AI Hydra or Vega??

[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

[Phil]

Originally Posted by 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

U can buy the upgrade kits for the sols can't u ray?

[Acrowhora]

I'd personally go with the Hydra(good price point and color spectrum)had the Vega color,and I didn't like it,I ended selling it.im planning to upgrade to a bigger tank and keeping the Hydra in mind(also t5s) just waiting for boss' aka the wife approval.

[viperfish]

Originally Posted by 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

As I mentioned before I haven't seen the Hydra but your comment has me wondering, why the $100 difference in the two fixtures? I am very happy with the Vegas and I won't be replacing them any time soon, if I need to install UV I can get a couple of custom pucks from AI so that's not a concern. I know your comment was the Hydra is the best LED for the money but which is the better fixture and why?

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by viperfish

As I mentioned before I haven't seen the Hydra but your comment has me wondering, why the $100 difference in the two fixtures? I am very happy with the Vegas and I won't be replacing them any time soon, if I need to install UV I can get a couple of custom pucks from AI so that's not a concern. I know your comment was the Hydra is the best LED for the money but which is the better fixture and why?

Why $100 cheaper...my guess is so they can send the competition back to the drawing board. As the technology evolves it will keep getting cheaper and more accessible for the masses. As for differences, besides the LED chip layout and colours the Hydra has 7 channels of control VS 20 channels of control for the Vega.

The magic question for me is why does the SOL still retail for the same price as the Hydra. My guess is that will soon change. If they drop the price of the SOL it will quickly become the best selling LED in our hobby.

Good article: http://reefbuilders.com/2013/05/31/a...quarama-booth/

Ray