AI Hydra 26 mounting bracket

Bandit13

Well-Known Member
BRS Member
Backstory:

The rapid par 38 bulb I had over frag tank burnt out last week so I had to replace it with one from my display. It was not terribly old (Christmas gift) but I believe it may have gotten wet leading to the failure. After looking at the warranty I found out they have a crappy warranty of only 14 days.

So instead of continuing down the par 38 path I jumped ship and bought a AI hydra 26 HD fixture. This fixture replaced the lighting on the right side of my display and I moved the par38 bulbs to my frag tank. The AI is a higher price but I'm very glad to spend the money after seeing it running on my tank.


The mounting bracket:

I did a quick browse online that didn't amount to any plans, but it got me brainstorming. Once I got my hands on the light fixture and saw what I was working with I devised a quick, cheap and easy way to mount it to my hood. I used extra 1inch pvc pipe that was laying around from a previous project.

I eyeballed the pvc and cut it leaving about 1inch on both sides of the hydra.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457314585.446725.jpg

Next I drilled a hole straight through the pipe that would allow the screws that came with the unit to fit snug
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457314650.210713.jpg

Then to I drilled a large access hole through one side of the pipe. This allowed me fit the screw in the pipe and to tighten it once it was on the hydra.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457314783.328018.jpg

For each section of pvc I drilled a hole through the pipe at each end to allow for the screws that will attach the Hydra to my hood. Next I attached the pvc to the light fixture.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457314942.207990.jpg

The final step was to remove the par38 fixture from the right side of the hood, rewire the remaining par38 and then attach the Hydra.

Before with par38:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457315080.227414.jpg

After with hydra:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457315128.901967.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457315149.278719.jpg

This project took project took around an hour, would be quicker for those who don't have to remove existing fixtures. The cost is next to nothing as well or in my case it was nothing lol.

Highly recommend this light, it so far has lived up to the reviews I read and the customization is crazy. Combine that with the easy wifi setup and you have a very happy customer.
 
Last edited:
Here's a before and after of the light differences

Par38 ( two bulbs on right, one on left)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457315921.547584.jpg

Hydra(two par38 lighting left side)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1457315957.633187.jpg
 
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