Kessil A360 or AI Vega/Hydra

[Herbie]

Originally Posted by ClownBubbaJoe

What's the difference between the apex, the apex Jr & lite. ?

http://www.fragtasticreef.com/Neptun...-apex-lite.htm

http://www.neptunesystems.com/

[MrIcky]

Originally Posted by scubaprashant

I was at my LFS the other day and they put both the Hydra and Kessil under a par meter and the numbers were very low. The reef breeders photon 24 & Aqua Illumination Sol Blues on the other hand pushed very high numbers at the sand bed.

The AI Sol Blue was over 700 at the sand bed and the Reef Breeders was around 400. The Kessil and Hydra weren't even close and didn't have nearly as good par when it came to the dim areas.

That being said, I haven't owned any of the above mentioned fixtures, so I cannot offer any advice on the growth rates. Just thought I'd share what I saw with my own two eyes.

700 and 400 on the sandbed is quite literally a waste. All else being equal you'd top those 2 fixtures out at 35% and 50% (or raise them pretty high).

And what's low and which Kessil?

[Sparkpaul]

Originally Posted by Herbie

Don't know why Kessil doesn't offer their own proprietary controller ? It would be nice, but the price would be even higher, lol.
Some people like to use there own controller to control everything on their tanks. I use my Reef Keeper Elite, to control everything on my tank, including the lights.

An ALC is a ReefKeeper Advanced Light Controller than can be used with a Reef Keeper lite or Elite. It gives you the abilty to control any lights that responds to the 1=10v signal needed to dim and or change color in lighting. To control the Kessil 360 you first have to have it powered up (via the plug in the wall), then the ALC can take over and adjust the color, or intensity. Like I said its pretty easy once you get through the learning curve because Digital Electronics (Reef Keeper products) are a little vague in the instruction dept. lol.
I have heard the APEX is a little easier than a ReefKeeper but I cant confirm that. Reefkeeper is not that bad once you learn it. I don't even have my RK Elite hooked up to my computer (I can though). I just use the very user friendly main display head unit. Works great.

Anyway ...........I have tried a bunch of LED's on the market and only the Kessil 350/360 was good enough to get me to ditch my halides. 2 Kessil 360w (90 watts each) have replaced 2 250w halides. I am getting similar growth and color with the benefits of being able to adjust the spectrum and intensity at will..........not to mention saving a TON of money on electrical consumption.
There is something OFF with the par figures though .........while the Kessils and some other LED's on the market are registering lower par numbers they have been proven to be able to grow corals just fine, and have the ability to literally fry corals if they are not acclimated correctly ...........all while showing lower par numbers. Something different is at play here . Kessils have UV lighting which is clearly helping and what corals need for growth and color.

Don't have any pics right now ............could take some later once the lights are on.

Herbie

What corals are you keeping?

[Herbie]

Originally Posted by Sparkpaul

What corals are you keeping?

Pretty much everything, lol. Its a true mixed reef.
SPS -acros,monities, birdsnest.... etc, LPS - torch, hammer,trumpet, chalices, Lots of zoas, shrooms, rics, etc. Getting great growth and color in everything. I think I have some maxi-mini anemones that are doing great (might be some wierd color ric ? I dont know, lol).
Just fragged a bunch of shoots of a Scripps Acro colony last week (by accident, lol) and by this week all of the ends are healed up ang growing over with new growth and polyps. Zoas, shrooms and rics are spliting and growing like mad, and great color. I have a torch that is getting to the point where I am going to have to frag it just to keep its size down. Prob about 50 heads right now.
Only lighting is Kessil 360w x 2 on a 120.

Herbie

[Bdeppen]

I used to use the RKL system. It worked for me but I wanted control from my mobile device because of my work. Since jumping to the Apex Lite I've been thrilled with it. I'm learning more and more about how the programming language works. The level of control over things is just mind blowing.

[Herbie]

Originally Posted by Bdeppen

I used to use the RKL system. It worked for me but I wanted control from my mobile device because of my work. Since jumping to the Apex Lite I've been thrilled with it. I'm learning more and more about how the programming language works. The level of control over things is just mind blowing.

I think Neptune has a module to control 1-10v lighting (like Kessil 360) that could be added to a Apex Lite ? You should be set, just need the cabels and the module (Maybe $125. total ?)

Herbie

[Bdeppen]

Originally Posted by Herbie

Pretty much everything, lol. Its a true mixed reef.

SPS -acros,monities, birdsnest.... etc, LPS - torch, hammer,trumpet, chalices, Lots of zoas, shrooms, rics, etc. Getting great growth and color in everything. I think I have some maxi-mini anemones that are doing great (might be some wierd color ric ? I dont know, lol).

Just fragged a bunch of shoots of a Scripps Acro colony last week (by accident, lol) and by this week all of the ends are healed up ang growing over with new growth and polyps. Zoas, shrooms and rics are spliting and growing like mad, and great color. I have a torch that is getting to the point where I am going to have to frag it just to keep its size down. Prob about 50 heads right now.

Only lighting is Kessil 360w x 2 on a 120.



Herbie

You have new frags acro frags?!? I could be interested in purchasing some. Please send me pics of what you have.

[Bdeppen]

Originally Posted by Herbie

I think Neptune has a module to control 1-10v lighting (like Kessil 360) that could be added to a Apex Lite ? You should be set, just need the cabels and the module (Maybe $125. total ?)



Herbie

Yea the VDM module is what I was planning in if I got Kessil, which I am leaning towards, or they came out with the AWM which completely controls the AI Hydra/Vega. I'm all about control on the go. Being able to lower blue levels for camera viewing while away from the system is also a buying factor. I believe I can blend with both the kessil and AI units in the go though.

