A lighting thread for all the kessil A360x haters

[pwfess]

For some reason, Kessil lighting has seem to get a lot of crap in the hobby (at least from fellow reefing friends of mine). I've attached two pictures of my tank. It is a waterbox 90.3x (60 gallon display). I run two kessil A360x for 9 hours a day, 2 hour ramp up and 2 hour ramp down. 5 hour peak light period with intensity of 75 and color 16 and some violet thrown in.

The below photos are NOT modified, enhanced, nor saturated in any way. They're simply taken with an iphone 13 with orphek orange filter lens.

IDK....lighting seems pretty good to me. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I plan to upgrade to a 230.6 and add another one or two kessil A360x for that tank. (got the hater blockers on)

 

[Crabs McJones]

As a kessil lover, I approve

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its beautiful tank and cool if you want to show it off, but I never heard of any hate on kessil, lots of folks like kessil as far as I know.

 

[bradreef]

I don't think many think kessils are bad lights. They just have a small focal point which creates shadowing on SPS and they aren't a great value. 2 new kessils for a 60 gallon is close to 1k in cost. You could get similar results for half or 1/3 the price.

 

[pwfess]

As a kessil lover, I approve

Wow I feel Like i havent talked to you in awhile on here or discord! hope all is well!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Most people don’t like Kessil because they are one of the most expensive ways to light a tank per amount of light spread you (don’t) get with them. That said, I am also a Kessil user.

 

[pwfess]

I don't think many think kessils are bad lights. They just have a small focal point which creates shadowing on SPS and they aren't a great value. 2 new kessils for a 60 gallon is close to 1k in cost. You could get similar results for half or 1/3 the price.

Any suggestions on cheaper lighting with simliar results?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

For some reason, Kessil lighting has seem to get a lot of crap in the hobby (at least from fellow reefing friends of mine). I've attached two pictures of my tank. It is a waterbox 90.3x (60 gallon display). I run two kessil A360x for 9 hours a day, 2 hour ramp up and 2 hour ramp down. 5 hour peak light period with intensity of 75 and color 16 and some violet thrown in.

The below photos are NOT modified, enhanced, nor saturated in any way. They're simply taken with an iphone 13 with orphek orange filter lens.

IDK....lighting seems pretty good to me. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I plan to upgrade to a 230.6 and add another one or two kessil A360x for that tank. (got the hater blockers on)

The colors of your tank look great! I can see why you love those lights!

 

[pwfess]

Most people don’t like Kessil because they are one of the most expensive ways to light a tank per amount of light spread you (don’t) get with them. That said, I am also a Kessil user.

wow this is gorgeous! This is the look I think I want to get to with a bigger tank. I like its whiter and more natural. Whats your settings?

 

[pwfess]

Ooops. I forgot to tag kevin. @zusima

 

[Crabs McJones]

Wow I feel Like i havent talked to you in awhile on here or discord! hope all is well!

All is well, how you been?

 

[Reefer Matt]

wow this is gorgeous! This is the look I think I want to get to with a bigger tank. I like its whiter and more natural. Whats your settings?

Thanks. They go all white at noon to 6 pm with the ReefBrites providing the blue. Then they switch to blue/violet for the night. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-kessil-lighting-schedule.1112709/#post-13597052

 

[pwfess]

Its beautiful tank and cool if you want to show it off, but I never heard of any hate on kessil, lots of folks like kessil as far as I know.

Thanks. I should say this prob my first proud show off. Took close to 2 years to get here and lots of light fiddling to find a good schedule. I think most of the hate I see comes down to price and some ppl "burning" their corals.

 

[pwfess]

Thanks. They go all white at noon to 6 pm with the ReefBrites providing the blue. Then they switch to blue/violet for the night. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-kessil-lighting-schedule.1112709/#post-13597052

Thanks for sharing the thread!

 

[pwfess]

All is well, how you been?

Pretty good. Just work and raising the two little ones. I've slowed down a bit in the hobby. Tank is pretty full with coral and fish. Going to let things ride and save for a 230.6

 

[Crabs McJones]

Pretty good. Just work and raising the two little ones. I've slowed down a bit in the hobby. Tank is pretty full with coral and fish. Going to let things ride and save for a 230.6

Same, work and kids. I'm going to have a teenager in less than 2 weeks.....I feel old

 

[pwfess]

Same, work and kids. I'm going to have a teenager in less than 2 weeks.....I feel old

Teenage years. They must HATE you now in this era right haha. My son is 4.5 years and my daughter is almost 1 year old...so I'm pretty much on house lockdown

 

[rtparty]

Like Brad said, they are extremely point source with horrible shadowing, require way more per square foot of tank than other lights, and are one of the worst PAR per dollar values out there. Not to mention, they have crazy failure rates around 2 years that gets swept under the rug.

However, they are some of the easiest to use with just 2 knobs and proper spectrum anywhere within the knob adjustment. They are also easy to mount.

 

[pwfess]

Like Brad said, they are extremely point source with horrible shadowing, require way more per square foot of tank than other lights, and are one of the worst PAR per dollar values out there. Not to mention, they have crazy failure rates around 2 years that gets swept under the rug.

However, they are some of the easiest to use with just 2 knobs and proper spectrum anywhere within the knob adjustment. They are also easy to mount.

Thank you for this. Thats what I've seen too, price per PAR has been a lot higher than other lights and seems to be #1 complaint. Interesting note about the 2 year failure rate, I'll be on the look out for that. Cross my fingers here :( . What lights do you recommend?

 

[bradreef]

Any suggestions on cheaper lighting with simliar results?

There is a copy of this light specifically at 1/3 the cost
A7s roughly $130-160
Reefi uno 2 more than double the power similar price. (Run 1 instead of 2)
Noopsyche k7 $160-200 more power bigger spread
Nicrew makes 100 watts $200 150 watt $250 and 200 watt $300
A8se. Better spectrum more than double the power, worst control through app. $200
Smatfarm g6 $180 140 watts