thoughts on kessil A150 Led...

[m2434]

As to UV, generally as far as the scientific literature goes, UV drives clear pigments called mycosporine like amino acids. These are clear not colorful, although UV may make some pigments fluoresce more. High PAR near UV seems to be the most common driver of pigment production. I realize on the message boards there is a lot of talk about UV and pigment production, but from reading the literature, this seems to be mostly a misunderstanding.

As to PAR on a tall tank, from the PAR readings on this thread, it doesn't appear that the Kessil will penetrate more than 15" or so, so I don't quite get the logic, but certainly keep us posted. Wide optics and low power just don't seem like a good combo. If you can keep you glass clean a lot will reflect off the glass and stay in the tank, but once you start getting coralline and microalgae, it will be absorbed and you'll loose PAR. This is why I'm really not a fan of wide optics on tall tanks.

Also the Kessil is 32w. Let's be realistic, watts per gallon isn't a good metric, but you still need watts. LEDs aren't that efficient, or stated alternatively, other lighting sources aren't that inefficient. Actually looking a total ligt output, halides are still generally a bit more efficient, bit LEDs can direct lift better, gaining the upper hand. However, wide optics aren't exactly going to direct the light better on a tall tank... I think people just needs to use some common sense wihen picking lighting, otherwise, we're going to have another round of people complaining LEDs sucks and all their corals are turning brown...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jluspo]

As to UV, generally as far as the scientific literature goes, UV drives clear pigments called mycosporine like amino acids. These are clear not colorful, although UV may make some pigments fluoresce more. High PAR near UV seems to be the most common driver of pigment production. I realize on the message boards there is a lot of talk about UV and pigment production, but from reading the literature, this seems to be mostly a misunderstanding.

As to PAR on a tall tank, from the PAR readings on this thread, it doesn't appear that the Kessil will penetrate more than 15" or so, so I don't quite get the logic, but certainly keep us posted. Wide optics and low power just don't seem like a good combo. If you can keep you glass clean a lot will reflect off the glass and stay in the tank, but once you start getting coralline and microalgae, it will be absorbed and you'll loose PAR. This is why I'm really not a fan of wide optics on tall tanks.

Also the Kessil is 32w. Let's be realistic, watts per gallon isn't a good metric, but you still need watts. LEDs aren't that efficient, or stated alternatively, other lighting sources aren't that inefficient. Actually looking a total ligt output, halides are still generally a bit more efficient, bit LEDs can direct lift better, gaining the upper hand. However, wide optics aren't exactly going to direct the light better on a tall tank... I think people just needs to use some common sense wihen picking lighting, otherwise, we're going to have another round of people complaining LEDs sucks and all their corals are turning brown...

I agree with everything you said -- especially using common sense when picking up lighting. We have to understand the needs of these animals and provide for it. You can't put this in a 24" tall tank and expect to grow SPS on the sand surface. For a mixed reef, it may be a good solution.

For example, I have 2-a150W kessil lights on my 65 gallons (36x18x24) and have a variety of corals. I have a birdsnest, monti, frogspawn and trumpet coral frags about 16" from the light and are showing good growth (the light is about 8" from the water surface). I have a couple of lobos, zoos and other button polyps about 21" from the light and are showing some growth. I have some GSP, toadstool, xenias at the bottom of the tank that looks happy -- that's 32" from the light.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this light. Don't expect them to replace your 250W halides because it will not. For a mixed reef tank with careful placement, it will be fine . . . my 2cents.

I can't post pictures right now because I'm travelling for work but I will by this weekend.

By the way, I'm about to upgrade to a 120 gallons (48x24x24) and will plan to use the same lights. It's in the garage right now - I'm doing a leak test. There's still some dripping in the bulkheads so I have to fix that before the switch.

 

[m2434]

My feeling is most corals can be acclimated to more light than needed, but can't be acclimated to less light than needed. So, better to err on the side of too much light. However, if you know what your doing, understand the limitations of the light and are willing to arrange corals to fit with the limitations of the lighting, then I agree it can definitely be a fine light for moderately tall tanks. At that point it just comes down to personal preferences.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Frick]

As far as the A150W goes the bottom line is they are really for small tanks. anything under 100gallons I would say one for every 30 gallons. If you have a moderate sizes tank or larger you would be better off waiting for the A350 which is around the corner. It should be well worth the wait.

 

[mike&kel]

When I did research by calling Kessil and asking the engineers from arguably the one of the most experienced and accomplished led fixture manufacturer in the US what their recommendation is for my tank they advised me 1 light for every 30-40 gallons. On my 150 mixed reef they stated 4-5 lights. They will be on my door Tuesday evening or Wednesday. The technology is sound, using LEDs for coral growth. Now I will concede that other forms of lighting might be "better" at growth.

