Kessil A500x mounting issue

[Grasshopper04]

Hi, first post here. I'm returning to the hobby after a 16 year break. Currently building a 200g setup. It will be mixed reef (eventually). Hoping to have the tank set on stand this week, but I'm trying to finalize my lighting mounting first.

Innovative Marine 200EXT. It's a 6-ft long tank, 30-in front to back. I'm using three Kessil A500x pendants, mounted with the Kessil mounting arms which come from the back of the tank. Because the tank has a 30-inch width, I had to get the mounting arm extenders which make them good for 30-32 width. So far so good.

However, I forgot about the external overflow in the middle part of the tank, which adds another 3.5-in. That means my three options are:

1) Mount all three pendants 3-in back from the centerline of the tank, which would be 18-in from front, 12-in from back
2) Mount only the middle pendant at those dimensions, with the other two at the centerline
3) Abandon this mounting strategy and do something else, such as hanging from the ceiling, which I really don't want to do.

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated.

 

[Grasshopper04]

The pesky external overflow:

 

[minus9]

Hang them from 8020 rail and use 3D printed mounts. You can also use simple camera mounts with 1/4" to m5 adapters to attach them to the rail. The 8020 can be mounted to the stand or wall behind the tank if that's an option?

 

[Grasshopper04]

I really didn't want to have to back up to the drawing board and return my previously purchased mounting arms, etc, but I think that's a good idea. The stand is black anodized aluminum, so a rack using black 8020 would look pretty sharp and I can still incorporate some cable management. The hard part seems to be navigating all the fasteners, etc to build the rack.

 

[minus9]

Here’s what I did for my unique setup. So there are tons of options when using 8020.

 

[Grasshopper04]

Yeah I like the way that looks. I just put in an order. Another benefit is that if I want to add something to my lighting later, like T5s or LED blades, it wouldn't be too difficult to modify the rack.

 

[coreytrv]

Hi, first post here. I'm returning to the hobby after a 16 year break. Currently building a 200g setup. It will be mixed reef (eventually). Hoping to have the tank set on stand this week, but I'm trying to finalize my lighting mounting first.

Innovative Marine 200EXT. It's a 6-ft long tank, 30-in front to back. I'm using three Kessil A500x pendants, mounted with the Kessil mounting arms which come from the back of the tank. Because the tank has a 30-inch width, I had to get the mounting arm extenders which make them good for 30-32 width. So far so good.

However, I forgot about the external overflow in the middle part of the tank, which adds another 3.5-in. That means my three options are:

1) Mount all three pendants 3-in back from the centerline of the tank, which would be 18-in from front, 12-in from back
2) Mount only the middle pendant at those dimensions, with the other two at the centerline
3) Abandon this mounting strategy and do something else, such as hanging from the ceiling, which I really don't want to do.

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated.

Hello, I'm an authorized Kessil reseller, and use their lights exclusively in my personal tanks, as well as recommend them to clients for whom I design custom tank systems.

Your key dimension is depth of the tank, which I didn't see in your post.

The A500x has about a 36" beam diameter out of the box. That's more than you need for your tank, and that is at an approximate height of 8" above the water.

Higher than that, and you're spilling light. I see you have a reflector on one of them. A 55 degree reflector on this light would give you 30" beam diameter, and cover the entire tank uniformly. That would be at a mounting height of about 13" above the water's surface, and penetration up to 36" deep

Also, BRS has done a couple videos using Kessil pucks, and they cover the process to adjust and fine tune for your setup.

Linked here:

 

[Pntbll687]

Shelf bracket mounted to the wall and arms that stick out for the lights.

Or mount the arm to the overflow box, and get a small extension for the arm.

Don’t over complicate things if you don’t need to

 

[minus9]

If you want/need printed light mounts for 8020 instead of the DIY mounts I made, @neonreef3d can design or make them for practically any size extrusion.

 

[minus9]

Here’s what mine looks like from the side. Never kind the mess.

 

[Grasshopper04]

If you want/need printed light mounts for 8020 instead of the DIY mounts I made, @neonreef3d can design or make them for practically any size extrusion.

I found these, which supposedly will work with 1.5" 8020
https://goldenstatecorals.com/products/kessil-a500x-rms-rail-mount?variant=44453717278871

 

[Grasshopper04]

Hello, I'm an authorized Kessil reseller, and use their lights exclusively in my personal tanks, as well as recommend them to clients for whom I design custom tank systems.

