Kessil a500x or xr30

[rwreef]

Question, I need light up my new 84"×30"×24"(deep) peninsula style aquarium. I want the lights to be about 20-24" above the water surface. I want to keep a mixed reef LPS heavy, maybe SPS at some point. My concern is reaching the sand bed with a light basically 48" above the sand. I want the high light mount in my canopy to make working in the takk easier. Looking for suggestions from others on potential options. I appreciate the feedback! Stand/setup in progress ...

 

[dedragon]

very cool build, looking forward to seeing how it turns out! you could maybe do kessil a500x and staggered with xr15 pros to get the best of both worlds. Kessil shimmer and that ab+ spectrum would look great

 

[bobnicaragua]

Great looking build. For a tank that big, halides would be ideal.

 

[AutumnReefs]

I would check out using kessil a500x with dual reef brite hybrid kit. The kessil with the 55 degree reflector should work with the hybrid kit. You would be looking at 4 kessils plus 4 strips of reef brite or t5. It will be expensive with the kessils so keep that in mind.

 

[dedragon]

100% i do agree halides are amazing, just other issues (like heat and electric but are absolutely awesome) and i think they were trying to go another way with the lighting which is why i gave the suggestion.
Forgot to say those new reefi led uno and duos also look amazing (and look to be cheaper cost replacements for ecotech radions and may be even better) if you are looking at other options let us know as i would like to help as much as i can.

 

[AutumnReefs]

Great looking build. For a tank that big, halides would be ideal.

Kessils are functionally the same as halides

 

[dedragon]

Kessils are functionally the same as halides

not fully true as spectrum and coverage are different than halides with huge reflectors. i do like how they are trying to emulate the shimmer though and multiple help coverage. i would love to see these new a500s in action but havent yet. you def need them because of the height that you are hanging them.

 

[dedragon]

I also want to see the orphek amazonas 320s because those seem awesome if hung high enough, but you may have to ask orphek because they dont seem to be available otherwise

 

[Bj’s Reef]

I’m loving the look of your build. Kessil or xr30. It’s like Ford vs Chevy. Both will get the job done, however I’m leaning towards the Kessils.

 

[rwreef]

Note I currently plan to run with t5 hybrids also. Currently have 2, Xr15 pro with t5 hybrid

 

[oreo54]

Question, I need light up my new 84"×30"×24"(deep) peninsula style aquarium. I want the lights to be about 20-24" above the water surface. I want to keep a mixed reef LPS heavy, maybe SPS at some point. My concern is reaching the sand bed with a light basically 48" above the sand. I want the high light mount in my canopy to make working in the takk easier. Looking for suggestions from others on potential options. I appreciate the feedback! Stand/setup in progress ...

Amazonas 320 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 320 LED Light Fixtures are developed specifically for public aquariums and other venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

3 w/ 60 degree reflectors.
A geometrically sound solution.
I' ll let others contemplate biologically sound or not.
At 960w you would be well powered.
3 is more for coverage than anything else.

Use this as more of a guide than suggestion.

LED Lighting Beam Angle Calculator

A simple calculator that determines spot size by a light's beam angle

store.marinebeam.com

Can even build your own spectrum.
No matter the type of lighting you use, efficient delivery into the tank w/ out bouncing light hither and yon (sorry) and using more watts than necessary, you need to start w/ simple geometry.
Especially w/ leds and if you want to use less watts than say a metal halide.

Suggest you consult some experts.
Your heights not extreme but out of the " normal" range a bit.

You can use the box to channel some light but do you want to rely on it?
Think bulb vs flashlight.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Kessils are functionally the same as halides

I have used Kessils they look great, but don't come close to doing what halides do.

 

[748S911]

I’m getting ready to set up and light a 120”x60”x30” peninsula 3 sides starphire glass. After a ton of research I’m going with the best of all worlds.

