Kessil a160 or a360?

Sundog101 · 07/21/2016, 10:20 PM

I'm looking at a marine land 110 tall tank. It's 30 inches tall. I have kessil a160s from my previous tank that Im wondering if I could use. I know it would be recommended to go up to the a360s, but it's only going to be a softy tank so would it really be necessary? I can't find any par numbers for kessils and was curious if anyone has tested them. So does anybody know the par values and do you think the a160 would have enough punch? Thanks for the advice!

Brieninsac · 07/21/2016, 10:26 PM

You can always try the a160 since you already have them. After reaching 100% and you feel you need more then buy the a360.

eder10986 · 07/22/2016, 04:10 AM

If possible is consider the 360's. The difference is certainly amazing. We have two of them on a 75g ran at 55% currently

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ReefCowboy · 07/22/2016, 05:53 AM

I have 2x a160's supplementing just blues my MH'S. My tank is a 36" 57gal . If I leave just the kessils on, with whites also at full power,the tank still looks somewhat dim. For softies it's plenty but why not get a better 360 and be covered in case you get higher light demandingcorals?

jayball · 07/22/2016, 08:52 AM

Even just softies you will not be happy with just the 160's, not in a 30" deep tank.

If you want to stay with Kessil than you could try a single 360 in the middle (assuming no brace) with the 160's on each side or a pair of them on the outside with the 160's on the inside (with a brace)

An alternate would be to use t-5 or LED striplighting to brighten things up a bit if you have a canopy or want to build a floating one

minus9 · 07/22/2016, 02:19 PM

You're better off with 360's, not saying the 160's couldn't sustain softies, but we tend to change our minds down the road and expand what we want to keep. You can't judge these lights on how bright they look, it's all about the spectrum of light. I have a pair of 160's on a 22g full of sps and I'm only hitting 65-70% intensity. 20" deep would be the max depth with a mixed reef for the 160's. It's better to have a little more light than not enough and risk starving your coral.
Just my two pennies.
Good luck!

sixpackgarage · 07/22/2016, 02:48 PM

IMHO 2x160 would suffice for softies.

jayball · 07/22/2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpackgarage

IMHO 2x160 would suffice for softies.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2014/2/myths
"Stony corals require more light than soft corals"

This is a good read.

Sundog101 · 07/22/2016, 11:11 PM

Thanks for the replies! I'll probably try the a160s first and just see how they do. If I need more light move up to the a360s.

07/21/2016, 10:20 PM	#1
Sundog101 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 94	Kessil a160 or a360? I'm looking at a marine land 110 tall tank. It's 30 inches tall. I have kessil a160s from my previous tank that Im wondering if I could use. I know it would be recommended to go up to the a360s, but it's only going to be a softy tank so would it really be necessary? I can't find any par numbers for kessils and was curious if anyone has tested them. So does anybody know the par values and do you think the a160 would have enough punch? Thanks for the advice!

07/21/2016, 10:26 PM	#2
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	You can always try the a160 since you already have them. After reaching 100% and you feel you need more then buy the a360. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

07/22/2016, 05:53 AM	#4
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	I have 2x a160's supplementing just blues my MH'S. My tank is a 36" 57gal . If I leave just the kessils on, with whites also at full power,the tank still looks somewhat dim. For softies it's plenty but why not get a better 360 and be covered in case you get higher light demandingcorals? __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

07/22/2016, 02:48 PM	#7
sixpackgarage reef mechanic Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 819	IMHO 2x160 would suffice for softies. __________________ my build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2512689 my fuge thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2523500 Current Tank Info: DSA NEO 65G reef powered by Kessil

07/22/2016, 04:10 AM	#3
eder10986 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 504	If possible is consider the 360's. The difference is certainly amazing. We have two of them on a 75g ran at 55% currently Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/22/2016, 08:52 AM	#5
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	Even just softies you will not be happy with just the 160's, not in a 30" deep tank. If you want to stay with Kessil than you could try a single 360 in the middle (assuming no brace) with the 160's on each side or a pair of them on the outside with the 160's on the inside (with a brace) An alternate would be to use t-5 or LED striplighting to brighten things up a bit if you have a canopy or want to build a floating one

07/22/2016, 02:19 PM	#6
minus9 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: I'm in the Valley, Dude! Posts: 1,349	You're better off with 360's, not saying the 160's couldn't sustain softies, but we tend to change our minds down the road and expand what we want to keep. You can't judge these lights on how bright they look, it's all about the spectrum of light. I have a pair of 160's on a 22g full of sps and I'm only hitting 65-70% intensity. 20" deep would be the max depth with a mixed reef for the 160's. It's better to have a little more light than not enough and risk starving your coral. Just my two pennies. Good luck!

07/22/2016, 11:11 PM	#9
Sundog101 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 94	Thanks for the replies! I'll probably try the a160s first and just see how they do. If I need more light move up to the a360s.