Kessil A350w or Maxspect Razor 27 inch

saltwatertanker · 09/07/2012, 06:08 AM

I have a 55 gallon (36L/21W/17H) tank. I am currently running a single Kessil a350w. I do have some shadowing at the corners of the tank. Would an Maxpect 27 inch provide better coverage for me? How would this light compare to the A350w? Was going to purchase an a150 to help cover my tank, but was thinking I could sell the a350w and buy the Maxspect if it would provide full coverage for my tank.

Gbear · 09/07/2012, 10:21 AM

saltwatertanker, I think you might have the wrong Kessil for the job at this point. Now knowing that you want more light you may have been better off with 2 of the standard A350's.
This is one of the only things I don't like about the Kessils. They can be very difficult to size for your own tank and likes.
I have two of them two but over a much different size of tank.
48Lx30Wx12H. They are the only lighting on the tank and are keeping a mix of LPS, SPS quite well. I think they have done a very good job with these lights.

I would suggest 1 of two things but there are many options out there.

1. Keep the A350W and add two 36", T5 bulbs. Corals will love this.

2. Keep the A350W and add another. This will allow you to expand in the future and you will still have good coral growth and color but the long term results are not yet fully understood.

Best of luck and I hope you find the perfect solution.
Stu

Kayo2289 · 09/07/2012, 10:30 AM

That's an interesting shape for a 55g, can u post a FTS showing the shaded area you spoke Of?

saltwatertanker · 09/08/2012, 03:25 AM

what do you guys think of adding an A150 ocean blue to help? Also see FTS below

Gbear · 09/08/2012, 07:50 AM

The pics didn't work for me, but I would have guessed you would need to add 2 A150's. Are you intending on pulling the A350W off center?
I know this would be possible but it would be difficult to make it look balanced.
I don't think you would be happy with the results.
Now if you wanted to sell the A350W and buy 3 of the A150's it may look a bit better but you would be giving up a much nicer light and probably not saving much compared to simply buying another A350W.

To answer you question very simply I think that would be the wrong move for you.

What are you planning on keeping in the tank and how deep?

Stu

saltwatertanker · 09/08/2012, 07:56 AM

trying pic again

Gbear · 09/08/2012, 06:20 PM

Sorry but the picture just isn't working. It might be on my end as nobody else has mentioned a problem.

Kayo2289 · 09/08/2012, 06:35 PM

Use photobucket or Flickr, any image hosting website will work.. Tapatalk and the RC uploaded is shotty.

gb530 · 09/09/2012, 12:49 AM

Pics aren't working for me either...... I recommend buying another A350W. Why buy the A150 when you can get the 350 for around $100 more?!

saltwatertanker · 09/09/2012, 04:57 AM

pic

saltwatertanker · 09/09/2012, 04:59 AM

pics from top

Kayo2289 · 09/09/2012, 06:03 AM

Nice I can see a little bit of what you are talking about, the shaded corner.. Doesn't really look like you NEED it, if you have grown this pieces with just the 350w then you should just save your $. Unless you have already made up your mind to get one but it looks good this far.

Kayo2289 · 09/09/2012, 06:05 AM

I am in loving your tank dimensions btw. ^_^

Gbear · 09/09/2012, 12:58 PM

That tank is looking good, but it is dim on the ends and not ideal in that way.
I'd want to ramp it up too.
The A350W has not been out long enough to give credit for the growth of all that coral however. Is the tank setup new or did you have a previous lighting setup untill recently. Moving forward it all depends what you are looking for.
I like a bit less blue than most and quite a brite tank

, most corals will do fine with less however and you may be just fine with just one.

I'd watch the ends of the tank carefully for signs of colour loss and limited to no growth. I notice you are using the gooseneck. It is a bit of a pain but you could shift it down maybe 4 inches off center and then every week or so move it 4 inches off to the other side of center. This would help boost up the light levels at least periodically at each end.

09/07/2012, 06:08 AM	#1
saltwatertanker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Guam Posts: 115	Kessil A350w or Maxspect Razor 27 inch I have a 55 gallon (36L/21W/17H) tank. I am currently running a single Kessil a350w. I do have some shadowing at the corners of the tank. Would an Maxpect 27 inch provide better coverage for me? How would this light compare to the A350w? Was going to purchase an a150 to help cover my tank, but was thinking I could sell the a350w and buy the Maxspect if it would provide full coverage for my tank.

