Hydra 52 HD + T5 Settings

[Moonrock]

After doing much digging and not being able to find a configuration for a Hydra 52 HD/ T5 Setup, I figured I would make my own and share it. I currently run 3 Hydra 52 HD's & the Aquatic Life LED/T5 60" Fixture. This lets me hold 4 T5 bulbs along with the Hydra's. I have a 72" tank but the 60" Aquatic Life fixture does a really good job filling in the corners.

I built a program based off the AB+ program and taking these settings into consideration.

http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ReefWholesale_CoralLab.pdf

While incorporating some techniques from the Leo Tan configuration found on AI's website.

http://www.aquaillumination.com/signature/

The original AB+ runs at peak for 7 hours with a ramp time of 1 hour before and after the peak. That's a total lighting time of 9 hours. I went ahead and stretched the ramp time from 1 hour to 2 hours since I have an LED/T5 hybrid. My T5's kick in at the first and last peak (12:00PM - 6:00PM). Since I have a T5/LED hybrid setup my LED settings are a bit lower. I can gladly post the .AIP (Hydra/AI) file with the AB+ configuration without T5's that I made if anyone wants it. I try to think of the LED's supplementing the T5's. This program currently peaks around 450-500nm with an average PAR of 250-350 with the T5 lighting. Directly under the LED's you get a spot or two with a PAR reading of 400 but for the most part, its all spread out extremely well. I have my lights 6 inches above the water with three Hydra 52 HD lights and four T5 bulbs. This is the light configuration I have.

Giesemann Super Atinic 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Giesemann AquaBlue 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Hydra 52 HD - Hydra 52 HD - Hydra 52 HD
Giesemann Super Purple 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Giesemann Super Atinic 80W 60" T5 Bulb


This is my second tank which is roughly 5 months old. I started to run the Triton method around 1 month ago & the differences are noticeable. Ever since I started running the T5/LED Hybrid it basically threw everything into over drive. I can feed the tank as much as I want and haven't had any nutrient issues with stable parameters.

Anyway, I wanted to share the file for anyone else who might have the fixture and are running into the same problem I did. Luckily I have a PAR meter and was able to customize my own configuration but for those who don't have one, please be careful. Keeping your LED's and then adding T5's without making some changes will most likely burn your corals.

 

[Moonrock]

 

[Moonrock]

;Bored *Idiot self noticed I didn't even upload the file*

*face palm*

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14wDlX9kdvpWjdiVSsa-Tr48LKaFRZo3_/view?usp=sharing

 

[Seminoles76]

Hey Jon,

You still around? Wanted to ask how your setup is doing? I have almost identical setup and with Hydra's and looking to get into the aquatic life T5 as well. Would love to see how your doing with the new setup and pick your brain a little.

Cheers,
Jared

 

[Seminoles76]

forgot to say....love your setup. That is going to look really good once those frags start coming in to colonies.

 

[Moonrock]

For some reason, Im trying to post what I wrote but I keep getting a message saying that my content is spam like or inappropriate

 

[Moonrock]

still using the Aquatic Life Hybrid setup. When I lit the tank for the first time I was shocked. Made quite the difference. I have tweaked it quite a bit since but overall everything is going good.

 

[Moonrock]

Not super blue, but a bit blue. I can try to get a better picture if want to see the exact look.

Here's the configuration I've been using lately. I adjusted it to have the blues stay at a constant so that it does look more blue.
https://thesurgeagency-my.sharepoin...aNaq-lz-HpJvMyK0yZccTEB7kQqV3chdRLB37rY2ZL3bg

As far as growth goes, It went good and bad, not quite sure IF it was related to the lights or related to me starting the triton method. I had 3 frags and 1 colony that RTN'd. I believe the negatives were from starting the triton method since I had some ALK swings until things adjusted at first. All of the LPS exploded with growth. I think the LPS was the most noticeable with grow because it seemed pretty instant. I installed a 60" x 6" frag rack on the back wall and noticed all my duncan's grew 3-5 heads within the last month. I had some SPS frags that just seemed to "sit" and not grow much within the last 4 months but within the last month it seem's I've gotten more growth than the last 4. Most of the SPS frags on the rack started to encrust and now the frags on the tank are starting to turn into small colonies. My 24K Mille that I got from John Coppolino is growing a new branch and got even more polyp extension. The Walt Disney frag I have started to look a lot better as well. Everything in general started to do a lot better. I Had 2 bubble tip anemone's split as well. Kinda weird because I had 2 anemone since I only had 2 clowns. Now I have 4 anemone for 2 clowns.

 

[Moonrock]

Again, I started the Triton Method at the same time I installed the new lights so I can't definitively say all the growth was due to the lights. I'm not sure if it was the lights or the triton method, or possibly a mix of both. What I can say is that since I got the new lights & started triton, things have been doing a lot better. This is the bulb configuration I went with & can say I'm very pleased.

