Supplement Kessils w/ T5, space constraint

[ntayler]

I have 3 kessil 360w on my 150 gal (72x18x29). I am thinking in the future I’d like to supplement with T5’s. Due to tank width (18”) and floating hood dimensions, I am wondering how I can fit more than a single 60” bulb behind the kessil pendants. See pics below for reference

I’d like to keep my hood, wife likes the concealment, and it also gives me a place to mount my cooling fan for the summer. The distance between lights is only 18”. Seems as though I could only fit a single bulb width mounted behind the kessils that would run the length of the hood.

Is a single bulb retro kit beneficial at all? Or should I not waste my time and effort unless I come up with a totally different, future lighting solution (aquatic life hybrid mount comes to mind if they made a 60” version).

Or any other suggestions for practically adding T5 to my existing set up? Thanks for any ideas!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I honesty think it would be easier to add more leds.

I asked a similar question to another member today.

Why are you adding t5?

No, one bulb won’t do much , about 160 par at 12in.

 

[ntayler]

I was thinking for future Sps growth and coloration as well as decrease shadowing. As well as increasing overall light since the kessils will likely become inadequate.

Thanks for your input, what Led would you suggest to supplement what I have?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

More kessils would be easy.

Also, it’s good to test or estimate the par. The high light sps is a bit of a myth. Yes some do like high light.
I have one acro that I have tonkeepmloweimg the light.

Adding led or t5 is going to change the visual colors unless you stick to Kessil.

Many of the new Light bars would actually fit the bill too. SBreeflight Sbars, reefbreeders lumen bars etc.

A few inches wide , a few inches tall

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How high above the tank is the canopy? I did have a 4 tube retrofit above my 55g with a 3in wide led strip.
Youd have to Center the leds and add fans I think.

 

[Higher Thinking]

Here are a few photos of what I did. Three Radions and 3 48" T5. The canopy is about 16"X70".

You could certainly fit more than 1 bulb in there. I fit three, but that was only because I couldn't really cutout any more of the bottom without jeopardizing the integrity of what's holding all the lights up. That's not a problem in your case. However, I'd consider venting the top out to let heat escape.

 

[Daniel Waters]

Put a 2 bulb t5 retrofit and add another Kessil A360 if you need more par. T5 mixed with kessils looks great in my opinion. The T5 will reduce your shadowing from the LEDs and makes the shimmer a bit more subdued (which I prefer).

 

[ntayler]

Canopy is 7 inches, kessils are about 8 inches off the water surface. I was thinking about adding more kessils as well, maybe a couple of the a160s. However I’d prefer something wider spread across the length.

Ideally I’d do 3 ap700’s over a shorter and wider rimless tank, but none of that’s happening atm[emoji23]

I will look into the led bars, thanks for your assistance

 

[ntayler]

Here are a few photos of what I did. Three Radions and 3 48" T5. The canopy is about 16"X70".

You could certainly fit more than 1 bulb in there. I fit three, but that was only because I couldn't really cutout any more of the bottom without jeopardizing the integrity of what's holding all the lights up. That's not a problem in your case. However, I'd consider venting the top out to let heat escape.

That looks great. Although you have the advantage of a 24” wide tank. My canopy is completely open on the top so ventilation isn’t a problem. But it is also not as wide as the tank (I like the aesthetics that way and also allows me access into the tank with tools and such). I really only have room for a single fixture behind the kessils, a dual would only me over the back half of the tank, which might not be terrible.

 

[ntayler]

Put a 2 bulb t5 retrofit and add another Kessil A360 if you need more par. T5 mixed with kessils looks great in my opinion. The T5 will reduce your shadowing from the LEDs and makes the shimmer a bit more subdued (which I prefer).

I am also limited by the top tank braces, so adding another single 360 would be tough, although I could do 3 160’s next to the 360’s. I too like the look of kessil and t5. Any idea what the narrowest (side by side) retro kit is?

 

[Higher Thinking]

That looks great. Although you have the advantage of a 24” wide tank. My canopy is completely open on the top so ventilation isn’t a problem. But it is also not as wide as the tank (I like the aesthetics that way and also allows me access into the tank with tools and such). I really only have room for a single fixture behind the kessils, a dual would only me over the back half of the tank, which might not be terrible.

Oh yeah, duh! I forgot my fixture is actually like 22 or 23 inches. Typing quicker than I was thinking. Good to hear about the ventilation. But yeah, I'm hearing what you're saying.

 

[Daniel Waters]

No, one bulb won’t do much , about 160 par at 12in.

#Saltyfilmfolks,
Where are you getting that measurement from for 160 par for one bulb? This would be much greater than my experience with T5 bulb par measurements. BRS measurements on a 4 bulb ATI fixture seemed to be well under that as well (link below). Not being argumentative...I really want to know because if my old T5 fixtures are running my bulbs that crappy, it's time for me to upgrade my fixtures!

