Need help with setting my kessel a160we lights using the spectral controller.

[Joshua Agostoni]

So I just bought two kessel a160we lights with a spectral controller. I currently have a fish with live rock tank no corals but I do have a sea pen and an anemone.

So right now I dont have coral and want to set up the tank with a proper lighting color and intensity schedule that will not promote algea growth. I have it currently set to 20 color and 20 intensity both lights. I wondering if anyone has any good suggestions on what I should make it for this situation.

My other question is I want to start getting soft corals and maybe some Lps or sps corals so I'm also looking for a schedule of color and intensity for that situation.

My problem is I've never had lights that are this good and I am hoping someone who has these lights and has had success growing corals can give me there settings to start from and I can adjust from there.

 

[ReefNoobie88]

Tank info?

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

Tank info?

55 gallon display, 24 inch deep by 12 Inches wide by 48 inches long.

 

[tdileo]

What kind of anemone and how long have you had it? Anemones are more difficult to care for than most corals and you should’ve had the light long before the anemone.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

What kind of anemone and how long have you had it? Anemones are more difficult to care for than most corals and you should’ve had the light long before the anemone.

It's a long tip I've had it for about 3 maybe 4 months now and its thriving off my other light I had just isn't as colorful as it could be not worried about its health it's a great eater and is very large. Just wanna have its color come back if I can.

And get my color and intensity right for future corals

 

[ReefNoobie88]

Best thing I can tell you; set the color and intensity you want to run and acclimate everything to it. I have peak 10% color and 40% intensity, 12hr photo period. From 9-9

 

[SashimiTurtle]

With 2 A160s over a standard 55g...

I would go with whatever color you like(35% is my favorite) but try and stay a little more blue than white, and 100% intensity for at least 6 hours. You can ramp up and down if you would like more viewing hours.

I have 4 T5 and 3 A160s over my tank and the T5 and Kessils are on/100% for 6 hours and the Kessils have a 3 hour ramp on either side of peak lighting.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

With 2 A160s over a standard 55g...

I would go with whatever color you like(35% is my favorite) but try and stay a little more blue than white, and 100% intensity for at least 6 hours. You can ramp up and down if you would like more viewing hours.

I have 4 T5 and 3 A160s over my tank and the T5 and Kessils are on/100% for 6 hours and the Kessils have a 3 hour ramp on either side of peak lighting.

I dont understand this.. with the spectral controller and the 160s the intensity is white light so I dont get this lol

 

[ReefNoobie88]

Color is what dictates how much blue or white, even with the controller. The intensity is how much light is out out by them. Just a FYI. Six set points total. 9-12 tank from 5% color/intensity to peak at 40%intensity with 10% color.
12-6 stays at 10%color/40%intensity
6-9 Ramps down from 40%intensity to 5% intensity with 10% color to 5% color. That’s my schedule, but I’ve got them over a 25Lagoon

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

Color is what dictates how much blue or white, even with the controller. The intensity is how much light is out out by them. Just a FYI. Six set points total. 9-12 tank from 5% color/intensity to peak at 40%intensity with 10% color.
12-6 stays at 10%color/40%intensity
6-9 Ramps down from 40%intensity to 5% intensity with 10% color to 5% color. That’s my schedule, but I’ve got them over a 25Lagoon

How deep is your lagoon mine is only 24 inches deep. This stuff is tricky.

 

[ReefNoobie88]

12” lol, so you can double the intensity. Just keep in mind they’re pretty powerful lights. I’ve got the ap700 over my 90g 36x24x24 and it only maxes out at 20%. It’s crazy powerful, plus I’m a kessil junkie for sure.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

12” lol, so you can double the intensity. Just keep in mind they’re pretty powerful lights. I’ve got the ap700 over my 90g 36x24x24 and it only maxes out at 20%. It’s crazy powerful, plus I’m a kessil junkie for sure.

Mind dropping some pics of ur corals. I'm gonna start out with softies myself to figure this out but I'd love to see how ur corals are doi g with the 160s

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I dont understand this.. with the spectral controller and the 160s the intensity is white light so I dont get this lol

Color and intensity are controlled separately. You have a channel for each on the Spectral Controller. 0% color is all blue, 100% color is all white.

 

[ReefNoobie88]

Mind dropping some pics of ur corals. I'm gonna start out with softies myself to figure this out but I'd love to see how ur corals are doi g with the 160s

I’m running mostly LPS with a couple SPS in this tank. The blues wash out my camera phone unfortunately, but my acans are huge, happy and love the tank. I’m working on getting this stable, but I’m having some nutrient issues. It’s still a newer tank too.

 

[Midrats]

I like around 60% color, and even that's a little too blue for me. Kessil recommends that you peak at at least 55% color for best results. Lots of people run less color with good results. Just find a color you like and leave it alone.

 

[PDR]

I like around 60% color, and even that's a little too blue for me. Kessil recommends that you peak at at least 55% color for best results. Lots of people run less color with good results. Just find a color you like and leave it alone.

I have been in contact with Kessil quite a bit recently and have never heard you should peak at 55% color for best results. Was this something Kessil told you or something they have published?

 

[Midrats]

It was over the phone when I had some questions about the acclimation mode (which nobody can seem to explain to me, even Kessil) and the subject of color came up. She said that one should get up to at least 55% for part of the photoperiod for best results. This advice makes sense to me since most of the heavy hitters in the hobby, and the lighting field in particular, prefer more full spectrum lighting. Their tank results seem to support that preference.

 

[PDR]

It was over the phone when I had some questions about the acclimation mode (which nobody can seem to explain to me, even Kessil) and the subject of color came up. She said that one should get up to at least 55% for part of the photoperiod for best results. This advice makes sense to me since most of the heavy hitters in the hobby, and the lighting field in particular, prefer more full spectrum lighting. Their tank results seem to support that preference.

That's interesting because the whole selling point of Kessil Logic is that "you can set the color to whatever you want and it won't affect coral growth or color" (exact quote from an email they sent me). But this is the recommended schedule they sent me.

Time Color Intensity
8:00 0% 10%
10:00 10% 25%
12:00 30% 45%
14:00 55% 45%
16:00 30% 30%
18:00 0% 0%

They have it peaking at 55% color. Seems like what they told you and what they recommend seems to contradict Kessil "Logic".

 

[Midrats]

I think the logic keeps people from using spectrums that are way out of whack. Zero color will still support life, it just may not be optimal. Somewhere in the middle is ideal for best results.

 

[Midrats]

Here's mine:

1200 0/5
1400 45/35
1600 60/50
1800 60/50
2000 45/35
2200 0/0