AI Hydra or Vega??

[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

[Madreefer]

Nice tank Wayne.
And Ray, do you have free shipping to B.C? Your prices are comparable to J&L and the wireless controllor is actually $5 cheaper with you. Also do you have an answer to my question regarding if the controllor will run both the Sol Blues and the Hydra's?

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Nice tank Wayne.
And Ray, do you have free shipping to B.C? Your prices are comparable to J&L and the wireless controllor is actually $5 cheaper with you. Also do you have an answer to my question regarding if the controllor will run both the Sol Blues and the Hydra's?

Hi,

Yes, same shipping rates apply Canada wide.

Sorry, missed that question. Yes, the controller controls all AI LED's. If you want to go wireless with the SOL you will need the wireless adaptor.

thanks

[Madreefer]

Well I dont see my favourite store on here answering questions so looks like you gained a customer.
Which adapter is this your talking bout?

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Well I dont see my favourite store on here answering questions so looks like you gained a customer.
Which adapter is this your talking bout?

:-)

this one http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-st...-and-Nano.html

thansl

[Madreefer]

So is that one per fixture I will need? And if I do not run the Sol Blues wireless, is there a place to plug them in to that wireless controllor?

[WarDog]

Looks like all the models can use this controller to me.
http://www.aquaillumination.com/acce...ontroller.html

[Phil]

I know Steve at redcoral had a vega set up at the store with a wireless remote and it was growing algae like crazy and the zoas were melting away he couldn't figure out what was going on and what it was the when the controller losses connection it makes the light default on 100% he basically had to leave it pluged in next to the Vega all the time then he took it down.

[viperfish]

So after some digging and trying to find the big difference in the two it appears the Hydra is basically an upgraded SOL. It has the same thicker body as the SOL, only with the control of the Vega. It has fewer channels (which is not a huge deal), and cannot be upgraded like the Vega.