 

[andrewkw]

You could always move the kessils back and then add one T5 in the front and one in the back.

I'm actually in a pretty similar boat. I have a 5 foot 112 gallon. I currently have 3 Kessils and one reef breeders black box between 2. This is another idea for you to add more light. Ideally I'd have at least one more black box, it's between the center and the left one and it's just barely noticeable the left is brighter than the right. I didn't buy the black box for this, I already had it so it was an easy way of adding more light. I figured if I liked it I'd get at least one more although I still haven't.

Not that any of this hasn't been covered but good options are a 4th Kessil, 2 T5's or putting something else between the Kessils like blackboxes or you also mentioned a160s. Curious to see what you decide, maybe it will help me make up my mind The biggest reason for me not adding T5's is not the narrow profile my tank shares with yours it's just I'm not sure I want to go back to having to remember to change bulbs, order them and all that.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

#Saltyfilmfolks,
Where are you getting that measurement from for 160 par for one bulb? This would be much greater than my experience with T5 bulb par measurements. BRS measurements on a 4 bulb ATI fixture seemed to be well under that as well (link below). Not being argumentative...I really want to know because if my old T5 fixtures are running my bulbs that crappy, it's time for me to upgrade my fixtures!

It’s about distance to the fixture.
At 12in most of the ati line are in the 160 par range.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You could always move the kessils back and then add one T5 in the front and one in the back.

I'm actually in a pretty similar boat. I have a 5 foot 112 gallon. I currently have 3 Kessils and one reef breeders black box between 2. This is another idea for you to add more light. Ideally I'd have at least one more black box, it's between the center and the left one and it's just barely noticeable the left is brighter than the right. I didn't buy the black box for this, I already had it so it was an easy way of adding more light. I figured if I liked it I'd get at least one more although I still haven't.

Not that any of this hasn't been covered but good options are a 4th Kessil, 2 T5's or putting something else between the Kessils like blackboxes or you also mentioned a160s. Curious to see what you decide, maybe it will help me make up my mind The biggest reason for me not adding T5's is not the narrow profile my tank shares with yours it's just I'm not sure I want to go back to having to remember to change bulbs, order them and all that.

The benifit to a well thought out t5 Led is , you can run the t5 for a very short amount (4hrs) of time and double life of the tube.
Most reefers don’t like that though. They like to see it all day. Lol.

 

[Daniel Waters]

I am also limited by the top tank braces, so adding another single 360 would be tough, although I could do 3 160’s next to the 360’s. I too like the look of kessil and t5. Any idea what the narrowest (side by side) retro kit is?

I think I see what your saying. It looks like your braces are in fixed spots where you have your A360s, so buying one more light and shifting all 4 is a no go (correct me if I'm wrong).

I'd start with one two bulb T5 retrofit and see what you think. The t5's will take care of the shadowing. Unless you need more par, you may not need more LEDs. The wide angle on the kessils gives great spread, but I have mine mounted at 13" so the par level was reduced and I had to add more units (I have 4 A360s, 2 radion xr15s, and 2, two bulb t5 fixtures on my 72" x 24" tank).

Go to BRS and look at their retrofits. I think the razors 2 bulb is 7.7". The supra slim line 2 bulb is 5.5" I believe.

Another option is to consider an LED bar, but I've never used and I can't comment if it will give the same look like a t5 will.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I think I see what your saying. It looks like your braces are in fixed spots where you have your A360s, so buying one more light and shifting all 4 is a no go (correct me if I'm wrong).

I'd start with one two bulb T5 retrofit and see what you think. The t5's will take care of the shadowing. Unless you need more par, you may not need more LEDs. The wide angle on the kessils gives great spread, but I have mine mounted at 13" so the par level was reduced and I had to add more units (I have 4 A360s, 2 radion xr15s, and 2, two bulb t5 fixtures on my 72" x 24" tank).

Go to BRS and look at their retrofits. I think the razors 2 bulb is 7.7". The supra slim line 2 bulb is 5.5" I believe.

Another option is to consider an LED bar, but I've never used and I can't comment if it will give the same look like a t5 will.

Lensed Lights won’t. It’s flat and mushy goodness.
Pulling the lenses and using diffusions is close.

I have 3bb on a 48w tank. I diffused it till it looked like the MHs I owned.

 

[djrice69]

Maybe like my setup with led sbars mixed with kessil. My tank is 30" deep that's why it's mounted so high

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Maybe like my setup with led sbars mixed with kessil. My tank is 30" deep that's why it's mounted so high

Is that the two color sbars or the just blues?

 

[Daniel Waters]

I just saw you said your canopy is only 7". In that case, you could do one T5 bulb, like the supra slim line. Or check into the LED bars and see what others say how they look.

One t5 bulb isn't going to do much for you par wise, but you might be pleasantly surprised how it looks visually. Just one t5 bulb can really help reduce the shadowing