Kessil For SPS
- Thread starter Dan1788
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USMC 4 LIFE
Valuable Member
I think they’re great! I have various acros that grow fast and full without shadowing.
AP700, (2) 360X, (3) A80 in a standard 90 gallon tank.
AP700, (2) 360X, (3) A80 in a standard 90 gallon tank.
I run an A360x over my tank and it grows my acros very well. I'm very happy with it over all. I can see there being future shadowing issues with this light though. I'm upgrading to a 72"x30" soon and I plan on running 3 in total at first. I know that will suffice for a while but I'll definitely have to add either T5's or LED bars of some sort to help out with shadowing down the road.
cheelayqeelay
Community Member
I've just purchased 3 of them (will end up adding more or doing a hybrid, most likely) for a new 180 build. From the bit of research I did before picking them up, you'll find most complaints coming down to not producing enough PAR, and, shadowing.
Most likely, the only real concern is shadowing, especially if you are on a smaller tank with one light because the power of the A360X is the crammed LED's onto one board with an insane optic. This single point of light will cause more shadows, no doubt about it.
Check out this thread:
www.reef2reef.com
Also be sure to click on the video links in there of Neptune Aquatic's SPS dominant (120 gallon, I believe) tank thriving with (3x) A360X's and the BRS videos, of course.
Most likely, the only real concern is shadowing, especially if you are on a smaller tank with one light because the power of the A360X is the crammed LED's onto one board with an insane optic. This single point of light will cause more shadows, no doubt about it.
Check out this thread:
Kessil A360X’s and Acropora Success
My Waterbox 130.4 is approaching 7 months old and I just purchased my first acro frags. I am running 3 Kessil A360X’s over the 4 foot tank. I rented a PAR meter and can get 250-350 PAR at max intensity. Unique Corals states their acros are under 200-250 PAR LED’s, so I figured I should be...
www.reef2reef.com
Also be sure to click on the video links in there of Neptune Aquatic's SPS dominant (120 gallon, I believe) tank thriving with (3x) A360X's and the BRS videos, of course.
Oldcoder
Community Member
Just my 2 cents on 360x and par. I have 3 of them mounted 8 inches above a 4 foot long 20 inch deep tank. I have killed many corals in this tank I used the brs videos to set up the light was running them at 70% intensity and 20% color. SPS Lps everything died. Bought Seneye my par was 600+ at the about 8 inches water and 300 at the bottom of the tank. So I started adjusting setting adjusted them down to 50% intensity that got me 300 at the 8 to 9 inch under water mark bottom of the tank was still to high about 220 to 260 par 170 in the corner. Killed a couple more LPs Zoanthids lived. Bought some more Lps corals from Cherry Corals owner told me they keep the corals I bought at 60 to 100 par.
Got out the Par meter again tried to tune to 100 par at the bottom of the tank was to dim then it me. I had not been messing with the violet channel had it set to 80% most of the day.
So the violet channel by itself could not be generating that much Par could it? Wrong!!!! Turned it down to 15% finally got a significant difference between the top and the bottom of the tank. Makes sense obviously just did think the channel was that strong. Tuned my tank to get about 100 par at the bottom that made it about 220 at my high point.
Well my new corals are lower in the tank and thriving. First success in two years. May not be able to keep SPS very well because of the 20" depth.
Moral of the story is that violet channel packs a punch. Be careful with it.
Got out the Par meter again tried to tune to 100 par at the bottom of the tank was to dim then it me. I had not been messing with the violet channel had it set to 80% most of the day.
So the violet channel by itself could not be generating that much Par could it? Wrong!!!! Turned it down to 15% finally got a significant difference between the top and the bottom of the tank. Makes sense obviously just did think the channel was that strong. Tuned my tank to get about 100 par at the bottom that made it about 220 at my high point.
Well my new corals are lower in the tank and thriving. First success in two years. May not be able to keep SPS very well because of the 20" depth.
Moral of the story is that violet channel packs a punch. Be careful with it.
cheelayqeelay
Community Member
Thanks for sharing! This is a good word.
The violet channel is controlling 10 diodes, the 3rd most - closely behind the white - out of the channels on the light.
Kessil A360x with Spectral X Review – Modern Reefer
paulsvang.com
Oldcoder
Community Member
Thanks did not know that. Good informationThanks for sharing! This is a good word.
The violet channel is controlling 10 diodes, the 3rd most - closely behind the white - out of the channels on the light.
Kessil A360x with Spectral X Review – Modern Reefer
Nemoreef
Active Member
I have 2 a360x and I have my violets set to 80%. It gives a good glow to the corals. But my par is nowhere near that. Is it possible that my PAR meter is not picking it up? It's an apogee sq420.
Bpb
2500 Club Member
You can get growth and color with kessils alone. It will be limited heavily as kessils have really lousy scatter. The shimmer, contrast, and rendering are wonderful. To maximize results you really will want some sort of fill light. Otherwise the branching corals will be getting a limited amount of light which will impact shape and color heavily to where they really look best from top down and front views will be lacking. Between my 3-a360x units and my 2 reef breeders panels I’m getting about 400-500 par on the rocks and 100-200 on the sandbed
Nemoreef
Active Member
I installed the 55° kessil lenses yesterday and I am able to get around 400 on top of the rocks just with 50% intensity. 25% blue color, 80% violet. But it actually increased the shadows. I am trying to figure out how to get a clean look without having to add bar lights. Do you think it's possible to add Tunze submersible as a fill light right at the front panel top corner?
Bpb
2500 Club Member
Possible, yes, but it won’t be largely effective. Those aren’t real strong. The unfortunate reality is the cleaner/minimalist the install, the poorer the shade filling effect. More shade fill simply requires more light sources.
minus9
5000 Club Member
You most certainly can grow healthy acropora with Kessil's, but you're gonna need more than you think. But the same goes for other LEDs. Point source LEDs require more fixtures for acropora, but I'm being specific to branching acropora, not tabling or encrusting species. Any modern LED fixture can grow healthy acropora, it's all a matter of coverage/distribution of light, nothing more. As long as the fixture has a good spectrum and enough power, you're good.
Nemoreef
Active Member
I can already see that any of the branching ones will shade the branches below. That is why I was considering the Tunze submersible that can take care of the shadows. But I don't think they have the right spectrum.
minus9
5000 Club Member
Just add a couple Quanta Pro bars and enjoy!
minus9
5000 Club Member
They’re great lights. I’m currently using 3 meso blue bars and they’re awesome! @Lousybreed can help you select which ones to compliment your lights.
Halides are off, but they cover a lot on their own.
Nemoreef
Active Member
You have a beautiful tank and this light is making the corals glow.They’re great lights. I’m currently using 3 meso blue bars and they’re awesome! @Lousybreed can help you select which ones to compliment your lights.
Halides are off, but they cover a lot on their own.
minus9
5000 Club Member
Thanks! It’s slowly getting there.
Here are a couple shots before I rebooted the tank. Guess what lights grew all of this coral?
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