AI Hydra or Vega??

[Madreefer]

Time to upgrade my lights again.
I have 4 AI Sols Blue as well as 4 Ecoexotic Panorama Pros and would like to upgrade 2 of the AI's.
I'm undecided if I should go Hydra or Vega. $100 price difference between the two.I have'nt seen either of them in person and would like an opinion from those of you that have. Also will the wireless controllor run the Hydra and the Blues together?

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Time to upgrade my lights again.
I have 4 AI Sols Blue as well as 4 Ecoexotic Panorama Pros and would like to upgrade 2 of the AI's.
I'm undecided if I should go Hydra or Vega. $100 price difference between the two.I have'nt seen either of them in person and would like an opinion from those of you that have. Also will the wireless controllor run the Hydra and the Blues together?

Personally I have two sol blues. I know a few people who have Vegas and hated them. I'd try the hydra and do a review on them here for us.

[Madreefer]

Oh so I'm the guinea pig. Haha.
But yea I'll do that.

[WarDog]

I'm setting up a new system and am 95% sure I am going with the Hydra's. Great price, full spectrum and controllability are what sold me. I believe the UV end of the spectrum is what has been lacking in first gen LED fixtures. In the future, if you decide to switch to something more high end (Mitra's, Ati's) then the $400 cost is easier to swallow.

[viperfish]

I have owned SOL, Radeon, and Vega. At one point I had a Vega and Radeon running side by side. My pick based on personal experience is the Vega. I haven't had a chance to see the Hydra in person, I'm very curious to see how they look. Vega is still the flagship for AI so I am sure they are a better light but Hydra would surely come very close. It would be cool to see a side by side comparison of the Vega and Hydra together.

[Reef Supplies]

Here is a quick comparo...

Vega Color 95W max power
4 - Cree XM-L Cool White
8 - Cree XP-E Royal Blue
2 - Cree XP-E Blue
2 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Blue
2 - Cree XP-E Green
2 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Red

Vega Blue 95W max power
4 - Cree XM-L Cool White
8 - Cree XP-E Royal Blue
4 - Cree XP-E Blue
4 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Blue

Hydra 95W max power



I like the fact that the Hydra has UV and is $100 less. We have not been selling many Vegas since the Hydra came out. IMO the Hydra is the best LED you can buy for the money. Are there better units out there, yes, but you're not going to pay $400!

Ray