Lighting Suggestions for a 210

[Kehaulani]

Hey reefers

I'm looking into upgrading my two two tanks into one big one and I need some suggestions on lights. I have a 75 gallon with 2 kessil Wides however the new tank I'm looking at is a 210 gallon. I understand I'd need 6 kessils to run it and I'd probably have to go with the narrow version due to the depth of the tank. This tank will have LPS and SPS in it, with a few softies.

I love the shimmer of the kessils and my corals like it too. Been having great growth however, does anyone have any other suggestions on lighting for a 210. I was thinking it's a throw up between kessils, hydras, or the reef breeder photon. Now if any of you have these, can you explain how big your tank is, why you like the lights you have/why you didn't like them and how successful/non successful they've been for you. Feel free to post pictures of your tank with your lighting set up. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say. All opinions are welcome.

Thanks in advance guys

 

[mcarroll]

I understand I'd need 6 kessils to run it and I'd probably have to go with the narrow version due to the depth of the tank.

If you're happy with what you have (as you say) then I'm a big proponent of staying with what works.

Though I wonder about the "six" and the need for "narrow" lenses.

The Kessils I'm looking at (you did not specify what model) have the same lumens regardless of lens configuration and you need to fill the same space on your tank with either one, so I think a change of lens only corresponds to a difference in mounting height, not in a change of lumens/m2. (L/m2 = lux)

The only way lux goes up is if you compromise coverage - projecting the same light into a smaller space - but then you wind up with dark in the front and back of the tank even if you used 8 fixtures. Silly example, but does it make sense? I'm not even positive you need more lux, though...

Let's think about this some more! One request:

Can you get a lux meter ($free app; $15 handheld unit) and find out the lux and coverage-area of your existing lights as they are currently set up?

To start with, get the free lux meter app for your smartphone because A) it's free and B) you can use it to measure your current lights now. Fun! A $15 handheld is a smart buy - so I would also get one of those - but you have to wait for it.

As long as the Kessils you have can illuminate around 24" of your tank (front to back and side to side) with between 20,000-80,000 lux, it should work fine on a slightly deeper tank.

Consider that even stony corals have a compensation point of around 1,000-5,000 lux (~20-100 PAR; where they can meet the basic needs of metabolism) and can grow well at only 10,000-20,000 lux. 20k-80k lux seems to be a sweet spot. Above that and corals can have issues or side-effects in dealing with excessive photosynthesis and its byproducts. Moderate-to-low lighting seems best for most stony corals - even SPS...if we're generalizing. (Get that meter! )

 

[Kehaulani]

If you're happy with what you have (as you say) then I'm a big proponent of staying with what works.

Though I wonder about the "six" and the need for "narrow" lenses.

The Kessils I'm looking at (you did not specify what model) have the same lumens regardless of lens configuration and you need to fill the same space on your tank with either one, so I think a change of lens only corresponds to a difference in mounting height, not in a change of lumens/m2. (L/m2 = lux)

The only way lux goes up is if you compromise coverage, but then you wind up with dark in the front and back of the tank even if you used 8 fixtures. Make sense? I'm not even positive you need more lux, though...

Let's think about this some more! One request:

Can you get a lux meter ($free app; $15 handheld unit) and find out the lux and coverage-area of your existing lights as they are currently set up?

To start with, get the free lux meter app for your smartphone because A) it's free and B) you can use it to measure your current lights now. Fun! A $15 handheld is a smart buy - so I would also get one of those - but you have to wait for it.

As long as the Kessils you have can illuminate around 24" of your tank (front to back and side to side) with between 20,000-80,000 lux, it should work fine on a slightly deeper tank.

Consider that even stony corals have a compensation point of around 1,000-5,000 lux (~20-100 PAR; where they can meet the basic needs of metabolism) and can grow well at only 10,000-20,000 lux. 20k-80k lux seems to be a sweet spot. Above that and corals can have issues or side-effects in dealing with excessive photosynthesis and its byproducts. Moderate-to-low lighting seems best for most stony corals - even SPS...if we're generalizing. (Get that meter! )

Thanks for the help. I have two of the Kessel a360 we on my 75. The cover a 24 in span so there is a lot of light on my 75. However the owner from the store I'd be buying the 210 from said I'd need the a360 narrows which cover only an 18in span. He said they would be a better fit but being that I need at least 6 of them, I wanted to know if I should go with something different. I'd only need 3 hydras if I went that route or one reefbreeder photon 48. So that's kind of where I'm at. Do I buy one light, 3 lights, or 6 lights? Lol. You know, what I mean?

 

[mcarroll]

Is all that info on hydras kessils and reefbreeders from the same dealer? Sounds inconsistent so I'm guessing not.

Do you think you can do the lux meter request for me since it's $0.00 - free? Since you already have these lights on your current tank, the meter will give us (mostly you!) enough answers to go on.

 

[Kehaulani]

OK yeah I'll do it when I get home.

 

[mcarroll]

Sweet!

By the way....HawaiianGirl in N. Dakota? You have a thing for opposites?

I'll be signing off for the night here shortly, but I'll be back tomorrow!

 

[FL_Reefer]

I ran MH on my 220 with reefbrights for actinic. Just an idea, what about buying one more kessil and adding some T-5's? You will still get the shimmer of the LED and T-5 for fill in with still getting great growth.