How many Kessils?

kevinmichael77

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I have a 48"x18"x18" tank I'm looking to light with Kessils. Just wondering how many I will need to cover the tank tank adequately?


Thanks
 
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Spectrum. Low in red. Red spectra is specifically what induces anthocyanin production. Low red light > low anthocyanin > low red coloration.
 
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islanddave

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Yes that is what I have read, and experienced. It is really a shame because other than being low in red spectra they are a wonderful light. Beautiful blending of colour.... absolutely no colour banding and excellent coverage.
 
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The Kessil's use white LEDs, which are low in red and cyan, absent violet. This is true for almost all white LEDs. With no other supplementary colors, it will not provide an even spectrum or good color rendition which is the disadvantage of these LED fixtures.
 

IUnknown

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I guess that would be the reason my Alternanthera reineckii melted. The nice thing with the Kessil's is that they are a point source of light like metal halides. All the bar style led's I've tried have the disco effect and don't look natural.
 
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IUnknown said:
I guess that would be the reason my Alternanthera reineckii melted. The nice thing with the Kessil's is that they are a point source of light like metal halides. All the bar style led's I've tried have the disco effect and don't look natural.
No, that wouldn't be the reason AR melted.


You need to raise the bar LEDs high enough so that the light mixes to prevent the disco effect.
 

islanddave

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I would agree ar needs time.to bed in


Until the roots take not much will happen. AR also does not.like to be moved either


AR will.grow will just not be red but rather a amber orange colour. My bml.leds.did just what you described couldn't live with it. AR could have been grown emersed in which case it would melt and till it comes back patience is key
 
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None that I'm aware of.


The main reason why I would never use a pendant is due to the angle of light. If it's mounted close, plants behind other plants will not get enough light. This results in slower growth. And once the plants have crowded out the light, the lower leaves will fall off due to lack of it. This is also true for bar lights but multiple bars can be mounted to prevent it. Mounting the pendant extremely high will prevent limited angle but that would reduce light that actually hits the tank.
 

kevinmichael77

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Solcielo lawrencia said:
None that I'm aware of.

The main reason why I would never use a pendant is due to the angle of light. If it's mounted close, plants behind other plants will not get enough light. This results in slower growth. And once the plants have crowded out the light, the lower leaves will fall off due to lack of it. This is also true for bar lights but multiple bars can be mounted to prevent it. Mounting the pendant extremely high will prevent limited angle but that would reduce light that actually hits the tank.

Hmm. Guess I'll just go with an ATI t5 fixture.
 

PhilipS

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kevinmichael77 said:
I have a 48"x18"x18" tank I'm looking to light with Kessils. Just wondering how many I will need to cover the tank tank adequately?

Thanks

ADA dealer uses 3 over his same tank. Ample PAR in the corners 100+ PAR.

Solcielo lawrencia said:
The main reason why I would never use a pendant is due to the angle of light. If it's mounted close, plants behind other plants will not get enough light.

False: We are concerned with the OP's tank only at this time. The pendant will be hung 6" above the water and no plant will be in the shade with this LED light.


Kessils will illuminate a 24" cube.


I don't understand how people can discredit things they never tried. It's like skipping the side dishes at a cookout and going straight for the ice cream.
 
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webskipper said:
False: We are concerned with the OP's tank only at this time. The pendant will be hung 6" above the water and no plant will be in the shade with this LED light.


Kessils will illuminate a 24" cube.


I don't understand how people can discredit things they never tried. It's like skipping the side dishes at a cookout and going straight for the ice cream.

Which is why I said I would never use it. It may have a large illumination circle, but that doesn't account for plants or hardscape blocking light, especially at only 6" above the water surface. If it were mounted 5+ feet above the water surface with a 10 degree beam angle, this wouldn't be an issue. It's also not necessary to try this pendant on my own tanks because light obeys the laws of physics. This is how you can anticipate how something will look when illuminated with such a light source.
 

Jfed1

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For 48" tank that is 18" deep, I would recommend A360WE Tuna Sun. For shallow tanks, I would use the 160's. I use both types of lights for over a year. I have no problems growing AR. There was an earlier comment that red spectrum is not present and that is true but I like the natural look of the light. To minimize the "disco" effect just reduce the amount of surface turbulence. This is not that good anyways because of co2 release to atmosphere. They are great lights but the A160WE will not get strong enough par to 18" depth to grow HC and Glossostigma. I have grown these with these light but any shade spots will limit growth.
 

Jason King

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I used 2 x 160s at 25% on a 60cmx45cmx45cm , 24"x18"x18"


Here is the hc growth


rL0WIVi.jpg
 

Tom Barr

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You can also buy their red hort lights and mix with the whites to get a blend of red and white color. But then you have several lamps, not just one nice pendant.


I've talked with Kessil directly, I will talk to them some more in a week or two.


I have a large carrot for them to simply add a few more red emitters in their 360 Tuna platform.


Both marketing and sales over the web in general......... as well as specific planted tank marketing.


I like T5's mostly, but........for many applications, a nice looking pendant is awesome.
 
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Chris Noto

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islanddave said:
Also i f you would like to grow red plants look else where.

Kessil is now marketing a controllable spectrum pendant, the A160WE Tuna Sun, from 6,000-9,000K, according to their site.


Also, they have the Amazon Sun, rated at 6700K. I have no direct experience with these lights, but the specs are right for any planted tank use.
 
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Chris Noto said:
Kessil is now marketing a controllable spectrum pendant, the A160WE Tuna Sun, from 6,000-9,000K, according to their site.


Also, they have the Amazon Sun, rated at 6700K. I have no direct experience with these lights, but the specs are right for any planted tank use.

Color temperature cannot be used to determine light spectrum. 6500K can easily turn into a 20000K with the addition of blue light with no change in the red spectra. The 6000-9000K is probably using 6500K+10000K LEDs. 10000K LEDs are relatively poor for plant response due to the very low levels of red and green.