Today is the release date of the new Hydra Edge 44HD and 68HD. We luckily got some time to play with these lights prior to release since they arrived at our LFS yesterday (video out now). I’ll first break down all of the features then provide some initial thoughts.
The Stuff Everyone Want’s To Know
Hydra Edge 44HD
- $399
- 95W
- cost per watt = $4.20
- 11.26″ x 6″ x 1, 1/16″
- 1 year warranty for parts and labor (US)
- controllable view Mobius, MYAI, Fusion (with MXM)
- moonlight
LEDs
- 10 blue
- 6 royal blue
- 8 violet
- 10 cool white
- 2 warm white
- 8 uv
Hydra Edge 68HD
- $699
- 135W
- cost per watt = $5.17
- 15.25″ x 6″ x 1, 1/16″
- 1 year warranty for parts and labor (US)
- controllable view Mobius, MYAI, Fusion (with MXM)
- moonlight
LEDs
- 16 blue
- 12 royal blue
- 14 violet
- 10 cool white
- 2 warm white
- 14 uv
Spectrum, PAR and Optics
Spectrum provided by the AI press release dubbed “Solar Blue”
PAR map provided by the AI press release (we conducted initial PAR testing in our new YouTube video covering this light and achieved similar results.)
Optics & LEDs
- EdgeField Optics utilized on the blade bars (panel type design)
- 100 degree spread which covers a 30″ x 30″ area
- Cluster based LEDs with four LEDs per cluster for color blending
- Centralized “solar ring” composed of all white LEDs for shimmer
- Dedicated 2300K Moonlight channel
Mounting Options
- Rear Tilt Mount compatible with the existing HMS Single Arm Kit
- Top Tilt Mount compatible with the existing HMS Rail
- Hanging kit
Features
- AI Hyper Drive as found on other AI HD units – allows users to allocate unused power to other channels but prevents maximum use of wattage.
- New Tilt Mount – allows users to adjust the angle of coverage open possibilities to mount these fixtures as at multiple points to prevent shadowing.
- Solar Ring – centralized circular cluster of white LED’s meant to introduce aspects of point source lighting into a panel based design allowing users to directly fine tune the “shimmer”.
- Easy button based control.
- Removable fan cover.
Our Initial Thoughts
Upon playing with the fixtures yesterday, several things stood out.
First, the fan was nearly completely silent, not even registering a decibel on a decibel meter. In person, it is one of the quietest fixtures I have heard (albeit I did not get to experience the fixture for a long period of time, etc.). The 44HD we tested did have a fan that produced quite a bit of noise right out of the box—this issue was later corrected by removing and reattaching the fan cover.
The removable fan cover was a very welcome addition I would love to see become a norm in the industry. With some LEDs, removing the unit can be an extra hassle when cleaning the fan – the easily removable cover circumvents this issue, streamlining maintenance.
Second, the solar ring concept intrigues me and may be a point of innovation that could inform the LED market’s continued development. Getting the best of panel-based and point-source fixtures in one unit is a bold idea. It is to be seen if this unit produces the shimmer as advertised, as I did not test it over water. One thing I can say for sure is that to the eye, the light produced by the fixture certainly checks the “blanket” effect and delivers a visually pleasant spectrum. As we test the unit in the up-and-coming review, we can independently evaluate if the solar ring allows captures and allows users to fine-tune shimmer. All in all, it’s a great concept on paper and something very welcome.
Third, the tilt mount is another great feature I would like to see the entire industry adopt. Allowing users to tweak the angle of the light is a major plus, and it allows it to be utilized in a wider variety of applications compared to static mounting options.
Fourth, the unit is very sleek in physical appearance. This fixture hung over something like the uber-sleek UNS reef systems wouldn’t stand out and stands to fall in line with the existing aesthetic zeitgeist of the industry. It has a very simple, sleek design and is relatively thin, being just over an inch thick. If they begin to offer this unit in different colors in the future, that would be a definitive win as it would allow the expanded market opportunity for aesthetic-focused clients who may want to have a white or grey fixture to match their existing white or grey stands.
If you’re interested in learning more about this fixture, be sure to check out our video here.
Purchase the Edge and it’s accessories here at SaltwaterAquarium.com.
