2 kessil 350w enough on a 93g cube?

Touring · 07/07/2013, 08:39 PM

Setting up my cube and wanted to know if I should try the 2 Kessils or just buy another light.

What do you guys think? Only sps in the tank and not going high with the rock

Touring · 07/08/2013, 07:07 AM

Guess I'm about to find out.

sirreal63 · 07/08/2013, 07:38 AM

Should be more than enough light.

[]V[]addog · 07/09/2013, 11:57 AM

ya, I know a buddy that has 1, i think two would be perfect.

Touring · 07/10/2013, 06:11 PM

i hope the 93g cube is kinda big. ill post par results as soon as i get it up(thats what he said).......

maynardjames · 07/10/2013, 09:38 PM

had a standard 60 cube it was 24 x 24 x 24 whats yours?

Touring · 07/11/2013, 05:45 AM

30x30x24.

Touring · 07/11/2013, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

Should be more than enough light.

for clams?

jda · 07/11/2013, 08:32 AM

I think that you will struggle to execute a solid SPS and clam tank with the kessil. The single point light source will leave many shadows and unlit areas that T5 or MH on good reflectors will get light to. 2 might be better, or a panel LED.

I personally don't like the purple-grey color and how the SPS look under them, but this is beside the point. One of our local LFS uses Kessils over a display tank (4 of them) and they cannot keep crocea or maxima for long in that tank...2-3 months and then dead...the lights might not be the reason and I have no idea about tank parameters, but I got a teardrop from them (they had 3) and mine is still alive and theirs all died.

Anyway, I know that none of this is constructive, so sorry, but I thought that I would offer.

ReefDoberman · 07/11/2013, 10:15 AM

The kessil gets great spread and color but you will need 2 on a 93 cube.

Touring · 07/12/2013, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

I think that you will struggle to execute a solid SPS and clam tank with the kessil. The single point light source will leave many shadows and unlit areas that T5 or MH on good reflectors will get light to. 2 might be better, or a panel LED.

I personally don't like the purple-grey color and how the SPS look under them, but this is beside the point. One of our local LFS uses Kessils over a display tank (4 of them) and they cannot keep crocea or maxima for long in that tank...2-3 months and then dead...the lights might not be the reason and I have no idea about tank parameters, but I got a teardrop from them (they had 3) and mine is still alive and theirs all died.

Anyway, I know that none of this is constructive, so sorry, but I thought that I would offer.

you are completely right, i ran a 350 over a 30cube and while i could could keep sps at the bottom they werent growing. only the sps that i had on the top shelf almost directly under them were growing and very slow.Their color were so pale. it was preety sad. That was my test tank if you want to call it that.

I now am setting up a 93 cube and realize i will have to leave the 350's(i had 2) and go with the 400mh. if sps had trouble in the bottom of my tank in a 30G..... i could only imagine in a 93. Again im only talking from a SPS/Clam stand point.

i just ordered some very high end sps and want them at their full potential.

Touring · 07/12/2013, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefDoberman

The kessil gets great spread and color but you will need 2 on a 93 cube.

not even 2....

sirreal63 · 07/12/2013, 07:08 AM

Don't fall into the light trap, the loss of color you had on the 30 gallon tank was probably due to too much light and/or not enough food. Too much light can also slow growth and the sps can photoinhibit. It is very common for people to think they don't have enough light because color or growth is not what they want, the solution isn't always more light. Though I prefer MH there is no reason why the two Kessil's won't do what you want. There is enough power in them for two A350's to bleach the snot out of sps in a 30x30x24 tank.

A 400 watt bulb over a 24" tall tank is way more than needed. A 250 is more than adequate over the tank. Many people get the job done with much less light. Here is a good example, take a look at Palting's tank, a standard 150 gallon which I think is 28" tall. It is lit with 3-150 watt bulbs and the sps and clam on the bottom of the tank look great.

And where it was a year ago...this is pretty darn good growth and color in a year under 150's and a tall tank.

On my old 125 I had much better growth under the 150's then I did under the 250. I am not suggesting that you go with 150's but rather 250's mainly because there are a lot better bulb options with 250 watt bulbs in the reflector we talked about earlier. There is just no good reason to go with a 400 on that tank. Though I would try the Kessils since you already have them if you do go the MH route, there is no reason to go with the high heat, high par 400 watt bulb.

sirreal63 · 07/12/2013, 07:11 AM

The rest of the thread, if you would like to see some close ups of corals.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2191618&page=5

Growth and color are not just a function of how much light you can blast a coral with.