Giesemann Super Atinic 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Giesemann AquaBlue 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Giesemann Super Purple 80W 60" T5 Bulb
Giesemann Super Atinic 80W 60" T5 Bulb

As far as the Gyre's go, I have 4 Gyres I control with the apex (apex=best investment ever)
1 - Left side of the tank up top more towards the front glass
1- Right side of the tank up top more towards the back glass
1- Middle of the tank up top on the back glass
(the other one is in my salt container used for mixing salt)

If you want the configs let me know.

What other questions did you have in mind?

 

[Moonrock]

Let me post everything in sections, but not as a whole because its "spam like"

 

[dshots]

Tank looks great

 

[Seminoles76]

Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions:
Did you choose the Super Actinic's over actinic blue/Blue Plus because you liked the blue output from the AI? You pretty much answered that question. I only ask this because if you look at threads and others they are primarily going with Blue Plus bulbs to supplement. My thought was why use Blue Plus to supplement when the AI's are putting out massive amounts of blue spectrum. I thought of going something very similar to what you had as bulb configuration with two Super Actinic's.
Are you controlling your Gyres with an Icecap? I have a couple of 250's and was thinking of getting the Ice cap but didn't know if it would be that much better over the Gyre controller.
I'm guessing you lost the couple colonies from the extra light and the switch to Triton. I switched from Triton to 2 Part and lost several frags to RTN. Good to hear everything is stable now and they are doing well.
Did you start with live or dry rock and how old is your tank?

 

[Seminoles76]

That would be great if you could pass over the file to the AI schedule. I'd also like to stay in touch to see how things are gong for you as our tanks will be very close. I run two Hydra 52 HD with two gyre 250's and one gyre 130 over a 120. Will wind up supplementing T5 with probably the same exact bulb choice as yours with actinic bulbs. Thanks for the reply and info on your setup.

 

[Moonrock]

I absolutely love the IceCap Modules. But yes that is what I use to control the Gyres.

These are a bit older pictures since I don't have new ones so ignore the mess. Everything is quite spotless now.

IMG_2023 is under the tank. I didn't want anything under the tank and wanted everything to be open so that is what it looks like right under the tank. The only thing under the Tank is a PC that I installed to run the Seneye meter so I could check the PAR.

IMG_2024 is the wall right behind the tank. It shows the Power Adapters for the lights and T5's into an EB and the Light Power adapters along with 2 of the IceCap Modules.

IMG_2025 & IMG_2026 show the side wall in the fish room where the Trigger Systems Sump goes along with an external skimmer. I cut the sump to allow the pumps to be external and have 1 pump that feeds the left of the tank, 1 for the right of the tank and the middle pump feeds (or fed) a manifold that I had for Carbon/GFO etc. Since I started the Triton method I've gotten rid of that stuff and only use it for the skimmer. I repurposed one of the BRF Carbon/GFO canisters which connects to an outside line on the left and is full of Co2 Media and then the skimmer plugs into the right side.

IMG_2022 shows the trigger systems sump when I cut the middle part out of it. I took the middle wall out so the fuge area became twice as big. I also put 2 H380's on the fuge pointing down at an angle. so help grow the algae.

IMG_2027 shows the horrible mess above the RO tank. I made a stand with a RO tank on the top and a SALT water tank on the bottom. Unfortunately this was before I started the triton method. Now I barely use it. I have Apex sensors inside the containers so when the ATO kicks on and the water in those sensors goes below the line the apex automatically opens the incoming water line and makes more water until it fills back up. I flooded my basement 4 times falling asleep while making water at night and decided no more. I use a Cation, Anion, Mixed Bed setup for making water.

I own an IT company so as you can tell I love the apex. Automation is where its at. Since I've added a 4th DOS doser and put the triton method inside some DDR containers. I barely do anything anymore, its all automated pretty much.

Ignore the extension cords as well. I was getting a separate circuit installed so that I can have all the tank stuff on a battery backup/generator at that time. I really can't stand a dirty room so I always have to make sure its spotless and clean. The same exact reason I went with grey schedule 80 piping. I didn't want white piping everywhere. Wanted it to hide a bit better.

Here's the configuration for the left and right Gyre's. If you want the middle let me know. I posted a screen shot of what the configuration should look like.

Left Gyre:
Fallback ON
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 00:45:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 01:30:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 02:15:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 03:00:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 03:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 04:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 05:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 06:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 06:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 07:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 08:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 09:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 09:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 10:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 11:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 12:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 12:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 13:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 14:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 15:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 15:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 16:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 17:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 18:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 18:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 19:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 20:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 21:00:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 21:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 22:30:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:15:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:58,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

Right Gyre:
Fallback ON
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 00:45:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 01:30:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 02:15:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 03:00:00,0,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 03:45:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 04:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 05:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 06:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 06:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 07:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 08:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 09:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 09:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 10:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 11:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 12:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 12:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 13:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 14:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 15:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 15:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 16:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 17:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 18:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 18:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 19:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 20:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 21:00:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 21:45:00,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 22:30:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:15:00,0,0,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:58,0,0,80,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

 

[Moonrock]

Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions:
Did you choose the Super Actinic's over actinic blue/Blue Plus because you liked the blue output from the AI? You pretty much answered that question. I only ask this because if you look at threads and others they are primarily going with Blue Plus bulbs to supplement. My thought was why use Blue Plus to supplement when the AI's are putting out massive amounts of blue spectrum. I thought of going something very similar to what you had as bulb configuration with two Super Actinic's.
Are you controlling your Gyres with an Icecap? I have a couple of 250's and was thinking of getting the Ice cap but didn't know if it would be that much better over the Gyre controller.
I'm guessing you lost the couple colonies from the extra light and the switch to Triton. I switched from Triton to 2 Part and lost several frags to RTN. Good to hear everything is stable now and they are doing well.
Did you start with live or dry rock and how old is your tank?

