120 reef build - LED lighting question..

lg2725 · 05/17/2016, 01:32 PM

I am in the process of starting to spec out (infancy stages) a new build for my 60"L x 18"W x 26"D, 120 gallon tank. I definitely want to be able to have SPS and a wide range of fish. Of course the lighting is stumping me. My brother swears on MH and T5's while others I know say LED is the way to go. I am leaning on doing a hybrid LED/T5 custom combination. My issues are such:

Should I go with (3) Kessil A160 LED's and 2 T5's in the front and 2 in the rear or is this not enough for coverage?

Or would I just be better served with (3) A360 LED's?

Should I go with the Kessil AP700 alone? If so, is it sufficient spread?
Thoughts please? Thanks for any and all input.

bigfruits · 05/20/2016, 09:52 AM

I have no experience but from what I have read, you might want to skip the 160s because of the 26" depth of your aquarium. I just received 2 160s that I plan on putting over a 25 gallon lagoon tank (24x16x12"). Great little lights!

3 of the 360s would work but some complain that they have issues with shading when growing SPS. Adding t5s should solve that. The middle of the tank should have minimal shading with the left and right 360 spilling over.

I do not think you would be happy with the coverage on the sides with a AP700 on a 5ft tank.

Again, no experience, just regurgitating what I have read. The Kessil Club thread has some good info.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2474225

If you read through that thread, take advice from people (like myself) that don't have actual experience with a grain of salt. Also, Kessils are very different from other LEDs so keep that in mind when people describe experiences with other LED fixtures. Proper acclimation of coral is very important with Kessils.

cody6766 · 05/20/2016, 01:10 PM

I ran 2x Kessil A350s + 4x T5 over my 4' 120g tank. It would have really benefited from a third Kessil as far as spread goes. I'd also recommend the narrow lens. You'll need it for the depth. For a 60" tank, I'd say 4x A360n + T5 would be the way to go, if you can swing it. You can try it with 3 Kessils, but there's a good chance you'll be wanting more. The wide lens will help a lot with coverage, but I'm not sure how much penetration you'll trade. I imagine it will be a decent bit. T5s really help with the shadowing you get with LEDs, and they seem to smooth out the overall appearance. I'm a fan of adding them when able. They're not really needed for growth, just for aesthetics.

My heart lies with MH + T5s for an ideal lighting setup, but LEDs are definitely suitable substitutions. MH isn't really better or worse, but I think it looks better. That said, I'm running LEDs, and have been for about a year or 2.

lg2725 · 05/21/2016, 11:59 AM

Thanks for the input. I have been doing some research and think I am going to go with the Rapid LED 90 gallon kit and supplement it with 1 Kessil A360 in the center with the Neptune Apex controller. If I'm not satisfied with the look/results I will reassess. Thanks for the input guys.

ADVRESOURCE · 05/22/2016, 12:28 PM

I have a 240, 72 x 24 x 33. I have 3 ai hydra 52 hd running parallel to tank length. I have a rock peninsula. The lighting varies due to changes in depth of rock surfaces. I'm going to augment with Hamilton t5'sfront and rear. I tried running led's perpendicular to length of rock but, got very high intensity to bad intensity due to the light spread. Best to augment with t5's with parallel led setup

lg2725 · 05/22/2016, 01:07 PM

I'd might as well from the beginning go with the T-5's in front and rear. Thanks for the input. I'll hold off on the Kessil. They're easy to add later on if I need.

TheFishGuy31 · 05/22/2016, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADVRESOURCE

I have a 240, 72 x 24 x 33. I have 3 ai hydra 52 hd running parallel to tank length. I have a rock peninsula. The lighting varies due to changes in depth of rock surfaces. I'm going to augment with Hamilton t5'sfront and rear. I tried running led's perpendicular to length of rock but, got very high intensity to bad intensity due to the light spread. Best to augment with t5's with parallel led setup

How do you like the HDs?

