Thoughts on 3 kessil a160w on 18x18x18 Sps cube.

Mallsreef · 06/25/2018, 04:21 AM

Hey, anyone have an opinion on my lighting choice.
My thoughts are to have 3 kessil a160ws on a 18x18x18 cube tank that will be predominantly high light sps.
I love the look of kessils and believe they could be one of the greatest lights when used in high numbers.
Also with this many kessils over a small footprint, will the shimmer they are known for remain?
Has anyone done this, do you know what kind of par values i would be getting?
Any info on the kessils a160 par numbers?
Thank you everyone.

Joke · 06/25/2018, 05:15 AM

Wow, that is a lot of light for a small cube.
There is people growing SPS under 2 of them on a 3 foot tank, so no doubt any sps should flourish under those lights.
As for shimmer, i think someone else may have to chime in on that.

Djbeasley05 · 06/25/2018, 05:58 AM

I have 2 a160’s on my 24” cube and it’s enough light for growing sps.

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smatter · 06/25/2018, 09:27 AM

I think three would look cluttered and negate the small form factor you like. Two aimed in an X configuration would be plenty for anything in your tank. I have one A360WE on my 18"x18"x18" and it's total overkill. It's like a prism inside the tank with all the reflected light.

slief · 06/25/2018, 03:53 PM

Yea, it’s a lot of light but you can dim them as needed. Two along the front and one along the back or vice versa with them all angled towards the center would insure that you never have a shadowing issue.

Joke · 06/25/2018, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Yea, it’s a lot of light but you can dim them as needed. Two along the front and one along the back or vice versa with them all angled towards the center would insure that you never have a shadowing issue.

I agree.
I kinda want to try this now.
I have always had problems with the intensity of kessils, so this should solve that and most shadowing.

Krush · 06/26/2018, 02:49 PM

3 seems like overkill on an 18" x 18" cube...just my 2 cents

Djbeasley05 · 06/26/2018, 02:51 PM

You won’t have any shadowing with two and that footprint.

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Integraonly · 07/08/2018, 08:21 PM

I think 3 is a little much 2 would work great.

rvareef · 07/09/2018, 06:23 AM

I would run 4 on a tank that size

minus9 · 07/09/2018, 04:45 PM

I had a 22g with 3 160's and a 4 bulb ATI over it. It's not too much light if the tank is packed with coral. Just keep the intensity low and slowly increase as needed, no more than 2% a week or 5% a month with the spectral controller.

minus9 · 07/09/2018, 04:48 PM

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06/25/2018, 04:21 AM	#1
Mallsreef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 8	Thoughts on 3 kessil a160w on 18x18x18 Sps cube. Hey, anyone have an opinion on my lighting choice. My thoughts are to have 3 kessil a160ws on a 18x18x18 cube tank that will be predominantly high light sps. I love the look of kessils and believe they could be one of the greatest lights when used in high numbers. Also with this many kessils over a small footprint, will the shimmer they are known for remain? Has anyone done this, do you know what kind of par values i would be getting? Any info on the kessils a160 par numbers? Thank you everyone.

06/25/2018, 03:53 PM	#5
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Yea, it’s a lot of light but you can dim them as needed. Two along the front and one along the back or vice versa with them all angled towards the center would insure that you never have a shadowing issue. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

06/25/2018, 05:15 AM	#2
Joke Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 446	Wow, that is a lot of light for a small cube. There is people growing SPS under 2 of them on a 3 foot tank, so no doubt any sps should flourish under those lights. As for shimmer, i think someone else may have to chime in on that.

06/25/2018, 05:58 AM	#3
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	I have 2 a160’s on my 24” cube and it’s enough light for growing sps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/25/2018, 09:27 AM	#4
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I think three would look cluttered and negate the small form factor you like. Two aimed in an X configuration would be plenty for anything in your tank. I have one A360WE on my 18"x18"x18" and it's total overkill. It's like a prism inside the tank with all the reflected light.

06/26/2018, 02:49 PM	#7
Krush Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 69	3 seems like overkill on an 18" x 18" cube...just my 2 cents

06/26/2018, 02:51 PM	#8
Djbeasley05 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 644	You won’t have any shadowing with two and that footprint. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/08/2018, 08:21 PM	#9
Integraonly Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 10	I think 3 is a little much 2 would work great.

07/09/2018, 06:23 AM	#10
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	I would run 4 on a tank that size

07/09/2018, 04:45 PM	#11
minus9 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: I'm in the Valley, Dude! Posts: 1,349	I had a 22g with 3 160's and a 4 bulb ATI over it. It's not too much light if the tank is packed with coral. Just keep the intensity low and slowly increase as needed, no more than 2% a week or 5% a month with the spectral controller.

07/09/2018, 04:48 PM	#12
minus9 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: I'm in the Valley, Dude! Posts: 1,349	Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk