Upgrading From Kessil 160WE

[GoatmealJones]

Im currently using 2x 160we on my 50 gallon mixed reef. The dimensions of the tank are 36 x 15 wide x 20 tall. I am using the 160's 1.5-2 inches above the water line because its the only way to get my acros to color up, despite the fact that they are at the top third of my tank. The spread does not accordingly cover the full 36' of my tank when i use these lights 2 inches off the surface. The fixtures are 8 inches apart from one another to try to create a very high par area near the top of my tank.

My tank is 36' wide but 20' deep. What light would be powerful enough to allow me to grow montiporas on the full 36' length of the sandbed at 20 inches from the surface?

I am initially considering the Kessil A700. The kessil website says that at 5-7 inches off water surface, the unit covers 36 inches. But would the montipora frags 20 inches below the surface have enough par? Unfortunately I am trying to have a lagoon style tank but the reality is that I need 20 inch depth penetration. I want a lighting combination that, at 20 inches, would both provide enough par to the sandbed (appx 200-250) while covering 36 inches without any dead zones.


For reference, I am seeking to seriously focus on keeping SPS at their full color potential. I might potentially downfrade to a nuvo 30 ext, which is just my tank but only 12 inches tall to both have a more lagoon look and to have a drilled tank that can have a sump so I can get rid of all my ugly HOB stuff

Thanks for your input!

 

[Hitman]

Radion XR30 Gen 4 Pros I think are the only ones that can do those par numbers at that depth. BRS has done so many light reviews with par I bet a quick call to them would answer that.

 

[Jay Z]

I have a 45 close to those dimensions, yours is a little longer.

My ap700 is capable of 550 at 3” deep, and 225 on the bed. Mine is 12” above the water and that’s at 100% on the blue/white channel. When you turn on the red or greens it cuts the blue/white by 25% (to prevent overheating) a issues that was suppose to be addressed but never was.

I don’t run it that high seeing I’m primarily softies and Lps. Mines set at about 200 at 3” right now (30% on the 700)

Personally I’m looking at getting a led/t5 hybrid. My growth from the ap700 is not that great. Other tank with 160 grows just fine. I read a lot of people not being thrilled with growth from the 700.

Color is beautiful and the shimmer is nice.

Plus it does have some quirks with WiFi and programming.

From what I’ve put together through all my research the radions (as recommended above) are the way to go for growth.

I was also impressed with the Noopsyche, which isn’t a arm and a leg and is a very capable product (par numbers) didn’t find a whole lot on growth comparisons.

 

[GoatmealJones]

For me, color is more important than growth. However, I dont want the corals to have zero growth, obviously. Is the difference in growth really that vast between the radion 30 pro and the A700? I definitely prefer the look of the kessils (when they are close enough to my in distance acros that they start to "pop"). I love seeing the vivid coloration of multicolored montis and acros which I only see when i put my 160's nearly flush with the water level.

 

[Jay Z]

Not a night and day difference. Just read the radions had better growth.

I was giving my honest opinion on the 700. I do not own a radion.

 

[Jay Z]

And don’t get me wrong. Everything looks great in my display tank. No gripes at all for lighting health.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Would an XR30 Pro be able to cover 36" effectively? Would rather have 1 unit than 2 XR15's. 1 less mount to buy and the XR30 pro is on sale at marine depot right now.

 

[minus9]

If you're considering the ap700, then I would suggest getting two 360x's. You'll need the controller to unlock the extra settings, but it's worth it. I have two ap700's over my 90g shallow tank and I really like them, but the app/programming isn't the best. I'm actually in the process of changing the 700's out for 360x's myself. To compare lights, the 360x is the same as the xr15 pro with a diffuser with just a couple of par difference between them. Also, lighting isn't the only reason you'll have slow growth, unless you know for sure the par isn't there?

 

[Kyl]

Unless you want to drop a couple grand on LED for blanket coverage, adding supplemental T5 (but in the case of A160's, the T5's would be doing the heavy PAR lifting) will be the best thing for acropora. Single point source lighting will never get rid of shadowing, and UV is the first diodes to fade in a LED fixture, their longevity is rather poor.

 

[GoatmealJones]

I think its coverage issue, but mostly a par issue. I dont mind having low par edges, My rock structure is actually only 28 inches in diameter. I would be fine having low coverage at the ends of the tank since theres just 4 inches of sand on each side of the rock. I basically am looking for a combo/setup that will let me grow acros/montis at any point within that 28 inch range (20 inches deep total top to bottom)

 

[GoatmealJones]

Perhaps all I need is a third 160we, for a total of appx 120 watts over 28 inches with reduced shadowing due to the increase in light sources.

 

[GoatmealJones]

If you're considering the ap700, then I would suggest getting two 360x's. You'll need the controller to unlock the extra settings, but it's worth it. I have two ap700's over my 90g shallow tank and I really like them, but the app/programming isn't the best. I'm actually in the process of changing the 700's out for 360x's myself. To compare lights, the 360x is the same as the xr15 pro with a diffuser with just a couple of par difference between them. Also, lighting isn't the only reason you'll have slow growth, unless you know for sure the par isn't there?

The more research im doing the more im starting to lean to getting 2 360X's. I already have the mounts (from the 160s) so wouldnt need to spend the $150 on that. Already have the kessil controller as well. The narrow reflector add on seems like it could potentially fit very well using two of those over 36' providing both high par and excellent coverage.

 

[minus9]

You'll need the spectral controller x to get into the other spectrums, the normal controller doesn't unlock those features. FYI

 

[GoatmealJones]

You'll need the spectral controller x to get into the other spectrums, the normal controller doesn't unlock those features. FYI

yeah, im just gonna plan to wait for the dongle i think at this point. I have the "original" controller for the 160's and it just doesnt do enough to warrant $100, and it also just feels cheap and like a waste of money. want to avoid that and hopefully the dongle will be a more eloquent solution.