Shimmer on Kessil vs Radion

[rbrtio]

Hello everyone!

I am in the process of setting up a new tank, an IM Lagoon 25 (24" wide x 12" high, x 20" deep) , and I am trying to decide on lighting. I am planning to keep LPS primarily with a few soft and SPS.

I am comparing the XR15W G4 Pro vs the A360W-E.

In my research I have seen indications of "disco ball" on the Radions and "annoying shimmer" on the Kessil units. It is difficult to decipher what generations of Radions this is referencing though.

I am looking for feedback on both of the reported "issues" as I don't have the opportunity to see these in person before ordering.

Your feedback would be appreciated!

 

[RyanCSGO]

I cant speak on the radions, but the shimmer on the Kessil is very heavy.
personally i liked it (had it on a tank i had to take down) also had 0 issues with it, all corals thrived under it.

 

[rbrtio]

@RyanCSGO the heavy shimmer is what I expect people are referencing.

Did you find it distracting when viewing the tank?

 

[jwshiver]

I use to run Radions. To me the shimmer had more of the "disco ball" look .

 

[RyanCSGO]

@RyanCSGO the heavy shimmer is what I expect people are referencing.

Did you find it distracting when viewing the tank?

I did not. but each persons taste is different. i enjoyed it quite a bit but I've heard plenty of people state how much they dislike it.
best bet would be try and find a high quality video on youtube. i tried to upload one from my phone but it comes out very blurry so it doesn't clearly show how much shimmer there is.

 

[rbrtio]

I use to run Radions. To me the shimmer had more of the "disco ball" look .

What version of the Radions did you run? The G4s have a new lens which claims to even things out more and increase spread.

 

[jwshiver]

What version of the Radions did you run? The G4s have a new lens which claims to even things out more and increase spread.

Gen3s with the wide angle lens.

 

[rbrtio]

I did not. but each persons taste is different. i enjoyed it quite a bit but I've heard plenty of people state how much they dislike it.
best bet would be try and find a high quality video on youtube. i tried to upload one from my phone but it comes out very blurry so it doesn't clearly show how much shimmer there is.

I will see what I can find...

Gen3s with the wide angle lens.

Thanks for the reply, I hope Jacksonville is treating you well, I grew up there, well got older there at least, I'm not sure I will ever grow up.

 

[A13X]

I own both types. My main display is lit by radions.
My sons tank has a kessil.
In my experience, and this is with frags from the colony that was in my display. LPS do better under kessils. Always more plumped and more polyp extension than under my radions. I don't mind the shimmer, but did not like that you basically only have two colors to choose from.
Also the radions have more light spread and more intensity.

 

[rbrtio]

I own both types. My main display is lit by radions.
My sons tank has a kessil.
In my experience, and this is with frags from the colony that was in my display. LPS do better under kessils. Always more plumped and more polyp extension than under my radions. I don't mind the shimmer, but did not like that you basically only have two colors to choose from.
Also the radions have more light spread and more intensity.

That is great information, thank you. You didn't include the composition of each tank so I wonder if your are running a higher light intensity in the display tank to support SPS in addition to the LPS inhabitants which may cause the "shyness" of the LPS in your display tank?

 

[A13X]

That is great information, thank you. You didn't include the composition of each tank so I wonder if your are running a higher light intensity in the display tank to support SPS in addition to the LPS inhabitants which may cause the "shyness" of the LPS in your display tank?

Yes you're right. My radions do ramp up to 85% during the day. I have a mixed reef dominated by SPS. And notice that some LPS are a lighter shade of color than the ones under kessil. But I do ramp up the kessil for 6hrs at 100%. And the LPS don't seem to mind. And I keep my kessil right above the water at 5 to 6 inches. I haven't took any PAR readings, but I do feel like kessils put out just enough light for LPS.
But a lot of things can play a part. Now I know the nutrients in the small tank are higher because all I run is a protein skimmer and 2 part. And water changes happen only once a month.
Personally I would go with a radion if shimmer is an issue. Plus you get to fine tune the color it puts out.

Here's a picture of the small tank.
You can see it has a green cyano problem. But i know it's due to high nutrients in the system.

 

[rbrtio]

@A13X Thank you very much again for the information.

I admit that not being able to see the options in person is problematic, but I will do the best assessment I can from YT videos and for from there.

I expect the fact that the Radion gives more control, I like the looks of the Radion mount better, and that I will likely purchase a Reeflink to control the MP10 will guide me down that path.

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

I originally bought Kessils but have since switched over to Radions. The shimmer effect is no joke, I personally hated it. It was way too intense. I have the G3 pro's on one tank and G4's on another. The disco ball effect is more prevalent on the G3's and I haven't noticed it on the G4's . I'm a big fan of the level of control on the Radions as well.

 

[Mnk9569]

I am running 2 ap700s and changed the diffuser it made a difference on the shimmer but I like it so

 

[rbrtio]

I originally bought Kessils but have since switched over to Radions. The shimmer effect is no joke, I personally hated it. It was way too intense. I have the G3 pro's on one tank and G4's on another. The disco ball effect is more prevalent on the G3's and I haven't noticed it on the G4's . I'm a big fan of the level of control on the Radions as well.

Thank you for confirmation ofthe G4 lenses minimizing the disco ball as compared to the previous generations.

I have to admit that when watching Youtube videos I find the disco ball effect very distracting.

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

I found the shimmering on the kessils way more distracting that I thought I would.

 

[RyanCSGO]

definitely a unique look catered to a specific taste. (the kessil)

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

definitely a unique look catered to a specific taste. (the kessil)

Agreed, I had some people who loved how it looked on my tank and others hated it. I still think they are high quality lights, just not my thing.

 

[RyanCSGO]

Agreed, I had some people who loved how it looked on my tank and others hated it. I still think they are high quality lights, just not my thing.

Exactly. I would use them again on a smaller tank, but will not when I do a 150G+ tank

 

[GoVols]

I love the Kessil shimmer and you can control it by changing your surface agitation.