So I have had a kessil a150we on an IM Fusion 20 for a few years. The design, color, shimmer, controllability and almost every aspect of this light is amazing. Except one thing...i get terrible coral growth.
When i had my larger tank, a 90g, i had a cheap $150 8 bulb t5 ho fixture. It worked but had some banding from the crappy reflectors. But i had great growth for the 4 years that tank was set up.
Having seen how beautiful the kessils looked in a LFS i decided to go LED with this set up. At first i was super happy with the kessil but after awhile i noticed my coral growth was nothing compared to my old tank with t5's. I have tried messing with color and intensity for the past year trying to get things to grow. All my corals seem happy, have great color and polyp extension, readily eat food when offered and seem overall healthy but super slow growth.
Currently my light schedule is a 2 hour ramp up to 45% color/ 65% intensity then holds that for 6 hours and a 2 hour ramp back down for a total of 10 hours. I have tried higher intensity but at about 75% things start to bleach out.
My water parameters are in check. Temp stays 78-79 degrees. I dont dose anything but do daily ~1/2 gallon water changes and make new saltwater for those weekly. I have softies, lps, anemones, and a clam. Everything has been happy for a long time just no growth. Even my zoas and palys have only sprouted 3-4 new heads in the past year. I actually havnt even added any new livestock the past year so everything has had longer term survivability. So i honestly think its the lighting that is the issue.
Does anyone have any advice on the kessil light that I am potentially overlooking that would cause such poor growth? Is 1 a150we not enough for a fusion 20? Or is this just how LEDs are?
If it is just not enough lighting does anyone have any suggestions on how i can improve my lighting for $200-300? I kind of want to go back to t5 but am unsure. The hybrid t5 fixture i could put my kessil in is too wide for the display portion of this tank (23.6"x11.8"x13"). The ATI 4 bulb fixture would fit but $420 plus bulb cost is a little high.Same with the giesemann fixture. I've considered building my own hood with the kessil and retrofit t5 fixtures but im not the best carpenter. The sunblaze 4 bulb fixture would be too big and i doubt the 2 bulb would be enough light. I could get another kessil a150we but if the LEDs are the issue that probably wouldnt solve the issue.
I don't really know what my best option would be. Any input would me much appreciated. Thanks!
When i had my larger tank, a 90g, i had a cheap $150 8 bulb t5 ho fixture. It worked but had some banding from the crappy reflectors. But i had great growth for the 4 years that tank was set up.
Having seen how beautiful the kessils looked in a LFS i decided to go LED with this set up. At first i was super happy with the kessil but after awhile i noticed my coral growth was nothing compared to my old tank with t5's. I have tried messing with color and intensity for the past year trying to get things to grow. All my corals seem happy, have great color and polyp extension, readily eat food when offered and seem overall healthy but super slow growth.
Currently my light schedule is a 2 hour ramp up to 45% color/ 65% intensity then holds that for 6 hours and a 2 hour ramp back down for a total of 10 hours. I have tried higher intensity but at about 75% things start to bleach out.
My water parameters are in check. Temp stays 78-79 degrees. I dont dose anything but do daily ~1/2 gallon water changes and make new saltwater for those weekly. I have softies, lps, anemones, and a clam. Everything has been happy for a long time just no growth. Even my zoas and palys have only sprouted 3-4 new heads in the past year. I actually havnt even added any new livestock the past year so everything has had longer term survivability. So i honestly think its the lighting that is the issue.
Does anyone have any advice on the kessil light that I am potentially overlooking that would cause such poor growth? Is 1 a150we not enough for a fusion 20? Or is this just how LEDs are?
If it is just not enough lighting does anyone have any suggestions on how i can improve my lighting for $200-300? I kind of want to go back to t5 but am unsure. The hybrid t5 fixture i could put my kessil in is too wide for the display portion of this tank (23.6"x11.8"x13"). The ATI 4 bulb fixture would fit but $420 plus bulb cost is a little high.Same with the giesemann fixture. I've considered building my own hood with the kessil and retrofit t5 fixtures but im not the best carpenter. The sunblaze 4 bulb fixture would be too big and i doubt the 2 bulb would be enough light. I could get another kessil a150we but if the LEDs are the issue that probably wouldnt solve the issue.
I don't really know what my best option would be. Any input would me much appreciated. Thanks!