09/07/2012, 10:30 AM	#3
Kayo2289 FMAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami Lakes, Florida Posts: 694	That's an interesting shape for a 55g, can u post a FTS showing the shaded area you spoke Of? __________________ GEN. Ch. 1 v. 21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems.... And God saw that it was good." Current Tank Info: 40g Reef in progress

09/08/2012, 06:35 PM	#8
Kayo2289 FMAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami Lakes, Florida Posts: 694	Use photobucket or Flickr, any image hosting website will work.. Tapatalk and the RC uploaded is shotty. __________________ GEN. Ch. 1 v. 21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems.... And God saw that it was good." Current Tank Info: 40g Reef in progress

09/09/2012, 12:49 AM	#9
gb530 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 492	Pics aren't working for me either...... I recommend buying another A350W. Why buy the A150 when you can get the 350 for around $100 more?! __________________ 90g SPS Dominant, ATI 6x54w T5HO + Reef Brite LED blue strip, Reef Octopus XS-160 Skimmer, DIY algae scrubber, and other cool stuff

09/09/2012, 06:03 AM	#12
Kayo2289 FMAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami Lakes, Florida Posts: 694	Nice I can see a little bit of what you are talking about, the shaded corner.. Doesn't really look like you NEED it, if you have grown this pieces with just the 350w then you should just save your $. Unless you have already made up your mind to get one but it looks good this far. __________________ GEN. Ch. 1 v. 21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems.... And God saw that it was good." Current Tank Info: 40g Reef in progress

09/07/2012, 10:21 AM	#2
Gbear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	saltwatertanker, I think you might have the wrong Kessil for the job at this point. Now knowing that you want more light you may have been better off with 2 of the standard A350's. This is one of the only things I don't like about the Kessils. They can be very difficult to size for your own tank and likes. I have two of them two but over a much different size of tank. 48Lx30Wx12H. They are the only lighting on the tank and are keeping a mix of LPS, SPS quite well. I think they have done a very good job with these lights. I would suggest 1 of two things but there are many options out there. 1. Keep the A350W and add two 36", T5 bulbs. Corals will love this. 2. Keep the A350W and add another. This will allow you to expand in the future and you will still have good coral growth and color but the long term results are not yet fully understood. Best of luck and I hope you find the perfect solution. Stu

09/08/2012, 07:50 AM	#5
Gbear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	The pics didn't work for me, but I would have guessed you would need to add 2 A150's. Are you intending on pulling the A350W off center? I know this would be possible but it would be difficult to make it look balanced. I don't think you would be happy with the results. Now if you wanted to sell the A350W and buy 3 of the A150's it may look a bit better but you would be giving up a much nicer light and probably not saving much compared to simply buying another A350W. To answer you question very simply I think that would be the wrong move for you. What are you planning on keeping in the tank and how deep? Stu

09/08/2012, 06:20 PM	#7
Gbear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	Sorry but the picture just isn't working. It might be on my end as nobody else has mentioned a problem.

09/09/2012, 06:05 AM	#13
Kayo2289 FMAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami Lakes, Florida Posts: 694	I am in loving your tank dimensions btw. ^_^ __________________ GEN. Ch. 1 v. 21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems.... And God saw that it was good." Current Tank Info: 40g Reef in progress

09/09/2012, 12:58 PM	#14
Gbear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	That tank is looking good, but it is dim on the ends and not ideal in that way. I'd want to ramp it up too. The A350W has not been out long enough to give credit for the growth of all that coral however. Is the tank setup new or did you have a previous lighting setup untill recently. Moving forward it all depends what you are looking for. I like a bit less blue than most and quite a brite tank , most corals will do fine with less however and you may be just fine with just one. I'd watch the ends of the tank carefully for signs of colour loss and limited to no growth. I notice you are using the gooseneck. It is a bit of a pain but you could shift it down maybe 4 inches off center and then every week or so move it 4 inches off to the other side of center. This would help boost up the light levels at least periodically at each end.