What lighting should I run??????

[buzz1ightyear]

Right now I have two lights that I own. A older kessil a360w and a ai prime 16hd. I’m trying to figure out what lighting I should run. Right now I have a hammer coral, zoas, monti and candy cane. They seem happy right now but the newest addition the hammer has only been in the tank about a week so far. All under the ai prime. I know the kessil is a much stronger light but I like the control ability of the ai being able to ramp up and down and control through the app. I want to be able to keep sps when I feel the tank is ready and don’t think the ai will be powerful enough. But for right now am I better off using one of them over the other or use both and only have the kessil on during peak hours and use the ai for ramping up down? I want to eventually get a new light all together but this is what I have for now.

Tank is a Red Sea reefer 200xl so basically a cube shape

 

[mcarroll]

You can do Kessils through an app if that's your preference. I like that manual control is also an option.

I think you'll like the Kessil better in the long run due to the extra power, but I don't think you'd be unhappy with either.

 

[buzz1ightyear]

You can do Kessils through an app if that's your preference. I like that manual control is also an option.

I think you'll like the Kessil better in the long run due to the extra power, but I don't think you'd be unhappy with either.

This being an older kessil it can’t be controlled by an app. At least I’m pretty sure it can’t. It would need to be on a timer and just on off. I’m worried about the ai prime light not being strong enough.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would suggest a 150-200 watt nicrew should allow you to grow anything you want. In comparison, the prime is 55 watts and the kessil is 90 watts.

 

[Acro Junky]

I will always say it, even though unpopular opinion. I like EcoTech Radion

 

[PPBlimpy]

A single noopsyche k7 would work. $139 - app kinda sucks but there are guys that have developed their own app which looks very promising

I am also testing the REEFB 70w lights and liking them $119. 2 would be enough for SPS eventually.
I have 2 over a 54g corner tank with sps and have par #s- app is super easy


Nicrew 100w or bigger would be fine- but need the controller

From there budget climbs and I don’t play with those.

 

[oreo54]

Right now I have two lights that I own. A older kessil a360w and a ai prime 16hd. I’m trying to figure out what lighting I should run. Right now I have a hammer coral, zoas, monti and candy cane. They seem happy right now but the newest addition the hammer has only been in the tank about a week so far. All under the ai prime. I know the kessil is a much stronger light but I like the control ability of the ai being able to ramp up and down and control through the app. I want to be able to keep sps when I feel the tank is ready and don’t think the ai will be powerful enough. But for right now am I better off using one of them over the other or use both and only have the kessil on during peak hours and use the ai for ramping up down? I want to eventually get a new light all together but this is what I have for now.

Tank is a Red Sea reefer 200xl so basically a cube shape

24" length x 22.6" width x 21" height
42 gal approx.
For future proofing and as a rough estimate look for lights that have 120w or greater output.
Price and color your choice.

One Nicrew 200W w/ the $50 timer is one of the more affordable options.
err maybe a150..

Your AI Prime (Max Power Consumption: 55W – 59W at maximum output) is not future proofing.

There are probably a dozen lights in that 120w-ish range. Some you heard of some you unlikely have heard of.
Micmol Thor, Nicrew, Noopsyche, Popbloom, GHL Mitras 7204, Reefi (actually a good choice as well ), some "clones" off Aliexpress, and a bunch of "not quite" generics in the 100w + range that are inexpensive enough to be fine till you want to blast the tank.. In other words replaced.
They will likely be fine for some high light corals in the upper levels.

Keep in mind your Kessil is "only" 90w and aging. It is controllable. Add $110

Kessil Spectral Controller X: Compatible with the A360W (and older 0-10V Kessil models) through its 0-10V output port (using the older Unit Link Cable). It features touch controls, a color display, and scheduling modes

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/spectral-controller-x-kessil.html?ab_version=B&utm_term=&utm_campaign=EL+|+ACQ_Prospecting_PMax+|+ROAS+|+Open+Targets+|+Low+Margin&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=17740353356&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=20681936359&gclid=CjwKCAjw56zWBhB0EiwAdPOQOSOJUauIetgIu4h6VBCaFjBmKm30_We43UJqUYPR1gDU3MXQ4YgVvBoCvL4QAvD_BwE]


A new Nicrew 150 w/ controller is about $300 at Amazon.