[Allentown]

You do not need a vdm module to control the apex if you get the full apex to start with.

Fir what it's worth, I bought a an apex to control my kessils and having seen what I can now do with an apex, I will never run another tank without one.

Best thing I ever bought. Buy your apex first,,,,,,THEN buy your tank.

[Sparkpaul]

Originally Posted by Herbie

Pretty much everything, lol. Its a true mixed reef.
SPS -acros,monities, birdsnest.... etc, LPS - torch, hammer,trumpet, chalices, Lots of zoas, shrooms, rics, etc. Getting great growth and color in everything. I think I have some maxi-mini anemones that are doing great (might be some wierd color ric ? I dont know, lol).
Just fragged a bunch of shoots of a Scripps Acro colony last week (by accident, lol) and by this week all of the ends are healed up ang growing over with new growth and polyps. Zoas, shrooms and rics are spliting and growing like mad, and great color. I have a torch that is getting to the point where I am going to have to frag it just to keep its size down. Prob about 50 heads right now.
Only lighting is Kessil 360w x 2 on a 120.

Herbie

That sounds awesome. I have a 200g tank, i'll need at least 4 (150 cm 85 cm height 65 cm)

How old is your tank and how did you acclimate? How high are you hanging them?

[bowfront]

Glad to hear the good reviews on the Kessil 360's. I've been watching LED's for a while and couldn't resist the resent discounts so I bought a couple of 360W-E's for a new build.

[RedStangGA]

Originally Posted by Bdeppen

Yea the VDM module is what I was planning in if I got Kessil, which I am leaning towards, or they came out with the AWM which completely controls the AI Hydra/Vega. I'm all about control on the go. Being able to lower blue levels for camera viewing while away from the system is also a buying factor. I believe I can blend with both the kessil and AI units in the go though.

The Apex will control both just fine by adding the VDM to the the Apex Lite. I use the iPhone app to control my lights on a regular basis and the Fusion software should make it even easier.

Also, for those looking to get into the Apex worl on the cheap they have a Jr model as well. It has a significant limitation with an only 4 or 5 module expansion limit though so consider that. I started with a Jr to see if a controller was for me or all it was cracked up to be. It is and I'll be upgrading to a full Apex at some point!

Originally Posted by Allentown

You do not need a vdm module to control the apex if you get the full apex to start with.

Fir what it's worth, I bought a an apex to control my kessils and having seen what I can now do with an apex, I will never run another tank without one.

Best thing I ever bought. Buy your apex first,,,,,,THEN buy your tank.

Agree with Allentown on this. I won't run a tank without one.

[Minaimee]

I have a 100 gallon would 2 360w be sufficient or will I need additional 150s to supplement. My tank is 48' long.

[Bdeppen]

Originally Posted by Allentown

You do not need a vdm module to control the apex if you get the full apex to start with.

Fir what it's worth, I bought a an apex to control my kessils and having seen what I can now do with an apex, I will never run another tank without one.

Best thing I ever bought. Buy your apex first,,,,,,THEN buy your tank.

I only have the Apex Lite, I think I'd need the VDM

[Bdeppen]

Originally Posted by Minaimee

I have a 100 gallon would 2 360w be sufficient or will I need additional 150s to supplement. My tank is 48' long.

2 should cover you. But it really all depends on your needs.

[chefzif]

Show some pics of the kessels! I hear they area good light!

Originally Posted by Herbie

I have 2 Kessil 360's over my 120. They are they best LED's on the market right now, imho. I have tried most all of the other ones out there, or have seen them in action. ONLY the Kessil's have no disco effect. NO OTHER LED light on the market can claim this. I am getting great growth, and color with the 360's. Have been running 350's or 360's for over a year+ now. Wouldn't trade them for any other light on the Market. They are the closest LED's to Halide out right now. Its all because of the dense matrix LED chip (cluster) they are using.
I was running 350's which were great, but the 360's I am running now are a lot better and a lot easier to control the color and intensity without having the intensity drop off like the 350's. The 360's are a lot better than 350's and they ARE able to be controlled via 1-10v controller. I am controlling mine via my ReefKeeper Elite, using a ALC . It was a bit of a learning curve figuring it all out, but I have it running great now. I am able to do a dusk/dawn lighting schedule with no problems using just the 360's. I start off with a full blue color and very low intensity that slowly ramps both up. 1 hour on the intensity and 3 hours on the color. Then they are at full intensity and about 70 & color for the whole day, then reverse at night, then my moonlight pods take over at night.
Cant tell you about using the Apex to control the 360's but I have heard its easier than the ReefKeeper. I have the ReefKeeper all figured out now, and its pretty easy once you go through the learning curve.

Bdeppen ........ where are you located in Central PA ? I am also in Central PA. Lewisburg 17837. If you want to come on by my house and check out the 360's in action, just PM me.

Herbie

[chefzif]

I had the vegas and they are a good light but not 100 percent with color for me! went to ATI Hybrid T5/ LED Powermodule! great light! Check out the eco-tech pros!

[toky916]

I'm coming from using Kessil 350w on a 65gal. Loved the light really only negative is the shadowing in SPS if your keeping nice some nice ones. Fine for everything else honestly would think Kessil would come out with a new multi cluster fixture with wireless control.

The wait was to long so I upgraded to the hydra 52 and all I can say I'm very happy I have the control each color ! Shadowing is gone disco effect not here with the hydra 52.

Sure Kessil has better color blending,shimmer but really slacking on new fixtures and still two color control

I'm getting better color and growth after just 4 weeks after using the hydra