recommended kessils for my tank?

[jjvanb]

Hi!

I am looking to switch from my long time (15+ yrs) light set up of 2 x 250 HQI MH and T5 to kessils, and curious as to what the recommendations would be?

My tank is mixed reef 52 x 26 x 26- 150 gal, It has a 9 inch center brace made of 1/2 inch thick glass, which will make a center mount bulb difficult.

I love the color and shimmer of the phoenix 14k bulbs that I currently run, but the ballasts and bulbs for both the MH and T5 are long in the tooth and frankly I am tired of pulling down the fixture and taking it apart to change bulbs. I am a little concerned how my corals will react to the change in lighting, I've never used a par meter, so I don't know if I would be going up or down in intensity. My initial thought is start lower than I think I need and raise it slowly.

I was considering either 4 x a360x on the A series arm mounts or 2x AP9X fixtures. Please share your thoughts and opinions.

Many Thanks

 

[Benpastw]

I don’t hunk you could go wrong with two ap9x. Kessil lights are all I’ll use on my tanks, and I love my ap700s, the oldest one has been used non stop for 5 years and never skipped a beat, if you can locate used AP700s they’re solid lights and you might save some money, happy reefing!

 

[RobB'z Reef]

If you're used to growing coral under MH and go to kessils, prepare to be underwhelmed. I recommend anything but kessils or if you want them supplement them with other lights as well.

 

[Kershaw]

Look at this picture of kessils not growing anything.

I have two a360x and ap9x for my 60x28 tank but it’s not up and running yet. But I love kessils.

FYI this is not my tank in picture.

 

[Amado]

On that size tank I would do two Kessil A500x
4 x A360x is too many cords.
if you want two ap9x that would work as well.

Kessil lights will grow all corals.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I don't know if kessils grow corals. My tank used kessils and must've grown all my acro colonies on prayers...

 

[HB AL]

I took down all my tanks in July and replaced my 90g in my bedroom with a 180g, ended up with 4 360we's, and 4 360x's, so I just put them all on. The mixing of all the lights make for some great viewing.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I took down all my tanks in July and replaced my 90g in my bedroom with a 180g, ended up with 4 360we's, and 4 360x's, so I just put them all on. The mixing of all the lights make for some great viewing.

Doesn't look like corals grow under them. Must be growing from all the praying?

 

[Spare time]

Look at this picture of kessils not growing anything.

I have two a360x and ap9x for my 60x28 tank but it’s not up and running yet. But I love kessils.

FYI this is not my tank in picture.

Lol

When I saw the title I was like boy here come the metal halide supremacists. I honestly find it hilarious how feisty some people get over MH. Its a light bulb.

 

[HB AL]

Ya here's the 90g a while back. The Kessils definitely don't grow coral.

 

[HB AL]

I'm just glad I can keep it in my bedroom now without the heat from the MH causing the need of a chiller which wouldn't work in my bedroom.

 

[Kershaw]

Hi!

I am looking to switch from my long time (15+ yrs) light set up of 2 x 250 HQI MH and T5 to kessils, and curious as to what the recommendations would be?

My tank is mixed reef 52 x 26 x 26- 150 gal, It has a 9 inch center brace made of 1/2 inch thick glass, which will make a center mount bulb difficult.

I love the color and shimmer of the phoenix 14k bulbs that I currently run, but the ballasts and bulbs for both the MH and T5 are long in the tooth and frankly I am tired of pulling down the fixture and taking it apart to change bulbs. I am a little concerned how my corals will react to the change in lighting, I've never used a par meter, so I don't know if I would be going up or down in intensity. My initial thought is start lower than I think I need and raise it slowly.

I was considering either 4 x a360x on the A series arm mounts or 2x AP9X fixtures. Please share your thoughts and opinions.

Many Thanks

You could do two ap9x or a combination of a360x and ap9x. The ap9x can also control the 360x. Some one else said 3 360x is probably enough and you can always add another later if you think you need it.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

I did 4 360x on my 90. Worked great

 

[jjvanb]

Thanks for the input all. So aside from the ability to move the lights independently, is there any difference between 2x apx9 vs 4x a360x ??

 

[|Tom the Bomb|]

Thanks for the input all. So aside from the ability to move the lights independently, is there any difference between 2x apx9 vs 4x a360x ??

not really an ap9x is literally 2 a360x in one fixture essentially,

I would actually go with x2 a500x, since each side/half of the brace is quite literally a square isnt it? 26x26x26.

AP9X is generally better at lighting rectangular areas, not that its bad at lighting square areas but you may have more light spillage or less even coverage.

An A500X is basically twice the power of a 360X under a single puck

 

[Duffybubbleboy]

If you're used to growing coral under MH and go to kessils, prepare to be underwhelmed. I recommend anything but kessils or if you want them supplement them with other lights as well.

Totally agree on going from MH to Kessil was disappointing.

 

[dwest]

I made the same decision about 10 years ago. After multiple “trials”, I ended up with six a360we’s in an aquaticlife T5 hybrid. My tank is a 6 ft long standard 180. My lights are mounted inside my canopy. I am happy with my decision. Since you have the center brace situation, I would do 4 360x’s inside a T5 hybrid.

There are many options and many opinions. Good luck!