Used kessil light question

[Hypen2000]

Hey guys,
I'm about to buy 2 A360 Tuna Blue, with gooseneck mounts, and a controller that is 2 years old and supposedly in good working order.

I have a new 100 gallon 48"l x24"w x 24"t that i'm upgrading to. Would that work for a mixed reef tank?

Also, is it a good idea to buy used and something that is 2 years old? Any concerns with Kessil? etc?

Just a novice, esp with Kessil, trying to get whatever advice before buying. Thanks!

 

[Geebs19]

As long as the price was right I wouldnt mind buying used. I would make sure that all features work before purchase. You will most likely need a 3rd to cover a 48inch tank. A 4th would be even better.

 

[Hypen2000]

As long as the price was right I wouldnt mind buying used. I would make sure that all features work before purchase. You will most likely need a 3rd to cover a 48inch tank. A 4th would be even better.

Oh really? I though 1 covers 24 x 24 inch? Or at least that's what the website says. Is that not true?

 

[Hypen2000]

Also, would you suggest the A700 or 2 A360s? Which is better if it is the same price?

 

[Geebs19]

I dont think you will be able to get the full tank covered with just 2, you will have either the ends not covered very well or if you spread to get the ends covered, the center will not be covered well.

 

[Geebs19]

Also, would you suggest the A700 or 2 A360s? Which is better if it is the same price?

The AP700 is a sweet unit, at 18inches above the tank it states you can get coverage of 48inches. I know alot of people on here recommend the AP700.

Found a good feedback thread. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/kessil-ap700-on-48-tank.233928/

 

[cjd]

With the new 360x coming out it would have to be an amazing deal for me to even consider it. 2 year old light , I would be concerned with any fan issues , if something fails its usually the fan . I am curious to see if any price drops on the original 360 after this new release .
2 units would light up the tank but better coverage would be 3 . BRS does a lot of kessil reviews and found the best 1 360 can do coverage wise is an 18x18 square. They also review the ap700. which I owned on a 4ft. 75 gallon tank . I used in a custom floating canopy with T-5 's so I cant really say if 1 ap 700 would be enough for your tank since I ran it with t-5's also.

 

[madweazl]

Mounted 6" above the surface, the two A360WEs will cover the tank (end to end with good overlap in the center) and work for a mixed reef. If you end up getting light intensive corals at some (higher demand acroporas), a third will be necessary but you'll no issues with softies, LPS, and lower demand SPS (most montis, birdnest, etc.). I would expect max PAR on the sand to be around 100-150 in areas of overlap and approx 250 about 4-5" below the surface.

48" long 75g with two Kessil A360s.

Edit: wanted to point out that I run T5s on this tank as well but this shot is with the Kessils only so you can get an idea of coverage (prior to going SPS dominant, it was Kessil only). This PAR measurement reposity for various lights/fixtures has PAR results for the two lights.

 

[andrewkw]

Besides price you should ask how often they have been cleaned. They collect a LOT of dust and a lot of people (sometimes I've even been guilty) never clean them. I have one that blinks when I turn it up to full power but it's out of warranty so I've never bothered to get it fixed. I have 3 across a 5 foot tank and I also use a black box between them for extra coverage. Ideally I'd add 2 more black boxes and go 3+3. My a350 is among those 3 kessils so they certainly do last a long time if properly taken care.

 

[Hypen2000]

Besides price you should ask how often they have been cleaned. They collect a LOT of dust and a lot of people (sometimes I've even been guilty) never clean them. I have one that blinks when I turn it up to full power but it's out of warranty so I've never bothered to get it fixed. I have 3 across a 5 foot tank and I also use a black box between them for extra coverage. Ideally I'd add 2 more black boxes and go 3+3. My a350 is among those 3 kessils so they certainly do last a long time if properly taken care.

Hi, when you say "black box" are you talking about generic LED units? Sorry not familiar with that term and pretty new here. Thanks

 

[Hypen2000]

Mounted 6" above the surface, the two A360WEs will cover the tank (end to end with good overlap in the center) and work for a mixed reef. If you end up getting light intensive corals at some (higher demand acroporas), a third will be necessary but you'll no issues with softies, LPS, and lower demand SPS (most montis, birdnest, etc.). I would expect max PAR on the sand to be around 100-150 in areas of overlap and approx 250 about 4-5" below the surface.

48" long 75g with two Kessil A360s.

Nice tank! Thanks for letting me know. I think that is my aim with the corals. I have 2 Agros but they aren't my focus.

 

[Hypen2000]

With the new 360x coming out it would have to be an amazing deal for me to even consider it. 2 year old light , I would be concerned with any fan issues , if something fails its usually the fan . I am curious to see if any price drops on the original 360 after this new release .
2 units would light up the tank but better coverage would be 3 . BRS does a lot of kessil reviews and found the best 1 360 can do coverage wise is an 18x18 square. They also review the ap700. which I owned on a 4ft. 75 gallon tank . I used in a custom floating canopy with T-5 's so I cant really say if 1 ap 700 would be enough for your tank since I ran it with t-5's also.

Hey, i'll take that into account. I also have some cheaper LED strips that I can use to supplement so maybe it would work. But I'll ask about the maintanence and fans, etc. Maybe even get the price dropped a bit. Thanks

 

[andrewkw]

Hi, when you say "black box" are you talking about generic LED units? Sorry not familiar with that term and pretty new here. Thanks

Yes so my tank is 60x18x24, I have 3 kessils (a350,a360 and a360we). The newer ones are brighter but they don't give any additional coverage. On the side of my tank that has more sps there is a generic LED between the Kessils. I plan on adding more just because I can buy 3 of those no name leds for less then the price of one kessil and I'm essentially using them to fill in the gaps not as the main lighting source.

Here is a picture :

The right side has the additional light, it's not that noticeably brighter at least imo.
One from the top to illustrate the coverage :

 

[Hypen2000]

Yes so my tank is 60x18x24, I have 3 kessils (a350,a360 and a360we). The newer ones are brighter but they don't give any additional coverage. On the side of my tank that has more sps there is a generic LED between the Kessils. I plan on adding more just because I can buy 3 of those no name leds for less then the price of one kessil and I'm essentially using them to fill in the gaps not as the main lighting source.

Here is a picture :

The right side has the additional light, it's not that noticeably brighter at least imo.
One from the top to illustrate the coverage :

thanks and nice tank! Also, the second pic didn't work. Can you re-upload? I'm actually curious how you actually placed it, etc. and top view would be helpful. thx

 

[andrewkw]

Thanks, shows up for me. Here it is again

So this doesn't illustrate it perfectly but the black box is 16" or so across so there is one Kessil on one side of it - see reflection and the next one is placed on the opposite side.

 

[Hypen2000]

thanks, worked this time. And I get the idea. thanks!

 

[minus9]

As stated above, make sure they've been cleaned on a regular basis and work properly. Keep them clean and they will last. I would suggest the aquatic life hybrid fixture with the kessil's and you can grow a pretty healthy reef with that combo. If not, add another 360 down the road and your covered.

 

[Hypen2000]

As stated above, make sure they've been cleaned on a regular basis and work properly. Keep them clean and they will last. I would suggest the aquatic life hybrid fixture with the kessil's and you can grow a pretty healthy reef with that combo. If not, add another 360 down the road and your covered.

Got it. I'll find out. thx guys

 

[madweazl]

I purchased the two on my tank used and I've been running them for 23 months now. I blow them out every couple of months and have completely disassembled them once for a thorough cleaning (the heatsink gets nasty after a while).

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have both and the A360WE will do the job and give you controllability and shimmer.