Question on Kessil 360 LED

RobertN · Apr 22, 2016

Hi All--
I currently have a 100g cube. It's 30" wide x 30" deep by 24" tall. I have a canopy on it (and that isn't negotiable, according to the wife). The lighting I currently have are these cheap (ugh) ecoexotic LED strips. One that is all actinic bulbs and the other that alternates white and blue.
However, all is not lost.....the wife has given the go-ahead for me to get 2.....not just 1, but TWO Kessil lights.....YEEHAW! So I have a several questions for any who can help me with answering them.

1. Considering my tank is 24" tall (and the canopy ceiling is about 8-8.5" from the surface of the water), do you think I need the 360 narrow or the wide angle? I was planning on putting them on each side of the middle of the tank with a slight tilt towards the center. I figured I could reduce more shaded areas by doing that. I was originally thinking of going with the wide angle to get more coverage and also have less shaded areas. But I've seen where someone has written that the narrow ones are better for taller tanks. However, I do want to have somewhat lower light areas on the bottom so that I won't have trouble finding a suitable spot for corals that are lower light corals.

2. Does the basic light come standard with some sort of mounting that I could use to place them onto the ceiling of the canopy or do I need to buy something separate? If I need something separate, what would that be? And if I want to tilt them a little, as I mentioned above, do I need some separate (third party......or worse yet, DIY--I'm pretty weak with DIY projects) mounting pieces?

3. I have a possible chance to buy a couple locally for a fairly good price from a private party. They are supposed to be new, in unopened boxes. If that is indeed true, would a blank warranty card be present in an unopened box so that I could still receive the 2 year warranty even though I'm not buying them from an authorized dealer?

Thanks very much, in advance, for any help you can give me with these questions!
Robert

Kershaw · Apr 22, 2016

They come with a ring you can hang them from as far as being able to tilt them you may have to buy something. I have the wide angle ones on my tank which is 48x30x 20. You could do one of each. The wide would help make the tank look more full of light while the narrow would help with par down deeper. You will have to fill out the warranty card that is in the box. Should still be good.

Kershaw · Apr 22, 2016

After thought.
I think I would but nArrow dead center and a little to back pointing straight down then put wide in front of it pointing slightly back at an angle to fill tank with light and help remove shadowing.
Another option wich will probably be best is get the 1wide and 2 24 inch duel t5 lights to go in canopy.

Then save rest of money to get something else you want

RobertN · Apr 23, 2016

Thanks much for the suggestions, Kershaw! So if I did the single Kassil wide with the 2 24 inch dual t5 lights, what would be the positioning of them? Also, do you have a recommendation re: the t5 fixture.....I saw one when I just did a search--Coralife Aqualight HO t5 Dual Lamp Aquarium light fixture. Do you know of this one? And what bulbs should I use in the fixture (actinics vs. white)? And do I need a controller for the t5's? I liked the idea of having some sort of automated/programmed control. Even with the Kassil I was thinking of buying the $100 controller for it/them. Thanks!

Kershaw · Apr 23, 2016

I would get t5 retrofit to mount in canopy. As far as bulbs I would use like 2blue plus 1 actinic and a uv. Kessil dead center and measure distance from kessil to edge of canopy and place the t5 center of that distance. I will be doing same once I build a canopy. Kessils are a little weak in the uv. So this should allow you to grow anything. I have used just kessils for about 3 years now and have had great success. Make sure you get a kessil spectral controller or a Apex to control kessil.

RobertN · Apr 23, 2016

Thanks! So one t5 fixture would be midway between the kessil and the front edge of the canopy and one t5 fixture would be midway between the kessil and the back edge of the canopy, correct? And you don't think those t5's are going to cause too much heat in the water or be too intense for corals near the top of the tank since the canopy is only 8 or so inches above the water (and the lights will be more like 6 or so inches from the water since they will not be flush against the canopy ceiling; and the t5's will not be able to be controllable to ramp them down to less than full intensity)?

choff · Apr 23, 2016

Kessils will over heat easily if your canopy is not well vented.

I use these swivel mounts if you still want to angle them.

https://asp-pa-web-2-pavinthewaysoftw.netdna-ssl.com/product_image/asp_pa/500x500/8889.jpg

Kershaw · Apr 23, 2016

choff said:
Kessils will over heat easily if your canopy is not well vented.

I use these swivel mounts if you still want to angle them.

https://asp-pa-web-2-pavinthewaysoftw.netdna-ssl.com/product_image/asp_pa/500x500/8889.jpg

Yes true I forgot about the heat. my canopy will only be 3 sided and have most of top open.

T5s are normally really close to water. But you will need some type of ventilation. You will have more issues with kessils being to intense that's why I said to get spectral controller so you have acclimation mode. Using the swivels posted above. You can do the two kessils. Less actual heat to the water but like he said they will need some air movement

Kershaw · Apr 23, 2016

like I said you don't need the t 5s. I have grown coral very well with kessils alone. I think t5/led takes it to another level.

RobertN · Apr 23, 2016

My canopy has no back, so it's 3-sided too. Do I need to actually cut out part of the top or can I just mount 2 or 3 small fans inside--would that be sufficient? Is it just a matter of needing to move around the air inside of the canopy or would more air from outside the canopy need to be given access to the inside of the canopy?
Thanks to each of you for the info and thanks for the swivel idea, choff!

RobertN · Apr 24, 2016

Any recommendations on a brand/model for retrofit t5 HO fixtures? I see ones by Hamilton, Helios, Wavepoint; and Coralife has a low profile fixture as well. Also, any recommendations for the fans to put in? Thanks much!
Robert

Kershaw · Apr 24, 2016

Not sure. About brand for. Just read the reviews. Fans I would just get 2 cheap quite ones and buy a hole saw for that size. Make two holes on top next to kessil again about half way between light and left and right side of hood. You should make a build thread on this!! Allot of people want the same thing as you and it would help others.

choff · Apr 25, 2016

Similar to what you are talking about, I almost went with 2x4 bulb ATI sun power units and was going to run my 4 kessils down the middle of them, but thought was going to look to busy. I ended up going with the 8 bulb ATI led hybrid unit, but I went with the 48" model to go over my 62" tank. I'm gong to attach a Kessil on each end with a swivel mount. The kessils are really just there to provide shimmer and a fill in the light on the ends.

RobertN · Apr 25, 2016

I have just looked at Hamilton Aruba Sun 24" retrofit t5 HO fixtures. On their website, the fixtures come with a choice of bulbs. One of the choices is 2 420 nm blues and another choice is 2 460 nm blues. Why would I pick 420 nm vs. 460 nm?
A build thread, eh? I'm so bad with this sort of thing, I'm worried I'll screw it up and just be documenting my bumbling.
Thanks all!
Robert

Kershaw · Apr 26, 2016

If I recall 420 is more uv then actinic that is the range that kessil is a bit week on. If you have four t5 you want 1 to be in the 420-430 range. Others might be able to help more.