8x kessil a500x’s (mounted on ends)
16x 48” reefbrite xho blue strips (2 each side)
4x Radion G5 blue XR30’s (placed in middle)

4 total fixtures

Should be plenty of light for any coral and any future growth.

 

[rwreef]

Amazonas 320 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 320 LED Light Fixtures are developed specifically for public aquariums and other venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

3 w/ 60 degree reflectors.
A geometrically sound solution.
I' ll let others contemplate biologically sound or not.
At 960w you would be well powered.
3 is more for coverage than anything else.

Use this as more of a guide than suggestion.

LED Lighting Beam Angle Calculator

A simple calculator that determines spot size by a light's beam angle

store.marinebeam.com

Can even build your own spectrum.
No matter the type of lighting you use, efficient delivery into the tank w/ out bouncing light hither and yon (sorry) and using more watts than necessary, you need to start w/ simple geometry.
Especially w/ leds and if you want to use less watts than say a metal halide.

Suggest you consult some experts.
Your heights not extreme but out of the " normal" range a bit.

You can use the box to channel some light but do you want to rely on it?
Think bulb vs flashlight.

Great info, thanks! Based on the calculator 2x ax500 lights with a 55deg lens would get light into the entire tank. However, PAR/intensity is the next question at that height/angle/coverage. I am thinking it will be okay to start with along with my Xr15 pros filling in the the light at the ends of the tank and T5s cover the entire length of the tank. I can always add more lights later if needed.

 

[Harold999]

This is one of the easiest choices out there. Do you love shimmer or not.

 

[Kessil]

Cross posting my reply here as well so people can follow it -


At that mounting height, the A500X with either the 55 or 35 degree reflector is going to be your best bet. It provides the most versatile option, and will let you run the amount of light you need for now and for the future if you decide to go more SPS dominant.

 

[rwreef]

Cross posting my reply here as well so people can follow it -


At that mounting height, the A500X with either the 55 or 35 degree reflector is going to be your best bet. It provides the most versatile option, and will let you run the amount of light you need for now and for the future if you decide to go more SPS dominant.

Awesome! Thank you for the feedback.

 

[Gogol_frag]

very cool build, looking forward to seeing how it turns out! you could maybe do kessil a500x and staggered with xr15 pros to get the best of both worlds. Kessil shimmer and that ab+ spectrum would look great

I would also consider (at the very least research) ReefBrite XHOs (which may really work ideally for your requirements), ATI Stratons and Philips Coral Care Gen2.

ATI Straton was my first choice, but unfortunately largely not available in US. So i got the Reefbrite XHOs and will recommend them - with a warning that they are likely the most expensive option of the lot (which miffed me quite a bit, since the cost is hidden). The Philips didn't work for me since unlike you i had no provisions to hang my lights and had to tank-mount my lights. The Philips are heaviest lights of them all. So, tank-mounting them seemed risky. These lights may actually be the most cost effective. The Philips and ATI are air-cooled systems, which according to professional light installers in the forum, is the way to go. Alas!!

Kessil's shimmer is almost identical to natural sunlight shimmer. My tank receives natural sunlight so its easy to compare. I may complement my lighting with Kessil A80s at a later point just for that effect. This combo of the Kessil and XHO is what BRS calls its new Platinum Standard, and per their tests blows T5s out of water (pun intented) ... but again it's still too new, and untested. Kessil's lights are reported to be weak for SPS, when used individually. So I have stayed away, thus far. My light purchase research was
pre-AP 500x, which actually may work very well for you.

I considered the Orphek Atlantic V4 and the Radeons a lot (really a lot - Orpheks were my first choice for a brief while). But I decided against both because i could see disco-balling (even with diffusers). Once i saw the disco balling, i could not unsee them. What i mean by disco-balling is that the light breaking up wavelengths due to water movement, which causes reds and blues to seperate. So it looks like your reef is partying up like its 1959, once the tank flow gets cranked up!!

Hopefully i was able to provide you some new info on the matter of reef-lighting . Will be quite interested to follow your path.