remember off hand, they've used Ecotech Radions, they did a video on how Metal Halide was so much better than LED and he switched a lot of that 30k gallon tank to MH. Then, I see a video on switching to Orpheks...... It's all a marketing scheme. "You too can have this beautiful ocean in your home if you buy product A, B, and C!"

Ok, I'll get off my soap box, I can remember when reefing was about people helping each other and the welfare of the animals we keep.

 

[Ryebreadiest]

What kind of innovations are you looking for? We have strip lights, single point lights with lenses, panels, multi fixture combos with led and t5. I think it’s a big ask to expect small companies in very niche markets to make world shaking innovations in led lightings.

I feel like the big need right now is for one of these manufacturers to make a good app that lets me input my tank dimensions, corals kept and mounting height/position, and then automatically set the channels to an appropriate par value. Then let me pick my color spectrum and have it adjust automatically to maintain the right par.

I shouldn’t have to buy a 300 dollar par meter and fiddle with color channels like a mad scientist just to avoid scorching my corals with blue light that my eyes can’t judge. It’s 2024 and most of us have very standard sized aquariums. You’re telling me ecotech can’t spend a day testing all this? I want to get new lights, tell the app how big my tank is and have it go “put them 16 inches apart on these mounts and enjoy”. I’ll happily check the “using these settings does not guarantee coral health” box.

As far as these lights, they look like a solid choice depending on cost.

 

[areefer01]

You bring up a few areas which really perturb me in "innovation". These companies are not developing anything new and considered forward progression. They're simply using some existing products to rearrange and resell as NEW, GROUND BREAKING, etc. It's absolutely an insult to the reefing world.

Let me see, GHL. I had their first fixture and it was just the same as their current fixtures, more or less. Now, the "brand new" light bar! They somply took the pucks of the LX series and put them in a straight line. I guess some things are measured on a different progression level....

Red Sea 90s and 160s - a direct knockoff of Kessil. Nothing more to say.

Orphek - The only fixture I think I've never used and owned. They actually did make progress as far as spectrum, lenses, etc. Now, in the last couple of years, they're doing the same thing.
OR3 bars stacked with a controller - light bars - nothing new, nothing different, but can't argue they provide coverage.
I do really like their Icon series. I wish they would have left the deeper 390 to 365 spectrums like they had in previous versions.

I could go down the list and I'm not picking on any one vendor. Instead of repurposing existing, stale technology, innovate and let's make it easier for hobbies to get lighting right.

I don't know, companies are getting very lazy and producing subpar equipment and jacking up the prices. I guess the best example is the AI Blades..... Give me a break. Those are the cheapest pieces of junk in 2024. Those are literally a few LEDs mounted on some cheap plastic. It's just insanity.

I mean look up the guy that has the huge tank, I forget his name. Toolio hangs out there a lot. I the last 2 or 3 years, the ones I can remember off hand, they've used Ecotech Radions, they did a video on how Metal Halide was so much better than LED and he switched a lot of that 30k gallon tank to MH. Then, I see a video on switching to Orpheks...... It's all a marketing scheme. "You too can have this beautiful ocean in your home if you buy product A, B, and C!"

Ok, I'll get off my soap box, I can remember when reefing was about people helping each other and the welfare of the animals we keep.

I am fine with soap boxes - have stood on plenty.

Let me first preference this by saying I'm not sure why I was quoted in your reply as I was only talking as it relates to Phillips and ATI. I don't recall any other manufactures using passive cooling on similar Watt panel LED's. I admit I do not follow LED lighting so very well could be wrong. I do know that Phillips went the route of heat sink to manage thermals and moved the power supply so everything was in one unit. I think that is a nice idea and innovative. ATI went the route of adding more LED's, possibly lower power, to help thermals in their passive system. Again a nice touch. Just how much both are "innovative" I guess is open to debate. I see all other LED kits using fans some with GPU cooler design but still fans at the end of the day.