Your key dimension is depth of the tank, which I didn't see in your post.

The A500x has about a 36" beam diameter out of the box. That's more than you need for your tank, and that is at an approximate height of 8" above the water.

Higher than that, and you're spilling light. I see you have a reflector on one of them. A 55 degree reflector on this light would give you 30" beam diameter, and cover the entire tank uniformly. That would be at a mounting height of about 13" above the water's surface, and penetration up to 36" deep

Also, BRS has done a couple videos using Kessil pucks, and they cover the process to adjust and fine tune for your setup.

Linked here:

The first photo in the thread is my empty tank, not installed yet. The other photos are of minus9's setup.

My tank is 6' long, 30" wide, 23" deep. My plan was to mount the three A500x at 8 or 9" above water surface spaced evenly. I don't think I need any reflectors for that setup, do I?

 

[minus9]

I found these, which supposedly will work with 1.5" 8020
https://goldenstatecorals.com/products/kessil-a500x-rms-rail-mount?variant=44453717278871

That’s my friend’s shop and the mounts that I was talking about, nice find! Also, if you want to add LED bars, I would highly recommend the Quanta Helix bars, they have simple 0-10v dimming and an awesome spectrum.

 

[minus9]

What corals are you planning to keep? Kessil’s on their own are fine for mixed reefs with sps directly under each fixture, but if you’re planning full sps, then adding LED bars or mixing some panel style fixture are a must. I’ve done all Kessil over full sps and you’ll need at least double the amount of fixtures because of the point source lighting. I like mixing Kessil’s with other types of LEDs, I think they are great fixtures when used properly.

 

[coreytrv]

The first photo in the thread is my empty tank, not installed yet. The other photos are of minus9's setup.

My tank is 6' long, 30" wide, 23" deep. My plan was to mount the three A500x at 8 or 9" above water surface spaced evenly. I don't think I need any reflectors for that setup, do I?

Got it! You may or may not need reflectors. Depends on what kind of PAR you want at the sandbed. The 130 degree reflector (standard) has 24" depth penetration, the 55 degree reflector is 36".

That means without reflectors, par at bottom of tank will be pretty low. You might be OK with that. If you used a reflector, you would probably want to raise the lights a little higher to increase uniformity across the beam.

Some of this will depend on your environment. Higher lights with reflector might spill less than lower lights with no reflector.

Depends on viewing height of tank and surroundings. Will glare from the lights affect you when you are in the same room as the tank? Canopy to shield lights or open mount?

 

[Grasshopper04]

I'm going for mixed reef. Since I've been out of the hobby for so long I'm going to have to take it slowly with my coral husbandry and feel through it. My previous tank way back when was only 30g, and I didn't try SPS.

If I find that I'm just not getting the PAR I need in various parts of the tank, or I need to supplement spectrum etc, then it will be nice to be able to add some supporting lights. The tank is going in a very prominent location right as you walk into the house, so I'm trying to keep the aesthetic of the setup really clean. Three Kessils on an 8020 rack will fit the bill, but if I need to supplement later, I still can.

 

[Grasshopper04]

Got it! You may or may not need reflectors. Depends on what kind of PAR you want at the sandbed. The 130 degree reflector (standard) has 24" depth penetration, the 55 degree reflector is 36".

That means without reflectors, par at bottom of tank will be pretty low. You might be OK with that. If you used a reflector, you would probably want to raise the lights a little higher to increase uniformity across the beam.

Some of this will depend on your environment. Higher lights with reflector might spill less than lower lights with no reflector.

Depends on viewing height of tank and surroundings. Will glare from the lights affect you when you are in the same room as the tank? Canopy to shield lights or open mount?

Open mount. It's going in a formal living room with attached dining room, so not a place where folks spend a ton of time, other than to experience the tank standing or sitting. Therefore a little overspill probably isn't a problem.

 

[coreytrv]

In formal living room.

Some seating areas around, how high is the stand?

Things to consider are whether or not the glare from a wider reflector will catch your eye and interfere.

If you're sitting adjacent the tank, and you have a bright light above you, will it spill into your field of view and create an issue?

Might just need to play around with it once you get it built. Maybe buy or rent a PAR meter too.

You're right between the 55 and reflectorless options. Turn it on adjust and see what feels right.

 

[minus9]

Swivel mount and 1/4” to m5 adapter

 

[minus9]

You can use a drop in stud (1/4” threads) for your size 8020 rail to mount the swivel mounts. The adapter mounts directly to the Kessil fixture.