Great points Nick. The only thing I'm not quite sure I agree on is that 2x radions = 6x a350s. I would argue that it is closer to 4x radions = 6x kessils. Obviously this is completely subjective, but it is based on my own side by side comparisons with multiple units and playing around with various combinations of them over my tanks.
I have the same display tank as you (120g 48x24x24) and I too replaced my Pheonix 250s and T5s with 2x radions. However, I was pretty unhappy at first. The tank looked significantly dimmer and I had problems with shadowing and poor coloration of SPS deep in the tank. I have since added 2 more Radions for a total of 4 plus 2 XHO Reefbright actinic LED strips. I am finally happy with the lighting over the display and my SPS are growing better than ever everywhere in the tank. I am using Kessils over my shallow grow out tanks and have been very happy with them as well.
Could you please post pictures of how you have the 4 Radions mounted over your 120? I have mine mounted length wise as opposed to widthwise....
I also have mine at an angle so that the inboard LED clusters are raised slightly higher than the outboard clusters. This focuses the majority of the light towards the middle of the tank.
I've got SPS growing on the bottom of the tank with good coloration.
IME, 4 Radions over a 120 (48x24x24) with the same settings I have on mine, (80% intensity at 12K color, Artificial Mode) would be too much light over the tank. I have SPS that had to adjust to the intensity and have lightened considerably from where they used to be.
What settings do you have your 4 Radions on?
I'm not pushing Radions over the Kessil's, but in my experiance, the Kessil A350W isnt able to adequately replace a single 250 watt Phoenix 14K over a shallow 40 breeder tank. Would it replace a single 250 watt XM 15K?
I'd say probably.
The Kessils are a good product IMO, but I'm not seeing them able to grow SPS in a deeper tank when I'm seeing significantly slower growth and muted colors of SPS in my 40 breeder frag tank which is plumbed into my 120 and a 58 display as well.
You're the one who suggested going with 6 of the Kessils over Gibbus123's tank. I was merely pointing out that for the cost of 6 Kessils, he could buy 2 Radions which IME would do what he wants for less money. There would be a higher start up cost than the Kessils, but overall cost would be less.
I'm not suggesting that 2 Radions are the equal of 6 Kessils, I'm stating that I have a 250 gallon system that consists of:
120 BB Display with SPS and H.magnifica anemones
58 DSB display with LPS, Softies, an H.magnifica anemone, an H.crispa anemone, and 2 RBTA's
40 Breeder BB Frag tank with SPS and softy frags.
The 120 is lit by the two Radions on Artificial Mode, at 12K colors at 80% intensity.
The 58 is lit by a single Radion on Artificial Mode, at 12K color, at 60% intensity
The 40 breeder is lit by the Kessil A350W on the left side, (less than 4 inches above the water line and a DIY LED light over the right.
And with that set up and those lights, in my experiance, the Kessil A350W will not penetrate deep enough to grow SPS on the bottom of a 24 inch deep tank.
I have no idea if 6 Kessil A350's will throw enough light to be able to grow SPS on the bottom of a 24 inch deep tank. I do know that 2 Radions will, and will do so for less total cost and electricity usage than 6 Kessils.
I hope I'm not sounding defensive or hostile here, because I'm really not. I'm just pointing out what I stated and why.
Gibbus123,
To answer your question:
So it's better to get 3 A350 regulars then? I mean rather than 2 regulars and 1wide.
That's up to you. For your tank, you're going to need a minimum of 3 Kessil A350's, (that much we can agree on...
)
I dont remember what the spread of the A350's are vs the A350W's is, (IIRC its 30 ish degrees for the A350's and 75 degrees for the A350W's), but the thing that's important here is that 3 A350's might not have enough coverage for your tank to avoid having hot spots and obvious shadows between the lights unless you raise them higher, which negates the purpose of going for A350's vs the A350W's.
And if you're going to go with 4 or more Kessils, you might begin to look at other lights at that point. For $2400 you could begin to look at the Vertex Illuminata or some of the others for example....
Ultimately its your call.
Based on my experiance with the single A350W I have in my possession, I feel the Kessils are a good entry level LED light that costs about a single 175/250 watt MH set up, (reflector, ballast, inexpensive bulb) would cost, and would use less energy than the MH set up, and would save money by not needing a yearly bulb replacement.
But I dont feel that it produces the same results as a single 250 watt MH set up with most bulb/ballast combinations available.
Hopefully, Kessil will come out with an A450 and an A550 (or some more intense varients in the new future) which will have the ability to replace all 250 watt bulb/ballast combinations.
The Kessil is well made IMO, looks good, is simple to operate and is affordable. But the A350W just doesnt have enough punch to grow SPS at or below about 15 inches of depth. Again, I dont know about the A350's as I havent seem them in person or used one.
Nick