I think we agree or share similar views on marketing and hobbyist skill level.

Hope your day is well.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

What kind of innovations are you looking for? We have strip lights, single point lights with lenses, panels, multi fixture combos with led and t5. I think it’s a big ask to expect small companies in very niche markets to make world shaking innovations in led lightings.

I feel like the big need right now is for one of these manufacturers to make a good app that lets me input my tank dimensions, corals kept and mourning height/position, and then automatically set the channels to an appropriate par value. Then let me pick my color spectrum and have it adjust automatically to maintain the right par.

I shouldn’t have to buy a 300 par meter and fiddle with color channels like a mad scientist just to avoid scorching my corals with blue light that my eyes can’t judge. It’s 2024 and most of us have very standard sized aquariums. You’re telling me ecotech can’t spend a day testing all this? I want to get new lights, tell the app how big my tank is and have it go “put them 16 inches apart on these mounts and enjoy”.

Too many variables. It's an idea I've had for a while on a different form, but people would expect to grow prime corals because of those settings. It's more of a liability issue for the light companies.

Do you know all the chemistry parameters needed to keep corals flourishing? Do you have the right amount of flow, filtration, additives, etc.

Yes, you have a simple idea with a very complicated answer. I get what you're saying totally. In my 30 years of reefing experience, of you as just your leds to a decent intensity and leave them alone, you're corals will adjust and be fine. It's the constantly changing of settings that get people in trouble.

 

[areefer01]

What kind of innovations are you looking for? We have strip lights, single point lights with lenses, panels, multi fixture combos with led and t5. I think it’s a big ask to expect small companies in very niche markets to make world shaking innovations in led lightings.

I feel like the big need right now is for one of these manufacturers to make a good app that lets me input my tank dimensions, corals kept and mounting height/position, and then automatically set the channels to an appropriate par value. Then let me pick my color spectrum and have it adjust automatically to maintain the right par.

I shouldn’t have to buy a 300 par meter and fiddle with color channels like a mad scientist just to avoid scorching my corals with blue light that my eyes can’t judge. It’s 2024 and most of us have very standard sized aquariums. You’re telling me ecotech can’t spend a day testing all this? I want to get new lights, tell the app how big my tank is and have it go “put them 16 inches apart on these mounts and enjoy”. I’ll happily check the “using these settings does not guarantee coral health” box.

As far as these lights, they look like a solid choice depending on cost.

Because even if they did they may still get it wrong. There is no one recipe for success. We all travel different paths even when using similar equipment.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

I am fine with soap boxes - have stood on plenty.

Let me first preference this by saying I'm not sure why I was quoted in your reply as I was only talking as it relates to Phillips and ATI. I don't recall any other manufactures using passive cooling on similar Watt panel LED's. I admit I do not follow LED lighting so very well could be wrong. I do know that Phillips went the route of heat sink to manage thermals and moved the power supply so everything was in one unit. I think that is a nice idea and innovative. ATI went the route of adding more LED's, possibly lower power, to help thermals in their passive system. Again a nice touch. Just how much both are "innovative" I guess is open to debate. I see all other LED kits using fans some with GPU cooler design but still fans at the end of the day.

I think we agree or share similar views on marketing and hobbyist skill level.

Hope your day is well.

I though you might think that and started to add a disclaimer, lol. No, I just quoted you to talk about the idea. It was in no way calling you or any company out specifically. They're all doing it.

Hope you have a good one too.

 

[Ryebreadiest]

Because even if they did they may still get it wrong. There is no one recipe for success. We all travel different paths even when using similar equipment.

This is true, but a light setup a given way on one tank will provide the same par on another tank. If you put an AI prime 10” above the water on two different but equally sized tanks, they will both generate the same (within a margin of error) PAR at the same settings. The manufacturer should be able to test this and provide this information to the customer.

 

[Pntbll687]

They look pretty standard to me.

Nothing really special about them. Hydros control is cool, if you have a hydros, but if you don’t they’re just like every other light out there.

