New Kessil AP9X prototype

William Robinson · Mar 11, 2020

Wonder how much the AP700 will drop down? I've been wanting one of those lol

magikfly · Mar 11, 2020

That's one ugly fixture.

Tobe71 · Mar 12, 2020

CODE3EMT said:
For my Red Sea Reefer 450, the light has served me ok, the app however is terrible. I've talked to Kessil in the past and they said they were working on it and firmware updates were soon to come, but there has not been any in a while. I'm a MAC user, and Kessil only speaks to Windows as far as firmware updates. Other peeps have had different issues, but for me the app could use some TLC. I'm on the fence about replacing the Kessil with Scotch Radions..........but from what I hear the grass isn't greener over there either. I just wish Kessil would offer more product support on their older line of LED's instead of pumping out replacements.

I think they purposely dumb down the app as they don’t want people messing with their secret sauce, aka “Kessil Logic” which I never understood as how can you crank up the blues and not effect the “spectrum”. But ultimately the proof has been in the pudding for me. I’ve had really great success with the AP700s for several years now. And I love the form factor.
Has it been 4 or 5 years since they came out? To me that seems like a good length of time between versions. I know they just came out with the 360x, but that’s an upgrade to the 360WE, and I never used those so cant really comment.
When I tried Radions years ago the app was horrible and then the AP700s came out and the rest is history.
PS wanna buy 5 AP700s?

ca1ore · Mar 12, 2020

Few thoughts .....

1. Cannot please all of the people all of the time LOL.
2. Agree that’s one ugly light.
3. Where did folks read that the 9 is apex controllabLe? Might actually be a smart move for kessil, though somewhat unexpected. I always have disliked the Kessil controllers. I bought two 360x to replace failed 360we and was irritated to find they were not apex compatible (see point #1).

Aardvark1134 · Mar 13, 2020

Well honestly I get irritated with all the stuff that needs apex or costs more because they had to put apex controls on it. I don't have an apex and probably would not fully trust it if you gave it to me. You need to understand there are people with an apex who want everything apex...there are people who want one and don't have one...and people who do not want one. Why would I want to take a light that has full intergration to wifi apps and instead hook it to a 3rd party apex that wouldn't support all the features...and adds an extra very real point of failure.

ThatTennesseeBeardedGuy · Mar 13, 2020

d3vhound said:
Hopefully it doesn’t cost $1000+...

It is $839 same price as the radion g5

ca1ore · Mar 13, 2020

Aardvark1134 said:
Why would I want to take a light that has full intergration to wifi apps and instead hook it to a 3rd party apex that wouldn't support all the features...and adds an extra very real point of failure.

I never bought the 700, but from reading all the grousing about the lousy control interface ..... I guess that’d be one reason.

Tobe71 · Mar 13, 2020

jlts21 said:
$800+ for essentially an AP700 with Apex control-ability... I'll pass. My 700s will work fine until I decide to upgrade to orpheks

My understanding is that there are a vast array of improvements over the AP700 beyond aesthetics and connectivity from talking with them at MACNA. But I'd be replacing 5 units, so I'll def be asking the tough questions at RAP Orlando (if it's not cancelled).

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 18, 2020

I just signed up for the virtual preview session. I'm really torn, however. I used six A360WEs for almost four years and loved the look but really struggled with shading (even with 160W of T5HO supplemental lighting). Switched to three black box lights and the coral growth and coloration has never been better, and coverage is much improved even without T5 supplementation.

They're going to have to work very hard to sell me on these new lights as I fail to see how they will rectify the shading, not to mention the spectral wavelengths they must be deficient in considering the phenomenal coloration I'm getting out of the black box lights.

glweek · Jun 20, 2020

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Switched to three black box lights and the coral growth and coloration has never been better, and coverage is much improved even without T5 supplementation.

Which boxes did you go with?

User1 · Jun 20, 2020

Aardvark1134 said:
Well honestly I get irritated with all the stuff that needs apex or costs more because they had to put apex controls on it. I don't have an apex and probably would not fully trust it if you gave it to me. You need to understand there are people with an apex who want everything apex...there are people who want one and don't have one...and people who do not want one. Why would I want to take a light that has full intergration to wifi apps and instead hook it to a 3rd party apex that wouldn't support all the features...and adds an extra very real point of failure.

Any idea idea how cheaper it is to not add additional hardware or software into a design? I'll save you the time, a lot. Especially if there are other products out that there that can do it and do it better. The problem is each manufacture wants their own dongle, app, or other layer to keep you in "their" ecosystem. Having a simple 0-10v or PWM module that either of the primary controllers in our space could use seems like a no brainer to me. Heck even Pi and Arduino based systems could talk to that.

RnD isn't cheap. Specifically if you want something user friendly. Kessil has some nice products. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the Coral Care / Philips.

Perthegallon · Jun 20, 2020

The app sucked on the AP700 and the whole thing worked crappy why would I purchase agin

Perthegallon · Jun 20, 2020

Aardvark1134 said:
Well honestly I get irritated with all the stuff that needs apex or costs more because they had to put apex controls on it. I don't have an apex and probably would not fully trust it if you gave it to me. You need to understand there are people with an apex who want everything apex...there are people who want one and don't have one...and people who do not want one. Why would I want to take a light that has full intergration to wifi apps and instead hook it to a 3rd party apex that wouldn't support all the features...and adds an extra very real point of failure.

I have apex and it’s trash half the stuff doesn’t work as good as it should for the price

User1 · Jun 20, 2020

Perthegallon said:
I have apex and it’s trash half the stuff doesn’t work as good as it should for the price

I have an apex and it works great. Been an Neptune user since about 1999 back when they had X10 relay modules.

Perthegallon · Jun 20, 2020

saf1 said:
I have an apex and it works great. Been an Neptune user since about 1999 back when they had X10 relay modules.

I haven’t had the best experience the apex unit works great but the probs are not good in my experience and it’s sucks because they are so expensive

AllSignsPointToFish · Jun 20, 2020

glweek said:
Which boxes did you go with?

I was quite indecisive, so I chose a low cost option in the event I changed my mind. I got the Philzon boxes off of Amazon. They don't have the controls, but, boy, do they grow some corals!

Rudefish · Jun 21, 2020

Does anyone know if you will need to do the hybrid setup of T5's with the AP9X or will they be able to stand by themselves so no hybrid necessary?

Nick's Tank · Aug 31, 2020

Rudefish said:
Does anyone know if you will need to do the hybrid setup of T5's with the AP9X or will they be able to stand by themselves so no hybrid necessary?

Depends on what you want, but from what BRS says from their test. You can grow SPS off this light for sure. I have one running on my Red Sea Reefer 200 xl. Love the look so far, but can’t comment on coral yet since this is a new tank.