We tested the Hydra 26HD! Here's our BRS Recommended setup guide.

[randyBRS]

Enough of you asked and luckily we had a few brand new Hydra 26HD lights laying around the office, so last week we got the chance to give them the full testing works!

Here's the entire testing data followed by some specific setup details and settings following our BRStv Investigates light testing approach!

 

[gallyjh]

Any one know where I can find the links to the settings file to import?

 

[don_chuwish]

Very glad to see this! I made the switch to these lights when they went on clearance as the outgoing model. Love them but I've played with too many *.aip files trying to find what I like. As @gallyjh mentions, it would be great if you could put up some *.aip files with your recommended settings!

 

[randyBRS]

Any one know where I can find the links to the settings file to import?

We didn't create an entire lighting schedule based on this test, so I don't have a downloadable file for the settings. It's just difficult to predict everyone's personal preference on daily photo period, ramp up and down, intensity to fit the right PAR goals for everyone's tank, etc.

Honestly if I were going to replicate these settings in my own tank I would first grab a PAR meter; set my sliders to the BRS Recommended settings, check the PAR at those settings and then make ratio adjustments to each slider until I hit my PAR goal in the tank. Only following that path of actually testing the PAR output in my own unique tank would I trust the settings of the light and then build a full 12hr lighting schedule around those settings.

 

[don_chuwish]

Interestingly enough the spacing and height for two over a 120g that you came up with is exactly how I had mine setup already. I’m trying your settings the past few days and certainly like the look. Much less overpowering blue than what I had before. Did the same on my 25g cube with a Prime HD too.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Loved this video. Just got my canopy home, and about to mount my hydra 32s, and this video really helped me know where to place, and how high to hang. Now to order some hanging kits.

 

[MstrPlan]

Curious as to why you stopped where you did for the blue lights. Is it to not overly stress the unit?

 

[randyBRS]

Curious as to why you stopped where you did for the blue lights. Is it to not overly stress the unit?

Basically that's about as far as we could go without the AI app automatically adjusting the other intensities of our other channels. Example, say I had all my channels set to the intensity I wanted and then I decided to increase the royal blue channel even further. The functionality in the My AI app would automatically begin changing the other channels to allow me to push that royal blue, which then changes every other channel's setting. We stopped where we did to get the most out of each channel while still maintaining the integrity of the overall ratio (spectrum output).

 

[Coolcasino]

Using your recommended A/B+ settings with 2 26hd for a mixed lps 120g tank. I don't use the AI app. I use the IOTA with the Apex control. I can input your settings perfectly but there's also an overall intensity setting. What should that be set at?

 

[randyBRS]

Using your recommended A/B+ settings with 2 26hd for a mixed lps 120g tank. I don't use the AI app. I use the IOTA with the Apex control. I can input your settings perfectly but there's also an overall intensity setting. What should that be set at?

I haven't tried the settings with the IOTA interface, but if you are able to change the percentages of each channel to the recommended settings from the video, I would expect that the overall intensity would be 100%. If you're trying to mimic one of the lowered intensity settings for say an LPS or Softie tank (where I lowered each channel equally in ratio), then you have the ability using IOTA to just simply turn down the overall intensity until it meets your own PAR goals.

 

[Coolcasino]

Thank you Randy. Yeah LPS and softies is what im working with. I have your recommended settings programed in. I just wasn't sure about the overall intensity since there isn't one on the AI app you were using. I will play with different setting and see what looks good.

 

[NRGizzer]

Hello together, i am a german reefer and this is my first post in this forum so - Hello! .

I hope you, Randy, or somewone who knows can tell me, if i can take your recommended spectrum for the hydra 26hd and set my 2 hydra 52hd the same way to get the same proven spectrum out of it.

Greetings,

Michael

 

[bknope]

This recommended spectrum seems a lot different than the older Hydra26 AB+ spectrum from the previous video. Are the settings in this video a better spectrum for growth?

 

[randyBRS]

This recommended spectrum seems a lot different than the older Hydra26 AB+ spectrum from the previous video. Are the settings in this video a better spectrum for growth?

The recommended settings in this video were derived from our updated approach to spectrum choice where we attempt to fill out as wide of a blue spectrum range between 400-500nm as possible (given the available channels); add in some white to balance out the tank to our eye and use additional red/green channels sparingly.

That's not to say that one approach to spectrum is substantially "better" than another, but we believe that targeting those spectrum ranges specifically will ultimately support the energy needs of the coral as well as the create an aesthetically appealing tank. Ryan does a great job at explaining spectrum choice in this Mastering Reef Lighting Spectrum episode as part of a Master Reef Lighting mini-series linked below. Well worth the binge watch!

 

[bknope]

The recommended settings in this video were derived from our updated approach to spectrum choice where we attempt to fill out as wide of a blue spectrum range between 400-500nm as possible (given the available channels); add in some white to balance out the tank to our eye and use additional red/green channels sparingly.

That's not to say that one approach to spectrum is substantially "better" than another, but we believe that targeting those spectrum ranges specifically will ultimately support the energy needs of the coral as well as the create an aesthetically appealing tank. Ryan does a great job at explaining spectrum choice in this Mastering Reef Lighting Spectrum episode as part of a Master Reef Lighting mini-series linked below. Well worth the binge watch!

Thanks for the explanation Ryan! I’ll have a look at the new recommendation

 

[2Sunny]

Let me begin by saying "thank you" for your awesome videos. In my 2 decades as a reefer and in my opinion, BRS has taken reefing to a whole new level by answering the most basic questions using actual data backed research. Bravo! You folks deserve to go down in the history of our hobby as major game changers.

Anyways, to the point . . .

I have always had a large reef and over the years used Hamilton Tech MH fixtures and now ATI Powermodules, but I have never had a nano nor have I had a tank with just LEDs. 2 months ago I setup a Fiji Cube 20 gal nano. I had a Hydra 26 that I bought many years ago to put into a Giesemann Spectra as an accent light, but I sold the Spectra and had this Hydra laying around so I decided to give it a try. I am shooting for a mixed reef with mostly soft coral, but I want to have a couple SPS including Bali Green Slimer and an Echinata. Trouble is both corals are turning pale so obviously something is not right. I have an older Apogee MQ Par meter not tuned for LEDs, and it is showing PAR in the 200 +/- 50 range in the area where the SPS are located. I currently have the light set 11 inches above the water line. After watching this video I will move the fixture up to 14 inches.

Question: In your experience, is it possible the 2 pieces of SPS got too much light, and can my Hydra be optimized over an 17 x 17 x 17 tank to keep a mixed reef with the Bali and echinata plus misc. softies?

PS I should add that the Hydra is the older model that uses a "director" to run.
PPS I just added the clam and micromussa yesterday PAR on the sand is also 200ish.

PPPS Here's my famous reef from 2011

 

[Chris Van]

Enough of you asked and luckily we had a few brand new Hydra 26HD lights laying around the office, so last week we got the chance to give them the full testing works!

Here's the entire testing data followed by some specific setup details and settings following our BRStv Investigates light testing approach!

Very helpful, could you possibly suggest spacing for 3 x Hydra26HD over a Redsea Reefer 525xl ?