Kessil 360 question

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

I have a 180 mixed reef with a bunch of acros now and I was wondering if 3 kessil 360w would be good enough for my 180? I just want to make sure all my corals will still grow and look great without shading....Or should I get 4 of them? or should I get 3 kessils and some reef brite strips? OR A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LED fixture and not kessil?? haha I just need some opinions on what they have experienced or know about this subject.

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

or radion gen 3 or the gen 3 pro?

rayn · Nov 15, 2014

I am starting a 120 and planned sps dominate. I am starting with two kessil 360 and a dual t5 fixture. I would think 3 kessil would work with a t5 supplement.

ohio reefer · Nov 15, 2014

I don't think 3 kessil is enough. My lfs uses 2 on a 75 gallon with sps and say even a 5 foot tank would need 3. I think you'd be good with 4 kessil. If I'm you I would run 4 kessil and T5s. Love T5s and kessil are amazing lights.

JMMJ13902 · Nov 15, 2014

I think it will be perfect or plenty...I have three 360we on a 220gal tank and don't see any shadow.

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

I meant shadowing in sps colonies.... And I have 8 bulb ATI fixture now in my canopy but I've had issues with the ballast and cooling fans I when it's in my canopy and it also voids the warranty when inside of canopy so that's why I am going to switch...

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

The corals love the t5 unit, so I just don't want to take a big step back by switching to led fixture.. Just want to make sure I make the right choice... I'm starting to lean towards radion gen 3s the more I read up on them

ohio reefer · Nov 15, 2014

I was thinking the exact same thing the other day. Was deciding between a kessil or radion to replace my 8 bulb T5. Same thing with you, my corals love the T5. I then decided if they like the T5 and I could avoid spending the $$ on expensive lights that I do not need then it's not worth it. To me it's like switching from one skimmer to the other because the other skimmer has more features. If you're doing well with the skimmer, you'd keep it, and I think the same way with my lighting. The brands you're deciding between are great brands and you'll have no issue with the switch, but if I were you I'd stick with what I know works for me.

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

Thanks for the advice man... Only reason I'm even doing this switch is because my ATI unit is in my canopy and because of that I already had to replace the ballast and now cooling fans aren't working... The warranty doesn't work if it's hanging in a canopy which I don't think many people know... Anyways I like the canopy and my wife says I have to keep the canopy Haha soooo that's why I'm gonna get radions or Kessil and put it in canopy

ohio reefer · Nov 15, 2014

Haha completely understandable. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Both amazing lights. However kessil has some of the best customer service I've ever seen. Both amazing lights. Let us know what you decide on getting!

rayn · Nov 15, 2014

Personally I would do radion if you haven't bought anything yet. I have a kessil and love it, but the extra controllability of the radion is nice. Price tag...not so much.

FX CharityCorals · Nov 15, 2014

Why not add an additional fan or 2 in the canopy to vent the ati better? I say T5 all the way

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

I have 3 computer fans in there after the first ballast went out and now just getting sick of fixing pointless issues... I do like the unit and it was awesome but I just have to keep the canopy and I just don't want to keep fixing issues with the unit every month... Eventhough it's my fault the parts are going bad....

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

I would need 3 units so I guess now it's to go with regular g3 or the pros...

Gwitness · Nov 15, 2014

Anyone know anything about the orpheks led fixture or however you spell iy

vladandlilith · Nov 15, 2014

It was a tough decision whether I wanted to go with the Kessil 360we's or a couple of the Radions. After many weeks of research and a whole lot of questions with various people. I went with the Kessil 360we's and could not be happier. I have two on a 46 bowfront and three on a 125 standard. The coral growth is incredible and so is the coloration. I was already running another name brand LED's on both of these tanks, but the difference is like night and day. I still have HO T5 lights on my other tanks simply because I can't afford to change lights for four more tanks over a this time.

Jimbo662 · Nov 15, 2014

I had vega colors on my last tank and couldn't get them dialed in correctly and couldn't keep sps alive. I've got two of the 360's on my new tank and everything in the tank loves them and is growing nicely. You can also control them with an apex.

PapaDragon · Nov 15, 2014

I was just like you trying to decide between kessil and radions. In the end I went with 3 360WE on my 72x18x28 and I couldn't be happier. I was worried about missing all the bells and whistles of the radions but then I realized once I set my lights up the last thing I want is to change them so why pay all that money for something I'll hardly use. I also have an apex and I get all the control I want.

The shimmer is insane! Also, these lights replaced my 3x250W MH's and 8x35W T5's and I can honestly say my corals have never looked better.

Oh and you can always get another kessil if 3 aren't enough.

choff · Nov 15, 2014

I started with 3 kessils over my 64" tank, but added a 4th. I do have mine lower than suggested though. I also supplement with 4 t5s. Best of both worlds and can't touch the shimmer. Color and growth are great in my sps dominant mixed reef.