Kessil A160WE Tuna Sun Vs GE Ultra Bright exceptionally bright Daylight lightbulb.

[@joseroncero8379]

Did anyone else notice that the Kessil is placed 30% higher? This would make a HUGE difference in brightness.Of course it would be slightly dimmer, if it is placed higher than the bulb. With that said, what makes Kessil desirable is not raw lumens, but the shimmering effect you get with water. Strip lights don't do this, and it would be interesting to see of the bulb does.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Both lights were set to cover the entire surface area of the aquarium. If the Kessil light is set higher than the GE light, it's only because it needed to be that height to cover the surface area. If the light was brought down closer to the aquarium, then the side of the aquarium would be a lot darker and get very little light. That means you would need to Kessil lights to everyone GE light. That would be very costly for a tank of that size. For your information, the GE light also makes the shimmer effect like the Kessil does. The shimmering effect was proving a long, long time ago with metal halide lights because of their" intensity."

[@0116Lori]

Yes, I did notice this which is a bit deceiving. You can also adjust the color on the kessil tuna sun. But, I have used bulbs from home depot but not the led lights that look like fluorescent. I used daylight bulbs but a different kind. They did have the shimmering effect and grew the plants well but it was difficult to find fixtures that would allow me to get the lights at just the perfect height or be able to adjust them.

[@joe2001mini]

Brilliant video! I hate with a passion companies with massively overpriced products that flood youtubers with free products so everyone assumes they are amazing and must have. I build campervans and have seen the same trend in that market, people paying way over the odds for relatively cheap products uselly because it has a name slapped on it.

[@jimlubeskie4312]

Dr. Novak, as I told you before I have been using your DIY light solution for over 2 yrs with much success. 2 weeks ago I switched over to the GE Ultra Bright. 2 lights over my 50 gal tank. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I cannot believe the explosive growth of my plants. as an experiment I have not changed any other parameters other than the lights, My swords are growing like crazy, the anubias has exploded with new growth, finally some pearling of the plants (no CO2 used). Thanks so much for recommending these bulbs, would have never known about them w/o you telling us

[@spicyreef]

I absolutely love this review! One of my pet peeves is how aquarists are being taken to the cleaners w/ marketing and "supply and demand" type pricing.

[@fadetoblack.-]

yes your right my friend and being in the saltwater reefing for over 35 years it’s sick 🤒.

[@billsmith582]

Hi Dr Novak, a constructive, logical and convincing video once again. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. There is one area that I am having issues with: selecting the correct and best lighting for planted discus/angels tanks which are tall - over 70 cm and up to 120 cm. Are you able to recommend the way approach for us and also some lighting options?

[@suzannemoran7281]

Very interesting indeed. I too have a cheap light on my aquarium and my plants are growing very well. I really enjoyed this video, it's great to hear a truthful review. Thank you Dr Novak. 🐠🐟🐡🌾🌿☘💡💡💡

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rolandwilson4550]

I purchased three of these lights with the mounting arms, a small fortunate. To be honest with you I’m not happy with these lights and ate the bullet. So your review was spot on. With co2 injection in two years of usage never seen any plant pearling. Stuck with these expensive lights and don’t want to spend anymore money on lights.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Don't feel bad, I was suckered into the same advertisement or should I say the same slick advertisement as you were to find out that these lights are very disappointing for the price they're asking. When you can get an off the shelf light that will trump it. Sad so sad.

[@ctsfiddler]

I too like diy light setups. I used the GE very thin bulbs a few years ago (don't recall the name) and had good growth. I just removed the defuser. All the hype on which new light is better makes for money spent. My closet houses quite a few. The nice thing with diy, you can make a run to the store and have light same day should one blow and there's a wide choice of bulbs.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Thanks for sharing!

[@0116Lori]

Ha Ha Can't blame the aquarium clubs. People never treat other's stuff right. I lent my lawn mower to my friend and neighbor. It came back broken. When I told her she said that she didn't think that she did that. The next week she went out and bought a lawn mower, for herself. lol My other neighbor laughed and said "Nothing cuts like a borrowed lawn mower". He's right and I never lent it again.

[@ritchieblevins6633]

Hello Dr I’m 72 and always watch your videos. I have a 700 gallon African cichlids tank. I have tried a lot of lights and u need to look at sansi led bulbs. My tank is 10’x3’x3’ and I use 5 x 70 watt lights and am very pleased with it. They have a 100 watt but I’m happy with the 70 watts which r 7000 lumens 5700k. The ones I use r a outside flood light. They also have plant lights which I haven’t tried but will.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Thanks for sharing

[@McAwesome363]

I've been using standard e26 bulbs and shop lights/reptile fixtures for years. The options in terms of height adjustment, light output, and spectral output makes them an amazing option, regardless of price. As for the bulbs themselves, I figure GE has an astronomical research and development budget plus the economies of scale to create very high quality LED lights at affordable prices. After all, Kessil is just buying an LED from a different manufacturer like Samsung or Cree and putting it in a nice looking package. Just buy the GE, Samsung, or Cree LED directly and get the fixture/mount that works best for your aquarium.

[@monokendo]

how many GE lights would i need for a 55G top fin aquarium?

