Adding reef brite to Kessils?

[ReeferPat]

Hi all. I have a 75-gallon setup with two Kessil A360X. I’ve been very happy with the lights but my acros are starting to grow and I’m already seeing some shading. Also, I’ve always thought the colors in general seemed a little washed out. I’ve been thinking of adding some actinic lights for a little more light and pop. Would reef brite xho actinic blue work well for this purpose?

 

[Hairyteeth]

I'm tagging along for this one...I have an evo 13.5 with two 160s on it and was considering adding reefbright strips angled inward on the sides on the tank to help with shading.....soooo let's hear about the combo!

 

[stiffljp]

BRS just did a live show on this today and he is doing this exact combo.

 

[madweazl]

Can you expand on washed out colors? Actinic strips will certainly add impact to anything that fluoresces but I'm not sure that is your problem. Your picture shows an extreme blue tint (something like 25% color on a Kessil but it's tough to know from a picture).

 

[stiffljp]

Here is a link to the video. Pretty interesting data on all the facets of lighting:

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I have a 470nm bar coming in tomorrow from aliexpress to add to my Kessil setup. I had T5 for a while but I don’t like how dull it makes the water look.

 

[Shufflepig]

Have a 120gallon with 2 kessil 360x which I just added the reef brite xho actinic blue about 6 weeks ago. Great combination!! The reef brite really makes some of the corals colors pop. Indo gold torch looks 100% better with the addition of the reef brite.

 

[ReeferPat]

Can you expand on washed out colors? Actinic strips will certainly add impact to anything that fluoresces but I'm not sure that is your problem. Your picture show an extreme blue tint (something like 25% color on a Kessil but it's tough to know from a picture).

As a matter of fact, it is set at 25. Everything green is popping pretty good but the reds and blues are a little pastel-y. I’m trying to get nutrients up as my nitrates are barely registering (1-3 on Nyos) and 0 phosphates. Mostly it’s for the shading problem but it wouldn’t hurt to get some colors to pop a little more if possible.

 

[El_Guapo13]

BRS just did a live show on this today and he is doing this exact combo.

I was getting ready to mention this. Ryan even said that is the combo he will be running on his new tank.

Also in the video, they also mentioned how Kessil lights get the closest to what they consider to be the best spectrum range with @randyBRS mentioning that the settings for the A360X being Blue 30, Violet 100, and Red 30 (feel free to correct me @randyBRS if I misheard one of those, as I am setting my 2 A360X lights to that in my tank to see how my corals take to it).

 

[ReeferPat]

I was getting ready to mention this. Ryan even said that is the combo he will be running on his new tank.

Also in the video, they also mentioned how Kessil lights get the closest to what they consider to be the best spectrum range with @randyBRS mentioning that the settings for the A360X being Blue 30, Violet 100, and Red 30 (feel free to correct me @randyBRS if I misheard one of those, as I am setting my 2 A360X lights to that in my tank to see how my corals take to it).

I just watched it too but I’m not sure about the red. I thought they said red 5, but I could be wrong

 

[madweazl]

As a matter of fact, it is set at 25. Everything green is popping pretty good but the reds and blues are a little pastel-y. I’m trying to get nutrients up as my nitrates are barely registering (1-3 on Nyos) and 0 phosphates. Mostly it’s for the shading problem but it wouldn’t hurt to get some colors to pop a little more if possible.

You can go up to about 60% on the color before you lose any of that fluorescence. I know a lot of people like that super blue look but if you're looking to bring out the yellow, orange, and reds, you actually need to add some of that color. Actinic XHOs wont help (they'll add more of what you're seeing now). Additionally, you'll actually start to appreciate corals that are blue like the Cali tort (which look muted, dark, and boring under heavy blue lighting).

 

[ReeferPat]

You can go up to about 60% on the color before you lose any of that fluorescence. I know a lot of people like that super blue look but if you're looking to bring out the yellow, orange, and reds, you actually need to add some of that color. Actinic XHOs wont help (they'll add more of what you're seeing now). Additionally, you'll actually start to appreciate corals that are blue like the Cali tort (which look muted, dark, and boring under heavy blue lighting).

Hmm, ok, I’ll try that.

 

[minus9]

If you're aiming for more sps, then I suggest more 360x's. You can add the reefbrites for extra pop, I went with Orphek on my tank and really like the combo. I'm running 30% color, 100% violet with no red or green. The Orphek blue plus bars really add the extra pop and compliment the kessil's well, which the reefbrites should as well.
Your NO3 is fine, but get your PO4 to register, it's far more important to have phosphorus available for your corals.

Here's a couple pics under those settings. But I'll include a couple when the lights ramp down and is more blue so you can see the extra pop.

 

[ReeferPat]

If you're aiming for more sps, then I suggest more 360x's. You can add the reefbrites for extra pop, I went with Orphek on my tank and really like the combo. I'm running 30% color, 100% violet with no red or green. The Orphek blue plus bars really add the extra pop and compliment the kessil's well, which the reefbrites should as well.
Your NO3 is fine, but get your PO4 to register, it's far more important to have phosphorus available for your corals.

Here's a couple pics under those settings. But I'll include a couple when the lights ramp down and is more blue so you can see the extra pop.

Nice! Thanks.

 

[Sdot]

Here is a link to the video. Pretty interesting data on all the facets of lighting:

LOL i saw this yesterday as well. Im using 4 Orphek V4 G2's + 3 Kessil A360X over my 300 Gallon reef. I think the trick with LED lights are spectrum. Which is why i think many aquarist see faster results when they combine LED's with legacy lighting technologies. I think between the wide spectrum of the Orpheks + the A360X....the results should be as good as legacy lighting tech or better... i hope, thats my theory and im sticking to it ROFL.

 

[blasterman]

The only way more Kessils will help shadowing is if they are added front to back.

ReefBrites have always been a killer product. They provide the distribution of T5s with the directionally of LEDs, and the testing at BRS shows how good they are. They would be an ideal combo with Kessils to help with shadowing.

 

[Sdot]

The only way more Kessils will help shadowing is if they are added front to back.

ReefBrites have always been a killer product. They provide the distribution of T5s with the directionally of LEDs, and the testing at BRS shows how good they are. They would be an ideal combo with Kessils to help with shadowing.

Yup... but reefbrites are good as a supplemental light... spectrum is...marginal.

 

[Bpb]

Flooding the tank with more 450-470nm light isn’t going to make your reds pop more. You need to hit the tank with more red and more cyan lighting to develop those colors

 

[minus9]

Flooding the tank with more 450-470nm light isn’t going to make your reds pop more. You need to hit the tank with more red and more cyan lighting to develop those colors

That's why I love the Orphek bars, they compliment Kessil's rather well.

 

[hellsangelbx]

Have a 120gallon with 2 kessil 360x which I just added the reef brite xho actinic blue about 6 weeks ago. Great combination!! The reef brite really makes some of the corals colors pop. Indo gold torch looks 100% better with the addition of the reef brite.

Do you have pics of your setup? also do you like it?