Kessil A360we vs AI Hydra TwentySix

[trmiv]

Looking to replace my halides with LED's soon, and I've narrowed it down to the Kessil A360we and the AI Hydra TwentySix. Both seem like more than enough light for the softies, zoos and Euphyllia I keep. I've been leaning towards the Kessil mainly because of the shimmer. I love the shimmer from my halide, so I don't want to lose it too much. I do like the price and features of the Hydra though. Just how much better is the shimmer from a Kessil vs something like the Hydra TwentySix? Any other reasons to prefer one over the other?

[Arthur1]

Why are you wanting to replace the halide? Heat and electricity consumption? I have seen the hydras in person and was not personally impressed, so I set up a couple of Kessil 350w going and am happy with them. Will I continue to use Kessils? Yes, without a doubt and the shimmer is all there too

[trmiv]

Both heat and electricity consumption. My tank is in what was my dining room. The house thermostat is also in that room. The halide throws off the thermostat when the lights are on. Moving the thermostat really isn't an easy option since it's the underside of a stairwell in back of where the thermostat is, so it would need to be completely relocated. So I'm looking for options to reduce the heat in that that room so it's closer to where the rest of the house is.

[oseymour]

I had the AI Hydra for a year and the last 5 months I moved to Kessil A360W. The shimmer is great, it looks like the beach with the shadows. The Hydra and Hydra 26 shimmer cannot match the kessil at all.

The only thing I miss with the Hydra was the ability to do moonlight. The kessils turn off after 14% and is still too high for moonlight while the Hydras can go very low. I've seen from creative moonlight options from members here with the kessils.

[Reefvet]

Originally Posted by trmiv

I've been leaning towards the Kessil mainly because of the shimmer.

The Kessil uses a matrix of LEDs that's about an inch in diameter. The 26 has the LEDs spread over a few inches. So the Kessil will definitely produce more shimmer.

[Devaji108]

HA I was just wondering that same thing. thanks for starting the thread.
so fair it looks like the kessil are winning. I cant believe there don't have moon lights and turn off at 14%...wait i thought it was 10%?

OK let me ask you Kessil guys this...what is the coverage area of the 360we?

[trmiv]

I know the kessil will give me more shimmer. Just curious how much the hydra gives. Videos I've seen online the shimmer looks good but it's hard to tell. Maybe at least as much as my mh setup with the big reflector I have. What makes me lean towards the hydra besides overall price is the extra features of the director and the moonlight thing.

[Reefvet]

Originally Posted by Devaji108

OK let me ask you Kessil guys this...what is the coverage area of the 360we?

Coverage is the same as the original A350W. Which you can see on the Kessil site.http://kessil.com/aquarium/A350.php

[Reefvet]

Originally Posted by trmiv

I know the kessil will give me more shimmer. Just curious how much the hydra gives. Videos I've seen online the shimmer looks good but it's hard to tell. Maybe at least as much as my mh setup with the big reflector I have. What makes me lean towards the hydra besides overall price is the extra features of the director and the moonlight thing.

Yes the Hydra has toys for boys to play with. In my 40+ years in this hobby I have never had a moonlight and though I have ramping now I grew corals for decades without it.

You should explore the director options. Search for Hydra 52 settings and you find lots of users totally daunted by the options.

The Hydra 26 is said the be pinkish and not well reviewed by a number of sites because of it. It's not just half a 52.

That's just what I've read. I'm sure it's a fine light. I started with Kessil several years ago and haven't turned a MH on since. My power bill is 1/4 what it used to be and I don't run chillers. The Kessils have grown wonderful corals.

[BillNye]

I have a 6ft 120G with 3 AI Vegas and love it! I started out with 3 kessil 360's before upgrading to a director with 3 AI vegas. I still have the same great shimmer those kessil's had, plus the ramp time and complete color control.

One thing I will say about the whole director and wireless system is that it sometimes loses connection with the director, causing a light or two to be out of whack with the system.

