Kessils and sps

Bpb

Bpb

New member
Spent a lot of time googling over the last several days trying to find as much info as I can from kessil users. I've been pretty well convinced that they're great from some positive local users. I love the look, shimmer, and coloring you can get with them, and the price point is competitive at the higher end of things. My biggest issue is I've not found a lot of sps dominant tanks with them.

I'm looking specifically at the a360 and a360w-e which was just released. Most threads I've read are people with Lps and anemone dominant tanks. Not a lot of massive sps colonies. Granted I know they're fairly new but I'm wanting to see if anyone has switched to the newer kessils and been happy. I'm considering two of the a360s to control with the apex, and possibly run a couple t5 supplements as well. Right now I have a 55 gallon but will be upgrading to a 75 or 90 in the near future.

Is the reason not many sps heavy tanks run them because they just aren't appropriate? Or are they just too new. Or perhaps are my search parameters wrong. Any experience or opinions are appreciated. Currently running all t5 but at some point in a year or so looking to upgrade to either an all led or an led/t5 hybrid system. The kessils have been so appealing. Just not enough long term success info. Looking to keep costs under $1000
 
They're pathetically dim for SPS IME. They also tend to produce lots of shadows and dark spots in corals, which with SPS can be a problem. Unless you're willing to do multiple lights over a relatively small tank I'd suggest skipping it.
 
Bpb

Maybe I can give you some feedback. I have a fully automated shallow reef tank that has the following dimensions: 4' x 3' x 8"

I have two Kessils 360W and 360WE over this tank. A couple weeks ago I had just one Kessil (360W) and it was great but had some shadowing so I got another and it was the 360WE model. I will post pics tonight of this tank. Here are some observations that I have noticed compared to three AI Vega Colors that I originally had over this tank.

The Kessils 360W/E are not a concentrated light source like my previous Vega Color fixtures. I disliked my Vegas. I seemed to burn my SPS and LPS no matter the intensity or how high above water level. It was frustrating and annoying.

Moving on

Since I made the transition to the Kessil 360W, my corals have regained their colors and are thriving. I have a mix of gorgonians, SPS, LPS, and zoas. It's a "frag" tank but looks more like a reef tank. The 360WE is 15% brighter so I have moved my SPS to this side of the tank. I have my Kessils positioned approx 10" above water level and I am running 100% intensity and at about 14-15K. The Kessils have a true UV spectrum that rivals none other.

I am getting full poly extension and EVERY single coral is thriving. I am not getting any burning whatsoever.

It's a very evenly distributed light source and works awesome on my shallow reef.

If the 360W were used on a deep tank, I couldn't give accurate advice as my tank is only 8" deep. Look for posted pics this evening
 
I think it would help the OP if people posted which Kessil units they had, how long they had them, and what size tank they were on like Tanner did.
 
I look forward to seeing some pics. I was planning on two a360WE units for my 55 gallon. I have mainly sps so I was hoping those would be adequate. Also considering BML if I decide not to go with kessils. Only one person I know so far has given a review of the new E series kessils as a direct upgrade from the standard a360 units. I've read that kessils appear dimmer and cannot be accurately measured with a par meter because the true sub 400nm uv causes par meters to read I accurately. Any truth to that?

I welcome all opinions of course, but really looking for users with experience with these units more than just reading the specs and saying they look like they'd be too weak. Love to hear more. Do they bring out the warm colors enough? There's not a lot of info on what actual spectrums are used specifically on each tiny led in the dense matrix. Looks like cool whites, royal blues, and uv on the close ups I've seen.
 
I have a 20x20x10 shallow rimless mixed reef. I picked up 1 360we 2 weeks ago, and noticed a huge difference in polyp extension on both Paly's and zoas. I had a AI sol tuned to about 50%. The AI doesn't have neutral white, but rather cool white LEDs and I blame this due to the entire tank lack of color. Within 2 hours of the Kessil being on around 40% intensity, and 30% color I noticed polyp extension which I have never seen before. In 2 weeks I noticed everything in the tank start to color back up. Acros, birdsnest, everything is doing a ton better.

