Which light to buy?

[Kilo]

Fellow reefers,
I was about to get myself a AI Hydra 52HD when my friend mentioned....did you look at the Kessil?

So wrote to Kessil and they recommended 2 x A160WE Tuna Blue with a controller for my setup.

My new tank is a custom sized 32"(L) x 17"(W) x 18"(H). Water level @ 16"

Price wise negligible difference (excluding mounting)

I have never seen any of the above in operation so is tough for me decide.

Understand this is one of the most frequent asked question but hope i can get a quick feedback and head down to shop again

 

[mcarroll]

Depends what you like....you're only looking at spotlights?

I assume from the custom tank that this is not your first. What lights have you had and liked before? (e.g. halide, t5, led, ???)

 

[Kilo]

Depends what you like....you're only looking at spotlights?

I assume from the custom tank that this is not your first. What lights have you had and liked before? (e.g. halide, t5, led, ???)

I am not sure how to answer your first question

Currently running a 2ft with current usa led light

 

[mcarroll]

In general, do you like that light you have?

If so, you can either add more of that model, or switch to a different light.

Current's Orbit Marine Pro is a solid option. One or 24" fixture should do it Two would give more coverage and the ability to run both lights at a somewhat lower power level....definitely not required to have two, though. (A 36" unit would be more ideal, but your tank length is a bit short of that. Maybe you'd want to consider it anyway?)

Spotlights are going to generate a lot of shadows by comparison....quite a few folks that aren't used to it seem to take exception to it. I'd spend a lot of time looking at sample tanks online of people who are happy AND successful with their lights to make sure YOU like that kind of look vs the others.

Make sense?

 

[Salty1962]

If it was a difference between Kessil or Al Hydra, I'd go Al because as @mcarroll mention, the Kessils are like spot lights with shadows. The AL has a better spread. But as he also mentioned, it's depends on; Your taste for lighting, Your livestock and your budget. I would recommend a controller for either light so you can develop the lighting spectrum and timers for your light. He has given you some good advice to get you started. Do look at other folks tanks with the different lights, I personally have Radions and T5HO lights on my tank. Bad photo but you get the idea of my lighting

 

[ifarmer]

I eould say ati 8x24 ati t5 is good for that tank dimension

 

[madweazl]

I just picked up a couple Kessil (360WEs) and did some preliminary testing with spread over a standard 75g (48x18). I was blown away with how much area they actually cover. At roughly 4" over the water (18" water depth), they're covering beyond 24" (not sure how much usable light is at the perimeter). With the lights spaced 19" apart (on center), they easily cover my 44" wide rock structure with great overlap at the center of the tank. If I move them closer to one another, the center brace starts to cut into the overlap of light coverage. On a 31" tank, my opinion is that there would be very little (if any) shadowing left to right but there probably would be some front to back. I was pleased with the look of the Kessils and actually like the shadows that were cast but my structure is set up in a manner that I should be able to mitigate this for the intended area I have set for SPS.

I currently have 16" SBReef basic boxes over the tank and each 360WE provides similar coverage (again, I have no PAR measurements to say what they're putting out at the perimeter in comparison). Using a LUX app on my phone, the Kessils at the lowest power level have output equal to the SBReef lights (currently driven at 30% white and 40% blue) at roughly 6000 LUX. The color of the Kessil was set at roughly 70% and visually, the color was similar (highly subjective).

Does your buddy have Kessils? I'd encourage you check his out and mess with placement if possible to see what you could expect on your setup. You may be able to find a local shop that has them on a tank; I'd bet they'd be willing to move them around for you a bit to see if it would work out for you.

The center of the anemone is roughly two inches right of the center of the tank.

SBReef 16" Basic Box mounted 9" above water surface (note, right side light remained on for both images)


Kessil A360WE mounted 5" above water surface (right side SBReef still on)


Pictures taken on a Samsung Galaxy S7. SBReef left, Kessil right.

 

[ebushrow]

The kessils don't really have the spotlight effect that is stated above (unless you try to use too few on a tank), each one covers 24"x24" space....they suggest 2 over your tank...you won't have any of the spotlight affect....there will be a higher intensity at the overlap, but on your tank, they would be fine....especially with only 16" of water. I would def. get the controller though since it is so shallow you might burn things out without good, accurate controls.

In my opinion, it also depends on what you want the top of the tank to look like....a box hovering or 2 pop cans....kessils look cleaner in my opinion, but it's almost about aesthetics....both lights will grow your corals...and as you said, price is pretty equivalent.

 

[madweazl]

If you think the AI/Ecotech has better coverage than the Kessil, I urge you to watch this video. The Kessils are at about 17:15 and the Radion's begin around 18:30. The Radion does have considerably more PAR but if you dropped the Kessil 4" (all are mounted at 8" in the video IIRC) you'd get significantly higher PAR measurements (two in a small area such as you're looking at would boost PAR considerably as well). Just want to present some measured data vice the opinions expressed so far (including my own).

 

[Kilo]

Just an update on my decision. I did not go for Hydra 52HD nor Kessil A160WE.
Did more research and finally decided on....Orphek Atlantik Compact V3+

Well reason for my decision...
1) spread
Looking at concept of T5 which is still popular with many reefers is mainly before of the even spread. My current usa unit is also similar. LED across length of tank. The V3+ is similar
2) future expansion
My future plan is a drop off tank. Just add one more compact or a pendent will settle
3) other
-Orphek's are in public aquarium which mean a certain standard is there
- No need to send the unit back to us if there should be a problem. The light is modular and any component can be easily replaced by the user
-good customer service and prompt response

Well, these are completely my personal opinions and some may not agree with it.

 

[madweazl]

Good deal; hopefully they work out well for you.