[Arthur1]

Trmiv, I don't necessarily believe that you will go wrong with the Hydra. I enjoy MH and will not ever completely let it go. At the same time if a Kessil can do it, I will go that route as electrical consumption and heat can be an issue for many of us. Reefvet, I had to laugh a little, I have half of your time in our hobby and still have not been a fan of moonlights or the so called bells and whistles of some of our other options.

[trmiv]

I've always had subtle moonlights on my tank. I know they aren't needed but I like the look. My current setup has moonlights so that would be something I'd love with the kessil so I'd have to find another solution if I went that route.

I've read of the issues with the director. Anyone with AI lights that has a thought on the director vs the controller AI sells?

[kenpau]

The ramp up from and back down to moonlights is my favourite part of the hydra52/26, also the ability to have rolling cloud cover. Of course it's all nice to have and not need to have but you could say the same for shimmer, which in my opinion is great on the 52s, although I've never run Kessils so can't compare to them.

[nvladik]

Never used the director, but I do control my 3 26's with Apex AWM module. Never lost connection, works great. Coverage wise, I'd say 24" max, single 26 won't do the trick for a 36" tank. Kessils from what I saw in the store seem to have even less coverage, but maybe hanging them higher will solve that problem.

[kenpau]

The optical angle of the Hydra52 isn't great. I've noticed measuring the PAR that there is quite a steep drop off as you move away from directly below the fixture. You do need a few fixtures although they are great lights.

[oseymour]

Originally Posted by BillNye

One thing I will say about the whole director and wireless system is that it sometimes loses connection with the director, causing a light or two to be out of whack with the system.

How long have you had your director? I called AI support and they sent me a new USB cable that is used by the charger. That stopped the disconnect issues I was having.

[lars65inc]

I'm running 4 A360W's over my new 220. I spent a lot of time looking at LED's and settled on the Kessils. No regrets

[trmiv]

My tank is a 24" square so the hydra 26 should cover it?

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by trmiv

My tank is a 24" square so the hydra 26 should cover it?

Yeah It should, with best growth in the middle of the tank.

[Scorpius]

From what I can tell my Kessil A360we's will grow any sps coral I want. I'd go with the Kessil's as they are the only company to offer a true full spectrum LED light on the market right now.

[Coelli]

I love my Kessils and it seems like my SPS does too!

If you really want moonlights, there are a million variations of little gooseneck LED, USB desk lights that are meant to plug into a PC or laptop. A USB AC adapter, a long USB extension cable to run along a Kessill mount, and you're all set. I bought one that has 10 LEDs but it was so bright I covered the middle 8; it's the perfect amount of light, looks like actual moonlight and because of the single points a few inches apart even the moonlight shimmers.

Addit: you could also run the cable up the back of the tank and have the gooseneck come up and over - mine is mounted from a Kessil because of my boyfriend's cats. Which was another factor in buying Kessil, cats won't climb them. >.<

[trmiv]

Man you guys are making this decision difficult I've gone back and forth like 5 times reading this thread.

[nvladik]

LOL. Just pick what ever works for you!

[hart24601]

I was deciding between kessil and hydra 52 and went the hydra 26 route when the price dropped, happy I did. One big issue I have with LEDs is coverage when SPS colonies get large and shading. Ideally I would have the entire surface of the tank covered with lower powered LEDs like the triton lani, but I ended up putting 5 hydra 26 over my 120 (48x24x24). I can run each light fixture at different intensities (or colors) depending on the individual coral under it with no difference to my eye and control them with all with the director. They all fit well on the rail mount and hanging kit so I can move them around where I want and I can add or reduce fixtures easily physically and with the director. I am happy with the overlap as even shady spots under my overhangs have ~70-100 PAR which when I started with LEDs the shade pretty much dropped to 0 with single point sources that were not close. Kessils are great lights and have cool color and people love them, but for my system the AI package was a better option.

[trmiv]

I think I'm going to end up going the Hydra 26 route. They are both awesome lights, but I think the "gadgetiness" of the Hydra with the Director wins me over. I love gadgets and fiddling with things so it's a bit of extra fun to have to cool features that the director provides. I stopped by an LFS today and saw some AI SOL over a tank, and even with those I was happy enough with the shimmer to believe I'll be fine with how the Hydra 26 looks over my tank.