Kessil vs radion for growing sps

[Camaro Show Corals]

Okay so if you had a sps dom biocube 29 would you go with a kessil a360 or a xr15 gen 4

So a local guy is selling a brand new a360 for 100 dollars he also has a radion xr30 gen 2 for 200 with the reeflink or buy a new xr15 gen 4

My issue is these are really good deals, but how good is the gen2 nowadays, is the new gen4 xr15 enough light??

So how do these lights rank for growth and color of sps

 

[Crabs McJones]

Both are great lights, I'm more preferable to the Kessil. You'd have to look at the benefits of each and go from there. The Kessil gives an unmatched shimmer and color blending, however it is unprogrammable out of the box without either the kessil spectral controller, or the apex or reefkeeper to control it. The radion is programmable by connecting it to your computer, or wifi programmable via the reeflink, but you don't get the shimmer and color blending that the kessil can do. It creates whats called the disco ball effect. Both will grow coral no problem. The Kessil comes in a small pendant form, whereas the radion comes in the square box form. Again, it's going to be a matter of what you think looks good over the tank as both lights can grow SPS corals no problem

 

[MaddReefer]

Radion definitely puts out more light.

 

[DSC reef]

With that size tank you can't go wrong with either light. I'd suggest seeing both in person to be honest. I prefer the look and simplicity of the kessils

 

[Richie27]

the radions are great i’m just upgrading my lights

 

[HB AL]

100$ for a brand new 360, I would buy that now, sounds to good to be true though. You can’t even get a used one for 100$. Back to your question I have 160’s and they grow all types of corals great so I would buy the 360 especially for 100$. If you go the other route buy the 160 for me and I will pay the shipping and an extra 25$ for your trouble.

 

[Lor]

But those kessils and if you dont want it, you can always sell it to me lol.. seriously since you got a good price, if you dont like it you can always sell it for what you got it or even turn in for a small profit to help you buy those radions

 

[Bmezz]

what gen are these?

im def interested!

must be older as i have latest and dont have power boxes like that?

 

[Ed M]

Have a 55g and currently using a Fluval LED light. Want to upgrade to Kessil. Would 2 Kessil A160's be enough for a 55g. I have a variety of sps and lsp but are not growing.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Have a 55g and currently using a Fluval LED light. Want to upgrade to Kessil. Would 2 Kessil A160's be enough for a 55g. I have a variety of sps and lsp but are not growing.

I answered your PM, but I'll also post it here for others looking for an answer. On a 55 and due to the center brace I'd do 4 a160s two on each side of the center brace or two a360s one on each side of the brace

 

[BoomCorals]

Have a 55g and currently using a Fluval LED light. Want to upgrade to Kessil. Would 2 Kessil A160's be enough for a 55g. I have a variety of sps and lsp but are not growing.

Nowhere near enough for a 55g.

 

[BoomCorals]

To the OP I’d go halide or T5 personally, but if it must be LED either brand will be fine on your tank.

 

[rosshamsandwich]

following vote for kessil

 

[rosshamsandwich]

Both are great lights, I'm more preferable to the Kessil. You'd have to look at the benefits of each and go from there. The Kessil gives an unmatched shimmer and color blending, however it is unprogrammable out of the box without either the kessil spectral controller, or the apex or reefkeeper to control it. The radion is programmable by connecting it to your computer, or wifi programmable via the reeflink, but you don't get the shimmer and color blending that the kessil can do. It creates whats called the disco ball effect. Both will grow coral no problem. The Kessil comes in a small pendant form, whereas the radion comes in the square box form. Again, it's going to be a matter of what you think looks good over the tank as both lights can grow SPS corals no problem

what are your kessil settings at?

 

[Crabs McJones]

what are your kessil settings at?

I run a kessil ap700 woth 4 t5 lights. My kessil ramps up to 30% intensity and 50% color

 

[clark griswold]

Care to share the Kessil sellers contact info? ;Yuck

 

[DHill6]

Radion gen 4 pro, SPS are doing fine, my intensity is only 40%. Was on a 24x24x20 cube, depth at 30” no problem. Now on a Reefer 170. You can also get the diffuser if you want more blended, less shimmer.

 

[jwt1603]

Everything I've read says they're both great lights. It's going to be your personal preference on how the fixture looks and how the actual lighting looks in the tank.

So far the SPS in my RS 525 are doing very well with the Gen 4 XR30 lights. I use the World Wide Corals light program. I will admit I'm putting the diffusers on my Radions this weekend because there is too much disco ball for my personal taste. I'm only at 60% and I plan on turning them up to 80% when I put the diffusers on to offset the PAR loss.

 

[JBKReef]

I'd say go for the new radion, an give me the guys name for the kessil ;Smuggrin

Either will do you well, that being said a new light I feel would have longevity comparative to a gen 2. Additionally like Crabs said- you would need the spectral controller or basically set it and forget it for the kessil out of the box, the radion will give you control but also disco ball so to get it more blended their new diffuser would be needed.

For the price I dont think you could beat the kessil. Picking up the Kessil and the spectral controller for the same price as the radion seems worth it to me.

Biased opinion though I currently run Kessils on all my tanks.

 

[madweazl]

I'd say go for the new radion, an give me the guys name for the kessil ;Smuggrin

Either will do you well, that being said a new light I feel would have longevity comparative to a gen 2. Additionally like Crabs said- you would need the spectral controller or basically set it and forget it for the kessil out of the box, the radion will give you control but also disco ball so to get it more blended their new diffuser would be needed.

For the price I dont think you could beat the kessil. Picking up the Kessil and the spectral controller for the same price as the radion seems worth it to me.

Biased opinion though I currently run Kessils on all my tanks.

That is probably the best "feature" of the Kessil; prevents the end user from gooning things up. Set it at 60% color and start with a lower intensity to start and you're good.