Touring · 07/12/2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

The rest of the thread, if you would like to see some close ups of corals.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2191618&page=5

Growth and color are not just a function of how much light you can blast a coral with.

Very true. i should have added that the light will be about a 12-18" above the tank. i contacted the top 3 vendors(MD,dr fosters and BRS) and also kessil them selves and told them what i was doing and they recomended 400w mh, except kessil. They recomended i go with 3- kessil 350 narrows and not wide. Kessil said the wides are more for a breeder tank. No way was i spending 350+ on another kessil light.

I have tons of pics of the growth under the 350. I will compare them with the mh to see and review what i think of them.

sirreal63 · 07/12/2013, 08:45 AM

When you ask a vendor what to use, it is normal for them to suggest what ends up being more expensive. You can certainly use a 400 but that doesn't make the best choice and given the dimensions of the tank, I can think of no compelling reason to do so. There aren't a lot of 400 watt bulbs available, 400's can add a lot of heat both to the tank directly and the room it is in. With the Kessil wides, you will get overlap, which is a good thing, the light is coming from two directions and the light from one adds to the other. I use this advantage in my own tank and is why I am lighting a 40x40x17 pentagon with a pair of 150's.

With the proper reflector you can do just as well at lighting the tank with 250 as 400's and use less electricity and impart less heat. The key is the reflector, as is always the case, and is why T5's can work so well, the reflector puts the light where it is needed.

I don't want to say do not use 400's because you can, but rather I suggest that you consider what it will give you that you can't get with 250's and what the disadvantages and advantages will be.

jda · 07/12/2013, 09:59 AM

When you all talk about 150s and 250s, it is probably a good idea to say if they are HQI, or not. I have used a lot of them and 150W HQI in a good fixture will put out more light than a 250W mogul halide on all but the best reflectors (lumenarc, or the like), then then they are still pretty close. 250W HQI will destroy both 150HQI and 250W Mogul and will do about the same as 400W Mogul on a good reflector (although the light spread is somewhat different). In any case, 150W HQI is a great light that you can grow nearly anything underneath for not too much wattage or heat. The bulb choices for all of these lights is different in each case, but there are good ones in each category.

Touring · 07/12/2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

When you ask a vendor what to use, it is normal for them to suggest what ends up being more expensive. You can certainly use a 400 but that doesn't make the best choice and given the dimensions of the tank, I can think of no compelling reason to do so. There aren't a lot of 400 watt bulbs available, 400's can add a lot of heat both to the tank directly and the room it is in. With the Kessil wides, you will get overlap, which is a good thing, the light is coming from two directions and the light from one adds to the other. I use this advantage in my own tank and is why I am lighting a 40x40x17 pentagon with a pair of 150's.

With the proper reflector you can do just as well at lighting the tank with 250 as 400's and use less electricity and impart less heat. The key is the reflector, as is always the case, and is why T5's can work so well, the reflector puts the light where it is needed.

I don't want to say do not use 400's because you can, but rather I suggest that you consider what it will give you that you can't get with 250's and what the disadvantages and advantages will be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

When you all talk about 150s and 250s, it is probably a good idea to say if they are HQI, or not. I have used a lot of them and 150W HQI in a good fixture will put out more light than a 250W mogul halide on all but the best reflectors (lumenarc, or the like), then then they are still pretty close. 250W HQI will destroy both 150HQI and 250W Mogul and will do about the same as 400W Mogul on a good reflector (although the light spread is somewhat different). In any case, 150W HQI is a great light that you can grow nearly anything underneath for not too much wattage or heat. The bulb choices for all of these lights is different in each case, but there are good ones in each category.

you guys bring up good info.

07/07/2013, 08:39 PM	#1
Touring Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panhandle Posts: 724	2 kessil 350w enough on a 93g cube? Setting up my cube and wanted to know if I should try the 2 Kessils or just buy another light. What do you guys think? Only sps in the tank and not going high with the rock Last edited by Touring; 07/07/2013 at 09:07 PM.

