Kessil Lighting Options with Centerbrace

[Marine Iguana]

Hey all, I'm in the process of planning a tank build after being out of the hobby for several years. I have a 90g tank that I'm currently planning on using, but it has a center brace so I'm concerned about shadowing. (In the end I might end up buying an AIO rimless tank if I can find one used at an affordable price, but that'll depend what the classifieds look like in early summer )

The more research I've been doing the more drawn I am to Kessil's. I've never used LED's before (I always used T5's but don't want to deal with replacing bulbs and the higher energy output). My plans for this tank are to be SPS dominant, and I want to make sure that shadowing isn't an issue (both from coral growth and from the center brace).

I've been trying to consume as much information about the a360x's, ap9x's and a500x's, and want to hear thoughts from people who have experience with the lights. What do you think would be the best option for lighting the tank? Originally I was hoping to start with three a360x's, but with the center brace I'm concerned this won't be a good option. Would two ap9x's give sufficient coverage and PAR? Or would you have other recommendations?

Thanks for your insight and help- I'm really looking forward to getting back in the hobby and diving into the world of SPS keeping. I appreciate any input

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hey all, I'm in the process of planning a tank build after being out of the hobby for several years. I have a 90g tank that I'm currently planning on using, but it has a center brace so I'm concerned about shadowing. (In the end I might end up buying an AIO rimless tank if I can find one used at an affordable price, but that'll depend what the classifieds look like in early summer )

The more research I've been doing the more drawn I am to Kessil's. I've never used LED's before (I always used T5's but don't want to deal with replacing bulbs and the higher energy output). My plans for this tank are to be SPS dominant, and I want to make sure that shadowing isn't an issue (both from coral growth and from the center brace).

I've been trying to consume as much information about the a360x's, ap9x's and a500x's, and want to hear thoughts from people who have experience with the lights. What do you think would be the best option for lighting the tank? Originally I was hoping to start with three a360x's, but with the center brace I'm concerned this won't be a good option. Would two ap9x's give sufficient coverage and PAR? Or would you have other recommendations?

Thanks for your insight and help- I'm really looking forward to getting back in the hobby and diving into the world of SPS keeping. I appreciate any input

I use Kessil and like the shimmer, but I still have to supplement with T5 to avoid shadowing. There are a few options though, if you stay with Kessil. LED bars and a t5 hybrid fixture are a nice complement for them. Sadly with a puck design, it is hard to avoid shadowing, unlike the MH I started with and still love. Just do not have the room above the tank for them lol.

For reference, I have 6 360x over a 180 and use a aquatic life hybrid fixture to eliminate any shadowing. It is also just a standard 180, so has 2 cross braces. Those are not really an issue, as my light placement fixes that. Just scoot them away from the braces a tad and the "cone" of light compensates.

With that said, if you used all T5 in the past, then you will not see the same blanket coverage with Kessils alone.

If you are still dead set on Kessils, I would suggest 2 360x or 360we and then some LED light bars in either a mix of blue/white or all blue. Really more of how you like your tank to look. ReefBrite and Orphek made a nice selection of these bars. There are even reefs running on only these bars and setup like you would a T5 fixture with different color combos mixed.

 

[Marine Iguana]

I use Kessil and like the shimmer, but I still have to supplement with T5 to avoid shadowing. There are a few options though, if you stay with Kessil. LED bars and a t5 hybrid fixture are a nice complement for them. Sadly with a puck design, it is hard to avoid shadowing, unlike the MH I started with and still love. Just do not have the room above the tank for them lol.

For reference, I have 6 360x over a 180 and use a aquatic life hybrid fixture to eliminate any shadowing. It is also just a standard 180, so has 2 cross braces. Those are not really an issue, as my light placement fixes that. Just scoot them away from the braces a tad and the "cone" of light compensates.

With that said, if you used all T5 in the past, then you will not see the same blanket coverage with Kessils alone.

If you are still dead set on Kessils, I would suggest 2 360x or 360we and then some LED light bars in either a mix of blue/white or all blue. Really more of how you like your tank to look. ReefBrite and Orphek made a nice selection of these bars. There are even reefs running on only these bars and setup like you would a T5 fixture with different color combos mixed.

I'm really drawn to the shimmer of Kessil's as well- although I'm used to the diffused, blanket coverage of T5's, I really only stuck to them because of their proven results.

I'll have to look into the LED light bars- I've seen the Orphek ones in action and they aren't half bad!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I'm really drawn to the shimmer of Kessil's as well- although I'm used to the diffused, blanket coverage of T5's, I really only stuck to them because of their proven results.

I'll have to look into the LED light bars- I've seen the Orphek ones in action and they aren't half bad!

With LED and T5, I have no issues growing anything. Had to add more kessils to get the par I wanted, so there were more cost effective ways, but you know lol. I am currently looking into the Orphek Icons, as it is about time for me to change lights. I have seen them in person and fell in love lol. Just waiting for more tanks to report back how things are doing and will go from there.

