AP9X Lighting Schedule

[Tango Tangy]

Does anyone have a good lighting schedule example for an AP9X with a mixed reef? I am trying to figure out what color spectrums and intensities to use for great coral growth, thanks!!

 

[cshouston]

The nice thing about Kessil is their work on spectrum. You can really just tune them to what looks good visually and trust that the corals will respond.

intensity and photoperiod really depend on the size of your tank, what you’re keeping, etc. we’ll need more information. Your best bet is to look into renting a PAR meter and adjusting the intensity to achieve the range you need.

 

[Tango Tangy]

So for specs:

I have a 160 gallon Red Sea reefer running two Kessil AP9X. I want to keep both SPS and LPS in this tank.
Both lights are about 10” from the surface of the water.

 

[minus9]

I like the color between 20-40% and I'm currently using 30% color during my peak period. You'll need a par meter to map your tank. I would put sps in the 200+ and above area and LPS in the 80 - 180ish areas, but this is dependant on your corals. I've always used a 12hr cycle with my Kessil's, with a 6 to 8hr peak. When increasing intensity or peak time, go slow. I raise intensity 2% a week, wait a week or two, then raise more until I reach my optimum setting. Go slow and be patient.

 

[Drew589]

This is what I came up with trying to mirror the XR30 sps ab+

 

[Bensonthefish]

This is what I came up with trying to mirror the XR30 sps ab+

Thanks for the screenshots. I've read somewhere that 100% violets killed their corals. I'm sure your corals are loving it. Please share tank pics possible.

 

[minus9]

Thanks for the screenshots. I've read somewhere that 100% violets killed their corals. I'm sure your corals are loving it. Please share tank pics possible.

I've been using 100% violets during peak hours without issue, but I've been using Kessil's for nearly 7 years now. But I can see if someone was using a different light without violets and going full throttle without acclimation, that it could cause some issues. But that's user error and not the lights.

 

[Drew589]

Thanks for the screenshots. I've read somewhere that 100% violets killed their corals. I'm sure your corals are loving it. Please share tank pics possible.

 

[Drew589]

Thanks for the screenshots. I've read somewhere that 100% violets killed their corals. I'm sure your corals are loving it. Please share tank pics possible.

All these pics are being grown with the ap9x

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

He's not wrong on the violet at 100%. If you had a PAR meter you would see that if your AP9X is adjusted at 60% intensity and let's say you were getting 200 PAR at 8 inches. If you were to leave the PAR sensor there and adjust the Violet from 0 to 100, it really raises your PAR. So 100% Violet is rough on the corals. I wouldn't raise that to more than about 80% even if you had those fixtures adjusted to 100% brightness.

The Kessil "Logic" works like this: The spectrum is already set, you can't adjust it. The only thing the color knob does, is add in white. If it's all the way down you have deep blue. The further you adjust the color up, you have more white for the look. The white is simply for looks, it doesn't affect the spectrum any and isn't attached to the actual spectrum lights.

 

[Wdy]

He's not wrong on the violet at 100%. If you had a PAR meter you would see that if your AP9X is adjusted at 60% intensity and let's say you were getting 200 PAR at 8 inches. If you were to leave the PAR sensor there and adjust the Violet from 0 to 100, it really raises your PAR. So 100% Violet is rough on the corals. I wouldn't raise that to more than about 80% even if you had those fixtures adjusted to 100% brightness.

The Kessil "Logic" works like this: The spectrum is already set, you can't adjust it. The only thing the color knob does, is add in white. If it's all the way down you have deep blue. The further you adjust the color up, you have more white for the look. The white is simply for looks, it doesn't affect the spectrum any and isn't attached to the actual spectrum lights.

how about intensity setting?

 

[minus9]

how about intensity setting?

That should be based on your corals needs. What are you keeping?

 

[Peppe]

This is my reef tank under kessil AP9X.

i use This schedule:


color - intensity - violet - Red - green



9:45 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0

10:15 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

10:45 50 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

18:45 50 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

19:00 30 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

20:45 30 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

21:45 0 - 55 - 55 - 0 - 0

22:00 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

22:30 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

22:45 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

 

[Wdy]

saya

how about intensity setting?

I have a 120x50x50 cm tank with dominant SPS in it and use 2 units of Kessil Ap9x with a distance of 14 cm from the edge. The height of the lamp to the water surface is 10” (25cm)

I'm having trouble getting the ideal settings for the appropriate dominant SPs, a little more help I will really appreciate

 

[Wdy]

That should be based on your corals needs. What are you keeping?

 

[BanditMan15]

This is my reef tank under kessil AP9X.

i use This schedule:


color - intensity - violet - Red - green



9:45 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0

10:15 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

10:45 50 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

18:45 50 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

19:00 30 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

20:45 30 - 55 - 55 - 15 - 5

21:45 0 - 55 - 55 - 0 - 0

22:00 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

22:30 0 - 20 - 20 - 0 - 0

22:45 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

 

[BanditMan15]

Do you think I can switch to your schedule with any problems? Per pics above

 

[Peppe]

hi guys, in your opinion, what are the best led bars to combine with Kessil ap9x for sps corals? reefbrites? orphek? others?

 

[minus9]

hi guys, in your opinion, what are the best led bars to combine with Kessil ap9x for sps corals? reefbrites? orphek? others?

Depends on mounting height. Under 9”, then Reef Brites are great, but over 10” or more, then Orphek for punch. I think there are a few other options out there now that we’ll give you good results. @telegraham might be able to name a few?

 

[telegraham]

Depends on mounting height. Under 9”, then Reef Brites are great, but over 10” or more, then Orphek for punch. I think there are a few other options out there now that we’ll give you good results. @telegraham might be able to name a few?

Given build quality and mounting height, no to Reef Brite. Orphek Sky Blue gives you the same spectrum as Reef Brite for less. Quanta OG Pop gives you the same spectrum as Ref Brite for less than Orphek. If you're feeling froggy, the 24" AliE populargrow 470nm bar would very much complement the 9X's spectrum for $42.45 and free shipping.

Quanta and Quanta Pro - https://www.quantareef.com/shop
AliE - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32843725804.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.734a4c4dCDTpDn

You have some options.