Kessil A360we mounting height

cvcoda · 11/19/2014, 10:49 PM

What height is everyone running their 360we's at? I'm trying to make plans for a canopy on a 72"x24"x24" 180 and I'm not sure how high to mount them above the water line.

ca1ore · 11/19/2014, 10:56 PM

I'm relatively new to the Kessils, but I've ended up with mine about 8" above the water surface to prevent light spill.

slief · 11/19/2014, 11:49 PM

I think its all relative to how many you are running over your tank and your footprint. You may need a higher elevation to get better spread or lower for a deeper tank. Your intensity could also have an impact on what height you run as can the depth of your tank. I run eight 360WE's over a 4'x8' footrint. My tank is 24" deep. My lights are setup on a rack that gets raised and lowered regularly and are never at the exact same height for very long. I typically keep them at about 10" - 12" above the water. My max intensity is 76% with a color of 80% via my apex.

cvcoda · 11/20/2014, 07:41 AM

My main concern is making sure I have them high enough to prevent any spotlighting. It seems that most are running them between 8"-12". If I wanted to run mine at 10" off the water, I'm afraid the canopy would look ridiculous because it would have to be pretty tall to accommodate that height.

slief · 11/20/2014, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvcoda

My main concern is making sure I have them high enough to prevent any spotlighting. It seems that most are running them between 8"-12". If I wanted to run mine at 10" off the water, I'm afraid the canopy would look ridiculous because it would have to be pretty tall to accommodate that height.

I'm sure you could get away with 10" off the water. Many do. You would just have to space them appropriately. They have a 70* optic so you would just have to have them close enough together that they overlap. At a 10" height, you will probably want them about 20" apart but depending on the depth of the top of your rocks and coral in relation to the waters surface, you might be able to get away with wider spacing although 20" will probably be good and provide plenty of overlap.

cvcoda · 11/20/2014, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

I'm sure you could get away with 10" off the water. Many do. You would just have to space them appropriately. They have a 70* optic so you would just have to have them close enough together that they overlap. At a 10" height, you will probably want them about 20" apart but depending on the depth of the top of your rocks and coral in relation to the waters surface, you might be able to get away with wider spacing although 20" will probably be good and provide plenty of overlap.

Thanks for the input. I wonder if I should make cutouts in the top of the canopy and hang the lights from the ceiling. This would allow me to move them up and down. But it would really take away from the compact look that I'm going for.

slief · 11/20/2014, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvcoda

Thanks for the input. I wonder if I should make cutouts in the top of the canopy and hang the lights from the ceiling. This would allow me to move them up and down. But it would really take away from the compact look that I'm going for.

You could always use a hole saw and drill holes in the top of the canopy so the face of the lights are flush with the inside of the canopy and only the top sticks out.

cvcoda · 11/20/2014, 02:13 PM

That's what I was thinking. The stand/canopy haven't been built yet, so so can make it however want.

cvcoda · 11/20/2014, 02:28 PM

I emailed Kessil earlier asking what the recommended distance between fixture and water surface was and they said 8"-12" for the a360we.

ca1ore · 11/20/2014, 08:50 PM

I noted earlier that mine are about 8" inches off the water surface and I see no hot spotting at all. I really like these lights; hopefully my corals will as well.

cvcoda · 11/20/2014, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

I noted earlier that mine are about 8" inches off the water surface and I see no hot spotting at all. I really like these lights; hopefully my corals will as well.

This is what I was hoping for. If you're not getting spotlighting at 8" then I think I should be able to make them work under a canopy that doesn't look out of proportion. I just ordered 3 of them.

Thanks for the help, guys.