Surface agitation can really produce serious amounts of shimmering in your tank, so if that's not your thing definitely reduce it. Shadowing is expected from this light since it is a single source. After a few days I moved some corals around so they would get the appropriate amount of lighting needed to thrive and I couldn't be happier. I like the shadowing, the fish even leave a shadow on the sand.

All in all I couldn't be happier.
 
I have a Kessil A350W over my 40 breeder. supplemented with a blue plus and a coral plus 39w t5. I have alot of sps frags in my tank that are starting to really grow rapidly. They appear dim but they are very powerful. i bleached running at 100%. I run the blue at 100% and the white at 40% the A360we came out a year after i got mine. i would love to control the spectrum and intensity seperatly becasue i like a 14k look. My colors are pretty impressive as well. The shadowing effect makes this light look so close to diving in a real reef.

photo2-4.png


photo1-4.png


This is roughly 3 months between pictures
 
Last edited:
Peter Eichler said:
They're pathetically dim for SPS IME. They also tend to produce lots of shadows and dark spots in corals, which with SPS can be a problem. Unless you're willing to do multiple lights over a relatively small tank I'd suggest skipping it.
Click to expand...


I completely agree with peter. Any tank that is 24" high it is pathetically dim especially for sps. I ended up replacing it with AI hydra 52s. The kessil a360w works well in anything shallow and flat such as a frag tank but I would not trust it as the sole lighting. I would use it in conjunction with t5s or halides. They are so small that you would have flexibility with using other lighting along with it.

Glenn
 
Wow! That's like one of the best tanks I've ever seen. Those stunner strips ad a ton to warming up the colors though
 
That's a easy addition though, and one that doesnt "need" to be done right away. Buy the kessils, get the tank acclimated for a few months, and when you have time and money throw a strip or two at them.
 
You cant go wrong with the Kessils especially for the price point. I run 3 A360w's on my 300 Gallon DD supplemented with T5's. I don't know what people are talking about how pathetically dim they are. They are plenty bright, I never have mine above 70%. I am getting great growth.
 
Tank looks fantastic Robert. These are the kinds of reviews I was looking for. It seems supplementing isn't necessary from a par standpoint but helps with shadowing. I'll definitely keep that in mind. I actually stumbled on some info that laid out what color temp diodes they're using. Don't know how accurate it is. Stated its a mix of 450nm royal blue, 470 nm blue, 395 nm UV, and 6500k neutral whites. The neutral white makes me happy because I believe it just makes more sense as a diode color than cool whites do. Just my opinion. People complain about a lack of green or red specifically, but I can always supplement if necessary, plus the neutral whites should provide those spectrums anyway. Keep the reviews and pictures coming. Both negative and positive.
 
You will not find any sps dominated tanks with kessils alone. I dare you too. Try using them exclusively for 3 to 4 months and let me know if it does not brown out your acroporas. They do fine on mixed reef with some montiporas, lps and softies but not on intense light loving acroporas. There is a reason why reefers with sps dominated (mostly acroporas) tanks still use halides and t5s. They work. Look at my tank below. There are 3 AI hydra 52 in the middle. The ends have the newest kessil a360w e series. See how dim the ends are with kessils at full blast? Now try using just the kessil without any other lighting and tell me if the acropora with be better off. I am just waiting for the remaining hydra 52s to come in and I will remove the kessils. The kessils light up frag tanks ok but not 24" high tanks.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1390585863.714942.jpg
 
Robert, I already read all 12 pages of that thread. For one, he uses more that just kessils in the hood (led strips) and his tank is no where near the acropora dominated displays I am taking about. The best bet is to have a few strips of t5s throughout the length of the tank. I have no doubt you will have success with sps in your system. The powermodule more than compensate for whatever spectrum the kessils do lack. I am still purchasing kessils but those will remain in my shallow display and frag tank. Just my humble opinion. I would still light up the tank with 3 hours of 400watt radiums per day with any LEDs that I use. I am ok with the energy consumption at that point.
 
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