 

[Arricefe]

I use Kessil and like the shimmer, but I still have to supplement with T5 to avoid shadowing. There are a few options though, if you stay with Kessil. LED bars and a t5 hybrid fixture are a nice complement for them. Sadly with a puck design, it is hard to avoid shadowing, unlike the MH I started with and still love. Just do not have the room above the tank for them lol.

For reference, I have 6 360x over a 180 and use a aquatic life hybrid fixture to eliminate any shadowing. It is also just a standard 180, so has 2 cross braces. Those are not really an issue, as my light placement fixes that. Just scoot them away from the braces a tad and the "cone" of light compensates.

With that said, if you used all T5 in the past, then you will not see the same blanket coverage with Kessils alone.

If you are still dead set on Kessils, I would suggest 2 360x or 360we and then some LED light bars in either a mix of blue/white or all blue. Really more of how you like your tank to look. ReefBrite and Orphek made a nice selection of these bars. There are even reefs running on only these bars and setup like you would a T5 fixture with different color combos mixed.

Hi @Eagle_Steve would you mind posting a pic of your light setup? I also have a 180 with 2 center braces. I have an AP9X in the middle and 360WEs on the sides, I'm considering replacing the WEs with either 2 360xs or another AP9X but I'd like to see what your tank looks like, TIA.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

This is with 4 360s and the Aqutic Life hybrid. It is now 6, so things are a little different.

Easiest way to explain it is in a snip looking from the top. It is the second pic. Hybrid is not shown in the snip, just where the kessils are in the fixture and in relation to the braces.

Lights are 3" from the end of tank and edge of bars. If you look at pic above, I just copied the center 2 lights for each end of the tank. When setting it up, I set the hybrid fixture on the tank, centered it and then mounted the brackets for the lights. Then raised the fixture back up and off to the races.

 

[areefer01]

Let's talk about some of your choices:

a360x - good choice
a7xx or a9xx - good choice but center brace may be impacted by the lights form factor
a500x - great light - but over powered for your application unless you mount it very high

BRS has a light test which uses the a360x that shows par values vs kessil mount height. To include the lens kits. The reason why I bring this up is that you can keep the standard Kessil spread using the a360x but mounting 8 to 10 inches above the water. Mount them center on either side of the display.

Kessil has great spread based on how their default lens design. Raising or lowering mounting height controls the spread and par. Higher wider lower narrow. If this makes sense.

 

[Michael-JT]

Hi @Eagle_Steve would you mind posting a pic of your light setup? I also have a 180 with 2 center braces. I have an AP9X in the middle and 360WEs on the sides, I'm considering replacing the WEs with either 2 360xs or another AP9X but I'd like to see what your tank looks like, TIA.

This is done on a standard 180 with dual cross braces

 

[Arricefe]

This is done on a standard 180 with dual cross braces

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Michael-JT]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

The build thread for the DX18's is in my signature. I actually found it very easy to get the two Aquatic Life fixtures together with only spending about 30$ total in some wire, bolts and a slice of bar stock from the local hardware store.
What I like about going this way is the open 'tray' running the full length of the tank. You can drop whatever flavor of light you want to go with, including mixing, and move wherever you need to work around the cross braces of the tank.

 

[Aquajamin]

I love the light color and shimmer of the Kessil's so that's my choice.
I would go with 2-Kessil A360X and the Reef Bright or the Aquatic Life LED. You can always add more of the A360X later but this will light your tank from end to end.

 

[jmoss]

This is how my 90 gal with a center brace looks. I have a Kessil AP9X with the mounting arm you just put it next to the center brace turn it 45° then turn the light 45°. I have a very short and sharp shadow right in the middle but it is is less that 3in deep.

 

[Michael-JT]

This is how my 90 gal with a center brace looks. I have a Kessil AP9X with the mounting arm you just put it next to the center brace turn it 45° then turn the light 45°. I have a very short and sharp shadow right in the middle but it is is less that 3in deep.

Love the tank. You already have lots of color popping.

As for the Kessil, the mount is triggering my OCD. I would consider getting a second identical mounting fixture and use the top mounts. Then equally space the mounts from the center bar.
Yes, ocd is great.

 

[Linflas]

This is how my 90 gal with a center brace looks. I have a Kessil AP9X with the mounting arm you just put it next to the center brace turn it 45° then turn the light 45°. I have a very short and sharp shadow right in the middle but it is is less that 3in deep.

Thank you! I've been trying to figure out how to mount this thing on my 110 tank that has a center brace and HOB overflow. I was looking at 2 arms and trying to figure out how to rearrange things not knowing that the center mount would swivel like that. Just pulled the trigger on a AP9X and the mount during the Black Friday 10% off deals.