Kessil a360x with Phillips Coral Care for fill?

Rewd · Dec 10, 2023

Has anyone done this combo? I currently use 2 kessil a360x with 4x 54w T5 for fill to light a 90G sps tank with great success. Awesome color and growth and the T5s are definitely necessary with large and mature sps colonies that cause lots of shading.

I am upgrading to a 200G innovative Marine (71x30x22) and my original plan was to add a 3rd a360x and then do 4x 60" T5s. But I'm thinking maybe using the coral care panels for fill light instead of the T5s.

minus9 · Dec 11, 2023

I would use the CC2's as your main source and the Kessil's as accents/shimmer/contrast. I'm a Kessil fan and user, but there are limitations with their coverage of acropora.

areefer01 · Dec 11, 2023

Rewd said:
I am upgrading to a 200G innovative Marine (71x30x22) and my original plan was to add a 3rd a360x and then do 4x 60" T5s. But I'm thinking maybe using the coral care panels for fill light instead of the T5s.

If you go with the CC2 just do not use any information that was provided by BRS. Their results are based on their heavy blue spectrum which the Coral Cares are not made for. They are a more natural looking spectrum so when you dial down the primary channels to focus on blue you will lose both par and spread.

Also there are different options on lighting, spread, T5, MH, and more. Personally speaking I'd look at your budget, what you have today, then shop for some lights. It could be that a couple reefi 2.0 kits will work and use your existing a360x to supplement and provide the shimmer. Or you could go with the Gen 2's and supplement with Quata bars. That is a popular combo these days.

You have choices.

Rewd · Dec 11, 2023

I love my a360x's. Being an old MH user, I can't lose that shimmer. But the fill light is so important. Even in my MH days I used compact fluorescents to fill. I'm thinking maybe 2 panels would be enough to provide what I need instead of using T5 retrofits again. The biggest drawback for them is replacing every year.