07/08/2013, 07:38 AM	#3
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Should be more than enough light. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/10/2013, 09:38 PM	#6
maynardjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: west tennessee Posts: 1,600	had a standard 60 cube it was 24 x 24 x 24 whats yours? __________________ if your 555 Current Tank Info: 120 rr dual overflows, solarflare t5 fixture,octo extreme 200,vortech mp40w esx2. brs reactor for carbon, brs reactor for gfo, 40 gal breeder sump

07/12/2013, 07:08 AM	#13
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Don't fall into the light trap, the loss of color you had on the 30 gallon tank was probably due to too much light and/or not enough food. Too much light can also slow growth and the sps can photoinhibit. It is very common for people to think they don't have enough light because color or growth is not what they want, the solution isn't always more light. Though I prefer MH there is no reason why the two Kessil's won't do what you want. There is enough power in them for two A350's to bleach the snot out of sps in a 30x30x24 tank. A 400 watt bulb over a 24" tall tank is way more than needed. A 250 is more than adequate over the tank. Many people get the job done with much less light. Here is a good example, take a look at Palting's tank, a standard 150 gallon which I think is 28" tall. It is lit with 3-150 watt bulbs and the sps and clam on the bottom of the tank look great. And where it was a year ago...this is pretty darn good growth and color in a year under 150's and a tall tank. On my old 125 I had much better growth under the 150's then I did under the 250. I am not suggesting that you go with 150's but rather 250's mainly because there are a lot better bulb options with 250 watt bulbs in the reflector we talked about earlier. There is just no good reason to go with a 400 on that tank. Though I would try the Kessils since you already have them if you do go the MH route, there is no reason to go with the high heat, high par 400 watt bulb. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/12/2013, 07:11 AM	#14
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	The rest of the thread, if you would like to see some close ups of corals. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...2191618&page=5 Growth and color are not just a function of how much light you can blast a coral with. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/08/2013, 07:07 AM	#2
Touring Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panhandle Posts: 724	Guess I'm about to find out.

07/09/2013, 11:57 AM	#4
[]V[]addog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: east coast canada Posts: 167	ya, I know a buddy that has 1, i think two would be perfect.

07/10/2013, 06:11 PM	#5
Touring Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panhandle Posts: 724	i hope the 93g cube is kinda big. ill post par results as soon as i get it up(thats what he said).......

07/11/2013, 05:45 AM	#7
Touring Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panhandle Posts: 724	30x30x24.

07/11/2013, 08:32 AM	#9
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I think that you will struggle to execute a solid SPS and clam tank with the kessil. The single point light source will leave many shadows and unlit areas that T5 or MH on good reflectors will get light to. 2 might be better, or a panel LED. I personally don't like the purple-grey color and how the SPS look under them, but this is beside the point. One of our local LFS uses Kessils over a display tank (4 of them) and they cannot keep crocea or maxima for long in that tank...2-3 months and then dead...the lights might not be the reason and I have no idea about tank parameters, but I got a teardrop from them (they had 3) and mine is still alive and theirs all died. Anyway, I know that none of this is constructive, so sorry, but I thought that I would offer.

07/11/2013, 10:15 AM	#10
ReefDoberman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PA Posts: 688	The kessil gets great spread and color but you will need 2 on a 93 cube.

07/12/2013, 08:45 AM	#16
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	When you ask a vendor what to use, it is normal for them to suggest what ends up being more expensive. You can certainly use a 400 but that doesn't make the best choice and given the dimensions of the tank, I can think of no compelling reason to do so. There aren't a lot of 400 watt bulbs available, 400's can add a lot of heat both to the tank directly and the room it is in. With the Kessil wides, you will get overlap, which is a good thing, the light is coming from two directions and the light from one adds to the other. I use this advantage in my own tank and is why I am lighting a 40x40x17 pentagon with a pair of 150's. With the proper reflector you can do just as well at lighting the tank with 250 as 400's and use less electricity and impart less heat. The key is the reflector, as is always the case, and is why T5's can work so well, the reflector puts the light where it is needed. I don't want to say do not use 400's because you can, but rather I suggest that you consider what it will give you that you can't get with 250's and what the disadvantages and advantages will be. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/12/2013, 09:59 AM	#17
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	When you all talk about 150s and 250s, it is probably a good idea to say if they are HQI, or not. I have used a lot of them and 150W HQI in a good fixture will put out more light than a 250W mogul halide on all but the best reflectors (lumenarc, or the like), then then they are still pretty close. 250W HQI will destroy both 150HQI and 250W Mogul and will do about the same as 400W Mogul on a good reflector (although the light spread is somewhat different). In any case, 150W HQI is a great light that you can grow nearly anything underneath for not too much wattage or heat. The bulb choices for all of these lights is different in each case, but there are good ones in each category.