Lighting Output

Kyle Rinker · Jun 6, 2018

I thought it would be worth noting a lighting change I made recently. In my Nuvo 40, I had been using a Masxpect Ethereal for lighting with the thought that the output it produced would be more than sufficient for a mixed reef in a tank that size. I will admit that I like my lighting to look a little more blue to the eye than most people do, but nothing too outlandish. I had some small SPS pieces close to the top of my tank, but nothing that was light hungry. When I decided to add a Maxima clam, I finally paid attention to what my Apex was telling me my light output was for my color spectrum. I was shocked how low it was. I had four Kessil A160s sitting around at home, so I swapped out the Ethereal for the Kessils, which should be approximately the equivalent of two A360s in a 24" wide space. I can't believe the difference in total output. I am getting the same "color" of light I liked with my Ethereal, but a ton more light. I attached a photo from my Apex dashboard, as well as a photo with the Ethereal light and now the Kessils. I am running the Kessils at 30% color and 80% intensity.