Lighting

[Sponge]

I have been reading my But off about lighting and frankly I am getting the feeling It’s one of those subjects like politics and religion were people are extremely polar.
To start my DT is 60” wide 24” deep 18” front to back. I would like to use a hybrid T5/ LED solution and I intend on running a mixed reef.
It my search for proper lighting I have noticed that a lot of people are running the high end LED fixtures at a fraction of there capability. And many people are very successful with just T5.
So hear is the big question. If I am using 4-60” t-5 bulbs. Wouldn’t something like four kessil 160’s be enough to supplement the T5 and add some shimmer. As appossed to two 360’s. My thinking is I am only 18” front to back and the 360 is intended for 24 to 30” spread. And if I’m correct I may be only running them at 50% possibly less. I would rather spread out smaller units to more evenly spread out my left to right distribution. But perhaps that just won’t be enough par. Please help my brain is fried from researching this one.

 

[DangerDave]

Hybrid works great in my opinion. You could go with a hybrid fixture, use what you have and add two 160s. That would give you flexibility to place the 360s were you are going to have corals that require more light.

 

[Sponge]

I did not consider mixing the 160 and 360. Great input. I have not yet found any info on par measurements of the 160. Just the 360. Anyone happen to know them.

 

[amado]

Hello
I wouldn’t purchase the 160.
I have the new 360x and they are really nice lights. That don’t need anything else.
I have 3 in a 125g 6ft tank and it’s working.
So 3 360x on a 60” wide tank you don’t need anything else.

The 160 are old technology the new 360x are better looking and less wires.

LEDs is the way to go. You don’t need a hybrid.
LED cost more up front but will cost you less every month on your light bill/replacing bulbs.

 

[Mrx7899x]

160s are on the weaker side better off with 360s.

 

[Sponge]

Ok great stuff guys. But one more problem. The 60” tank has a darn center brace making 3 lights no good. Would two 360’s work. And would that make the t-5 as suplament make more sense

 

[amado]

To be honest the Kessil 360 not the new x model is a great light for $350 .

I also had 3 on my 6ft tank.
Don’t go crazy adding high par lights to run them at 30% in a mixed reef tank most corals are fine and happy in par around 100-150

 

[amado]

I would buy two Kessils 360x and I would rent a par meter and see how my corals are doing.
You can always add more light.
Adding par is one of the easiest things to do in this hobby

 

[Sponge]

Super helpful. Thanks for all the input

 

[DangerDave]

Sponge, where are you located? I'd be happy to show you my tank, and the differences I see with the hybrid, and how it fixes shadowing and gives some increased par to the edges of the reef.

 

[Sponge]

I am in Keyport. That’s 117 on the parkway. I will be happy to drive anywhere. That is a super awesome offer. Name the time and place.

 

[Mrx7899x]

Hybrid is definitely the way to go

 

[DangerDave]

I am in Keyport. That’s 117 on the parkway. I will be happy to drive anywhere. That is a super awesome offer. Name the time and place.

I'm off exit 58 on the parkway, Little Egg Harbor. This weekend I'll be in VA for a showcase soccer tournament for one of my boys. I believe I'm around next weekend. Also every evening, and a couple days a week I'm home all day working.

Dave

 

[Sponge]

I'm off exit 58 on the parkway, Little Egg Harbor. This weekend I'll be in VA for a showcase soccer tournament for one of my boys. I believe I'm around next weekend. Also every evening, and a couple days a week I'm home all day working.

Dave

I will absolutely take you up on the offer. I do have to clear my schedule a tiny bit. I will pm you my phone number. And work out what works best. Thank you.

 

[amado]

I'm off exit 58 on the parkway, Little Egg Harbor. This weekend I'll be in VA for a showcase soccer tournament for one of my boys. I believe I'm around next weekend. Also every evening, and a couple days a week I'm home all day working.

Dave

This is very generous of you

 

[Trio91]

1+ on the hybrid, my next build is going to be the 48" hybrid, with 3 A360's

 

[amado]

I personally think it’s a gimmick.
Kessil is a huge light company. They make lights for medical and military use. They also make lighting for film. If they felt the 360 needed a t5 they would have added it. I think this hybrid boom is just a way to sell more T5’s.

Adding hybrids to Kessil 360 is like going to a fancy Resturant and putting ketchup on your steak. The chef already made the steak perfect no need to add anything.

DiCon fiber optics is the parent company of Kessil

 

[Mrx7899x]

I personally think it’s a gimmick.
Kessil is a huge light company. They make lights for medical and military use. They also make lighting for film. If they felt the 360 needed a t5 they would have added it. I think this hybrid boom is just a way to sell more T5’s.

Adding hybrids to Kessil 360 is like going to a fancy Resturant and putting ketchup on your steak. The chef already made the steak perfect no need to add anything.

DiCon fiber optics is the parent company of Kessil

Have you seen a tank with a hybrid setup on it. Because its definitely not a gimmick

 

[Sponge]

I dont know. I certainly respect everyone’s opinion but it is a fact that fluorescents make less shadows and has a flat almost wrapping effect around objects. That’s why show rooms use them. The lack of shadows hides imperfections. It’s also why detail shops use incandescent lights. The unidirectional light magnifies imperfections making it easier to correct problems. LEDs have the advantage of “shimmer” and adjustable spectrums and intensity. Seems like putting them together gives you the best of both worlds. Purely from a technical point of view I don’t see the disadvantage.

 

[amado]

Have you seen a tank with a hybrid setup on it. Because its definitely not a gimmick

I think those tanks would have the same success using just the Kessil 360 with no t5 or
T5 and no Kessil. I think a lot of people benefit from selling T5s bulbs.
It’s like the people that are buying vinyl records in 2019 it’s not necessary.