A8SE Max II Reef Light

[Uriken]

Hello everyone. I procrastinated for months when I heard about the Chinese knockoff of the radions out there for a quarter of the price with the mounting arm. I made the move and purchased a A8 SE Max Gen Ii. With the mounting arm I paid $246. I previously had 2 Kessil A360s over my SPS tank and they always made the corals look great yet things seemed to grow at a snails pace. I mounted this light and now only it for a month I love it. My only concern is the mounting arm. It's made from heavy aluminum including the mounting base that fits over the glass. I began to wonder if this may create future contamination issues in my water since the waterline does touch the base. I know metals in the water can introduce issues over time. I'm thinking I may get creative and somehow create a condom of sorts so the water never really makes contact with the aluminum base. Lowering the water line isn't feasible with my overflow design and location.
Any thoughts on this? My Kessil mounting arm looks identical to the one they sell for the A8 light but they used plastic for the base rather than aluminum.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Hello everyone. I procrastinated for months when I heard about the Chinese knockoff of the radions out there for a quarter of the price with the mounting arm. I made the move and purchased a A8 SE Max Gen Ii. With the mounting arm I paid $246. I previously had 2 Kessil A360s over my SPS tank and they always made the corals look great yet things seemed to grow at a snails pace. I mounted this light and now only it for a month I love it. My only concern is the mounting arm. It's made from heavy aluminum including the mounting base that fits over the glass. I began to wonder if this may create future contamination issues in my water since the waterline does touch the base. I know metals in the water can introduce issues over time. I'm thinking I may get creative and somehow create a condom of sorts so the water never really makes contact with the aluminum base. Lowering the water line isn't feasible with my overflow design and location.
Any thoughts on this? My Kessil mounting arm looks identical to the one they sell for the A8 light but they used plastic for the base rather than aluminum.

I don’t mean to steer your post off course or go off on a tangent but although lighting does play a role in the growth of corals it’s not the only thing. You also have to factor in other things like flow, nutrients and major, minor, trace elements, the big 3 especially.

 

[Uriken]

Tell me about it. My tanks 36 years old as of 2 months ago.

 

[MikeyG]

I would certainly try to rig something up with the Kessil arm. Even though putting a condom over that thing.... man, you might be on to something here. Who knows. You could just start labeling it as the sexy arm

 

[Sidius]

Hey! How's the A8SE II Max after owning it for a couple months?

I'm considering ordering a pair for my tank but there aren't any other reviews of it that I can find.

 

[Uriken]

I had to adjust them down a bit on the intensity due to some bleaching on a couple of my more sensitive SPS but the growth has been noticeable. All SPS have new branches forming. They do run hot so I added the Hyyger Reef fan set with the thermostat to keep the air moving under the lights. You will be happy with them.

 

[shaggydoo92]

I'd love to know your thoughts about the light now I'm kind of in the same predicament as you and you first started I'm looking around at lights and not sure what to get

 

[shaggydoo92]

Hey! How's the A8SE II Max after owning it for a couple months?

I'm considering ordering a pair for my tank but there aren't any other reviews of it that I can find.

Did you end up ordering these?

 

[Uriken]

I love them. 110% satisfied. Zero issues with them and my corals love them. You won't regret buying them.

 

[Michelle G]

I just got this light with the mounting arm, curious to know how is working out for you. I have not set it up yet.

 

[MajorDad74]

All this talk not one picture

 

[Michelle G]

Here is a pic of the light, I just built the lighting mount with some 8020 extrusions.

 

[MajorDad74]

Here is a pic of the light, I just built the lighting mount with some 8020 extrusions.

Guess I should have clarified. Of established tanks with the light on.