Kessil and Spectral Controllers

[Haggisman14]

Hello everyone.

Right now I have a Kessil 160, and I adjust it manually. , as it is right now, if I want to have the light on dim, it goes dim...but not what I would really consider that dim.

If you use the spectral controller, and set the color to say 0%, and then the intensity to say 10%, will it be really dim?

I'm curious if adding the functionality of the spectral controller opens up the lighting possibilities that much more than just manually.

Thanks!

 

[pelphrey]

The only thing the controller will really do is give you a percentage that the light is running and ramp up/down functions. Someone will have to correct me but I believe they have to be 15% or above for them to even be on?

 

[minus9]

With the spectral controller, they will turn on at 5% (both color and intensity adjust by 5, so it starts @ 0, 5, 10, 15, etc..). Even though I have an Apex, I decided to use the spectral controller to free up the V1-4 ports for pump/powerhead control. The SC has two independent ports which can be programmed individually or you can set the same program for both. Each port will run 3 lights (daisy-chained). Another nice feature is acclimation mode, which allows you to reduce the current schedule and slowly ramp up over days to acclimate new corals (if you don't have room in lower light areas to acclimate your coral?).

 

[Daniel Waters]

If you use the spectral controller, and set the color to say 0%, and then the intensity to say 10%, will it be really dim?

I'm curious if adding the functionality of the spectral controller opens up the lighting possibilities that much more than just manually.

The controller isn't going to change the light visually (i.e. more dim) any differently than what you can achieve via manual controls. The controller just gives you more flexibility and functionality. It will let you change your color and intensity throughout the day automatically via how you program it, can run multiple lights on the same schedule, and has acclimation modes are the main features that come to mind. You could achieve all this manually, but it would be a pain to do so! But that doesn't mean you NEED the controller. Some people are perfectly happy with setting their preferred color and intensity and just using a basic programmable timer to turn them on / off. I like my dawn / dusk effect, so I prefer having a controller.

 

[Haggisman14]

Thanks for all the input guys! This is definitely on my "to buy" list, as right now it's just a simple on/off, and then i switch it to blues when I get home from work. Saving grace is that by the time the lights kick on around 11am at 65% color, it's in a room that has daylight, and the tank is actually in the sun a bit, so it's not a shock to the corals for an instant-on type of light effect.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Daniel Waters]

Saving grace is that by the time the lights kick on around 11am at 65% color, it's in a room that has daylight, and the tank is actually in the sun a bit, so it's not a shock to the corals for an instant-on type of light effect.

There's no need to worry about light "shock" with your corals. Ramping up and down isn't required by corals as they are quite adaptable. Ramping up and down for fish, though, isn't a bad idea as a sudden flash of light turning on or lights suddenly cutting out can spook your fish.

But having a controller is really nice to have!

 

[pelphrey]

I used the spectral controller for a short while. I ended up with the apex classis which will run the lights with the VDM ports, but I always wanted a heater controller. By spending a little extra money I got way more options.