Kessil Light Combo for Waterbox Frag 105.4

Mac93

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Looking for advice. Setting up a Waterbox Frag 105.4 (48L x 24W x 16 H). I currently have 2 A160s and 1 A360x. Goal will be SPS heavy ( or really tricked out softie tank if I lose patience/run out of money). Was thinking thinking one A9x in middle flanked by the two A160s or 360x ( I would buy a 2nd). Any guidance appreciated And I’m a creature of habit so not considering any other lights. Have Kessils on my cube and frag/qt tank. Thanks again!
 

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I would get a 2nd a360x and run the two a160's. This would be the cheapest. They do make angle adjustment pieces if you think that might be handy.
 
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Mac93

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I would get a 2nd a360x and run the two a160's. This would be the cheapest. They do make angle adjustment pieces if you think that might be handy.
Thanks. My initial post wasn't clear in that i wanted to use either the a160s or the a360x (i have an a360x unused and the a160s are on my Qt tank. I would either buy another a360x along with the A9x or move the a160s to the new tank and put the a360x on the tq frag tank). In any event, with an A9x or two A360x i could use the a160s and be covered. Correct?
 

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Thanks. My initial post wasn't clear in that i wanted to use either the a160s or the a360x (i have an a360x unused and the a160s are on my Qt tank. I would either buy another a360x along with the A9x or move the a160s to the new tank and put the a360x on the tq frag tank). In any event, with an A9x or two A360x i could use the a160s and be covered. Correct?

Ohhh I see what you mean. Yes I think you could do the setup with either an a9x or 2 a360x's and the a160's. My only concern is the color is a bit different in x series if you use the controller and setup your own color (you can raise indigo, red, and green).
 
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Ohhh I see what you mean. Yes I think you could do the setup with either an a9x or 2 a360x's and the a160's. My only concern is the color is a bit different in x series if you use the controller and setup your own color (you can raise indigo, red, and green).
That’s a great point. Didn’t think about color blending with different lights. So probably best to go with another a360x or maybe scratch the 9x and just go with three a360x. I know BRS says 1 360x per 1ft of area but that just seems like overkill to me. I’m not going to have coral growing on the edges of the tank but what do I know.
 

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That’s a great point. Didn’t think about color blending with different lights. So probably best to go with another a360x or maybe scratch the 9x and just go with three a360x. I know BRS says 1 360x per 1ft of area but that just seems like overkill to me. I’m not going to have coral growing on the edges of the tank but what do I know.


You could try the a160's and see how they look before you buy more of the 360x.
 
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Mac93

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2 a360x, 4 led bars (orphek or reef brite)
Thought about that but couldn't find any images of others mounting those bars with the kessil arms. Wife will shut the whole operation down if it isn't clean looking and i can't put a canopy or any type of hung fixture in that room.
 

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I saw this on the reef brite Facebook page:
1614121675879.png
 

Kessil

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Those Reef Brite add-ons are brand new (last week or two if I remember right) - so we haven't had a chance to play with them hands on. Just make sure if you mount them that you're not over stressing the mounting arm with weight - you don't want to damage the glass of the aquarium.

As for your question - We try to calibrate the lights to be similar in color - however adding Violet, Red, or Green to the AP9X / A360X would definitely change the color compared to the A160 units.

On the flip side, the AP9X has 0-10v output, so you'll be able to control your A160 units through the app if you would like to do that and you hardwire them to the AP9X.

Let us know if there's other questions we can help with!
 
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Mac93

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Those Reef Brite add-ons are brand new (last week or two if I remember right) - so we haven't had a chance to play with them hands on. Just make sure if you mount them that you're not over stressing the mounting arm with weight - you don't want to damage the glass of the aquarium.

As for your question - We try to calibrate the lights to be similar in color - however adding Violet, Red, or Green to the AP9X / A360X would definitely change the color compared to the A160 units.

On the flip side, the AP9X has 0-10v output, so you'll be able to control your A160 units through the app if you would like to do that and you hardwire them to the AP9X.

Let us know if there's other questions we can help with!
Thanks. The connectivity with the A160s or A360x’s was one of the reasons I was considering the A9X. Now I’m wondering if I would be better off going with three A360x instead Of the A9x and trying to blend In additional lights.
 

Kessil

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Thanks. The connectivity with the A160s or A360x’s was one of the reasons I was considering the A9X. Now I’m wondering if I would be better off going with three A360x instead Of the A9x and trying to blend In additional lights.
Given what you've said in your posts, and if I'm understanding this right, I'd run the A160s on your QT tank, and run A360Xs in the main system. Full functionality of everything else, and you're not having to mix and match light colors.

The A360X is a pretty robust "utility tool", if you will. It will work extremely well on systems like you're setting up
 

Jekyl

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Why not get a t5 hybrid fixture and just incorporate the kessils you have now? Would be best coverage option on a frag tank
 
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Mac93

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Given what you've said in your posts, and if I'm understanding this right, I'd run the A160s on your QT tank, and run A360Xs in the main system. Full functionality of everything else, and you're not having to mix and match light colors.

The A360X is a pretty robust "utility tool", if you will. It will work extremely well on systems like you're setting up
I think i'm going to go with the A9X to start and put the a 360x on my coral/invert qt tank where it was originally. Cleaner look and if i need to add more lights in the future i can run them off of the A9x.
 
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Mac93

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Why not get a t5 hybrid fixture and just incorporate the kessils you have now? Would be best coverage option on a frag tank
Wife wasn't a fan of the mounting options.
 

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