AI Hydra® 64HD — Smart Reef LED

Black

$1,062.49

AI Hydra® 64HD — Smart Reef LED

$1,062.49

The Hydra® 64HD is AquaIllumination's flagship large-tank reef LED — more LEDs, more channels, more output ceiling, and significantly more even PAR distribution across larger footprints. Purpose-built for tanks demanding precise spectrum control over wide coverage areas, it's the fixture serious SPS keepers scale to when a single Hydra 32HD no longer gets PAR where it needs to be.

Coral Compatibility & PAR Reference

PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation, µmol photons/m²/s) is the scientifically measurable unit of light usable by coral zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.) for photosynthesis. Higher LED count on the 64HD produces more even PAR distribution with fewer "hot spots" directly below the fixture — the critical advantage for larger tanks and SPS colonies spread across the sand bed and rockwork.

Coral Type	Target PAR (µmol/m²/s)	Hydra 64HD Intensity
Soft corals (mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers)	25–75	20–40%
LPS (hammer, torch, frogspawn, brain corals)	50–200	30–60%
Mixed reef (LPS + moderate SPS)	100–300	50–75%
SPS-dominant (acropora, montipora, stylophora)	200–500	70–100% + Hyperdrive

PAR measured at 8–10" below fixture in open water at peak output. Verify at your specific depth and coral placement with a PAR meter — deeper tanks and brightly colored SPS colonies warrant individual measurement.

Photoacclimation Protocol

The 64HD's higher output ceiling makes photoacclimation especially important — abrupt increases in PAR cause photoinhibition in zooxanthellae before the coral's protective pigments can upregulate, presenting as bleaching from the top of the colony downward. Use this ramp when commissioning a new fixture or relocating corals to higher-light positions:

Weeks 1–2: Run at 25–35% of your target schedule
Weeks 3–4: Step up to 50–60%
Weeks 5–6: Step up to 70–80%
Week 7+: Advance to full target intensity, watching for bleaching or polyp recession

Too much light: paling or whitening starting at colony tips, tissue recession. Too little: brown coloration, elongation or stretching toward the light source.

Key Features

High LED count for superior color saturation and even PAR distribution across larger footprints
Dedicated moonlight channel for natural lunar cycle simulation
Hyperdrive technology — pushes individual LED channels to ~110% of rated output for peak intensity
Full Mobius® app control (iOS & Android)
Neptune Apex / Fusion compatible
Hydra Mounting System (HMS) compatible
Available in Black or White