Kessil H160 - impressions

[Rick Krejci]

Got my H160 last Friday to replace the H380, which was a bit oversized for my tank (Reefe 250). So far so good.

Not nearly as bright as the H360, but my sump is on the small side. Much less bulk and much less heat generation and much less noise. Spread is a little more than I'd prefer for my application, so will probably need to shade one side to keep my skimmer clean. Control works great with the Apex with the Kessil cable. 40% color channel seems to be = Grow. PH increase effect just a bit less than my H380, which had all kinds of shades and baffles to direct the light only to where I wanted. I only ran the H380 for 6-8 hours/day, so I'm thinking 12 hours/day with the H160 will give similar growth.

IMO very expensive compared to the powerful H380, but more fitting to my situation and still quite powerful enough.

Definitely a keeper!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Got my H160 last Friday to replace the H380, which was a bit oversized for my tank (Reefe 250). So far so good.

Not nearly as bright as the H360, but my sump is on the small side. Much less bulk and much less heat generation and much less noise. Spread is a little more than I'd prefer for my application, so will probably need to shade one side to keep my skimmer clean. Control works great with the Apex with the Kessil cable. 40% color channel seems to be = Grow. PH increase effect just a bit less than my H380, which had all kinds of shades and baffles to direct the light only to where I wanted. I only ran the H380 for 6-8 hours/day, so I'm thinking 12 hours/day with the H160 will give similar growth.

IMO very expensive compared to the powerful H380, but more fitting to my situation and still quite powerful enough.

Definitely a keeper!

Lets see some pics

 

[Rick Krejci]

As I said, I have very little room with my large skimmer, but I still pull out about a softball's size ball each week. I put some in my filter cups to catch some of the detritus on the way in and have the critters break it down. Grows fairly deep.

 

[lancesmith1]

Is this a new trend to run a refugio in your skimmer section?

 

[Rick Krejci]

Using the standard Reefer 250 sump, there is no Fuge section. I fashioned a pre-filter from needlepoint mesh so the Chaeto doesn't get in the skimmer.

 

[drtrash]

The 380 came with a ring to hang it what options come with light for hanging. Not going to use arm

 

[lbacha]

is this a new trend to run a refugium in your skimmer compartment?

I'm using the skimmer section in my sump, I don't run a skimmer so it was a logical choice lol. I have a h80 that I will probably upgrade to a h160

 

[Rick Krejci]

The 380 came with a ring to hang it what options come with light for hanging. Not going to use arm

It came with a couple of triangular loops that can be screwed into the gooseneck mounting screws. Also came with J shaped hooks to screw into your cabinet.

 

[lbacha]

It came with a couple of triangular loops that can be screwed into the gooseneck mounting screws. Also came with J shaped hooks to screw into your cabinet.

Sounds like the normal 160 Series hardware

 

[NoWaiAma]

I eyeballed this one before settling on AI prime. Let us know how it performs

 

[EYE-CANDY AQUATICS]

I prefer the ai prime. I use them on all my tanks and I have had amazing results

 

[Philt56]

I just use a H80 tuna flora for my 425xl sump fuge.

 

[drtrash]

I am thrilled with the release, have used, h80 great light, h380 awesome light, bit of a flame thrower but it can grow like crazy so 160 is going to be huge

 

[Rick Krejci]

I just use a H80 tuna flora for my 425xl sump fuge.

Any other nutrition export (GFO, dosing...)? I would think the H80 would be pretty small for that size of tank

 

[Burrito]

I have a spare prime hd (saltwater version). Should I just use that and tune it as “purple” as possible or go with a kessil? Fuge area in sump is 10x14x15 so not huge.

 

[madweazl]

Any other nutrition export (GFO, dosing...)? I would think the H80 would be pretty small for that size of tank

I used the H80 on a 12.5x13.5x10 (LxWxH) refugium the past year (75g DT with 30g sump) and it has worked great. I put an H160 over it a week or two ago but don't have enough data to say it is or isn't working better at the moment.

 

[shiftline]

I have been debating the H380 for a while now but always wished it was dimmable.. this is a nice new version! do you feel its enough power (relative to the h380?)

 

[Rick Krejci]

I have been debating the H380 for a while now but always wished it was dimmable.. this is a nice new version! do you feel its enough power (relative to the h380?)

"enough" is relative. There are those that think compact fluorescent clip-ons from Home Depot are enough. Some think Kessil H80 are enough. I've not seen many think that the H380 isn't enough, although they have the H1200 for those that may need it.

For me, the H380 was way overkill for my small reefer 250 sump (well stocked, well fed, well skimmed tank, with 5 chromis, 2 clowns, 1 flame hawk, 1 med yellow tang and a RO regal 150sss skimmer). I had to shade to restrict the coverage and it was stripping out nutrients too fast so I had to limit the photoperiod to just 6 hours or so, and I was still running at 0 for Nitrates and Phosphates, so I started dosing them.

The H160 for me seems to be on the high side of "enough". My photoperiod is up to 12 hours with the first and last hour being faded in and out, which results in a smoother PH curve on my APEX. I'm still having to dose Nitrates and Phosphates in my ATO water, so I could reduce the intensity, but things seem to be happy.

Would the H80 have been enough for me? Maybe. But for me, the H160 gives me the flexibility to increase and decrease period and intensity at will and has a bit of headroom left if I need it.

 

[six foot]

I used the H80 on a 12.5x13.5x10 (LxWxH) refugium the past year (75g DT with 30g sump) and it has worked great. I put an H160 over it a week or two ago but don't have enough data to say it is or isn't working better at the moment.

Im in the process of building my sump 18H x 19L x 21W, I was trying to decide between th H80 and H160 any update on your H160?

 

[madweazl]

Im in the process of building my sump 18H x 19L x 21W, I was trying to decide between th H80 and H160 any update on your H160?

Growth is quicker and penetrates considerably deeper. If those dimensions are for the refugium specifically, the H80 wont work well but the H160 may; my sump is considerably smaller so I have no data that would be useful but would suspect the H380 to be a better option for those dimensions.