Considering LEDs for a tank upgrade...

[JVH]

I am now thinking lighting. I currently have a "Current orbit led strip" w/remote & all the bells and whistles but its still a basic LED.
I want to get something now to use prior to my actual upgrade..

I am ready to purchase (1) Kessil 350w or360w. I have done research and they seem t be the best option for growth, shimmer, color and I can mount on a goose neck. The problem is the price!
Even used they are expensive. I want to get one to use now and when I do the upgrade to 60 or 80g, I would get one more.
New or used, that's approximately $600 to $800 dollars for 2 in just lighting!

Anyone have these? Do you like them? How's the color spectrum? Do you have the controller for them and most importantly, DO YOU LOVE THEM! Not just like.. Are they worth it? If not what is a better option?

Thanks,
Judith

 

[JVH]

25 views..no opinions??

 

[JVH]

Come on people!! 66 people were Interested enough to click on this
thread.. NO OPINIONS AT ALL??

This is not a very active forum..ohh well moving on!

 

[JOKER]

I was looking at these also. I have the 150 that I used on a 40 cube that I liked but didn't get great growth. The 350 and 360 are a different story. Search youtube for kessil videos. They seem to work well. I will have T5 in my next build with led.

 

[JVH]

I was looking at these also. I have the 150 that I used on a 40 cube that I liked but didn't get great growth. The 350 and 360 are a different story. Search youtube for kessil videos. They seem to work well. I will have T5 in my next build with led.

Thanks for answering I can't believe nobody had an opinion on lighting LOL I have seen a lot of videos and a lot of information on them and it certainly seems like the way to go. But sometimes it gets confusing on what is a true testimonial and not just a business that sells the lights.. But I've really heard nothing negative about them I'm just choking on The thought of getting 2 of them for my upgrade.. That's why I was going to get one now from my 29 gallon and get the other one when I get my upgrade..
Have you used T5 before?
I never really consider them because I heard so much good stuff about LEDs.. Maybe a mix of both like your going is good..

 

[tigerdragon]

Try the lumentek series offered by reef radiance i love mine

 

[Sangheili]

Tank size? Corals your looking to keep?

 

[JOKER]

The T5 are tried and true and i see a lot of tanks that only run T5 that look great. The LED are very good for adjusting spectrum and take time to get that magic setting IMO. I see a lot of great tanks running a mix of MH with LED or T5 with LED, kinda the best of both worlds. MH i hear are the best for SPS but i dont want the heat or electric bill that comes with them.lol.

 

[JVH]

Try the lumentek series offered by reef radiance i love mine

Thank for the recommendation I'll ck into them.

 

[JVH]

Tank size? Corals your looking to keep?

Right now I have a 29g so I was looking for 1 kessil but planning on a 60 or 80g ( in the summer) upgrade so I would then add a 2nd light.
I hVe a mixed reef now with frags and a large hammer, Zoas, mushrooms. When more establish I wold like to add some sps. I like everything so I have to have a mixed reef!

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Dont Skimp On Lights

You more often than not get what you pay for.

A $250 fixture that lasts two years is more expensive than a $500 fixture that lasts 5 years.

Bill

 

[NanaReefer]

Who says a $250.00 unit will only last for 2yrs? Kind of a broad statement don't you think? A very biased one at that. [emoji19]

 

[JVH]

Dont Skimp On Lights

You more often than not get what you pay for.

A $250 fixture that lasts two years is more expensive than a $500 fixture that lasts 5 years.

Bill

Yeah that's good advice I learned the hard way. I thought spending $150 on a light was a lot of money so it must've been good. It's an LED like everybody said and had the ramp up-and-down with the moonlight feature but I didn't realize that it really wasn't powerful enough for the coral and other things I want to keep.. So now I'm upgrading the tank anyway so I just ordered a single kessil 360 for about 360!
But I know this will be a good light and when I get my upgrade I will buy one more. Wish I did that in the first place

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Who says a $250.00 unit will only last for 2yrs? Kind of a broad statement don't you think? A very biased one at that. [emoji19]

I get weekly calls for replacements of no name drivers that have failed. More often than not the quality drivers cost close to 1/2 the fixture price. Add to this their drivers are not CE/UL. They dont even have the Drive Current or the VF labeled...

Every vendor I know who sells these lights to LFS's sleeps well at night knowing it is a wash considering MH Bulb replacement then and add typical operating cost...Chiller, Electricity...Ect.

In Fact the typical comment is they are disposable like a used Mh, T5 or VHO...Who cares its cheap just buy another...

I would be happy to see a large established SPS Reef lit by EBay Black Box Fixtures. Have yet to see one with Chicago Softball Sized SPS.

Typically one or two fail in 12-24 months and then it is hit or miss on the spectrum as even the importers do not know what specific LEDs are in their fixtures.

Not a broad statement...just the facts...

Google Chinese LED Fixture Caught Fire...

Bill

 

[NanaReefer]

Yeah ok [emoji57]

 

[Saltwaterwill]

i have a 360w and i all i can say is wow. Awesome light the shimmer effect it has is very realistic, and my hammer coral is doing great so far underneath it.

 

[Shep]

So with a budget of $600-$800 I would highly recommend you look at Kessil, Ocean Revive and Reef Breeders. These are all great brands and all can grow anything and everything. Oh and most come with a year warranty if not longer. I have a Kessil A160 and love it.

 

[Justin1997]

I don't have personal experience with the kessils but one of my lfs had 3 frag tanks beside eachother one with radions one with kessil and one with halide for sps, I got to say the kessils looks a lot dimmer being right beside the radions it was a huge difference. I have the radion g2 it cost me $450 on kijiji used, great light couldn't be happier although my only past experience was the marine land.



Now I'm not sure if he had it set dimmer for whatever reason (they were both blue) but caught my eye.

 

[JVH]

I don't have personal experience with the kessils but one of my lfs had 3 frag tanks beside eachother one with radions one with kessil and one with halide for sps, I got to say the kessils looks a lot dimmer being right beside the radions it was a huge difference. I have the radion g2 it cost me $450 on kijiji used, great light couldn't be happier although my only past experience was the marine land.



Now I'm not sure if he had it set dimmer for whatever reason (they were both blue) but caught my eye.

Thanks Justin!
I think these will be good lights from what I've read in the past and from what I've seen and videos etc. and hopefully like you said they had it on a timer or dimmer... But considering what you said maybe it's good that I just got the one for now! I'll see how it goes and what I think of it while I have it on my 29 and then I am sure I can sell it if I want to change to something else before my upgrade. Actually since use ones were very expensive also.

 

[Justin1997]

Thanks Justin!
I think these will be good lights from what I've read in the past and from what I've seen and videos etc. and hopefully like you said they had it on a timer or dimmer... But considering what you said maybe it's good that I just got the one for now! I'll see how it goes and what I think of it while I have it on my 29 and then I am sure I can sell it if I want to change to something else before my upgrade. Actually since use ones were very expensive also.

Yea just putting in my input. Obviously being beside each other there's a difference but in our homes you could barely tell.