Lighting my Artisan 50g cube?
- Thread starter Mark75
- Start date
For SPS you would likely need to run 2 Kessil A360 or 4 A160 to really get the growth you would want. On a 65 I run two Kessil A350 with a Hydra 52. The ideal LED for this tank, in my opinion, would be a Radion Gen 3 Pro but a single Hydra 52 would also do well. My experience is that the higher light inverts struggle under Kessils because tanks using them go by spread to determine the number of fixtures rather than punch. Based on my personal experience (this answer seems to change every time I give it but not by much):
First number is to grow whatever second is for lower light acros
Kessil A360W: 1 for every 20-30 gallons
Hydra 52: 1 for every 40-55 gallons
Radion Gen 3 pro: 1 for every 50-70 Gallons
Now these are just rough numbers obviously the dimensions of the tank and placement of the corals will have a significant impact on these numbers. All 3 lights have a controller priced around $100 so that part is a wash. I think of the 3 the kessil has by far the worst controller. The AI director is easy to use and as for the radion I have only used it with the APEX but I can't imagine the reeflink being much different than the AI director.
Right now you can get the radion or AI (same company different light) for 10% off which puts prices at:
Kessil A360W: $400
AI 52: $495
Radion Pro: $675
Add roughly $100 to each light for the controller. Best bang for your buck is hands down the AI 52. Best lighting is either the Radion Pro or two Kessil A360W but both will cost significantly more where the AI 52 will more than get the job done.
Just my 2 cents
First number is to grow whatever second is for lower light acros
Kessil A360W: 1 for every 20-30 gallons
Hydra 52: 1 for every 40-55 gallons
Radion Gen 3 pro: 1 for every 50-70 Gallons
Now these are just rough numbers obviously the dimensions of the tank and placement of the corals will have a significant impact on these numbers. All 3 lights have a controller priced around $100 so that part is a wash. I think of the 3 the kessil has by far the worst controller. The AI director is easy to use and as for the radion I have only used it with the APEX but I can't imagine the reeflink being much different than the AI director.
Right now you can get the radion or AI (same company different light) for 10% off which puts prices at:
Kessil A360W: $400
AI 52: $495
Radion Pro: $675
Add roughly $100 to each light for the controller. Best bang for your buck is hands down the AI 52. Best lighting is either the Radion Pro or two Kessil A360W but both will cost significantly more where the AI 52 will more than get the job done.
Just my 2 cents
ViktorVaughn
Member
Is it the 24" x 24" tank? If so, I'd recommend the 24" 8 bulb ATI fixture but then again I love t5s and probably won't ever run a tank without them so take it with a grain of salt.
If you are thinking of using combo fixtures another great one is the geismann aurora which is dimmable LED and T5.
http://www.giesemann.de/726,2,,.html
http://www.coralvue.com/giesemann-aurora-hybrid-led-t5-fixture
Coral Vue is a sponsor here and can answer questions on this fixture as well. Keep in mind with this fixture and the reefbright fixture you should expect to incur substantially more cost, but both are incredibly nice and reliable fixtures.
http://www.giesemann.de/726,2,,.html
http://www.coralvue.com/giesemann-aurora-hybrid-led-t5-fixture
Coral Vue is a sponsor here and can answer questions on this fixture as well. Keep in mind with this fixture and the reefbright fixture you should expect to incur substantially more cost, but both are incredibly nice and reliable fixtures.
This will be my wife as well as mine so she has a lot of input and she does not want a hanging light. My last sps tank several years ago had a huge old school mh that weighed around 5000lbs hanging over it and she hated it. Lol. She is sold on the small size and gooseneck mount of the A360. I may have to go with one and add an additional one later. Any other lights that mount similar to the A360 to consider?
reefmutt
Active member
Check out the AI Prime.
Great spectrum. Wifi built in, controlled by your smartphone.
Has a bracket that attaches to the back of the tank.
Fans are extremely quiet.
I use two for supp. Light. Super sexy, super easy to use and they put out a good amount of light.
You may need two for higher light loving corals and better spread.
The two I have over my 52x32x26 high will fill the whole tank with light.. Not saying it's all useable light but I use them for dawn and dusk..
Great spectrum. Wifi built in, controlled by your smartphone.
Has a bracket that attaches to the back of the tank.
Fans are extremely quiet.
I use two for supp. Light. Super sexy, super easy to use and they put out a good amount of light.
You may need two for higher light loving corals and better spread.
The two I have over my 52x32x26 high will fill the whole tank with light.. Not saying it's all useable light but I use them for dawn and dusk..
Lighting my Artisan 50g cube?
After some research I am debating between the AI 52 or the Kessil A360. I have seen the Kessil in person and really like the way it lights a tank but not the AI 52. How much difference in light output are we talking between the two, is the AI 52 vastly more powerful? Will the AI 52 light output look the same as the A360?
If I go with the Kessil I know I may need an additional one as I move to higher light demanding sps.
After some research I am debating between the AI 52 or the Kessil A360. I have seen the Kessil in person and really like the way it lights a tank but not the AI 52. How much difference in light output are we talking between the two, is the AI 52 vastly more powerful? Will the AI 52 light output look the same as the A360?
If I go with the Kessil I know I may need an additional one as I move to higher light demanding sps.
reefmutt
Active member
I think it's been mentioned that kessil has its proprietary blend of led chips that it uses but I'm sure you could play with the 52 and get it reasonably close in color... The 52 has 4 types of uv-blue LEDs along with green, red and white, so it's pretty flexible.
I would assume that the 52 is significantly more powerful with more spread of useable light since it has two light pucks
I would assume that the 52 is significantly more powerful with more spread of useable light since it has two light pucks
Wazzel
New member
They are going to look different. I have not used or seen and of the Kessil line. I use 52's and 26's in my system and they are flexible powerful lights.
Wazzel
New member
A 52 has 4 pucks, the 26 has 2.
reefmutt
Active member
Right you are! Sorry, my mistake.. Was thinking 26..
That is an excellent question!
No, I believe not. Nothing delivers shimmer quite like a kessil.. Excluding mh of course..
Wazzel
New member
You will get some, but not intense.
