Selecting a nano light for coloration

[Patrick.S]

I’m considering changing out the lighting on my Nuvo 10 nano reef. My tank is lps and zoa dominant so I don’t need a par beast, but I’m not crazy about the coloration of my corals and I think spectrum could be an issue. Budget wise I am looking at a kessil a160 or an ai prime. Which one of those do you think would produce the most colorful corals all things being equal? Is there another player that I’m not considering? I don’t have the budget for radions so xr15s are off the table. Thanks for your advice.

PS I currently have the aquamaxx Nemolight which has produced healthy corals and okay growth but I wish my colors were better.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Budget wise i'd go for the Ai Prime. As much as I love kessil, in order to control it you'd have to buy the light and a controller. The AI Prime comes WIFI controllable right out of the box with any android or apple device. I say prime hd

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Budget wise i'd go for the Ai Prime. As much as I love kessil, in order to control it you'd have to buy the light and a controller. The AI Prime comes WIFI controllable right out of the box with any android or apple device. I say prime hd

+1 for AI Prime HD, great threshold of price and quality.

 

[Patrick.S]

So two votes for the prime. I’m surprised. I thought if par wasn’t the highest point then kessil would win from the spectrum blending. Will be interested to see what other opinions arise.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you like the look of the kessil go with that. It grows coral and they are colorful.

The prime you can customize more.

IMO , try not to also limit the spectrum you use as you customize it as most folks do.

 

[Crabs McJones]

So two votes for the prime. I’m surprised. I thought if par wasn’t the highest point then kessil would win from the spectrum blending. Will be interested to see what other opinions arise.

I was recommending the prime from more of a budget view point. I would definitely recommend the kessil for the shimmer and color blending. The AI Prime can be gotten for 199 and is controllable right out of the box, the A160 runs 239, plus if you want to control it you need either the spectral controller for another 99 bucks or an aquarium controller such as the apex.

 

[Patrick.S]

If you like the look of the kessil go with that. It grows coral and they are colorful.

The prime you can customize more.

IMO , try not to also limit the spectrum you use as you customize it as most folks do.

I actually don’t have much of a preference yet. I just was going by what I’ve heard other people say. When you refer to spectrum limits are you talking about things like the AB+?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I actually don’t have much of a preference yet. I just was going by what I’ve heard other people say. When you refer to spectrum limits are you talking about things like the AB+?

There’s a lot of folks who pull all warm colors and rely on the only blue thing the fluoresce for color rather than reflect the true color plus the fluorescent colors.
Usually wind up addin like t5 and such that adds warms rather than adjusting the led.
The led at all even 1:1;1 ratios gows corals just fine. A lot of the rest for the eyes , but that’s kind of the point imo.

 

[Nebnano]

How about the kessil a80? I have one over my 7.5 gallon zoa dominated tank and things have been growing and looking awesome at only 60% intensity. Awesome light for about 130 even without the controler.

 

[Patrick.S]

How about the kessil a80? I have one over my 7.5 gallon zoa dominated tank and things have been growing and looking awesome at only 60% intensity. Awesome light for about 130 even without the controler.

My hesitation with the a80 is that my current light is 18w and the a80 is 15. I’m not sure I want to lose the oomph I currently have

 

[Nebnano]

My hesitation with the a80 is that my current light is 18w and the a80 is 15. I’m not sure I want to lose the oomph I currently have

I definitely understand that and honestly have no experience with the light you have. In my situation I went from a 14 watt coral compulsion par 30 to the a80 and the a80 looks so much better and gives the corals way better coloration and growth using less watts running at 60%. I also have a a160 running over my 12.5 gallon lps tank and love it too. It runs at a max 45%. I like the fact that they dont need wifi to run.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Choose a light that is capable of producing some UV (390nm is fine) and violet/blue light if coloration is your goal. This will work in *most* cases.

 

[jeffthomas]

+1 on the Prime HD. Great little lights that won't break the bank. Shimmer on the Kessil is more "natural" looking, but the Prime HD lens does a pretty nice job of blending for a puck LED IMO. Love mine!

 

[Patrick.S]

Leaning towards the prime hd. Would let me boost the uv if wanted.

 

[rossco]

I have had both lights over my 12 gallon aqua pod and like the prime HD better. It is more tunable, it’s controllable via WiFi out of the box, and honestly i like the colors better.

I am keeping BTA anemones, branching euphyllia, zoas and mushrooms in that tank and all are thriving.