Coming from halides, can't decide between Kessil a360x and Radion XR15 G5

[Jon's Reef]

Pics adjusted to reflect in person color.

T5 (2x B+, 1x C+, 1x Actinic) with an A360x.

this is a pic of 2x SKY with 1 A160 (set to 100% white)
Sky set to AB+

Sky set to coral growth (all on)

My experience is that T5 can have a green-blue “haze” to the tank. The Radion blue also have that same effect (comes from the lime and cyan LEDs).

This is a pic of only the A160 on. Note the shadowing, in particular the big stripe is from the net top brace:

This is the 2 Sky lights only. Notice the uniformity:

The way I think about it is the panel style lights give the par for the corals. The kessil just gives the shimmer for me.

 

[4davegill]

I believe it is all opinion, and research has already established the fact that LED is as good as any light source, but less expensive to run.
I have two kessel A360 Tuna blue in one tank and prime in another. I like them both. I have been a diver most of my life, and I love the shimmer, because on a clear day it is exactly the same in the ocean. The sun is a single point source. If you prefer no shimmer, that mimics an overcast day where the source is diffuse.

The issue of shimmer hurting your eyes, probably has to do with color intensities. Most high end LED like kessel have minimums for coral health, and can use white and do just fine. I happen to like white light in my tank, but the blues are still there thanks to their programming

 

[ReefinIt]

T5 is not cheap over time though. The bulbs are expensive and need frequent replacement.

I completely agree re coverage and shadows. Kessil + led bars are a good option for combat this.

My thinking for T5 over LED bars is that T5 can have great spectrum.

 

[JCM]

Interesting replies so far. I posted a similar question recently and am still debating. I'm switching from my 6 bulb t5 setup to a hybrid setup. I just found a great deal on an Aquatic life fixture with new ATI bulbs I bought, but I haven't decided on the LED's yet. I'm leaning towards a kessil AP700 right now

 

[MaxTremors]

This is Not The Way!

Can you show me this…’New Way’?

 

[Randallh99]

I'm getting into the hobby after a 8 year break. I used to use 250w halides, but it seems those have gone out of favor. I absolutely loved the look of the halides, crisp, great shimmer, and the corals did amazing. I'm looking for an LED that will provide similar results. I'm worried the LEDs will have a fake look to them.

I have a 90 gallon, 48"Lx18"Wx24"H that will be mixed reef. I'm going to get the aquatic life t5 hybrid, but need help choosing between the Kessil a360x and Radion XR15 G5 (either pro or blue, leaning towards pro because I don't like the windex blue look.). I will get two lights.

I'm worried that the Kessil will have too much shimmer since I've never seen them in person. The videos i see online, the shimmer seems distracting, but I don't know if this is the same in person (can't find any stores with them on display). I understand the T5 should also mute the shimmer a little.

The radions have more intensity, but with the diffuser, would it be the same as the kessil?

Do the coral colors look better under the kessil or radion?

What about the health and growth of the corals? Kessil seems to have a wider spectrum, but I hear people say it radions grow coral better and the corals have better color.

Completely racking my brain on this one given the significant investment. One day I say I'll get the kessils, the next I want the radions. Radions are about $150 cheaper than the kessils with the BRS sale right now.

Any thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I have this exact same setup (aquatic life t5 with two kessil 360x, but the 36” on a smaller tank). I think it’s awesome. I used to run just kessils and the summer was a little too much. The T5 tones down the shimmer imo.

 

[WVNed]

I went around and around about this and decided on Kessil A360. Then I looked at the price in the cart.

Then I bought Noopsyche K7 V2s and put them In Coral Cover fixtures

I still have MH over my other tank. Bulbs are very hard to find right now.

 

[CoralB]

A 250 14k halide guy here, or was, lol.
100% led now with 6 16hds on 3 systems and soon to be 2 xr15 gen 5 blue on a new 80g system.
Cant go wrong with either as it boils down to your desired look.
My 20g nano-2 16hd, 45 frag-3 16hd, and one 16hd on my 30g remote fuge.

Can you show me this…’New Way’?

This looks like a episode of SHARK TANK !!!!

 

[CoralB]

Can you show me this…’New Way’?

It is a SHARK TANK !!! Episode

 

[CoralB]

Haha, touché!

Them are fighting words , I wouldn’t take that from rtparty lol !!! This thread is funny .

 

[CoralB]

I went around and around about this and decided on Kessil A360. Then I looked at the price in the cart.

Then I bought Noopsyche K7 V2s and put them In Coral Cover fixtures

I still have MH over my other tank. Bulbs are very hard to find right now.

Once you replace your metal halide tank with leds you not only will not have to worry about finding halide bulbs but with the money you’ll save by going to leds you’ll be able pay for the hobby five times over plus your ac won’t have to run as much

 

[polyppal]

This is Not The Way!

Have you ever removed your LEDs?
…yes

 

[MaxTremors]

This looks like a episode of SHARK TANK !!!!

It’s from Wet Hot American Summer.

 

[WVNed]

Once you replace your metal halide tank with leds you not only will not have to worry about finding halide bulbs but with the money you’ll save by going to leds you’ll be able pay for the hobby five times over plus your ac won’t have to run as much

Once I take down my 1400 watts of lights my 1500 watts of tank heaters can run all day too. The heat in the house will have to run more in the winter.
I have always considered the heat from the lights a wash.

Yes I am thinking about it though.

 

[bnord]

Interesting. Seems a lot of y'all say to ditch the T5. I thought the T5 would help with spread. I mainly wanted the t5 as a way to hang the lights. I have a DIY light hanger made from conduit.

I'm worried that I won't like the LEDs, but it's so hard to find halides.

I love my T5 with radions - use the T5s for the 4 hours of peak and all is well

liked it so much I repeated it on a little sister tank

I know some don't care for Mobius, but I like it and would consider it a positive in your decision tree.

 

[minus9]

No reason to ditch halides. This is an unfiltered pic. Reef Brite pendants with Quanta Pro Meso Blue bars.

Don’t mind the ugly mess, this is just a holding tank while I reboot my display. This is unfiltered as well. 250w 14k Hamilton’s w/two meso blues.
As far as LED shimmer, there are only two lights/fixtures that come close, Kessil and SmatFarm. No other LED fixture produces shimmer that doesn’t have disco ball or static.

 

[t5Nitro]

No reason to ditch halides. This is an unfiltered pic. Reef Brite pendants with Quanta Pro Meso Blue bars.

Don’t mind the ugly mess, this is just a holding tank while I reboot my display. This is unfiltered as well. 250w 14k Hamilton’s w/two meso blues.
As far as LED shimmer, there are only two lights/fixtures that come close, Kessil and SmatFarm. No other LED fixture produces shimmer that doesn’t have disco ball or static.

The real MVP. This is the best combo in my opinion. No solo LED panel is going to give you this look.

 

[minus9]

Just snapped this with my phone.

 

[ReefinIt]

I think I'm sold on the radions xr15 with aquatic life t5.

I would go back to halide, but having trouble finding pendants. Then who knows how long I could get bulbs

 

[rtparty]

I think I'm sold on the radions xr15 with aquatic life t5.

I would go back to halide, but having trouble finding pendants. Then who knows how long I could get bulbs

ReefBrite has loads of pendants and bulbs available