Kessil A350
- Thread starter Alex T.
- Start date
Prochef176
New member
Not really impressed with the pictures on this thread....go ahead light me up for it....
+1
If you base your lighting decisions based on internet pictures you are bound to be disappointed. I haven't seen one tank that looked the same in person as it did in online pictures. Even spread can be deceiving although it's less so than color.
Prochef176
New member
Yes and I agree that it is difficult to get a great representation of lighting. However after reading all of the anticipation for these and how a good amount of people thought this would be a game changer, seeing the snapshots have been kind of a let down. And I am not at all being critical of the members shots/tanks/setups. And I wouldnt buy any of the high end lighting without seeing some in person.
inktomi
Aviator
I got an A350W as a gift, and I have to say that it's a lot less light than my eight bulb t5 power module. I need to buy at least one more before I can do the tank conversion, but I'm wondering...
My tank is two feet by two feet by five feet and has a mixture of sps, lps, and soft corals throughout. Are two A350W really enough? Or should I use this wide in the middle and put two A350 to either end of the tank?
It's very bright, but it's not the blinding bright power module I'm used to for the past several years. Is it really enough over a two foot deep and two foot wide tank?
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My tank is two feet by two feet by five feet and has a mixture of sps, lps, and soft corals throughout. Are two A350W really enough? Or should I use this wide in the middle and put two A350 to either end of the tank?
It's very bright, but it's not the blinding bright power module I'm used to for the past several years. Is it really enough over a two foot deep and two foot wide tank?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
inktomi
Aviator
The power module is too much really. I'm looking forward to my kessil adventure. I'll start with two wides and I can always add a third if needed. It's just surprisingly less light than what we're used to with the melt your face power module.
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Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
They are the equivalent of a 450 Watt halide, not a 250.
I would never advise someone that one of these could almost replace 2x250W metal halides. I think expecting that efficiency is a bit much. Even going by Kessils naming of the light they may try to say 350 watts although they do not like to give a comparable number to MH lights. I can't say I blame them based on the great number of variables in each lighting setup. For light demanding corals they recommend one A350w for each 2x2 section up to 24" of depth. Deeper than that and they recommend the narrow lens but you do sacrifice some coverage.
inktomi
Aviator
Very interesting. That's what I've been looking for! I'll be ordering a second A350w and have softies in the center dimmer area.
Thanks!
I have a 120 (4x2x2), and running 2x250 MH and 4 PCs. From what i've read, these still arent getting the same performance as the MH. That being said, would it be advisable to use one A350W as a supplement? or even two A150s? I'm not looking to cut back on the heat but looking to cut some of the electricity a bit... doesnt need to be all but some is better than none. So i was considering keeping the MH and then using the kessils as suppliments. What would be the best combination? or is it even advisable?
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
Is your tank running with a sandbed?
I'm an A350W in place of a single 250w Phoenix 14K SE bulb over my frag tank.
Based on what I've seen over the month I've been using it, I would state that it will absolutely replace a 250w MH. It wont match the PAR numbers of an Iwasaki or XM 10K on an HQI ballast, but it will most certainly match a Phoenix 14K powered by an E Ballast.
Nick
I'm an A350W in place of a single 250w Phoenix 14K SE bulb over my frag tank.
Based on what I've seen over the month I've been using it, I would state that it will absolutely replace a 250w MH. It wont match the PAR numbers of an Iwasaki or XM 10K on an HQI ballast, but it will most certainly match a Phoenix 14K powered by an E Ballast.
Nick
maxxII
Super Housemonkey!
I think you'll be fine with it. I dont think you're going to get super SPS growth down on the sandbed, but with sand there (on the bottom), you arent running the water movement at good levels for SPS anyway, so its a moot point.
If you're really concerned about it, I'd try the A350W's and if they're not enough, then add a pair of A350's for the extra punch to the bottom.
At that point, you'll have spent more than a pair of Radion's would run you...so there is that to consider.
I know this is a thread about Kessil A350's, but I have a pair of Radion's over my 120 SPS/Anemone Reef and they replaced a pair of Phoenix 14K SE's run by an HQI ballast.
I'm running them at 80% intensity level with the color setting at 12k which is very, very close to the color of the Phoenix bulbs. My H.magnifica anemones have not moved and if the intensity of the light had decreased, they would have.
One thing to note, the Kessil A350 light at 100% on both channels is bluer than the Phoenix bulbs, and looks to my eye to be closer to the coloration of a Hamilton 14K than anything else.
Nick
If you're really concerned about it, I'd try the A350W's and if they're not enough, then add a pair of A350's for the extra punch to the bottom.
At that point, you'll have spent more than a pair of Radion's would run you...so there is that to consider.
I know this is a thread about Kessil A350's, but I have a pair of Radion's over my 120 SPS/Anemone Reef and they replaced a pair of Phoenix 14K SE's run by an HQI ballast.
I'm running them at 80% intensity level with the color setting at 12k which is very, very close to the color of the Phoenix bulbs. My H.magnifica anemones have not moved and if the intensity of the light had decreased, they would have.
One thing to note, the Kessil A350 light at 100% on both channels is bluer than the Phoenix bulbs, and looks to my eye to be closer to the coloration of a Hamilton 14K than anything else.
Nick
Aimforever
Premium Member
This is just simply not true, and it is statements like this that made me set my expectations too high and resulted in my general disappointment with the output of the Kessil. :headwallblue: Have you ever actually seen a Kessil 350, or a 400W halide for that matter? It absolutely pales in comparison to a 400W MH...
In my opinion even calling it equivalent to a 250 is a long stretch. To be clear, all 250W halides are certainly not created equal. I was using DE 250W Phoenix 14k bulbs on Bluewave HQI ballasts. Based on both my PAR measurements and just simple visual comparison it falls short of my prior 250W halide setup.
Aimforever
Premium Member
My suggestion is that 1 wouldn't work too well as a supplement since it wouldn't evenly cover the whole tank, and aesthetically would look out of place. I would consider using a high output 48" LED striplight or two to replace your PC lights.
If you really like the Kessils maybe consider tossing the PC's and use 3x Kessil 150s with the halides in between them so it is evenly spread.
The smartest answer would be to just keep what you have now since it sounds adequate for now. Save your cash and fully make the switch to LEDs in a year or two when you can afford it and even brighter & better fixtures will be available.
