Kessil A160WE low Par reading

Tonii

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Good evening,

So after a couple of years I finally tested par levels. I have 3 kessil A160WE in a 80 gallons rimless tank. I don’t know if I did something wrong. I got 1.3 bottom , 1.6 medium and 2.5 at the top of the rock. I took the sensor out of the water and placed it right under the lights and it was reading about 200. At the time if the test the lights were at 95% intensity and 50% color.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance

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Cell

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Arent A160's very weak for that size tank? I would think 3x A360's are what you want.
 
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Tonii

Tonii

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Arent A160's very weak for that size tank? I would think 3x A360's are what you want.
I was told that 3 A160WE would be more than enough but I’m starting to question that.
 

Texas Rick

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That explains why my coral aren’t growing. They are there but I don’t see any growth. I’m thinking of buying that new Kessil light.
 

minus9

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Unplug from apex and test. I would test at 100% with apex and without to see if there's a difference? I had an issue early on with the apex, so I ditched it and used the spectral controller and had zero issues.
 
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Tonii

Tonii

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I unplugged it from the Apex and re tested at 100% and I got the same readings.
 

minus9

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I unplugged it from the Apex and re tested at 100% and I got the same readings.
This is with all the link cables disconnected? My a80 puts out more than that and it's only 15 watts. Either the light(s) are not working properly or the par meter? Are the lenses clean? Do you clean the lights regularly? I'll check my 160 just to get a reading.
 
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Tonii

Tonii

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That seems off to me. What sensor are you using? I suspect the power supply could be an issue? I would contact Kessil.
Its an Apogee Connect par meter. It belongs to my friend but it’s brand new. He got his readings and got what was expected out of some Radion lights. I bought all 3 kessil lights used and I’ve had them for over two years. But I’m getting the same low readings throughout the 3 lights
 

Tuffyyyyy

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Are all of your LEDs lighting up in the matrix? Kessil isn’t a PAR powerhouse, it’s just a plug and play spectrum with an amazing shimmer. That said, I really doubt you’re truly getting barely 1 PAR at the bottom of your tank.
 

minus9

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Agree, if all the lights are reading the same, then I don't think it's a light issue. What's your photo period? I've always used a 12hr cycle with my Kessil's and a 6 to 8hr peak. Corals looks good, so I would judge everything on coral health and not numbers. There's another reefer here who uses five over a 90g (or something close to that) and he's rock'n corals without issue.
 

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