How many Kessils

[nept2n]

Hi All

I am getting ready to start a new build and need some advice on lighting. My new tank will be a 120 (48x24x24). It will be primarily a mixed reef some softies LPS and maybe some SPS. So I was thinking of going with the Kessil A360WE. How many would you recommend for the 4 ft tank 2 or 3? i thought about mixing in T5’s like the Aquatics Life Hybrid but I want totry to stay away for the changing the bulb thing I did way back when. I’m open to other suggestions as well Thanks for the help

 

[Mical]

I have a 120 exactly same size and I run 3 A360we's

 

[CyberGuy]

I have the exact same size tank but put 4 Kessil 360X just in case my tank demands higher light input. My tank will be mixed reef but will focus on sps.

 

[Hairmetal89]

Depends on what you want to keep. I’ve got a 120 like yours. 1ap700 in middle and 2 pairs t5 front / back. Added pair of 360x’s one on each side of ap700 last month. Sps in mine. Kessils are like 5% rite now but here’s pik.

 

[nept2n]

I have a 120 exactly same size and I run 3 A360we's

Hey thanks for the pics. Is your tank pics at night. Do you have any shadowing with the 3?

 

[nept2n]

Depends on what you want to keep. I’ve got a 120 like yours. 1ap700 in middle and 2 pairs t5 front / back. Added pair of 360x’s one on each side of ap700 last month. Sps in mine. Kessils are like 5% rite now but here’s pik.

Great tank shots. It looks like the T5’s don’t diffuse the shimmer you get with the Kessils am I right? Is it true that the T5’s remove any shadowing?

 

[Hairmetal89]

T5 will reduce the shimmer, but not too much... remember the shimmer of Kessil (to me) is outstanding. T5 does a good job filling in the shadows you will get from branching corals that is hard to avoid with puck style lighting. Kessil w T5 (4 blue +) for me is a great combo. Good luck!

 

[Arricefe]

Does your tank have any bracing In the middle? Kessils are definitely nice lights but may be overkill for a LPS tank this is one of those cases where you could do more with less.

 

[Bpb]

Great tank shots. It looks like the T5’s don’t diffuse the shimmer you get with the Kessils am I right? Is it true that the T5’s remove any shadowing?

They remove a good amount of shadowing, but with light sources coming from above there will always be SOME shade even with t5

 

[nept2n]

Does your tank have any bracing In the middle? Kessils are definitely nice lights but may be overkill for a LPS tank this is one of those cases where you could do more with less.

Yes my tank has the brace in the middle. Are you saying that the kessils by themselves are overkill for LPS? or the combo of both?

 

[nept2n]

They remove a good amount of shadowing, but with light sources coming from above there will always be SOME shade even with t5

Would you use the T5 and kessil together? What do you have on your tank?

 

[Arricefe]

Yes my tank has the brace in the middle. Are you saying that the kessils by themselves are overkill for LPS? or the combo of both?

The Kessils by themselves. I have a 120 with the brace in the middle, it’s an Aqeon. I think a kessil over that would be a waste. I have Reefbreeders with 2 T5s on either side, that combo provides great coverage on that tank. I have a 65 gallon with no brace and I have 2 a360s on that.

 

[Bpb]

Would you use the T5 and kessil together? What do you have on your tank?

Not a kessil user, but I do have a lot of experience with T5’s. I absolutely love them and would recommend them as a stand-alone or with any other light setup as a hybrid

 

[nept2n]

Not a kessil user, but I do have a lot of experience with T5’s. I absolutely love them and would recommend them as a stand-alone or with any other light setup as a hybrid

Thank you. Would the T5's add a heat load to the tank. I am planning on having them inside a canopy?

 

[Bpb]

Thank you. Would the T5's add a heat load to the tank. I am planning on having them inside a canopy?

Some but I can’t imagine it would be significant.

 

[MyTankSux]

I have 4 360x & 4 54w t5ho in a canopy on a 120. The kessils are so good I'm actually considering removing the t5s and adding 4 kessils to make it 8 over a 120.

 

[MyTankSux]

Youll need to actively cool the canopy to remove heat. With 4 kessils and the t5s going, the kessils would occasionally overheat.

 

[nept2n]

Youll need to actively cool the canopy to remove heat. With 4 kessils and the t5s going, the kessils would occasionally overheat.

Wow thanks. I did't know that they would over heat. So I am going to plan to add cooling to the canopy. How are you cooling yours? Extracting out or blowing in?

 

[Daniel Waters]

Hi All

I am getting ready to start a new build and need some advice on lighting. My new tank will be a 120 (48x24x24). It will be primarily a mixed reef some softies LPS and maybe some SPS. So I was thinking of going with the Kessil A360WE. How many would you recommend for the 4 ft tank 2 or 3? i thought about mixing in T5’s like the Aquatics Life Hybrid but I want totry to stay away for the changing the bulb thing I did way back when. I’m open to other suggestions as well Thanks for the help

You will need 3 or 4 kessils, but I'm going to suggest you start with just 2 Kessil A360's. If and when you decide you to start adding in sps or other high light corals, then you are going to need more light. With a center brace on your tank (unless it's clear), you might prefer using T5 bulbs or LED bars versus trying to add in more kessils. Puck style LED lights and center braces don't mesh very well (I despised my center brace on my old 4 ft tank). That's why I'm suggesting starting with the two pucks, so you can have time to see what it's going to really be like with your setup.

 

[MyTankSux]

Wow thanks. I did't know that they would over heat. So I am going to plan to add cooling to the canopy. How are you cooling yours? Extracting out or blowing in?

I mounted a couple of these blowing into the canopy. My power strip has usb ports so I just plug them in that way. Also I mounted my lights a little different than most people. I have the t5s running down the middle. The 4 kessils in a square so the cross brace doesnt block as much light. It also add more depth to the tank that way imo.

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