Kessil and Ecotech on a Nuvo 20?

[dmw913]

I'm 2.5 months in on my Nuvo 20 build (move over from 12 cube). I have a single Kessil 160WE on the tank about 11" above the water line and the tank looks great but the zoos and shrooms appear to be reaching for light - interestingly, LPS are beautiful and doing well (acans, candy cane, duncan and wellso brain). I have considered increasing light in the following ways:

1. Buy second 160WE
2. Buy 360WE and run as single
3. Buy 360WE and run with 160WE
4. Buy something entirely different and experiment by running 160 on one side and new item on the other side. I have looked at Ecotech XR15 pro
5. Buy something different alltogether - Ecotech XR30pro? (Least preferable option as, wow, that's a chunk of change and I do like the Kessil and the Spectral controller)

*** Of note, I have Apex and WXM for my MP10 so if I change brands, I'd like to stay with Ecotech as I don't have to buy a new module.***

Hit me with your votes/advice/other suggestions.

 

[rjkrejci]

I run 2 160WEs on my nuvo 20. I'm able to keep them lower (about 6-7" above the water) which makes them more intense, minimizes light escaping outside the tank and makes shadowing less intense. I just use the Kessil controller for them, which is awesome. Also give a little more flexibility in creating higher and lower intensity zones since I can point them seperately.

Unless you're going for a certain effect, I'd hesitate to mix a different brand on one side of the tank, since it could tend to look off balance IMO.

 

[dmw913]

I think that sounds great. I couldn't get the gooseneck to go any lower on my current 160. Any trick to yours?

 

[rjkrejci]

I originally had them without the 90 degree adapter and I could get them low when shining mid-tank. But I like to have the lights near the front and angled back, so I got the adapter. Dont really have any issues. With the flexibility to mount them wherever along the back, you can really get them wherever you want above the tank

 

[dmw913]

I've sat here all afternoon and surfed/studied/youtubed/etc. and have narrowed the choice down to the following:

1. Add Ecotech XR15 and use the opportunity to due a comparison/see the differences. Basically, something else to fuss with.
2. Switch out entirely to Ecotech XR30 which has a 24" spread (the width of my tank)

While I really didn't want/like the look of two fixtures, I like the concept of potentially being able to have the best of both worlds (the Kessil shimmer and the toy features of the Ecotech) and the idea of being able to observe what lights grow what corals better.

 

[OsiViper]

I toyed around with the choice of lights for my 20 for a long time too. I ended up settling on 2x AquaIllumination Prime light fixtures.

I have the XR30W Pro G3 over my IM 40 tank and that is a LOT of light, you would probably need to keep it turned down quite a bit over the 20. It is a really strong light.

I liked the prime controls because there was no need for another controller or anything, it was all done wirelessly via your phone. It has a good majority of the same features the Radions do, you can change individual color channels, Storm and cloud functions, etc. And they're only $199 each.

 

[dmw913]

Thanks, OSIViper, I was looking at the Primes as well. Great choice! With the Apex and the WXM I already have, I'd like to keep the control unified though.