Kessil vs Ai

[Pico_Reefs]

I am currently running two AI primes over a 40b, and I need to add a third. I have 2 old, used A360w that I was thinking I could maybe replace the primes with, or perhaps just turn them down and use them as supplemental lighting. I don't have a lot of sps right now, but it will be an sps-dominated tank in the not-so-distant future, or at least that's the plan.

What would you guys do add another prime/ something similar or add the 360ws?

 

[Indiana Reefin]

Both are great lights but completely different. I prefer the kessils due to the shimmer. What kind is SPS are you planning on keeping? If it’s everything but a few acros the kessils will do the trick and will put out plenty of PAR

 

[RajM]

Standard 40b is a large tank 36” wide and 16” deep I think. If you plan to keep SPS dominated tank, single Kessil 360x will not cut it. And for coverage for full tank I think you may need all 3. You might still need even more lights like a AI 32HD

 

[Indiana Reefin]

Standard 40b is a large tank 36” wide and 16” deep I think. If you plan to keep SPS dominated tank, single Kessil 360x will not cut it. And for coverage for full tank I think you may need all 3. You might still need even more lights like a AI 32HD

I took it he has 2 a360’s?

 

[RajM]

Standard 40b is a large tank 36” wide and 16” deep I think. If you plan to keep SPS dominated tank, single Kessil 360x will not cut it. And for coverage for full tank I think you may need all 3. You might still need even more lights like a AI 32HD

I took it he has 2 a360’s?

I missed that..

I that case I would use the 2 kessil for the spread because that’s something Kessil does best and the AI primes for where you have most of your SPS for the extra par, run the primes at low until your SPS are acclimated and then bump as needed.
You could also update the Kessil reflector for the extra punch and use ai primes for spread.

 

[Pico_Reefs]

Yeah sorry for the confusion there I have 2 a360w and 2 ai 16hds.

The par is great on the left and right sides but the center is pretty low. I was thinking the wider spread of the 360s would distribute the light a bit more evenly.

As for what corals exactly I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be able to keep. Currently I only have stylos, birdsnest, green slimmer, monties, and some acro I have no idea of the name.

All have really good growth with the 16s I just know I’m going to need more.

 

[minus9]

Sell the lights and buy the Quanta Helix bar combo. Reach out to Luca and he'll help you put together a great combo. Or keep the Kessil's and add a couple Helix meso blue bars.

 

[Rosengrant826]

I love kessils but they definitely need some additional for shadowing.

Rock the 2 360 with the primes.

 

[UtahReefer]

Over the years like many folks I've went through some lights. As we grow and learn in the hobby we change, and changing lighting can get expensive. Went through Radions and several other brands. They will all grow corals. For me I've found the best solution on my present system (IM 100 EXT) to be Kessil with AI Blades. I have two Kessil A500x units with two 48" AI Blades, one Grow and one Glow. This is an all SPS system and I have found this combo to give me the best growth and color. The Kessil's give the intensity and penetration similar to what metal halides used to and the Blades provide additional punch and fill light.

 

[Bruttall]

I'd replace them all with Reefi Lab uno led lights. I run 4 on top of an 8ft long 300g display. Half the cost of a Radion, twice the wattage of most leading brands of lights. I really like mine a lot.

ReeFi Uno 2.x Pro – ReeFi Lab

www.reefi-lab.com

 

[Pico_Reefs]

I went and got the 360s out of storage set one up and took some par readings they aren’t going to be usable for my application. They are pretty old and were given to me by a friend. The par readings were around 160 where I’m getting 300+ with the primes. I set the Kessle up on my softie tank and moved the prime that was on it over to the 40b. I’ll still probably replace it with a prime as I was running close to 200Par on my softie tank but this will do for now.