Kessil Lighting Question

Snitch · Dec 4, 2020

Hi everyone, I have a possible lighting issue that I was hoping you could clear up.

I'm planning a custom build - the tank will be 72" long, 18" wide and 13" high - Glasscages 75 gallon long. The tank will be soft corals and LPS corals, no SPS corals. I have (3) A160WE Tuna Blues and was wondering if I need to get a 4th? I see per Kessil's website, coverage is roughly 24" surface area so theoretically 3 should be adequate. In talking to the Glasscages guys, top bracing is glass, no plastic rim on this one - either Euro brace, or (2) standard glass braces, so i don't think shadowing from braces would be a concern. What about height of the lamps? Meaning, since the tank would only be 13" high, I would assume I would need to have the lamps raised up enough in order to not create hot spots, correct? I would also assume that since the lamps would be raised up, coverage would increase and would hopefully be adequate for softies and LPS?

Thoughts or comments?

Thanks!

anthonygf · Dec 4, 2020

Hi Snitch. I have 2 Kessil 360's on my 75 gallon 48 inch long tank. If I were you I would go with 4 of the 160's, but you can try 3 first and see how they are and if not adequate add the fourth.

Snitch · Dec 4, 2020

I was thinking of that, but I plan on making a custom light fixture (I'm not a fan of either of their goosenecks or rigid arms), and once it's done, it's done.

anthonygf · Dec 4, 2020

Snitch said:
I was thinking of that, but I plan on making a custom light fixture (I'm not a fan of either of their goosenecks or rigid arms), and once it's done, it's done.

In that case go with 4 if you have the money. I think 3 will be a little under par, someday you may want a clam and you will be glad you have the light.

CMMorgan · Dec 4, 2020

It's only 13" deep... I think 3 will be fine.

arking_mark · Dec 4, 2020

CMMorgan said:
It's only 13" deep... I think 3 will be fine.

So I'm running a Kessil 160 on a fluval 13.5 which is 12" high You're not going to have PAR issues.

The real question will be coverage.

The width and depth of the fluval is 18x12 and I have the 160 4.5 inches off the water which minimizes light spillage. You should be able to go higher as 12" was my limiting factor. At 30% intensity, I get 200PAR mid tank directly over the light and 50 PAR in the corners. This is perfect for my needs.

You essentially will have like 4 fluvals and while 3 kessils would be more than adequate for PAR, I think you would have to have the lights higher to get the coverage you want...and may have some spillage.

anthonygf · Dec 4, 2020

CMMorgan said:
It's only 13" deep... I think 3 will be fine.

That makes sense, my tank is like 18" deep.

Tcook · Dec 4, 2020

I would go with 4. Less issue with shadowing from the rockwork. I know it's not apples to apples but I run 2 x 150s on my 20 Nuvo and 4 x 360s on my 48 " 120.

arking_mark · Dec 4, 2020

C

Tcook said:
I would go with 4. Less issue with shadowing from the rockwork. I know it's not apples to apples but I run 2 x 150s on my 20 Nuvo and 4 x 360s on my 48 " 120.

Can you share your PAR readings and intensity?

Snitch · Dec 4, 2020

I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 - now for another wrench, which has always been part of my plan that I never brought up -

Some of the rock will be exposed and will have air plants & succulents so lighting will more or less be "wasted" on those areas.

Light spillage isn't too much of a concern, the tank will be in a living room that is only being used as my office for now due to COVID. Once I can get back into my work's building, this living room really won't be used at all except for the tank, a sitting area, yoga / meditation type room.

minus9 · Dec 4, 2020

I would use 4 and mount them 8" to 9" above the water. You'll have to borrow or rent a par meter so you can map your tank and find the right placement for each light. With that shallow of a tank, you can have a nice mixed reef if you ever want to get into sps?

Snitch · Dec 4, 2020

I've been in the hobby a loooong time - SPS are cool, I do like them, but I want simple, color and movement.

Filtration will be more or less non-existent, no sump, no skimmer, just water changes and it will have an internal faux overflow where I can hide a bag of carbon if need to.

This is probably going to be my last tank, and my vision for this build is very zen-like, clean & open. Once I get everything lined up, I'll start a build thread.