Out with the Kessil..

[Andreww]

I've had a A160WE over my ADA 60P tank(17g) for close to a year now, but I'm not very happy with it.

 

Corals are growing and I need something with better spread over 24"x 12".

I know it's a small tank, but I was thinking of a light with 2 or more LED pucks, for better coverage.

 

I was debating over the new AI Hydra HD which is wireless and is controlled from an app, Radion or GHL Mitras.

Price as you can tell is jumping fast from one fixture to another.

 

What are your guys's thoughts?

 

Will one AI Hydra suffice ? A Radion? GHL?

I've seen the AI hydra in person at the LFS, the guy even showed me how it's controlled, pretty sweet light.

 

All I want is good coverage, better coverage than what I'm getting now with the Kessil...

[Water Dog]

Would you consider adding another a160we? For a tank of your dimensions, I would think that two of the a160we units would be perfect.

[Cencalfishguy56]

I've had a A160WE over my ADA 60P tank(17g) for close to a year now, but I'm not very happy with it.

 

Corals are growing and I need something with better spread over 24"x 12".

I know it's a small tank, but I was thinking of a light with 2 or more LED pucks, for better coverage.

 

I was debating over the new AI Hydra HD which is wireless and is controlled from an app, Radion or GHL Mitras.

Price as you can tell is jumping fast from one fixture to another.

 

What are your guys's thoughts?

 

Will one AI Hydra suffice ? A Radion? GHL?

I've seen the AI hydra in person at the LFS, the guy even showed me how it's controlled, pretty sweet light.

 

All I want is good coverage, better coverage than what I'm getting now with the Kessil...

why exactly are you not happy with it? I've had mine on a 20L tank and have seen growth from every coral in my tank, on a 30" length tank I even get growth on 22", in pushing the boundaries wth my light as my rock work is 24" or so and still see growth

[Andreww]

I'll post a picture soon just so you guys see the rock work...lots of shadowing with one Kessil.

Colors are bland too especially looking through the front...from the top, a little better...sorry but the Kessil is either white or blue, no channels to adjust colors like red, green, violet etc

 

 

Two Kessils won't work. Reason is the gooseneck . I have mine mounted on the side coming over the top to the middle then used the 90 adapter to have the light dead center .

If I put the second light, and want to space them apart just right i can't do that because the lights are either off centered, too close to the water etc so the only option would be to hang them from the ceiling and I hate the look.

 

I think I made up my mind today while looking at the AI Hydra 26HD in my local fish store.

 

The spread is 24", it's a really powerful light ,color blending of the led's is really good, I was actually looking for the disco ball effect but wasn't able to spot it, and to be able to control every channel from my phone or tablet is just so much easier.

 

Since AI's mount is weird and only allows for perpendicular mounting of the unit, I have to order a mount that allows parallel mounting, and I did find a sweet one on 6061.com ...

I hope they still make them so I can order soon.

[blasterman]

Kessils have always been a solution in search of a problem. They displace a low wattage Halide nicely, but the industry has moved on.

 

You simply have to have multiple kessils to get even coverage, and the Chinese black boxes offer better color, the same efficiency, more coverage, and drastically lower price points. If kessil wants to carve a niche they need to improve the color and drop the price.

[Jayva]

The hydra I have. And it's giving me insane growth. 0 shadows. I'd buy the hydra. 26. 52 would be over kill. (That's the one I have) I like that even tho I have it close to my tank it doesn't make any heat at all. And no theirs no disco ball. Just thunder.

[zooman72]

I would go with either the Hydra 26 or a NanoBox Duo (the Duo looks better over the tank, and Dave could probably help out on the mounting issue too) - Radion and Mitras would definitely be overkill IMO...

 

I only keep my Kessil A350N around as a backup...