Adding Keesil A360x to my setup

[Bpb]

Tank size 60”x24”x24” 150 gallon. Currently lps dominant, but eventually will want to add a considerable amount of acropora.

Present lighting solution is a pair of Reef Breeders photon v2 50’s. 48”x9” is the rough dimension of each panel. Running two of them I have very wide blanket coverage.

While completely unnecessary, I have acquired 3-A360x units. My intention is to separate the reef breeders panels a bit and use the aquatic life kessil mounting plates secured into the reef breeders heat sink fins and run the Kessils down the center as an LED/LED hybrid setup.

My lights are presently 16” off the water, so I bought the 55 degree reflectors, intending to keep everything at the same height.

Goal is to essentially turn the white red and green channels of the reef breeders way way down and treat those panels as basically just actinic blue supplements, and run the Kessils at 100% color. Sort of to mimic the visual aesthetic of lower kelvin MH with blue supplements.

I’m ok with SLOWLY migrating my color and intensity that direction. This post is to mostly just outline my plan, but also ask for maybe some starting intensity recommendations and length of time to ramp up strength to achieve around 250 par midway up the tank, and 100 or so average on the sand

 

[rgulrich]

Please borrow a PAR meter when you plug'em in. The intensity can be pretty deceptive with these (stronger than appearances), especially when used in combination with panels. A PAR meter is much more effective at measuring in your particular situation (mounting height and spread vs intensity) than most "stock" measurements.
Cheers,
Ray

 

[Bpb]

Please borrow a PAR meter when you plug'em in. The intensity can be pretty deceptive with these (stronger than appearances), especially when used in combination with panels. A PAR meter is much more effective at measuring in your particular situation (mounting height and spread vs intensity) than most "stock" measurements.
Cheers,
Ray

I own an apogee qm510 which I will definitely be using. I suppose I could start as low as 1% and just go up 1% per day on kessils and down on the reef breeders until I reach my desired color and par. Will take a couple months at that rate I imagine

 

[anthonymckay]

Please borrow a PAR meter when you plug'em in. The intensity can be pretty deceptive with these (stronger than appearances), especially when used in combination with panels.

I just measured my a360x's with an Apogee MQ-510 the other day and found it to be quite the opposite. It appeared much stronger than it actually was, but when measured was much lower PAR than I expected. And that was with them 8" off the water. I made a thread about this a few days ago.

 

[rgulrich]

I run a pair of A360x over my 2 X 4 frag system in the basement, and an array consisting of six A360we and three A500x over the 300 reef. Where I got into trouble is the area where the light intersects - it adds up pretty quickly. I'm currently at 250 PAR at rubble line/27" in the reef at about 50% across the board (I'd have to double check the controller as it's been quite a few months since I've measured PAR).
For kicks I'd recommend trying the PAR measurements with the color at one extreme (blue) and then the other (white) and seeing what you come up with. I've the MQ510 as well, with a Seneye and BTM3000 as "spares"...they all seem to come within 20-30 "PAR" of each other as far as measuring is concerned, with MQ510 the easiest to tote around.

Cheers,
Ray

 

[Bpb]

I strongly prefer the 10,000k appearance and the bright white shimmer is what drew me to adding the kessils. The reef breeders panels have par for days and I’m at less than 50% overall power, already capable of growing sps anywhere. I just have always been jonesing for the kessil shimmer. Excited to give these a try.

 

[rgulrich]

You'll be pleased with the results then. I've used these in an array with ViperSpectra panels covering the reef, and the shimmer was pretty strong. I really like the "snorkeling over a shallow reef feel" to them.
Cheers,
Ray

 

[HB AL]

I

Here's something I haven't seen on another tank. Took down a few tanks a year ago and got this 180g so I figured what the heck, if 1,2 or 3 go out there's backup. So I mounted all 8, 4 360x and 4 360we.

 

[Bpb]

I

Here's something I haven't seen on another tank. Took down a few tanks a year ago and got this 180g so I figured what the heck, if 1,2 or 3 go out there's backup. So I mounted all 8, 4 360x and 4 360we.

Amazing fish selection. I’ve seen this tank posted many times. Fantastic work

 

[HB AL]

Amazing fish selection. I’ve seen this tank posted many times. Fantastic work

Ya between all the triggers, broomtail wrasse, Miniatus Grouper, the Japanese Dragon Eel and the rest of the posse, not to mention the corals it's my favorite tank in 35+ years.

 

[Bpb]

Install complete. These look terrific. The aquatic life mounts slide perfectly into the heat sink fins on the light panels. The fit is excellent

60% intensity
100% color
60% violet, red, green

16” off the water.

Reef breeders white red and green running 0%, blue and violet at 15%

Par levels are about 90-100 on the frag rack on the end, 250-275 at the top point on the rocks, and about 100-150 throughout the bulk of the sandbed. Absolutely pleased with the look of the install, and especially the look of the tank with them running

I set a 30 day acclimation mode to start at 30% intensity. I know this will be a drop in par from what I’ve been running, but I understand kessils to be a hair deceiving in their intensity and it is better to be cautious. Very happy so far.