Kessil A360x vs. Atlantik V4 GEN2

[EHaddad]

So I have a Reefer 750XXL and I’m trying to decide between the Kessil A360x and the Atlantik. Any recommendations? Any experiences? I am wanting to have a mixed Reef.

 

[hart24601]

Honestly I wouldn't even put them in the same area, I think kessils are good for hybrid fixtures, or some specific setups, but orphek has a better spectrum, spread and power. I have owned 5 or 6 kessils and one orphek and I would go orphek every time.

 

[EHaddad]

Thank you! The only reason I ask is a read a post on here not long ago talking about parts of the Leds going out.

 

[hart24601]

I have been watching those as well, sounds like mostly older boards and customer service helped fairly well. Mine are a year old and working fine. There are threads about every light failing too. I had horrible experience with radions and their support myself. I just searched the site about kessi failures and this was the 1st link.

Kessil Failures

I figure there are a lot of Kessil users here on R2R. Am curious, with regard to the A360WE, what folks experiences have been with longevity. I have a bunch of them on my system and have not been particularly happy with them from a reliability perspective. Kessil is very good about the warranty...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Scorpius]

Kessil for any lps/softies with a few well placed sps. They do grow anything, but the shadowing is a major drawback.

 

[EHaddad]

I have been watching those as well, sounds like mostly older boards and customer service helped fairly well. Mine are a year old and working fine. There are threads about every light failing too. I had horrible experience with radions and their support myself. I just searched the site about kessi failures and this was the 1st link.

Kessil Failures

I figure there are a lot of Kessil users here on R2R. Am curious, with regard to the A360WE, what folks experiences have been with longevity. I have a bunch of them on my system and have not been particularly happy with them from a reliability perspective. Kessil is very good about the warranty...

www.reef2reef.com

so you have two of the Atlantik?

 

[hart24601]

FWIW here is acro and gigas growth under my orphek. 2 months on the clam and 3 if I remember correctly.

 

[hart24601]

so you have two of the Atlantik?

Just one.

 

[EHaddad]

Just one.

Awesome thank you for your input. Do you have you light on a mount or suspended from the ceiling?

 

[hart24601]

I modified two of the kessil tank mounts and extensions to bolt the lights to the stand. It was a lot of work though as I got aluminum strips cut and tapped them to fit across the orphek.

 

[mtraylor]

You have any more details on the mount job. Really like what u did. Are the mounts on the wall mounted into a stud or just drywall?

Have to mount my v4 over my frag tank and looking for options. Tank already filled so wall mount may be difficult to drill in wall behind tank.

 

[hart24601]

You have any more details on the mount job. Really like what u did. Are the mounts on the wall mounted into a stud or just drywall?

Have to mount my v4 over my frag tank and looking for options. Tank already filled so wall mount may be difficult to drill in wall behind tank.

Sure I documented in my build thread. They are attached to the stand, bolted bottom and midway up. The link if where I tapped the threads. About 2 pages later will see how I attached to the stand.

Build Thread - Waterbox 100.3 Orphek Back to SPS Reef Madness

And here it is tonight!

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mtraylor]

Awesome job! Thanks for all the detail.

 

[madweazl]

I use Kessils and have had good results with them; with that said, I do have a hybrid system. This was due more to our canopy than due to the Kessils "needing" supplementation. Our tank had a center brace and I'd drilled holes through the canopy for the Kessils to sit down into so adding a third would have made it look like swiss cheese because the original two would have needed to be moved slightly further apart. I dont think the shadowing is nearly as big an issue as some make it out to be (I was Kessil only for the first year or so before deciding to go SPS dominant). I think most Kessil users that run into issues run less arrays then they should though; with the Atlantik example, the cost is $1100 compared to an A360x at $450; it works out to roughly 2 1/2 Kessils but most people would run two Kessils instead. If you had 2 1/2 or 3 Kessils, you'd have an equivalent light. This is the same when compared to a Radion; the XR30 is equivalent to 2 A360s but people try to only run one. Similarly, the wattage delta needs to be looked at; Kessils are approx 90w while the Atlantik is 211w so you have to compare apples to apples regardless of what a manufacturer provides in regard to spread.

 

[User1]

I use Kessils and have had good results with them; with that said, I do have a hybrid system. This was due more to our canopy than due to the Kessils "needing" supplementation. Our tank had a center brace and I'd drilled holes through the canopy for the Kessils to sit down into so adding a third would have made it look like swiss cheese because the original two would have needed to be moved slightly further apart. I dont think the shadowing is nearly as big an issue as some make it out to be (I was Kessil only for the first year or so before deciding to go SPS dominant). I think most Kessil users that run into issues run less arrays then they should though; with the Atlantik example, the cost is $1100 compared to an A360x at $450; it works out to roughly 2 1/2 Kessils but most people would run two Kessils instead. If you had 2 1/2 or 3 Kessils, you'd have an equivalent light. This is the same when compared to a Radion; the XR30 is equivalent to 2 A360s but people try to only run one. Similarly, the wattage delta needs to be looked at; Kessils are approx 90w while the Atlantik is 211w so you have to compare apples to apples regardless of what a manufacturer provides in regard to spread.

Very well put.

Few other things I've noticed since adding 3 a360x's to my system.

1. You do not have to mount the lights as high as other tanks. The 360x in most cases should be anywhere from 6 to 8" above the water surface.

2. There is a wider spread with the lights. More spread means more coverage which to some means you need fewer. This may or may not be the case. As corals grow and depending on the type I'd lean more towards needing more light. When I hear people talk of shadows this is what comes to mind. Spread vs coral growth. Personally, as an active scuba diver, this situation is similar to what you see on a reef in real life. Sort of like a HDR effect in a photo the Kessil's have a side effect. I like the contrast.

3. Should you have a issue with shadows due to growth then you can add their narrow lens. This from what I have seen does wonders. Add it to one, two, all, or whatever you need to get the light focused on an item (clam) or coral if it needs more. Have to punch down through 30 or more inches of water depth - use the lens.

I use a DIY 8 multi channel chip LED system and I'm very fond of it which uses Blue Acro chips. I had some gift cards saved up and picked up a a360x to try. I liked the light so much I saved for another pair. I still use my DIY kit because I can adjust the colors and, well, it is hard to pass up on 400 watts of light should I need it due to growth. However, I can see myself adding another pair of 360's down the road and then removing my DIY setup.

Kessil's you get a very well built product in a great form factor. Upgrading or buying new I'd say it is a good setup. If you have earlier Kessil's lights I've read and tend to agree that you could skip this upgrade.