Supplemental light

snyderman99 · Jul 31, 2025

Hey everyone!

I have a kessel A80 light over my fluval 13.5 gallon tank. The light looks amazing but it’s shadowing sides of the coral. Is that okay? I have the LED light that comes with the fluval tank as well but my issue is that I’m starting to grow some SPS in the tank. Is the kessel or the fluval light strong enough? Someone is selling two nicrew hyper reef 50 watt lights by me. Should I just replace my lights with two of those on a low setting? I’m relatively new to reefing so just trying to make sure everything is right!

Thank you!

Euphyllia97 · Jul 31, 2025

I think your light should do the trick in the beginning. But when your frags start to grow, there will be more shading due to their sizes on the rockwork below. So if you have the budget it is definitly better to go for the 2 50 watts, with 2 sources you can also try and divide the light to where it is needed the most.

oreo54 · Jul 31, 2025

snyderman99 said:
Hey everyone!

I have a kessel A80 light over my fluval 13.5 gallon tank. The light looks amazing but it’s shadowing sides of the coral. Is that okay? I have the LED light that comes with the fluval tank as well but my issue is that I’m starting to grow some SPS in the tank. Is the kessel or the fluval light strong enough? Someone is selling two nicrew hyper reef 50 watt lights by me. Should I just replace my lights with two of those on a low setting? I’m relatively new to reefing so just trying to make sure everything is right!

Thank you!

Some specs:
22″ L x 15″ W x 11.5″ H

Fluval lights is listed as 14000K, 31leds and possibly 16w
Kessil is 15w

Nicrew 50 needs a particular in line controller. Do they include that?
2 is overkill in my opinion.
Sure the output is dimmable that 2 can be like 20 watts ( just an example not a recommendation)
Would cover the rectangle better.

For $100 you can get a brand spanking new Nicrew Navi 65.
Controllers extra .. $50

So some depends on cost. You have enough light excess to cover a rectangle in one 50.

This is the Navi light pattern
I'd suspect the 50 isn't much different
Imagine 15x22 in there .
And less height so more par.

oreo54 · Jul 31, 2025

Found a 50 map..

PPBlimpy · Jul 31, 2025

I have a nicrew 100w g1 over my 13.5G. Way overkill but spread is great! No controller, just a analog timer.

skey44 · Jul 31, 2025

I think kessils are great. They will definitely grow corals. They do have dramatic shading though. I plan to add a diffuse light source, currently leaning to an AI blade to supplement my kessils at some point. My tank is doing great with two ap9x but I do wish for more fill light. I do know if I add a strip it will kill the clean vibe I have going lighting wise. I wouldn’t stress it too much. The shading is definitely ok as long as your par is otherwise ok.