RobTheReefer
Moved Elsewhere
Careful with that crazy-bright ap700 moonlight. My corals were not extending the ol' nighttime polyps until I turned off my moonlights. ymmv
Kessil Club
- Thread starter Zacktosterone
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Careful with that crazy-bright ap700 moonlight. My corals were not extending the ol' nighttime polyps until I turned off my moonlights. ymmv
harley3ky
New member
So let me get you opinions on this setup. I currently have a 110 gal 48x18x31 tank. I hate the depth of that thing for many reasons. The wifey recently out of the blue said that she would be ok with me getting a different tank that wasn't as deep so we could get an anemone that our clowns will host or might host. Currently they live up around the overflow box and a new tank will eliminate that. They were the first fish in the tank and have always stayed up there like they are hosting the overflow box.
Anyway, I am looking at a 120g 48x24x25 or a 135g 60x24x25 (if still available) and I would get 2 - A360 tuna blue Kessils. What do you think about those two lights? I do not have any corals and have always had a FOWLR but I could get into corals someday.
Anyway, I am looking at a 120g 48x24x25 or a 135g 60x24x25 (if still available) and I would get 2 - A360 tuna blue Kessils. What do you think about those two lights? I do not have any corals and have always had a FOWLR but I could get into corals someday.
vessxpress1
Premium Member
Hey guys. I'm getting a 20 gal JBJ rimless frag tank strictly for frag grow out. Not looking to make it a show tank.
I kept a tank for several years using T-5s before I got out. Now getting back in. Mainly just want to grow frags for a bigger future tank for now and this is very shallow. Want to grow zoas and acans mostly but probably a few sps too. I'm tempted to try a pair of 160s. Should I get two different colors or stick with one type? Or should I just go with one A360 and put it higher? I may supplement with T-5.
I kept a tank for several years using T-5s before I got out. Now getting back in. Mainly just want to grow frags for a bigger future tank for now and this is very shallow. Want to grow zoas and acans mostly but probably a few sps too. I'm tempted to try a pair of 160s. Should I get two different colors or stick with one type? Or should I just go with one A360 and put it higher? I may supplement with T-5.
sixpackgarage
reef mechanic
you would do better with 2x160 vs. a single 360.
vessxpress1
Premium Member
Ok. Thanks.
Herbie
Yep,that one
Got a question for Kessil 360 owners , specifically about the Neptune Apex systems .
I have always been a Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper guy .........but am thinking of going with an Apex this time around.
Are the Apex Systems , including the Jr. able to control the Kessil 360we right out of the box ? Just would need the Kessil/Apex cable ?
I know the Reef Keeper would require an ALC module .
I think, they can ............just wanted to be sure before I pull the trigger .
I really like the Fusion interface , so I am leaning toward Apex this time around. Just want to be sure they will control the Kessil 360 out of the box ( with the extra cable of course) .
Thanks !
Herbie
EDIT: Crap .......just saw Neptune offers a VDM module . Is this a required addition to control LED lighting like the Kessil 360 ?
I have always been a Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper guy .........but am thinking of going with an Apex this time around.
Are the Apex Systems , including the Jr. able to control the Kessil 360we right out of the box ? Just would need the Kessil/Apex cable ?
I know the Reef Keeper would require an ALC module .
I think, they can ............just wanted to be sure before I pull the trigger .
I really like the Fusion interface , so I am leaning toward Apex this time around. Just want to be sure they will control the Kessil 360 out of the box ( with the extra cable of course) .
Thanks !
Herbie
EDIT: Crap .......just saw Neptune offers a VDM module . Is this a required addition to control LED lighting like the Kessil 360 ?
Last edited:
Herbie
Yep,that one
Thanks ............
That answers that.
Guess I will have to go with a step above Jr then.
Thanks for the reply,
Herbie
Natural Blue
New member
Recieved my Kessil AP700 today and the buttons on the device seem unresponsive?
Anyone else having this issue?
They worked the first time I plugged it in and when I came back in the office hours later to show the wife the buttons would not work even after power cycles. I did get the app downloaded to the iPad and I can turn it off and on from the app but not with the physical buttons.
Anyone else having this issue?
They worked the first time I plugged it in and when I came back in the office hours later to show the wife the buttons would not work even after power cycles. I did get the app downloaded to the iPad and I can turn it off and on from the app but not with the physical buttons.
Natural Blue
New member
Update:
Seems very odd, I lost connection via the app and the AP700 would never sync up, it was just gone from the app and I couldn't add it. After a 5 minute period of being unplugged from the wall I plugged it back in and the buttons on the unit worked. I synced it up to the app and could control it from the app and physical buttons, then the app lost the AP700 again and the buttons on the unit would not work until I cycled power.