Things change.. doing future proofing is tricky.

Quanta is supposedly ( sorry until physically present it is, in the old speek, vaporware ) coming out with a 10v analog controller most likely at a fair price.
Good for Kessils, older Nicrews and even new nicrews with the add on. New nicrews are not 10v compatible out of the box.

You can eliminate using price, app, cloud , hard wire control, base "color", focused or spread lighting, watts, brand, If it has a tank mount and it is extra and at what cost. ect.

Since you may be used to spending "Kessil money" on lights the Reefi 2.1 with tank mount is $640 for 270 watts of infinitly tune-able color. Can't get any more future proof than that.. :)
Mitras 7204 and 7504 ( 2 base colors) is 131W max and $600. Replaceable led clusters (fairly unique ).
That $600 includes nothing extra like a mount. Well the software and cloud service is free.

So way more info and a bit scattered than you wanted and def. not "all inclusive".

I was curious as to what AI would say about a Nicrew 150 and sps. I started using the 200 then switched to the 150. 220's sort of an odd shape being rectagular moreso than the 150.
The 90 degree lenses would be nice for some more punch.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Red+Sea+reefer+200xl+and+150+nicrew+lights&client=firefox-b-1-d&hs=m97V&sca_esv=02ffcbc0a1d52d68&channel=hubc&biw=2519&bih=1281&sxsrf=APpeQnvTQfVExt5tzbazaujEQ8o3UdV9eQ:1791763056708&ei=YCLMauiPNqvsmLQPqdKu8As&uact=5&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8cqCQj_06QnZs315LoFmPf5bBLHMJ0vMQmTbuI72DM7jmSm18uaHUIcIw77cYBDAp2S_EK0zZU1C-EyNUuO0jdFxMWTDmnTbhx04BCo-R2s6Wu44rul1_RElGGjacFY99FKsRCVbRUnmdBMi_yk6vDXV2QHYLWmxPLdktTWHfyC1WNBWzPxa1YBE-E7OOh_i0aAEJrXw&aep=10&ntc=1&mstk=AUtExfCdrgKtae8WrrGUUJmgY5IB5mvmqHcxKIBKfDMHY-_F_u4QV0zdjvNn01yXRmrfzuOl9pQUR8RURyTPmx7g4bqgxRRwYwmJbG67CqqLhg-McP5Ivh3wIoDdgZ36Fd3DCvPfflNyul03zJKPzePKupZ_TBDP_bsmWCrAGn8vyVpZwseHXCVSaGEFlYqub2OI8iJON5GGjqMbFi7X2aIuIc-U0_XAahJoqjN-Jrb9FnWuY6azWxOeOBjdEgVS1a-u1oY92Ks3QDdUgWpVXiSdylXDQGMb02HW4C6PfxDL6ERTTJR2y9-zblmMx0nmDNbdgE3woL6naqC3n8ok_Z-mn8gQseEyb9mG9g&aioh=3&csuir=1&udm=50&mtid=nyLMasn-HoWJptQPhvnesQc

 

[buzz1ightyear]

24" length x 22.6" width x 21" height
42 gal approx.
For future proofing and as a rough estimate look for lights that have 120w or greater output.
Price and color your choice.

One Nicrew 200W w/ the $50 timer is one of the more affordable options.
err maybe a150..

Your AI Prime (Max Power Consumption: 55W – 59W at maximum output) is not future proofing.

There are probably a dozen lights in that 120w-ish range. Some you heard of some you unlikely have heard of.
Micmol Thor, Nicrew, Noopsyche, Popbloom, GHL Mitras 7204, Reefi (actually a good choice as well ), some "clones" off Aliexpress, and a bunch of "not quite" generics in the 100w + range that are inexpensive enough to be fine till you want to blast the tank.. In other words replaced.
They will likely be fine for some high light corals in the upper levels.