Why did you go away from Triton?

 

[Moonrock]

That would be great if you could pass over the file to the AI schedule. I'd also like to stay in touch to see how things are gong for you as our tanks will be very close. I run two Hydra 52 HD with two gyre 250's and one gyre 130 over a 120. Will wind up supplementing T5 with probably the same exact bulb choice as yours with actinic bulbs. Thanks for the reply and info on your setup.

https://thesurgeagency-my.sharepoin...aNaq-lz-HpJvMyK0yZccTEB7kQqV3chdRLB37rY2ZL3bg

Thanks for the reply. A couple of questions:
Did you choose the Super Actinic's over actinic blue/Blue Plus because you liked the blue output from the AI? You pretty much answered that question. I only ask this because if you look at threads and others they are primarily going with Blue Plus bulbs to supplement. My thought was why use Blue Plus to supplement when the AI's are putting out massive amounts of blue spectrum. I thought of going something very similar to what you had as bulb configuration with two Super Actinic's.
Are you controlling your Gyres with an Icecap? I have a couple of 250's and was thinking of getting the Ice cap but didn't know if it would be that much better over the Gyre controller.
I'm guessing you lost the couple colonies from the extra light and the switch to Triton. I switched from Triton to 2 Part and lost several frags to RTN. Good to hear everything is stable now and they are doing well.
Did you start with live or dry rock and how old is your tank?

I started with all dry rock. I used CaribSea Life Rock. They have Circular shapes, Bases and Bends. I had a total of like 10 boxes that I purchased and only had like 1 rock left over. I can try to get better pictures of the rock work but there is a ton of tunnels underneath the top so the fish can go anywhere they want. I have 12 tangs in the tank and luckily they all get along very well since there is lots of tunnels and locations to hide so they don't get territorial. I did have an issue with a yellow tang & black tang beating up 2 of my purple tangs so I caught the yellow one and made a box/jail out of frag rack material and left him in there for 2 weeks. he was super mad at first but once I let him out he stopped beating up on them. The black tang stopped beating up on the purple's as well once he lost his partner in crime.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/shap...MI-IufvuaA2gIVgbbICh1eBgyyEAQYASABEgJfgfD_BwE

I choose the Super Actinics because they have a bit more "spread" (I guess thats the word I'm looking for?) in the 400-500nm at higher peaks. I hope that makes sense. Here's the comparisons and you should be able to tell for yourself. hopefully its obvious, if not let me know.

 

[Seminoles76]

Love the setup. Much cleaner underneath than mine. I also run an apex but I am no IT guy so doing the program can get to me a bit. I'm a mechanical engineer so I'm more of a "oh that's why the pump is not working type guy". My brother is the head of IT for a big hospital down in Florida so I try to get his help. Thanks for the ice cap programming. I am trying to get some modules but everyone is sold out. Right now I am just running both Gyres in Random mode which seems to be doing good. I like what you did with the Trigger sump. I also have a Trigger 39 sump. I run the protein skimmer in the second compartment as I was set up for Triton and had the fuge in the bigger compartment. It is still set up that way.

 

[Seminoles76]

I went away from Triton because I had loaded up with all SPS and lost everything I had basically. I dropped SPS in at about the three month mark and they were gone by about the 6 to 7 month mark. They never encrusted and just melted after a couple of months. Tank is currently at about 8 months. I have only a couple SPS frags holding on right now that aren't doing anything. This was the first time I had tried Triton, LED's and Dry rock....so I basically narrowed my problems down to one of of those three things. I have always used live rock and always ran T5, and all my SPS tanks prior to this one flourished. So...I said, let's try and get back to what you used to do which is regular 2 part....I also added about twenty pounds of live rock, and I am going to add T5 back in with the aquatic life. Right now, I saw your configuration and thought it would be good to get to know you since our tanks are similar and both at about the same stage. I also will probably go with the same bulb config that you did.

 

[dave57]

Awesome man it’s great to see more of these hybrid setups, excited for the new setup. I also just received and assembled my aquatic life 61” fixture. Running modified ab+ as well with two Hydra 52HD. Can’t wait to set it up on Saturday keep us updated!

 

[Seminoles76]

That Super Actinic definitely looks like it's peak is at about 425 with the entire spectrum falling into the 400-450 range. I have always used Blue + but think I will go with the two Super Actinic, one actinic blue and one Aqua coral. Does that super purple appear white to you or is it more of a pink/red? Thanks for all the info. I will get some pics taken of my setup and post them. My name is Jared. Thanks for the info on your tank and sharing the pictures.