thoughts on kessil A150 Led...

[kelhuffman]

Question for Frick

Question for Frick

A few pages back you posted images of the new deep blue version. Can you provide some further insight about it regarding how "actinic" it really is, how blue etc. I'm interested in it as a complimentary light to replace my T-5s but it doesn't need to be powerful since I rely on halides for growth. Thanks!

 

[DougSupreme]

It's about time for me to replace lamps in my Dual 250W fixture. Since the timing works out, I'm considering changing over to the a150s. I have a standard 75G with montis and anemones (up high), a clam and a chalice (down low), and zoas and softies (throughout).

Just wondering what the consensus is. Will two work for me? The main reason I'm considering it is the long-term electricity/maintenance savings.

 

[netsurge]

A few pages back you posted images of the new deep blue version. Can you provide some further insight about it regarding how "actinic" it really is, how blue etc. I'm interested in it as a complimentary light to replace my T-5s but it doesn't need to be powerful since I rely on halides for growth. Thanks!

I have two for the new tank I'm building. One 10k and one Deep Blue. The Deep blue is equivalent to a royal blue almost. It does provide 420nm in its spectrum. I just put the tank in my living room today, so I can not comment to how the light performs with the corals.

 

[kelhuffman]

Thanks netsurge, I'm going to assume the deep blue will fluoresce the corals as I've seen the 15K one in person. How do the two bulbs blend together for you on your tank?

 

[phasezero]

It's about time for me to replace lamps in my Dual 250W fixture. Since the timing works out, I'm considering changing over to the a150s. I have a standard 75G with montis and anemones (up high), a clam and a chalice (down low), and zoas and softies (throughout).

Just wondering what the consensus is. Will two work for me? The main reason I'm considering it is the long-term electricity/maintenance savings.

I have a maxima clam that has been happy under the kessil a150. Although my tank is only 12 inches deep with the fixture about 8 inches above the water line.

 

[mike&kel]

I got my tracking number from UPS today. They will be here Monday! 4xa150w! Got the clubs PAR meter Monday also. I can't to get you all some numbers. Gonna play with them all day Monday!

 

[999SCUBA]

2 units on a 6 foot 210 FOWLR

2 units on a 6 foot 210 FOWLR

I have 2 units on a 6 foot 210 gallon FOWLR tank. I thought I would need 3 units but was not sure so I started with 2 units. They light the tank very well and look great. The upper outside corners have some dimmness do to me only using 2 units. I most likly will look to get a 3rd in the future but the lights are great and cover a large area. I wil say that they are much bluer than I expected. I ordered the 10K versions and they look 15k to 18K almost as blue as my reef 20k radiums. The tank was so cold I bought glass tops to keep heat in, the lights are 2 inchs off the glass and do not seem to effect the light apperence in the tank. The lights can be on for hours and my mind still thinks the glass just below the lights would be hot or atleast warm. When I touch the glass every time I'm shocked that it feels as cool as the areas that have no light over them. They have a fan inside them that I can hear when every thing is off, but you have to really be listening. When the skimmer is on their is no way anyone could claim that they could hear them running. Very high output for 32watts each

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks for this thread I just read the whole thing, sorry to Par question here. I have two tanks a 120 gallon and a 33 gallon tank I would like to put one on the 33 gallon tank it is 24'' X 20'' X 20'' right now I have a 32 watt PC light and a dual 75 watt VHO.

 

[Smiless]

Bump

any updates from Kessil owners?!

Any news on the 350?

 

[barnnns1]

Hey mike did you get your lights

 

[mike&kel]

I did bro. Here are 2 of the 4.



The plan is 8" above the tank 12" apart

60"x24"x24" tank

The local clubs parameter is at my house too so stay tuned for more pics tomorrow with the install and PAR nums

 

[mike&kel]

Moondoggy. The answer should be yes 1 light. Depending on the mounting height.

 

[Mrmaguyver]

Hi all!

I just got today two of the a150w's in 10k to upgrade from my "evolution led" 120 watt UFO fixture. I must say, I am very impressed with the Kessil led. All of my mushroom corals have opened up in a way I've never seen before and my candy cane coral, which looked almost dead has shown signs of life! All this in just a matter of hours too!!! My SPS corals (all in the top 1/3 of my tank) also seem to enjoy this light.

