A360xe or A500x

menos_el_oso · Oct 13, 2025

Long time lurker here but upgrading to 230 waterbox and was curious if anyone has used either 3 Kessil A360XE or A500X? It will mostly be a softie tank with some anemones so just curious if the boost up to A500X is worth it. Thanks!

cdemoss01 · Oct 13, 2025

menos_el_oso said:
Long time lurker here but upgrading to 230 waterbox and was curious if anyone has used either 3 Kessil A360XE or A500X? It will mostly be a softie tank with some anemones so just curious if the boost up to A500X is worth it. Thanks!

My LFS uses them a lot. Good lights, I've used other versions of them. Easy to control and great colors.

Matt L · Oct 13, 2025

I think the 360xe will get you there. But if you want to mount them high, the 500x with a reflector will do also.

Rybki · Oct 25, 2025

I think 360x will do good job on sps, I am using kessil for years, Aquarium comes alive with those lights shimmer is best in the hobby I also run T5 4 hours per day

areefer01 · Oct 25, 2025

menos_el_oso said:
Long time lurker here but upgrading to 230 waterbox and was curious if anyone has used either 3 Kessil A360XE or A500X? It will mostly be a softie tank with some anemones so just curious if the boost up to A500X is worth it. Thanks!

The a360xe is about 500 USD, 90 Watts
The a500 is about 850 USD, 185 Watts
Price per Watt is about 5.50 for the a360xe and 4.60 for the a500

Few notes:

You can buy the higher power kit (a500) and not use full power. This would give you a light to carry forward should you upgrade (and assuming it is taken care of).

Both have magnetic add on lens that you can buy to narrow the light focus and increase par. Need to be purchased.

Flexible mounting height for spread and par.

Soft corals are fine with either light as it will come down to how much power / intensity you are going to use.

If that is the light kit you are looking at then either will work. Just depends on how much you want to spend, budget, and go from there. Multiple a360xe's are fine at lower power vs one or two more powerful a500's. It really just depends on budget and mounting.