Kessil A160we Realistic Coverage Area?

[gveng]

I am shopping for lights for my 100g 48"x24"x20".

From the limited research I have done it looks like (3) Kessil A160we would work with my tank.

Tank will be a mixed reef with rockwork only in middle. So realistically I only need coverage for about a 36"x24" area. Even less when you factor in the center trapizoid overflow.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajoe]

A160WE will cover a 12” - 24” area, at a height of 12” - 24” off the surface of the water respectively

 

[gveng]

A160WE will cover a 12" - 24" area, at a height of 12" - 24" off the surface of the water respectively

Yep! I saw that on the Kessil website.

So technically it should work, but I would really like some real life feedback.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm using a pair over a 36"x 18" space, 24" deep though. I'd say they're practical for 18x18 for mixed reef. Unless you're going to put corals right up against the front glass, two might suffice. Can always get a third later.

 

[gveng]

I'm using a pair over a 36"x 18" space, 24" deep though. I'd say they're practical for 18x18 for mixed reef. Unless you're going to put corals right up against the front glass, two might suffice. Can always get a third later.

That's reassuring.

I found this video on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/fusOpSDws2k

The tanks dimensions are 48"x24"x16" and looks like 3 A160we's are perfect.

 

[cedwards04]

Chiming in on this bc I basically have the same question. Been thinking hard and heavy about going to kessil a160's on my 40 breeder. I originally thought I would need 3, but maybe I only need 2?

My tank is currently lps dominated but I am adding sps soon and it will end up around a 50/50 mix of both.

One thing I will point out, in that video, he doesn't appear to have any high light demand corals or sps, and in the comments he stated he runs the lights at max intensity for 7hrs/day.

I'm starting to think I'd be better off with 2 a360we's so I dont have to run them so hard. Running at max intensity all the time can't be good for them.

Our footprint for lighting is similar. I'll be at 36x18x16 while you are looking to light 36x24x20

 

[gprdypoo04]

I've got one 360 WE over my 40 breeder and it's good for me

 

[cedwards04]

I've got one 360 WE over my 40 breeder and it's good for me

What corals are you growing though? I had a guy tell me he had 3 a360we's over his 40b and it wasn't enough for his sps. I find that hard to believe but that is what he said.

 

[billdogg]

Iuse a pair of A360WE's on my 4x2x12" frag tank at about 50%. SPS grows like mad

 

[cedwards04]

Iuse a pair of A360WE's on my 4x2x12" frag tank at about 50%. SPS grows like mad

Awesome. That being the case I'd say I better go with the a360's due to having a 16" deep tank. The 160's may not be strong enough to penetrate.

 

[hart24601]

The 160s are not powerhouses, I run one over a 3g pico 10x10, the light is only around 6" off the water and I run it at 100% intensity for 17hr a day with montis, stylo, and acro directly under it with no bleaching. It's great for a pico but I would be worried about any area more than a square foot per a160 if you want a nice 300 PAR for acro coloration.

 

[gprdypoo04]

What corals are you growing though? I had a guy tell me he had 3 a360we's over his 40b and it wasn't enough for his sps. I find that hard to believe but that is what he said.

I've got some SPS especially monti caps and they grow great. Also have zoanthids and a hammer coral. The light does dim towards the ends for any lower light corals. Yeah two 360's would be ideal though. I can't believe this guy had three 360's over his 40 breeder. That's just way overkill!

 

[cedwards04]

I've got some SPS especially monti caps and they grow great. Also have zoanthids and a hammer coral. The light does dim towards the ends for any lower light corals. Yeah two 360's would be ideal though. I can't believe this guy had three 360's over his 40 breeder. That's just way overkill!

He claims he had 3 360's and had to use t5's to supplement bc they weren't enough, he then sold the kessils and bought radions... I heard it on the internet so it must be true... haha

 

[cedwards04]

The 160s are not powerhouses, I run one over a 3g pico 10x10, the light is only around 6" off the water and I run it at 100% intensity for 17hr a day with montis, stylo, and acro directly under it with no bleaching. It's great for a pico but I would be worried about any area more than a square foot per a160 if you want a nice 300 PAR for acro coloration.

Do you think 2 a360's or 3 a160's would be better over a 40 breeder? (36×18×16)

 

[ReefCowboy]

I used two A160’s supplementing a 250mh over an sps 57 gal tank. Call me crazy but would never run those kessils by themselves on anything larger than a 36” x 18” if you plan on sps. Lps, softies it is a go

 

[RCS82]

I am shopping for lights for my 100g 48"x24"x20".

From the limited research I have done it looks like (3) Kessil A160we would work with my tank.

Tank will be a mixed reef with rockwork only in middle. So realistically I only need coverage for about a 36"x24" area. Even less when you factor in the center trapizoid overflow.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I would go 3 - 160s over 2 - 360s, especially on a 20" tall tank. Better spread and less shadows with more fixtures.

And up above with the 250w with kessils supplementing. What bulb are you running? 14k?

 

[ReefCowboy]

I would go 3 - 160s over 2 - 360s, especially on a 20" tall tank. Better spread and less shadows with more fixtures.

And up above with the 250w with kessils supplementing. What bulb are you running? 14k?

Yes, ran a phoenix 14k(what a beautiful light that bulb puts out...)with the kessils(blues only)adding the perfect balance, with lots of shimmer and the health and growth of halides.

Have now a new giesemann fixture that I will retrofit two A160’s on the outsides and an A360 in the middle just for blues.

 

[RCS82]

Yes, ran a phoenix 14k(what a beautiful light that bulb puts out...)with the kessils(blues only)adding the perfect balance, with lots of shimmer and the health and growth of halides.

Have now a new giesemann fixture that I will retrofit two A160's on the outsides and an A360 in the middle just for blues.

That's pretty sharp looking, and a new Giesemann will be awesome as well. Not just gonna go straight to a reefbrite? Or cause the Kessil will give you the nice shimmer

 

[ReefCowboy]

That's pretty sharp looking, and a new Giesemann will be awesome as well. Not just gonna go straight to a reefbrite? Or cause the Kessil will give you the nice shimmer

Yeah the kessils are the best option for retrofitting the giesemann spectra and the final product does look super sharp.

The blues of the kessils is unmatched IMO, just vibrant. I ran reefbrites and it would be much easier for me to add reefbrite bars, but I hate the DIY look it gives any fixture.

They arent that bright either, the higher intensity of the kessils make the difference in POP

 

[RCS82]

Yeah the kessils are the best option for retrofitting the giesemann spectra and the final product does look super sharp.

The blues of the kessils is unmatched IMO, just vibrant. I ran reefbrites and it would be much easier for me to add reefbrite bars, but I hate the DIY look it gives any fixture.

They arent that bright either, the higher intensity of the kessils make the difference in POP

Sorry for the slight derail OP but good to know, I have 2 kessil 360s and a reef brite blue xho over my 90, plus 2 t5s, so a pretty good mix lol.