Long story short, less wattage (not to mention noise from the fans) than the 120 watt piece of junk I had before with more light output. Too early to report growth (obviously), but very happy overall.

 

[Smiless]

pics pls!

 

[sirreal63]

Hi all!

I just got today two of the a150w's in 10k to upgrade from my "evolution led" 120 watt UFO fixture. I must say, I am very impressed with the Kessil led. All of my mushroom corals have opened up in a way I've never seen before and my candy cane coral, which looked almost dead has shown signs of life! All this in just a matter of hours too!!! My SPS corals (all in the top 1/3 of my tank) also seem to enjoy this light.

Long story short, less wattage (not to mention noise from the fans) than the 120 watt piece of junk I had before with more light output. Too early to report growth (obviously), but very happy overall.

WOW!!! Does it make English Muffins too? With Butter and Jam?

Great first post by the way, forgive my humor but I have serious doubts about that claim. If true this could be the miracle light everyone has waited for, or not. What I do suspect to be true is this is a pretty good light that doesn't need anyone to shill for it or make ridiculous claims. I will be watching what happens with this fixture, it seems to have a lot going for it.

 

[mike&kel]

Got em hung. I know the zip ties are ghetto but I hung one of the ties on a hook in my garage and hung my 190lbs from it no prob sooo that's what I used.

Par meter is in the living room. Wifey and I will take readings after dinner. I need both hands to balance and hold meter. She will scribe. Here are the pix all you haters! Jk.
Last pic is my LFS. They have converted all frag tanks to LED. They brought more color to all types of coral and I don't mean instantly. Over weeks. they've been running the kessils since July.

Disbelievers, yes I mean you. The kessils work. Are they the best? Sigh... Honestly who cares what's the best. I care that it works and that it's only 128w of power use to light my 150g tank. I've seen growth at the LFS with my own eyes. Power here in CA is $0.30 a KWh so... Yeah.

 

[want2reef]

Mike, what are the dimension of your tank?

 

[maxxII]

Mike&Kel,

Sirreal63 isnt bashing the lights, he pointing out that Mrmaguyver is stating that within hours of installing his new Kessil light, "All of my mushroom corals have opened up in a way I've never seen before and my candy cane coral, which looked almost dead has shown signs of life! All this in just a matter of hours too!!! My SPS corals (all in the top 1/3 of my tank) also seem to enjoy this light. "

Is this possible? Yes.
Is it probable? No. Not likely at all.
What proof do we have at Mrmaguyver's first post here is in fact true? None.
How can he prove it? He cant.

Sirreal has been around the block in this hobby a few times. I know him and respect his opinion and knowledge. He's pointing out that manufacturers/dealers have set up accounts here to shill for their products as "hobbyists" to generate sales.

I could rattle off a few of them...

Bottom line is that LED lighting is here to stay, and IMO, is the future of the hobby. Both Sirreal63 and I feel that the Kessil appears to be a good product but posts like Mrmaguyvers seem to be a bit much, and cause us to think shill post.

Is it possible that Mrmaguyver is just very enthusiastic new member of RC, and not a shill from Kessil lighting? Absolutely....

But the post itself, and the fact that the first post he/she has made is on this subject , (in the lighting and equipment forum which is not exactly the first place that newbies come to hang out) is a wee bit suspicious.

I'm seriously looking forward to your PAR numbers from these lights. However, dont be surprised at low numbers, since PAR meters dont seem to read LED's and bluer lighting very well.

Nick

 

[mike&kel]

I want referring to him specifically. Being playful more than anything

The tank dims are 60"x24"x24"

 

[mike&kel]

Ok par numbers are as follows:

1400-Water level.

153-10" below water.

65-22" below water.

Honestly I didn't expect such a drop off after being under water. With it being such a wide angle lense the light disperses rapidly throughout the tank. The light is distributed evenly in the light "cone". No hotspots. The coverage is great. Having multiple lights helps with the par where they overlap.

Visually they are slightly blue. And the shimmer is comparable to a MH.

In conclusion. We are happy with the lights. I will keep these units and consider upgrading either by adding a strip light of LEDs or replacing these with the larger a350w lights when Kessil releases them in the future.