Keep in mind your Kessil is "only" 90w and aging. It is controllable. Add $110





https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/spectral-controller-x-kessil.html?ab_version=B&utm_term=&utm_campaign=EL+|+ACQ_Prospecting_PMax+|+ROAS+|+Open+Targets+|+Low+Margin&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=17740353356&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=20681936359&gclid=CjwKCAjw56zWBhB0EiwAdPOQOSOJUauIetgIu4h6VBCaFjBmKm30_We43UJqUYPR1gDU3MXQ4YgVvBoCvL4QAvD_BwE]


A new Nicrew 150 w/ controller is about $300 at Amazon.

Things change.. doing future proofing is tricky.

Quanta is supposedly ( sorry until physically present it is, in the old speek, vaporware ) coming out with a 10v analog controller most likely at a fair price.
Good for Kessils, older Nicrews and even new nicrews with the add on. New nicrews are not 10v compatible out of the box.

You can eliminate using price, app, cloud , hard wire control, base "color", focused or spread lighting, watts, brand, If it has a tank mount and it is extra and at what cost. ect.

Since you may be used to spending "Kessil money" on lights the Reefi 2.1 with tank mount is $640 for 270 watts of infinitly tune-able color. Can't get any more future proof than that.. :)
Mitras 7204 and 7504 ( 2 base colors) is 131W max and $600. Replaceable led clusters (fairly unique ).
That $600 includes nothing extra like a mount. Well the software and cloud service is free.

So way more info and a bit scattered than you wanted and def. not "all inclusive".

I was curious as to what AI would say about a Nicrew 150 and sps. I started using the 200 then switched to the 150. 220's sort of an odd shape being rectagular moreso than the 150.
The 90 degree lenses would be nice for some more punch.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Red+Sea+reefer+200xl+and+150+nicrew+lights&client=firefox-b-1-d&hs=m97V&sca_esv=02ffcbc0a1d52d68&channel=hubc&biw=2519&bih=1281&sxsrf=APpeQnvTQfVExt5tzbazaujEQ8o3UdV9eQ:1791763056708&ei=YCLMauiPNqvsmLQPqdKu8As&uact=5&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8cqCQj_06QnZs315LoFmPf5bBLHMJ0vMQmTbuI72DM7jmSm18uaHUIcIw77cYBDAp2S_EK0zZU1C-EyNUuO0jdFxMWTDmnTbhx04BCo-R2s6Wu44rul1_RElGGjacFY99FKsRCVbRUnmdBMi_yk6vDXV2QHYLWmxPLdktTWHfyC1WNBWzPxa1YBE-E7OOh_i0aAEJrXw&aep=10&ntc=1&mstk=AUtExfCdrgKtae8WrrGUUJmgY5IB5mvmqHcxKIBKfDMHY-_F_u4QV0zdjvNn01yXRmrfzuOl9pQUR8RURyTPmx7g4bqgxRRwYwmJbG67CqqLhg-McP5Ivh3wIoDdgZ36Fd3DCvPfflNyul03zJKPzePKupZ_TBDP_bsmWCrAGn8vyVpZwseHXCVSaGEFlYqub2OI8iJON5GGjqMbFi7X2aIuIc-U0_XAahJoqjN-Jrb9FnWuY6azWxOeOBjdEgVS1a-u1oY92Ks3QDdUgWpVXiSdylXDQGMb02HW4C6PfxDL6ERTTJR2y9-zblmMx0nmDNbdgE3woL6naqC3n8ok_Z-mn8gQseEyb9mG9g&aioh=3&csuir=1&udm=50&mtid=nyLMasn-HoWJptQPhvnesQc

Thank you for all that information. It’s definitely a lot more than I asked for but I do appreciate it all. I now realize that the kessil is able to be Controlled and bought the controller. I bought the kessil used for cheap but think it will be better than the ai light. I’ll definitely be looking to upgrade so will look at everything you said more closely.

 

[mcarroll]

This being an older kessil it can’t be controlled by an app. At least I’m pretty sure it can’t. It would need to be on a timer and just on off. I’m worried about the ai prime light not being strong enough.

It would have to be *really* old to be app proof....unlikely there are manyu living units from that era. Even those were controllable via 1-10v signal.

But Google is your friend on this one, or evven Kessils website.....you just need the wifi dongle.