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Thread: What light would you buy for $400 ish?

  1. #1
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    What light would you buy for $400 ish?

    I've been looking at the Kessil LEDs and Aqua Iklumination LEDs. However Id love to know which to get! Or another brand is good too.

    I want:
    - bright light
    - ability to adjust 6 primary colours
    - dusk to dawn and storm and cloud cover possibilities.
    - dim down to moonlight brightness.

    Can kessil and AI both do this?

    Who's got better value?

    I really like the point source of the kessil but heard it doesn't get to a low 1% brightness but 20% then shuts off.

    Thanks for any help!

  2. #2
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    Cory,

    You are not looking for a Kessil due to your request of ability from the lights:

    Kessil can not do (6) individual colors
    Kessil can not dim down to moonlights

    Hope that made your desision between the two
    Jon

  3. #3
    Frequent Contributor Alain B's Avatar
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    I also believe that Kessil would not do lightning , only clouds ! Maybe Jon can confirm that .

    Alain

  4. #4
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    The AI Hydra family fits your requirements list nicely.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  5. #5
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    Yes kessel can not do lightning due to leds are not individual colors or leds
    Jon

  6. #6
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    Thanks guys, looks like the winner is the AI led.

    With the regular apex, do I need to buy anything other than the led unit by AI? Does it just plug into the apex?

    The kessil led is not using LEDs? I thought they were.

  7. #7
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    To control AI Hydras, you need a Neptune AWM.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  8. #8
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    I found this one but it says it's only for pumps. Is it the wrong one?

    http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=np-apxwxm

  9. #9
    Master Control Freak aquamanic's Avatar
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    You need the AWM module. The WXM is for Radions and Vortech pumps.
    Al

    I do not work for Neptune. Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums!
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  10. #10
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    Ok so I bought the Kessil a360ne. I decided to not go with the AI hydra because I'm tired of the contrasty look of my led I have now. Plus I really wanted shimmer. What I'll do is buy the apex moonlights and moonlight module to provide that extra dim function the kessil lacks.

    I'm wondering if I can buy the jack to connect to the apex from the kessil some place like radio shack. Anyone know?

    I think I need a stereo jack to phono?

  11. #11
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    It's a unique cable. Order it from a Kessil reseller. Part number is KA360C1

    There's a DIY guide here: https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sho...sil-DIY-Wiring
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  12. #12
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    I have the Kessil a360we tuna blue and I am able to set the color to 0% and the intensity to 13% which will give you a nice blue lunar color via the VDM. I also run the LSM with 5 lunar LEDs on the Apex and I am very satisfied with the effects of both. The shimmer of the Kessil is better than I thought it would be. The light is plenty for my 60 cube and it is pretty cool to be able to see the shadows of my fish on the sand as they swim. I run 7 different profiles for color and 7 for intensity which gives me a nice variation of color and intensity as the day goes by. I am happy I bought the Kessil and the LSM.

  13. #13
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    Thanks guys. Yes I bought the two right now. Although I've got my doubts, can you tell me if I can wire these two together?

    I got a premium 9ft coiled audio cable. It's 3.5mm male phone jack on both ends.

    The second one I got is a telecom 7ft long Line Cord. It looks like an rj45 cable but is used for telephones.

    Will this work?

  14. #14
    Regular Vistor
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    I cant speak to the capability of the specific cables you purchased because I bought the one from BRS when I bought my VDM and Kessil together, however, I know that you can link two together in a master/slave relationship. Whatever inputs you send to the first unit the second will duplicate. For this the cable does look like a double ended 3.5mm male headphone jack.

  15. #15
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    Hmm good to know. On the DIY link posted he shows an Ethernet cable that has 8 wire pins. Mine has four, is it an Ethernet plug in type? The one I got is small like the ph probe connection.

  16. #16
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    The Apex end of the cable must be a RJ45 8-pin plug, like on a network cable.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  17. #17
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    I wanted to buy it too but they didn't have it where I got my kessil.

    Aquarium illusions in Edmonton ab Canada- force them to stock neptune products!

  18. #18
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    This is the stereo jack I got:

    http://m.futureshop.ca/?lang=en#/cat...513&lang=en-CA

    Works?

  19. #19
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cory33 View Post
    I wanted to buy it too but they didn't have it where I got my kessil.

    Aquarium illusions in Edmonton ab Canada- force them to stock neptune products!
    The cable is not a Neptune product - it's sold by Kessil.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by RussM View Post
    The cable is not a Neptune product - it's sold by Kessil.

    try reefsupplies.ca based out of montreal for neptune products. they carry everything you need.

  21. #21
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    I would get radion G2 Pro used. Next time you u want to upgrade u can just buy the radion upgrade kit and DIY.

    Easy.

  22. #22
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    I'm using the cable that comes with the Apex. Does anyone know the wiring color chart for it? The cable reads: ansi/tia -568-c.2 3p

  23. #23
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cory33 View Post
    I'm using the cable that comes with the Apex. Does anyone know the wiring color chart for it? The cable reads: ansi/tia -568-c.2 3p
    It's probably TIA568B. Google that for a pinout/color code.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  24. #24
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    Thanks. But this one doesn't have the same colours from pins 1-8.

    Would anything bad happen if I wired it wrong?

  25. #25
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Google 568A and see if that matches up
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

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