Esage · 11/21/2014, 09:54 AM

I have mine 8" above the water

K916 · 11/21/2014, 10:26 AM

I use the gooseneck attachment - the light is around 8 inches above the water

raymond3457 · 03/07/2018, 11:17 AM

I am just getting back into the hobby and I am purchasing 3 Kessil a360WE for my 72"x24"x24" 180. I want to know the height that everyone is running their 360we's at? I seen this thread and wondering how it all turned out for cvcoda and still want everyones opinions.

billdogg · 03/07/2018, 03:53 PM

I have a pair over my frag tank, but it is a 48x24x12 60g. They are at ~14" and I can't run them past about 50% or the frags bleach out.

reefinmike · 03/07/2018, 04:25 PM

Mine are over a 90 gallon and just a couple inches above the water. I feel they need to be this low to make the most of the light with such a wide lense. At 5” high the light spread is 18”.

ca1ore · 03/07/2018, 11:20 PM

Been running mine for 3 plus years and I've gradually lowered them to about 5 inches off the water. But my tank is 30" tall and I hate having light spill into the room. I run them to 80% intensity.

11/19/2014, 10:49 PM	#1
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	Kessil A360we mounting height What height is everyone running their 360we's at? I'm trying to make plans for a canopy on a 72"x24"x24" 180 and I'm not sure how high to mount them above the water line. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

11/19/2014, 10:56 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I'm relatively new to the Kessils, but I've ended up with mine about 8" above the water surface to prevent light spill. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

11/20/2014, 07:41 AM	#4
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	My main concern is making sure I have them high enough to prevent any spotlighting. It seems that most are running them between 8"-12". If I wanted to run mine at 10" off the water, I'm afraid the canopy would look ridiculous because it would have to be pretty tall to accommodate that height. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

11/20/2014, 02:13 PM	#8
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	That's what I was thinking. The stand/canopy haven't been built yet, so so can make it however want. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

11/20/2014, 02:28 PM	#9
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	I emailed Kessil earlier asking what the recommended distance between fixture and water surface was and they said 8"-12" for the a360we. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

11/19/2014, 11:49 PM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I think its all relative to how many you are running over your tank and your footprint. You may need a higher elevation to get better spread or lower for a deeper tank. Your intensity could also have an impact on what height you run as can the depth of your tank. I run eight 360WE's over a 4'x8' footrint. My tank is 24" deep. My lights are setup on a rack that gets raised and lowered regularly and are never at the exact same height for very long. I typically keep them at about 10" - 12" above the water. My max intensity is 76% with a color of 80% via my apex.

11/20/2014, 08:50 PM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I noted earlier that mine are about 8" inches off the water surface and I see no hot spotting at all. I really like these lights; hopefully my corals will as well. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

11/21/2014, 09:54 AM	#12
Esage Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Knoxville Posts: 526	I have mine 8" above the water __________________ Deep Blue 34 Gallon Shallow /AquaMaxx ConeS CO-1 Skimmer/ 2 Kessil A350w / Vortech MP10 / Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 return pump /JBJ ATO / Eshopps RS-100 Sump /

11/21/2014, 10:26 AM	#13
K916 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 73	I use the gooseneck attachment - the light is around 8 inches above the water

03/07/2018, 11:17 AM	#14
raymond3457 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Millington, TN Posts: 23	I am just getting back into the hobby and I am purchasing 3 Kessil a360WE for my 72"x24"x24" 180. I want to know the height that everyone is running their 360we's at? I seen this thread and wondering how it all turned out for cvcoda and still want everyones opinions.

03/07/2018, 03:53 PM	#15
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have a pair over my frag tank, but it is a 48x24x12 60g. They are at ~14" and I can't run them past about 50% or the frags bleach out. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/07/2018, 04:25 PM	#16
reefinmike Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ohio Posts: 846	Mine are over a 90 gallon and just a couple inches above the water. I feel they need to be this low to make the most of the light with such a wide lense. At 5” high the light spread is 18”. __________________ 90g reef lit by 2 kessil 360's and 4 T5's. 55g sump/fuge, eshopps s-200 skimmer and slowly working on getting every apex gadget

03/07/2018, 11:20 PM	#17
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Been running mine for 3 plus years and I've gradually lowered them to about 5 inches off the water. But my tank is 30" tall and I hate having light spill into the room. I run them to 80% intensity. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs