2x Kessil AP9X vs 4xReef LED90

[BurtMacklin]

I'm migrating a tank from a 65gallon to a 160gallon Red Sea ReeferXXL750 in a new house. The tank measures 71x24x22". I had a Kessil AP9X over my last tank and it was sufficient by itself. I'm wondering if it would be better to add a second Kessil or 4x Reef LED90s. The kessil is rated for up to 48x24", so two in line should cover the whole aquarium, but the lenses wouldn't be as evenly spaced as 4 individual Reef LED90s.

I have all of these lights in hand. I have hanging kits for the kessil, so I'd have to drill into the ceiling for the toggles. Alternatively I have arm mounts for the Reef LED90s. I haven't ever used the LED90s, so I'm not sure how they compare on color, shimmer, or bleed in person (only read reviews and watched videos). I can't find any review comparing these two lights. On paper the kessil has a wider spectrum, but I definitely had bad enough bleed over the edge on my old aquarium that I would want a floating canopy if I installed 2 on this tank in my new house. I have a mixed reef currently with zoas, LPS, and SPS. Any opinions are appreciated!

 

[blaxsun]

Welcome to the Red Sea club - you'll really like your new 750XXL! I would go with a second Kessil AP9X. Two of them should give you good coverage (worst case you can add a Kessil A500X or another AP9X in the center).

I run EcoTech Radion XR30/XR15 G5 Blues on mine.

 

[BurtMacklin]

Welcome to the Red Sea club - you'll really like your new 750XXL! I would go with a second Kessil AP9X. Two of them should give you good coverage (worst case you can add a Kessil A500X or another AP9X in the center).

I run EcoTech Radion XR30/XR15 G5 Blues on mine.

Any experience with either of the ones I listed? The 90s look like the lens is more recessed and I wonder if that will cause less scatter outside of the tank. On the other hand this tank is deeper, so that in itself might help. If I chose to install a 3rd Kessil down the line I'd have to re-drill everything, which isn't ideal.

 

[blaxsun]

Any experience with either of the ones I listed? The 90s look like the lens is more recessed and I wonder if that will cause less scatter outside of the tank. On the other hand this tank is deeper, so that in itself might help. If I chose to install a 3rd Kessil down the line I'd have to re-drill everything, which isn't ideal.

Neither, unfortunately. I went with Radions, well... because. SKYs weren't out yet and I never really considered Kessil as an option (although I probably should have).

 

[Spare time]

I like the kessil spectrum much more than the red sea one. Red Sea was like, how can we make a light with the bare minimum amount of colors. Literally, they made it to have only what corals need at a bare minimum, with a pinch of white if you want.

 

[Spare time]

I don't want to bash red sea completely though, they just annoy me as I see them as the apple of reefing. Doing the bare minimum and bragging about it, copying others and sounding "inventive," and then charging you an excessive amount of money. I have my beef with kessil requiring you to buy so many accessories.


However, they can both perform well. I am more comfortable with higher par levels from the kessil due to the wider spectrum (another topic on its own). Both produce a nice shimmer. The kessil allows a better natural daylight look where as the red sea has a deeper putt-putt mini golf course glow in the dark look that many love. Since you already have kessils, it makes more sense to me to stick with those.