The price is really going to be the deciding factor in this. QuantaReef has some SOLID bars in the 6’ range for $300, ai blades are $660 for 66” , so I’m going to guess the 71” is going to come in at $599.

 

[Steven Garland]

I watched the video and to me it seems like they just went back to basics and didn't add a bunch of stupid crap and just give you what you need to grow coral.

I think it will be a nice light,but price point will determine whar category it gets put into and how well it does.

 

[Hooz]

We've narrowed it down these days to pucks, panels or strips for reef LED fixtures. Within those constraints, the only true room for innovation is in control and SPECTRUM.

I'm a fan of the big panels and strip lights because I like even coverage and hate shadows. I'm all about new options in those form factors.

I think spectrum is where most everyone is dropping the ball. There is a much better understanding of how spectrum matters for coral growth, color, etc since LEDs hit the reefing scene. But, take a look at the spectrum graphs for most lights these days and they all still have that giant 450nm peak with some other colors thrown in here and there.

This Hydros XHO checks several boxes for me. I like the blue band and I like the form factors. I'll have to see some real life performance data before I get too excited, though.

 

[Hooz]

Did anyone get any hands on or video of an actual Hydros XHO at RAP-NY? I'm surprised I haven't seen anything other than the launch video yet.

 

[Steven Garland]

Did anyone get any hands on or video of an actual Hydros XHO at RAP-NY? I'm surprised I haven't seen anything other than the launch video yet.

I have been wondering the same thing,but I see nothing with all of my searching.

 

[JetCord]

I was strictly referring to their form not function.. i.e shoe box black box, Coralcare industrial heatsink, ATI thin panel..

Flip side is kind of bb-y..

Hmm awful recessed for likely 120 degree diodes..

i agree the recessed feel like they gonna block some of the light splill/ angle
do we know what the expected coverage area the 12 inches will cover?
i have nano tanks and they look promising

 

[mycoralswontgrow]

Did anyone get any hands on or video of an actual Hydros XHO at RAP-NY? I'm surprised I haven't seen anything other than the launch video yet.

I didn’t take any video, but I was there and listened to the talk about the lights. Their booth stayed pretty dang busy, but holding the lights they did feel pretty solid.

While the display was small I could tell just looking at it that lighting was way more even in it than my own displays. I wish they’d had a bigger tank, but I understand logistics of that for the show.

What I picked up from their presentation/talk, was they wanted a light that would ultimately grow healthier corals faster, that could be customized to each individual tanks needs. I expect there will be some significant press release at some point with growth tests, as they gave the impression there were quite a few people out there doing tests vs competitors.

Do I think they will be a massive improvement over some that are out now, not really, I think they’ll be equal to most of the good options we have.

What intrigued me the most was the potential delivery on the app side seemed significant, as long as it actually come through.

My guess is people who like the hydros system will really like these lights, as the app will be the driving point.

I’m planning a larger build next year, and these will be an option depending on how they end up priced.

 

[dwhanc00]

Did they give any indication on when they might be released?

 

[ingchr1]

I don't think anyone knows how good they will be. I think they will be a decent light that integrates into the Hydros ecosystem but will not touch the high-end market.

What makes a light "high-end" and which lights fall under that category?

 

[Hooz]

What makes a light "high-end" and which lights fall under that category?

I'm curious about what defines "high end" also.

If you go by spectrum, the Hydros XHO looks promising on paper. Even better than some current "high end" lights.

If you go by features and control, knowing Hydros, I'm pretty optimistic.

If you go by price... based on current Reefbrite options, and knowing how proud they are of their current, much simpler products, I'm thinking this XHO will definitely fit the "high end" price. I hope I'm wrong, though.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Did they give any indication on when they might be released?

I'm trying to hold out for these myself but I am slightly undecided yet. I may just go for the A8se's. If I'm going to be disappointed I want it done inexpensively. lol

I thought I saw something mention Jan 2025 but now I can't find it.