Shimmer on Kessil vs Radion

[djrice69]

Anyone try sbars supplemnt with kessils?

 

[Rakie]

Rakie,
Thanks for your very detailed response!

You always cut to the chase with great incite.

FYI... I tried 2 of those E5 "Blue Pops". Total garbage!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally opened one up and it was just those very thin led strips that you can buy at Home Depot in like 50' lengths.
Took my BTA a month to come back out after they freaked it out.

Regards, Freddie

Haha, incite, not insight huh? Probably a typo or auto correct, but I wouldn't argue with that regardless -- Time is precious. I save the flowery language meant to illicit superfluous positivity for my english papers. Here, I prefer it cut and dry. If it's good, and has had positive results for me -- I have no qualms talking about it. And vice versa.

Overall, the RB didn't do what I was expecting. I'd have returned it but I will give it a lil more time to see if other positive results begin showing up. Honestly, I think if the RB were twice the size (like two next to each other) with the same number of diodes, switched up to offer a preset 20k spectrum, it would be much better.

Like I said, using my Radion with Royal Blue, Blue, White, Green, and Red, to create a full 20k spectrum gave me much better pop and colors.

 

[rbrtio]

The saga continues...

I have managed to try both a Radion XR15 G4 and a Kessil A160. Quite honestly I'm not thrilled with either.

The Radion is a definite no go for me as the color separation is way too obvious to my eyes and seems to cause me eye strain. I am also sensitive to DLP projection devices so I suspect that there must be something in common between them, more specifically in the way I perceive the light from them.

The Kessil doesn't have the separation issues, but the shimmer is too much. I am going to experiment with water flow to attempt to settle that down.

I am not eager to deal with the heat issues related to MH as I am only dealing with 16G of water volume here.

T5s are becoming more and more attractive.....

 

[rbrtio]

So after all the LED trials I ended up with a 4 bulb ATI T5 fixture and I am happy with the light output, color, and even spread.

Currently running 2 x Blue +, 1 x Coral +, and 1 x Purple +.

 

[mpsteve]

I have radion g2 pro on my Frag tank. Three of them to be exact. And I have two gen 4 pros on my display. I will tell you that the gen4 pro produce way more light and the disco ball effect is gone on my 24" high tank. I had the gen 2 pros on my display before and the discoball effect was there

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I am using Radion Gen 4's and I'm very happy. I have also used ATI T5 which I loved as well. I went to the Radions after I needed less heat and weight for my current tank application. I still have ATI running on my frag tank.

 

[rbrtio]

I am using Radion Gen 4's and I'm very happy. I have also used ATI T5 which I loved as well. I went to the Radions after I needed less heat and weight for my current tank application. I still have ATI running on my frag tank.

I liked the color and light output of the Radion, but I found the disco ball distracting. This was on a G4 XR15, I hear that the XR30 does much better at this.

 

[ricky5415]

I run RB photons on my 300DD with 6 additional kessil 160/150we and I love how the shimmery look from the kessil. It also help to get the light spread to the side of the tank/shadow from the Photons. I triee the radions for a little while too, but I just loved how easier the RB photons work, especially when I got company and would like to show off my piece of ocean. My LPS look so much better under the deep blue light

 

[BlennyKravitz]

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

Excellent point!!!

 

[GoVols]

Lol,
Forgot about this old thread.
Good to see it's still going.

 

[seagull18]

I have used both the Radion XR15 (Gen 4) and Kessil A360 on my tank. First I have not noticed any disco ball effect on the Radion but they are new and I have them on low power. For me the shimmer on the Kessil is a little to much for my taste. At first I thought it was great but it started to bother me after awhile. In order to get a decent amount of shimmer on the Radion you definitely need surface agitation. However you can sort of control the shimmer by the amount of surface agitation.

 

[JamesP]

In the real ocean, there is shimmer much like the kessil. If youve ever been scuba diving or snorkelling you would see it. Also, the kessil limits your colors to those that are actually beneficial for the corals. So you can get more color options and less shimmer with something else, but should you really use the crazy color options. Probably not. In water, blue light has an easier time penetrating hence the blue to while color restrictions. It is what the corals get in the real ocean. I would call that a feature not a restriction to be honest.

 

[alanjeffery]

I liked the light output but the downside of Kessil is the cooling fans are not easily user replaceable. When the fans fail, and they will, your stuck with a light that has to be run at low output or it overheats. Not having user replaceable fans is a big no no for me, i use RadionXR15 pros and Hydra 52HD

 

[Richard baker]

i run 2 gen 4 pros on my 75 the shimmer imo is no more then the 150 mh pc combo i had over the tank befor i waited 4 years befor i switched because of the mixed reviews but im so glad i made the lead and more so my corals.

 

[dullyxxx]

surface agitation is very important without it things go south in your tank it is more important than the lights, it all gets down to what you like not a brand always keep in mind you have to create the best ecosystem for the tank towards the creatures you're planning for, shimmers or disco light effect are all bonuses or disadvantages that please/irritate us as reefers trust me with the numbers of tank crushes I have gone through making right choices is better T5 are a fail-safe lighting system and for decades simple to use I think you made the right choice led light are also good but if you adjust them right for the ecosystem, hybrids are out there a combination of both worlds led/HQi with T5 lots of brands dimmable or not they come with a beautiful price tags! I know I am not helping a lot but all I am saying pick a light that would be good for the tank to thrive not for looks all high-end brands are good but if used correctly. ;-)

 

[madweazl]

So after all the LED trials I ended up with a 4 bulb ATI T5 fixture and I am happy with the light output, color, and even spread.

Currently running 2 x Blue +, 1 x Coral +, and 1 x Purple +.

It is hard to go wrong with T5s. On my current tank, I started with SBReef 16" fixtures but hated the disco-ball effect (fully expected it as I've used Photons on other tanks) but I finally decided to switch over to Kessil. I fully expected to be supplementing them with T5 based on things I've read in regard to color shifts in the corals but more than six months later, everything looks fantastic. I liked the shimmer (reminds me of being in the ocean or pool) but I could see how some people wouldn't.

I think the vast majority of the issues surrounding the use of LEDs comes from users that are messing with the spectrum options. I set the color to 65% and they have been great (ramp up and down on a parabola from 10% minimum color and a max of 40% intensity over a 75g).