This time its lighting!

[Leandre]

After all the help you guys gave me concerning the skimmer its only natural that i know pick your brains about lighting.
initially, i had picked the Ati 60" 8x80w Sunpower to light the 72"x24"30" tank. But deep down...i havwe always love Kessils. i think they look fantastic and the shimmering is awesome.

So, which to i go for?

1: Ati 60" SunPower High Output T5 Light Fixture $663 (no bulbs)
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/60-ati-sunpower-high-output-t5-light-fixture.html

2: 3x Kessil A360 W + 2x80W Retrofit Kit 3x$399+2x$250
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/razor-t5-retro-kit-giesemann.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kessil-a360n-a360w-controllable-led-aquarium-light.html

or it there something else you guys think are better?
thanks for the input.

 

[Zoarder]

Better question is, what kind of coral you plan on getting?

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[Leandre]

oh yeah, starting off with softies and lps, wife and i both like watching things move, ideally i was to have a mix. but really want to learn and get things right with softs/lps before moving on to sps.
thanks again.

 

[mark.a.smith405]

I think youd be really happy with the kessils. I've never had them but I have always been impressed with the light they put out. You can get them used cheap too. You might need to end up getting 4 fixtures but like I said I don't have much experience with them. Seen some sweet tanks that are led t5 combo. I have an 8 bulb ati sun power and it's an awesome fixture. But if I ever go back to just softies and lps I'll go back to led. 8 bulbs is a lot to change for someone as lazy and cheap as me.

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[kajung2k]

So something to consider maybe.. The kessil AP 700 is an all LED light but my understanding is it has built in reflectors which enables it to give different angles of light to our tanks (sort of like MH and T5 )

I don't know how well it works compared to MH and T5 but it's something to consider perhaps.

The thought is you could have LED and not need T5 supplementation.

Example I paid 500$ X 3 for my AI VEGA's (several years ago) and I am adding two Gisemann T5 retro's (2-54w each) at 200$ each X 2). Add in 4 bulbs at 24$ each you have a total of $1996 vs to AP700 at $895 each ($1790). Just throwing that out there.

 

[playaslk]

I just switched back to t5 from radions and love it. Kessils, while popular, are dim (360 version). You will not see many sps tanks running Kessils (if any). If you want LEDs go w radions or AI. If you want to keep sps, take a look at any number of sps subforums here, on Rc, r2r or anywhere else and I would be surprised if any of those tanks run Kessils as the main light .

 

[Leandre]

I think youd be really happy with the kessils. I've never had them but I have always been impressed with the light they put out. You can get them used cheap too. You might need to end up getting 4 fixtures but like I said I don't have much experience with them. Seen some sweet tanks that are led t5 combo. I have an 8 bulb ati sun power and it's an awesome fixture. But if I ever go back to just softies and lps I'll go back to led. 8 bulbs is a lot to change for someone as lazy and cheap as me.

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thanks for the reply, i really do like the shimmering on the kessils. hence the retrofit. I dont think i'll ever go the full 4x kessils only, T5 have to many beneficial points (so i've read, no exp) to not use them. the initial plan was just a 8bulb ati, as good as they are, i feel like im settling for something when i really want is shimmer SHIMMERSHIMMER!! lol.

 

[Leandre]

So something to consider maybe.. The kessil AP 700 is an all LED light but my understanding is it has built in reflectors which enables it to give different angles of light to our tanks (sort of like MH and T5 )

I don't know how well it works compared to MH and T5 but it's something to consider perhaps.

The thought is you could have LED and not need T5 supplementation.

Example I paid 500$ X 3 for my AI VEGA's (several years ago) and I am adding two Gisemann T5 retro's (2-54w each) at 200$ each X 2). Add in 4 bulbs at 24$ each you have a total of $1996 vs to AP700 at $895 each ($1790). Just throwing that out there.

Thanks for the reply. I never considered the AP700, but done some reading after your post and man, people are not happy about this light. seems to have so many problems. Ive not read anywhere that these problems are being fixed. luckly for me, i dont plan to get this tank up asap, so i have maybe 6 months for kessil to fix and think/read some more. Ideally, like you wrote, that this led could work without the supplementation on T5. but i havent found anything on that, with my limited knowledge, i doubt that they ever could.
price wise, 3xA360w+2x (2x80w)T5+bulbs is probably about the same price as 2x AP700, its not even close to being within budget. but i like shimmering so asking you guys first.

 

[Leandre]

I just switched back to t5 from radions and love it. Kessils, while popular, are dim (360 version). You will not see many sps tanks running Kessils (if any). If you want LEDs go w radions or AI. If you want to keep sps, take a look at any number of sps subforums here, on Rc, r2r or anywhere else and I would be surprised if any of those tanks run Kessils as the main light .

thanks for the reply. the plan was never to run kessils alone, was really asking about the retrofit with t5's. was it justified spending double the price over 8x80w T5. i will be sure to look at the sps forums to learn more. ive always said no to radions, "they're too expensive" didnt realise that the setup i want is actually more ><

to be honest, its just the shimmering i like. i think the kessils a360 are beautiful to look at too. because of that, i doubt i would pick a different led....
of course if you guys keep telling me "omg this led is best!" i would change....im weak and easily swayed ><

p.s i'll text you on the morning. thanks.