Is this normal? I should also note that I bought this unit from SaltwaterAquarium.com at a discount. They said it was a customer return and that they checked it out and tested the unit and it was functioning a 100% and the discount was just due to being an open boxed item. Hoping I didn't get hosed! I'll give Kessil a call tomorrow.
Seems very odd, I lost connection via the app and the AP700 would never sync up, it was just gone from the app and I couldn't add it. After a 5 minute period of being unplugged from the wall I plugged it back in and the buttons on the unit worked. I synced it up to the app and could control it from the app and physical buttons, then the app lost the AP700 again and the buttons on the unit would not work until I cycled power.
Is this normal? I should also note that I bought this unit from SaltwaterAquarium.com at a discount. They said it was a customer return and that they checked it out and tested the unit and it was functioning a 100% and the discount was just due to being an open boxed item. Hoping I didn't get hosed! I'll give Kessil a call tomorrow.
Mine works fine and the buttons are very sensitive actually. I wouldn't trust open box purchases, there is probably a reason the other person retuned this specific unit.
Natural Blue
New member
I've been messing with it all night and it seems to be functioning normal now after updating the ios on my iPad. Have a couple questions though to verify.
1. Should the app sync with the physical buttons? I've set it up direct wifi to AP700 and over wifi via router and if i have the app open and make a change on the AP700 from the buttons the app does not reflect that change. Should it?
2. On the app I can't tell a difference between 3% intensity and about 15% intensity, is that how others are? In fact I don't see light until I ramp it up to 3% and it seems much brighter than 3%.
3. The physical buttons on color there are 8 levels and on intensity there are 4 levels, is that right.
Thanks for the help, if it is indeed functioning correctly I'd like to know I got at deal, but if not I'll just return it and pay full price. It hadn't been registered so Kessil may even swap it out if it's indeed not working correctly.
RobTheReefer
Moved Elsewhere
My advice is to forget that the physical buttons exist. As long as you can press the two buttons to make it discoverable over wifi, then that's all that really matters. You can't use the light on a timer anyway (as far as I can tell), so the buttons are sort of worthless.
Just set up your program and roll with it.
There is a cutoff on the intensity somewhere. If I have it ramping down to off at the top of the hour, the light shuts off about 4 minutes 'til.
Btw, did you update the firmware on it yet (the ap700 firmware, not the ipad app)? That might be the cause of some of your issues.
Scorpius
Stick Head
Welcome to Death Ray Kessil's. They're seriously bright.
Natural Blue
New member
My advice is to forget that the physical buttons exist. As long as you can press the two buttons to make it discoverable over wifi, then that's all that really matters. You can't use the light on a timer anyway (as far as I can tell), so the buttons are sort of worthless.
Just set up your program and roll with it.
There is a cutoff on the intensity somewhere. If I have it ramping down to off at the top of the hour, the light shuts off about 4 minutes 'til.
Btw, did you update the firmware on it yet (the ap700 firmware, not the ipad app)? That might be the cause of some of your issues.
Thanks I did update the firmware to the newest version. I put a call into Kessil and the lady I spoke with took some notes and is going to get with the tech and call me back.
Right now it seems functional, but I'm curious why there is absolutely no light at 1-2% and then 3% looks like about 15-20% power?
sixpackgarage
reef mechanic
I think the dimming is a bit choppy with the AP. I had to change my rampdown curve a bit to adjust for the dimming. Otherwise it would do funny stuff like turn one side off before the other. I also noticed that if I'm not in deep ocean blue, it doesn't dim right. Kessil also told me to plug the light directly into the wall instead of a power strip. I did not do that because I don't want to (for a few reasons)
Natural Blue
New member
Kessil called me back did suggest uninstalling the app and reinstalling. She said that it may be hard to tell on intensity because even at 3% it's pretty bright. As far as the manual buttons on the light itself she said the levels of intensity are 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and then 100%.
I did ask her why my 3% intensity from the app is the same brightness as the lowest level on the manual buttons of 20% and she said our eyes may not be able to tell the difference at low intensity.
I'll give the app uninstall/reinstall a shot.
Herbie
Yep,that one
Thanks ..........
Does anyone know if it is easier to adjust the Kessil lights with a full Apex , or is an Apex Jr with a VDM module just as easy.
I know trying to adjust Kessils with a DA reefkeeper , with the ALC module is a royal pita , and I am looking for something easier to work with.
Is the Apex easier, and very user friendly compared to the reefkeeper, as far as lighting adjustment and mobile applications go (Fusion)?
Just trying to decide which way to go ......... (Apex vs Jr ..........not RK !)
Thanks !
Coelli
New member
I can't compare with the RK, but the VDM ports on the full Apex and on the VDM module behave exactly the same. I have my Kessils hooked up to mine and it's very easy to change the settings through Fusion whether you're using the ports on the base module or using a VDM.
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