I'm trying to decide between the Hydras or A360s for my tank.

ADVRESOURCE · 05/24/2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFishGuy31

How do you like the HDs?

I'm trying to decide between the Hydras or A360s for my tank.

The HD's are sic! You can control all of them at the same time. PAR is very good although, directional. You can overdrive the HD's. No separate controller - adjust via Iphone or Ipad.

Not too familiar with A360's.

05/17/2016, 01:32 PM	#1
lg2725 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 180	120 reef build - LED lighting question.. I am in the process of starting to spec out (infancy stages) a new build for my 60"L x 18"W x 26"D, 120 gallon tank. I definitely want to be able to have SPS and a wide range of fish. Of course the lighting is stumping me. My brother swears on MH and T5's while others I know say LED is the way to go. I am leaning on doing a hybrid LED/T5 custom combination. My issues are such: Should I go with (3) Kessil A160 LED's and 2 T5's in the front and 2 in the rear or is this not enough for coverage? Or would I just be better served with (3) A360 LED's? Should I go with the Kessil AP700 alone? If so, is it sufficient spread? Thoughts please? Thanks for any and all input.

05/20/2016, 01:10 PM	#3
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I ran 2x Kessil A350s + 4x T5 over my 4' 120g tank. It would have really benefited from a third Kessil as far as spread goes. I'd also recommend the narrow lens. You'll need it for the depth. For a 60" tank, I'd say 4x A360n + T5 would be the way to go, if you can swing it. You can try it with 3 Kessils, but there's a good chance you'll be wanting more. The wide lens will help a lot with coverage, but I'm not sure how much penetration you'll trade. I imagine it will be a decent bit. T5s really help with the shadowing you get with LEDs, and they seem to smooth out the overall appearance. I'm a fan of adding them when able. They're not really needed for growth, just for aesthetics. My heart lies with MH + T5s for an ideal lighting setup, but LEDs are definitely suitable substitutions. MH isn't really better or worse, but I think it looks better. That said, I'm running LEDs, and have been for about a year or 2. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

05/20/2016, 09:52 AM	#2
bigfruits Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NOVA Posts: 406	I have no experience but from what I have read, you might want to skip the 160s because of the 26" depth of your aquarium. I just received 2 160s that I plan on putting over a 25 gallon lagoon tank (24x16x12"). Great little lights! 3 of the 360s would work but some complain that they have issues with shading when growing SPS. Adding t5s should solve that. The middle of the tank should have minimal shading with the left and right 360 spilling over. I do not think you would be happy with the coverage on the sides with a AP700 on a 5ft tank. Again, no experience, just regurgitating what I have read. The Kessil Club thread has some good info. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2474225 If you read through that thread, take advice from people (like myself) that don't have actual experience with a grain of salt. Also, Kessils are very different from other LEDs so keep that in mind when people describe experiences with other LED fixtures. Proper acclimation of coral is very important with Kessils.

05/21/2016, 11:59 AM	#4
lg2725 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 180	Thanks for the input. I have been doing some research and think I am going to go with the Rapid LED 90 gallon kit and supplement it with 1 Kessil A360 in the center with the Neptune Apex controller. If I'm not satisfied with the look/results I will reassess. Thanks for the input guys.

05/22/2016, 12:28 PM	#5
ADVRESOURCE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TUCSON Posts: 569	I have a 240, 72 x 24 x 33. I have 3 ai hydra 52 hd running parallel to tank length. I have a rock peninsula. The lighting varies due to changes in depth of rock surfaces. I'm going to augment with Hamilton t5'sfront and rear. I tried running led's perpendicular to length of rock but, got very high intensity to bad intensity due to the light spread. Best to augment with t5's with parallel led setup

05/22/2016, 01:07 PM	#6
lg2725 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 180	I'd might as well from the beginning go with the T-5's in front and rear. Thanks for the input. I'll hold off on the Kessil. They're easy to add later on if I need.