Hydra Unlimited

This interview details Hydra Unlimited, a company based in the United States. The interview is with H. W. (Hank) Bonnah, Chief Scientist / Principal Engineer at Hydra Unlimited.

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What is the origin story of Hydra Unlimited?

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Hydra Unlimited, a subsidiary of Flow-Rite Controls, strategically applies over 40 years of fluidic expertise derived from the boating and battery industry to address the demand for advanced indoor cultivation solutions in the cultivation market. Our commitment to innovation is what drove us to the development of an all-encompassing Recirculating Deep Water Culture Hydroponic system, meticulously crafted through a thorough market analysis.

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Collaborating with master growers as consultants, we ensured that our system outperforms existing alternatives by aligning seamlessly with the nuanced needs of the cannabis cultivation industry. Hydra Unlimited stands at the forefront, merging technological excellence and industry insights to deliver a superior solution, reaffirming our dedication to cutting-edge advancements and client satisfaction.

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing Hydra Unlimited in the future?

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Some of the biggest challenges for Hydra Unlimited is breaking into the agricultural sector growing fruits and veggies. While technology remains the same, we need to adapt to the differing industry that is agriculture. We have made initial steps with local greenhouses with a great response, so although it will be a challenge, we have the tools we need to accomplish this venture in the future.

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What is unique about Hydra Unlimited compared to competitors?

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There are quite a few competition differentiators. For starters, we don’t use airstones! Our team has developed a patented circulator that can replace the airstones and unnecessary air pumps on nearly any system configuration whether its DIY, new, or old. A Second key differentiator being our RDWC system, HydraMax, is the only built-for-commercial system on the market currently boasting near limitless adaptability and scalability ensuring complete customization of a system to fit your needs while also being automated doser ready. Third and most important, our key differentiator about us from the competition is our passion for growing and passion for seeing cultivators succeed.

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We go above and beyond to help our partners see success, whether that’s one-on-one site visits with the cultivators, or sending us a picture of their plants and facetiming to troubleshoot any potential errors. Your experience doesn’t end after you set up your system, we’re here to help you succeed. We provide our customers with free cultivation research/resources right on our website!

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What are some of the trends you are seeing among your use base right now?

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We follow people using HydraMax on social media very closely and the results say it all. They are getting prestigious yields grow after grow and that’s not even the best highlight. We wanted to make our system so much easier to clean than anything we’ve seen on the market. A facility can reset their systems for a new cycle within 3-4 days. This clean-in-place ability is all thanks to the Qwik-Lok technology that was introduced from Hydra’s parent company, Flow-Rite. We also are seeing individuals using RDWC for use with mother plants, use for explants coming out of Tissue culture process, and people shifting completely out of substrate entirely for faster growth without sacrificing volume.

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Do your growers use CO2 in your operation today -- if so, how much and what do they typically pay for it? What are your thoughts in CO2 usage in indoor farms?

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It’s really a fifty-fifty mix – some people do, some people do not. Our master grower partner operates in a sealed environment, so they choose to enrich the air with C02 based on their personal experience of results. Our teams have seen great results with and without the inclusion of C02. One major downside to it is the high price point being $129+ initially then an additional $15-$20 for refills. 

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How can people connect with you or learn more about Hydra Unlimited?

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We are very active on social media. Our primary channel right now is Instagram (@hydra_Unlimited), so feel free to DM us or comment your questions on our posts! Another sure-fire way to get in touch is by emailing customerservice@hydraunlimited.com, calling us (616-277-5185), or filling out a contact form on our website! Our customer care team is based at headquarters in Byron Center, Michigan and they are real people, not robots! The team stays on top of our inquiries very closely, so it’s likely you will hear back from them very soon after you reach out. 

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We post a ton of our fellow growers who are utilizing Hydra Unlimited products on our social platforms, so give us a follow and see their success for yourself!

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