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Kessil A360X Tuna Blue Reef Tank Light Review
Last updated on November 17th, 2023
Kessil A360X Tuna Blue Reef Tank Light Review
The Kessil A360X Reef Tank Light is a lower cost lighting solution when compared to other options on the market. This brand of aquarium lights is known for single point solutions, providing the intense light needed to grow coral. Being a single source of light, there are definitly concerns about PAR and hot spots. Let's dive a bit deeper into the Kessil A360X light!
Kessil A360X PAR
Referencing Bulk Reef Supply as the standard for testing PAR, once again we can see reliable testing to help determine the output of the Kessil A360X reef tank light. At 6 inches above the water, a single Kessil A360X can output a PAR at roughly 270! However the outer edge of the 2 foot tank is only at about 110 PAR. With the BRS recommended height of 8 inches, they are able to reduce the MAJOR hot spot with outer edges still at about 110 PAR, but the center is brought down to about 180 PAR.
Unfortunatly, this is still a fairly strong hot spot, but for a 2 foot or smaller tank, this should be fine. These PAR values are a bit low for many SPS corals, and you may need another light fixture to reach the PAR you want to see. For SPS coral, and a consistant 240 - 280 PAR, you will need 1 Kessil A360X per 1 foot of tank. Meaning a 120 gallon tank would require 4 Kessil A360X lights.
Kessil A360X Color Spectrum and Settings
The Kessil A360X has a seemingly easy setup with CLR at 20%, VI at 100%, Red at 10%, and Green at 0%. The intensity of 75%-100% to achieve the desired PAR will get you the desired color spectrum needed to both viewing and growing coral!
More About The Kessil A360X from BRS
Kessil A360X Coverage
As you may expect, being a small, single point of light, the coverage from the A360X is not what you would hope to see for the price. This is why BRS recommends using 1 fixture per foot of tank when growing SPS coral.
More About Reef Tank Light Coverage / Spread
| LPS/Soft PAR Coverage | SPS PAR Coverage |
|---|---|
| 1 per 24"x24" | 1 per 12"x24" |
Kessil Reef Tank Light Settings and Control
Unfortunatly, this is another area that seems a bit lack-luster. In order to control the Kessil A360X Reef Tank Lights from your phone, you will need the Kessil WiFi Dongle. Which I would highly encourage doing! Seeing these lights from the dials is really not ideal, especially in a modern day and age. Using the specific control from the app will help you dial in the exact spectrum and intensity you are looking to achieve.
Outside of the Kessil WiFi Dongle, for the same price, you can get the Kessil Spectral Controller X. Allowing you to set the spectrum of your Kessil lights from this remote like controller. Both of these options will let you set up a schedule for your Kessil lights, and can control multiple Kessil A360X lights that are linked together with a K-Link Cable. While the Kessil Spectral Controller X works with multiple different Kessil reef lights, the Kessil A360X WiFi Dongle only works with the A360X.
Kessil A360X Price Comparison
Before we move on, I'm sure you can see that 2 A360X Reef Lights puts you over that of the Ecotech Radion XR30, and even higher than the Neptune SKY. Meaning if you are in need of more than 1 of this Kessil Light, you would likely be better off with one of the other reef tank lights above.
If you are looking for a high output, low cost light, the Reefbreeders Photon is likely a better option.
Conclusion
Though much of this article seems negative, the one use case where I think the Kessil A360X Reef Tank Light shines (pun intended) is for smaller tanks that are 24" x 24" or smaller. Especially those looking to keep LPS and Soft coral. Outside of this use case however, I believe there are better options available for the price. With the higher end fixtures such as the Ecotech Radion XR30 and Neptune SKY, you get better control, PAR, and coverage at the same or lower price as the 1 Kessil A360X per foot. If control is not as important, the Reefbreeders Photon V2 Pro is a lower cost with very high PAR output!
Recommended Reading:
- Saltwater Aquarium Lighting Guide
- Reefbreeders Photon V2+ and V2 Pro Review
- Neptune SKY Review
- Ecotech Radion Gen 5 Review
Thanks for Choosing Reef Stable
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About the Author
John Krenzer
John is a Software Engineer with a passion for saltwater aquariums, as well as the founder and president of Reef Stable. He started in the aquarium hobby as a child with a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. His interest in aquarium life grew and in 2008, John set up his first saltwater aquarium.
Today, John maintains an over 300 gallon reef tank system, consisting of a 120g reef and a 210g reef. These large tanks are contained within the same system, sharing a sump as a means to reduce total maintenance and increase total water volume.
John writes articles for the blog as a means to learn about more reef aquarium topics. These articles act as a reference for the readers as well as himself. John updates these articles frequently to provide additional information or make corrections as new information becomes available.
If you would like to request an article, tank tour article, or to collaborate, let me know via the Contact Me Page!
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