Mixing new kessil with old kessil

[Paleozoic_reefer]

Hi fellow reefers,

So I upgraded to a reefer 350 from my old 60 cube about 4 months ago and I’m going through a small stage of “The Uglies”. In doing my upgrade I needed a second A160WE to go with my old one. Now I’ve begun to notice that the side of the tank with the new one is growing algae on the floor while the other side with the old kessil is not. I have both kessil on a kessil controller so they should both be at the same color and intensity. Corals are doing fine but would like to have the algae under control on my bare bottom (or at least even on both sides!).
Any suggestions???

 

[KJ]

@Crabs Mcjones

 

[pelphrey]

Very interesting! I’m uaing three 160’s all bought far apart from one another and not experienced that. They are all running the same program!

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

The kessils are about 3 years apart...for what it’s worth here is my light schedule on the kessil controller...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Can you post a picture of the sticker on each light

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

 

[andrewkw]

One is probably a 160 and one a 160we. FYI I use 3 kessils and they are a different models and ages but no issues.

Edit I guess I was wrong I see you posted a picture while I was typing this reply.

 

[Crabs McJones]

They're both WE which is the newest model. Do you notice a color difference between the two when they're at the same intensity and same color percentage? Only other thing I can think of is maybe one side of the tank gets more flow than the other.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Following, 3 Kessil A160WE of different age here and I see no difference in them.

View attachment 20180826_140822.jpg

 

[Crabs McJones]

Following, 3 Kessil A160WE of different age here and I see no difference in them.

View attachment 20180826_140822.jpg

Looking really good @Robin Haselden

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Looking really good @Robin Haselden

Thanks @Crabs Mcjones

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@Crabs Mcjones ...I do notice a difference with the new one having more intense blue (I’ll have to take a pic this evening and post it) at night. I also thought about flow but I dont see a difference in the my pump set up so that’s why I’m thinking it’s the lights...

 

[SashimiTurtle]

@Crabs Mcjones ...I do notice a difference with the new one having more intense blue (I’ll have to take a pic this evening and post it) at night. I also thought about flow but I dont see a difference in the my pump set up so that’s why I’m thinking it’s the lights...

Make sure the 3.5mm cables are pushed all the way in and clean. This can have an effect on color and intensity if the connection is poor.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Make sure the 3.5mm cables are pushed all the way in and clean. This can have an effect on color and intensity if the connection is poor.

+1 even a little play in the connection can cause intensity and color issues

 

[Kyl]

I have three, two being a year older than the latest. No visual difference in spectrum between them.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@Robin Haselden and @Crabs Mcjones I checked the wires early on and even swapped them to see if it was maybe the wires but still same difference in light...here is the difference I was referring to (it’s a bit hard to see but the back wall you can notice the one on the right has more intense blues than the one on the left?!)

 

[pelphrey]

I didn't see this mentioned, swap the lights and see if algae follows the light on the right side.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

So I decided to take a more biological approach to this dilemma and got myself a sea hare. Since the corals don’t seem to be affected by the light difference I figure I’ll let it go. So this guy (a good 4+ inches, I’m thinking of calling him Godzilla) should help out in the meantime while I get my tank stabilized...

 

[Crabs McJones]

I didn't see this mentioned, swap the lights and see if algae follows the light on the right side.

+1 that's actually a really good idea. See if the algae problem follows the light

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]