But in the interest of saving $$ on our California power bill that is $0.30 per kWh. These lights will be saving 200 watts an hour from my current fixture. So,

kWxHoursx$$=savings every day.
0.200 x 12 x$0.30 = $0.72 daily savings.
Monthly savings = $21.6
Time for electrical savings to pay off kessil fixtures including bulb replacement costs = @ 2years.

And that ladies and gentleman is how you get my wife to OK that purchase. Plus the amazing shimmer the a150w produces. Yep. I'm happy with the decision so far. I have coral and anemones growing on the bottom 6" of my tank now with my current set up. I will compare Par values mid to late Nov.

 

[Frick]

One month growth pics under the Sky Blue in a 29 biocube.

There is defiantly some growth over the glue that was originally put on the corals. I had "before" pictures but they were fried on my Sprint phone because of Sprints continuing incompetence. Sprint is a horrible company. :angryfire: So here are some pic from my new iPhone (with AT&T). :bounce1:

 

[Frick]

Here is a Seriatopora with little nubs growing off the main branch. This piece is at the bottom of the 29 Biocube.

 

[Frick]

I got to play with a Deep Blue yesterday.

 

[mike&kel]

Sooo that's the deep blue color people have been talking about. Wow! That's deep. Reminds me of diving in Tahiti down 110 ft in the vast montipora colonies


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.355042,-119.628694

 

[Frick]

Sooo that's the deep blue color people have been talking about. Wow! That's deep. Reminds me of diving in Tahiti down 110 ft in the vast montipora colonies


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.355042,-119.628694

Yeh it's basically solid blue. I threw my shades on a took a peek at the diodes while they were on. It looked like a mix of blues and UVs. :rolleye1: :uhoh3:

 

[barnnns1]

i agree with you mike about the money savings on power and bulbs.i hope all goes well with your lights.does anyone know of any sites that are giving discounts for buying multiple lights?the only prob i have with buying 4 is that that puts me at the price pretty close to the ai sol.but i still like the size of the kessil better.plus less heat and power with the kessil.also less function.on off only.not a big deal cause thats all my lights do now anyways but the wow factor would be cool

 

[nivekid]

Here is a Seriatopora with little nubs growing off the main branch. This piece is at the bottom of the 29 Biocube.

How far from the water do you have yours? Just curious. I should be putting mine up next week and I wanted to see what the ideal height is.

 

[barnnns1]

when i started my tank it was fish only and i just had t5s.then i wanted more light so i got t5hos but im only running two staggered 4 foot fixtures.i have minimal corals but want to add some and thats why im trying to figure this light thing out.i dont want mh and i dont want to fill the top of my tank with bulbs so if i cant find a good light solution then i probly will not be able to get more corals.

 

[Fig]

This light WILL grow corals. I've seen people with 400 watt halides have trouble getting growth out of their corals. Alk/Cal,, mag, nitrates, phosphates, temp swings, feedings, over-all water quality/stability all have more to do with coral growth then just the lighting alone. These lights in the hands of the right people will produce results with proper placement. I wouldn't put a frag of Purple Monster on the sand bed running a 400 watt halide, you wouldn't with this light either. With that said, I'm excited for the A350 to come out and be in the center of my 40 breeder with a pair of A150 on the sides. LET THERE BE LIGHT!

 

[Frick]

How far from the water do you have yours? Just curious. I should be putting mine up next week and I wanted to see what the ideal height is.

It's about 3-4" from the water surface. It moves every week so i don't splash it when doing water changes.

 

[mike&kel]

I plan to mount mine hanging from two small chains each. I'm going to have one of the chains a link or 2 longer than the other so it angles the light towards the rear of the tank illuminating the rocks on an angle instead of straight down. This will be an attempt to reduce light spillage from the front glass and hard shadows under the rock ledges.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.098836,-119.559426

 

[Frick]

I plan to mount mine hanging from two small chains each. I'm going to have one of the chains a link or 2 longer than the other so it angles the light towards the rear of the tank illuminating the rocks on an angle instead of straight down. This will be an attempt to reduce light spillage from the front glass and hard shadows under the rock ledges.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.098836,-119.559426

That would be interesting. Take some pics so we can see what that would look like.

 

[mike&kel]

Will do. I angle my T5 reflectors now to do the same. I like it better that way


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.098915,-119.559297

 

[nivekid]

Will do. I angle my T5 reflectors now to do the same. I like it better that way

Hmmm... I may have to try this with my Kessil as well.

 

[jerpa]

I'm actually running one now on a standard 29 gal and its definitely dim at the edges. I expected this but I wanted to test it for a future upgrade. I plan on running two on a 120 with an additional 24 LED DIY with dimming so I can adjust the color and fill out any dark areas. I have no doubt that with proper placement I will be able to do everything I plan, mostly lps with some sps and clams up higher. It will cost me about 800 but will pay for itself quickly with bulbs and electricity figured in.