Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: daveyng on April 12, 2018, 10:19:50 AM

Title: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 12, 2018, 10:19:50 AM
Purchased a new lighting unit for my tank to replace the failing Arcadia unit.
The unit (AI Hydra 26 HD) is primarily designed for Marine use, but is ‘tweakable’ for use in freshwater planted tanks. I did originally intend to buy two of the AI prime freshwater units, but this was recommended as a viable alternative. The main problem for me is the depth of water (60 cm approx) so I need a lot of light. I think I may have prematurely failed my old unit by running it ‘flat’ out.
The new unit has a built in wireless controller and is programmable via an iPhone/Android app.
It took me a while to sort out the LED intensity’s to provide the right light for the plants as well as looking ‘natural’ to the eye. I’ll let you know how things are going after a few weeks.

Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: Helen on April 12, 2018, 04:42:07 PM
I'd be interested to see a photo to see what it looks like aesthetically.  ;)
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 12, 2018, 11:44:07 PM
A couple of pics of the Hydra unit. I have attached it to the side of the tank as the trim at the back has a couple of cut-outs for the filter pipes. The unit plus gooseneck is sturdy and quite heavy and would flex the trim if I located it there. I would also have to relocate the cooling fan.
I will probably end up getting the fixing rail which attaches to both sides of the tank.


Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: Helen on April 12, 2018, 11:50:46 PM
 :rotfl:

I'd actually meant the quality of the light! But those photos are also interesting. I'd forgotten you had a cube tank (is it 270l?). And I'd not realised that it had an open top.
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 15, 2018, 06:40:11 PM
I have attached 6 pics showing the intensity of the new lighting unit. 3 of them were taken when it was initially setup. There is a lot more emphasis on the 'blue' end of the spectrum. The other 3 show the intensity after elevating the values of the red,green and cool white LED's on the unit. I will probably leave these settings alone for a couple of weeks to see how the plants fare.


Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: Helen on April 15, 2018, 07:04:37 PM
It's really difficult to show light colours in a photo (sorry I only realised this as I as looking at your photos) because the camera normally compensates!

But you've done a really good job. It looks a lovely light quality after you've made the adjustments.

Is that a 'bush' of crypts in the bottom left corner? How did you get them to grow so concentrated? Mine seem to spread across the tank rather than go bushy like that.

And what fish do you have? I can see cardinal tetras and I think a cherry barb, that I recognise. You have some interesting looking fish that I can't easily recognise (a larger silvery tetra?) Do you have something like a red goby?
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 15, 2018, 11:08:50 PM
Hi Helen, yes those are crypts (Cryptocoryne Beckettii)  in the bottom left hand corner. They are part of the original planting and I have ‘mown’ them down to the level of the substrate on a couple of occasions. I think this is what promoted the bushy growth. There is also a smaller crypt in the bottom right hand corner (Cryptocoryne Parva).
The fish in the tank are : Cherry Barbs, Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Diamond Tetras,
Dwarf Raiinbowfish, Otocinclus and Bronze Catfish. There are also a few Rosy Tetras and 1 Scissortail left from previous purchases. I kept the odd fish as they seem happy enough in the tank with the other inhabitants.
I don’t have any gobies in this tank. There is a colony of Cherry Shrimp and Amano Shrimp. There are also 3 filter Shrimp.
The tank is fully stocked so I have 2 external filters to cope with the bio load plus the 50% per week water changes.
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: Helen on April 16, 2018, 10:12:55 AM
I really like the bushiness of you crypt. I'm wondering if I'm brave enough to mow a section of mine. But my tank is low tech with quite low lighting level, so I wouldn't expect to get the same growth as you.

Have you mown the parva as well?

It is a lovely tank, by the way.
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 16, 2018, 10:35:15 AM
Hi Helen, yes the parva has been 'mown' as well. I have included an older pic of the tank prior to the last draconian pruning. The Anubias had pretty much taken over the tank, so I cut it down to a 'stick'. This effectively 'bonsaied' the leaves. Its just starting to show signs of recovery now.
There is also a pic of the original planting. This went completely 'beserk' so I had to tame it down a bit.
Title: Re: New Lighting AI Hydra 26 HD
Post by: daveyng on April 17, 2018, 10:39:21 PM
Last few pics of the hydra. For the 'techies' amongst us there are a couple of the web interface which shows the lighting profile in general and the LED intensities at a particular time.
The illuminated tank is also included providing an indication of lighting intensity as a whole.