Kessil A160WE low Par reading

[Tonii]

Good evening,

So after a couple of years I finally tested par levels. I have 3 kessil A160WE in a 80 gallons rimless tank. I don’t know if I did something wrong. I got 1.3 bottom , 1.6 medium and 2.5 at the top of the rock. I took the sensor out of the water and placed it right under the lights and it was reading about 200. At the time if the test the lights were at 95% intensity and 50% color.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance

 

[Texas Rick]

following

 

[minus9]

Sounds off to me. If they are plugged into a controller or apex, unplug and retest at 100% intensity without the controller attached.

 

[Tonii]

Sounds off to me. If they are plugged into a controller or apex, unplug and retest at 100% intensity without the controller attached.

Yes they are plugged into an Apex

 

[Cell]

Arent A160's very weak for that size tank? I would think 3x A360's are what you want.

 

[Tonii]

Arent A160's very weak for that size tank? I would think 3x A360's are what you want.

I was told that 3 A160WE would be more than enough but I’m starting to question that.

 

[Texas Rick]

That explains why my coral aren’t growing. They are there but I don’t see any growth. I’m thinking of buying that new Kessil light.

 

[Tonii]

That explains why my coral aren’t growing. They are there but I don’t see any growth. I’m thinking of buying that new Kessil light.

Yea I’m having that same issue

 

[minus9]

Unplug from apex and test. I would test at 100% with apex and without to see if there's a difference? I had an issue early on with the apex, so I ditched it and used the spectral controller and had zero issues.

 

[Tonii]

I unplugged it from the Apex and re tested at 100% and I got the same readings.

 

[minus9]

I unplugged it from the Apex and re tested at 100% and I got the same readings.

This is with all the link cables disconnected? My a80 puts out more than that and it's only 15 watts. Either the light(s) are not working properly or the par meter? Are the lenses clean? Do you clean the lights regularly? I'll check my 160 just to get a reading.

 

[minus9]

My 160 is reading 284 right at the water surface.

 

[Tonii]

My 160 is reading 284 right at the water surface.

Like 210 is the most I could get with the sensor right under the lights

 

[minus9]

That seems off to me. What sensor are you using? I suspect the power supply could be an issue? I would contact Kessil.

 

[minus9]

I had three over my 22g nano and never went above 70% with the lights about 8" off the water and I was getting 450 par 6" down.

 

[Tonii]

That seems off to me. What sensor are you using? I suspect the power supply could be an issue? I would contact Kessil.

Its an Apogee Connect par meter. It belongs to my friend but it’s brand new. He got his readings and got what was expected out of some Radion lights. I bought all 3 kessil lights used and I’ve had them for over two years. But I’m getting the same low readings throughout the 3 lights

 

[Tonii]

Could the lights be too high up?

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Are all of your LEDs lighting up in the matrix? Kessil isn’t a PAR powerhouse, it’s just a plug and play spectrum with an amazing shimmer. That said, I really doubt you’re truly getting barely 1 PAR at the bottom of your tank.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Could the lights be too high up?

No they look perfect. I’d just say there’s something fishy with the measurement. Given how shallow your tank is I’m sure those lights are just fine. Everything looks happy.

 

[minus9]

Agree, if all the lights are reading the same, then I don't think it's a light issue. What's your photo period? I've always used a 12hr cycle with my Kessil's and a 6 to 8hr peak. Corals looks good, so I would judge everything on coral health and not numbers. There's another reefer here who uses five over a 90g (or something close to that) and he's rock'n corals without issue.