[@sushilpadhye3624]

Thank you doc for another great video on lights can you kindly explain what should be luminous output is it depends upon height or volume or kind of plants or fertilizer especially for advavced plants thank you

[@MrVili83]

Bonjour dr novak, merci pour votre vidéo et votre connaissance. Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec vous sur le sujet. Je aussi fait des expériences sur les luminaires et je vous rejoins a votre expertise. Le principal ses la photosynthèse des plantes et les meilleures résultats sont les mêmes que les vôtres. Et grâce à vous mes aquariums et plantes sont en bonne santé. Encore merci pour votre aide et votre professionnalisme sur vos vidéos. A très bientôt. Bonne journée Dr.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

I think manufactures would like to keep the lighting situation, quiet that you can buy lightbulbs from a hardware store that will work just as well as their light fixtures that cost hundreds of dollars apiece. Sad, is it not?

[@raymondhelwig8446]

Wonder if you have a suggestions for mounting kit for the reptizoo fixtures? I have a black plastic framed tank, so it would have to fit over that lip or the frame would have to be modified.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

I do have a video on such a thing with the 40 gallon tank on how to properly set up an Asta 120 light with a tank that has a black plastic lip on it. I do have videos that show how I mounted the lights on to my 40 gallon breeder with the goldfish using the GE ultra bright.

[@LearnToSurvive]

Hi Dr Novak, I'm Terry from Malaysia. I was on here listening to your videos on the plenum and bcb bags. It's almost impossible to find the kind of kitty litter that you use in your videos here in Malaysia. Was wondering if we could use Zeolite as a substitute instead, considering its crystalline structure. Any help would be great. P.S, you're a legend!

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Yes, Zeolite would make a good substitute for the kitty litter that we have in the US

[@LearnToSurvive]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thank you Dr Novak. I'll have it set up after Christmas and update you on the progress. You're doing an amazing job with this channel! God bless you and happy holidays Dr.

[@cory_aqua]

What fixture is your he light screwed into?

[@bamabladez]

I only want the kessil for the shimmer. Need to find a cheap way to create the shimmer. Need a lens of some sort.

[@Sinserg]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Thanks for watching!

[@0116Lori]

I would have done the test with the lights at the same height. The kessil is farther up which would create more shadowing.

[@walterotiepka1460]

The ge bulb definitely looks brighter, is that the 150 watt bulb? That one is only 13 dollars at lowes I'm going to try this on my next tank

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

No the 300w ultrabright bulb, it's about 3 inches in diameter.

[@davidflynn996]

The Kessil is higher. Does this make a difference? Great videos keep up the excellent content.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Kessil claims that their 160LED light is equals to a 175 W metal halide lightbulb which puts out 14,000 luminous. The ultra bright only pushes out 4500 L. that means the Kessil 160 light puts out 9500 more luminous output of brightness compared to the ultra bright. Plus the Ultra Bright 300 is recessed inside of its fixture by at least 3 1/2 inches. That means the Kessil light is three times brighter than the GE lightbulb so even if it was 3 or 4 inches higher, being that it is three times brighter, that wouldn't make a hill of beans. Both lights were set so they would evenly illuminate the antique aquarium. So if they look a little different in height, that's only because that's how high they have to be to make sure they 100-percent illuminated that aquarium from end to end.

[@fredkibler]

The value of either is going to depend on your setup, like the plants you have, water depth (like you said) and clarity. Can either grow water hyacinth indoors?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

I think if you want to grow Water Hyacinth indoors you're going to have to go with the real big huge LED bulbs that put out about 17,000 luminous output I saw them at Lowe's for example.

[@findingmyway3207]

Does the GE ultra light have the shimmer effect like the kessil does?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Yes it does.

[@findingmyway3207]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thank you so much for your reply back.🙂

[@Terboven-Aquaristik]

Very good Video, nice Content! Sub for you and keep it up! Many greetings from Germany 🤗

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Thanks and welcome

[@dcdude81]

Good video, there are so many other options for that price!

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Agreed!

[@bobs5596]

i have been using compact fluorescents with clamp light holders for 15 years for my african violets. guess it's time to move to LEDs. btw, i wish you had talked about that fixture in this vid and how it is rigged so i don't have to look for it in that other vid where you did mention it. i don't know if lowes sells the gooseneck or i have to make it myself...

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

You can buy an arm like that from Kessil, I think they're like $35.

[@drb4074]

I've never owned a very expensive aquarium light. Is there a hard difference? I really don't know. But I've always made things work with my aquariums using cheap, normal lighting. Whether in the old days of flourescents, up to the modern day LEDs for growing or "day" light spectrum. Plants seem to do fine. I've never grown anything like dwarf hair grass, or short things on the bottom of a tank. So that's why I don't openly lay the badmouth on these expensive lighting setups. Maybe they work in those situations, and my sub 50 dollar setups would not. But I've also never ran CO2 systems to aid plant growth, and in my research it seems that CO2 is the real culprit holding back certain plants as being viable in an aquarium setup. Kevin, I'd like to ask your thoughts on lighting periods for your tanks; Since you've been at this a long time, and the BCBs you tout have worked so well you seem to know what you are talking about. Have you seen lighting period lengths matter all that much?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

If you're looking to control, Algae about seven hours maximum of lighting will be enough for most plants. If you don't mind growing some Algae then longer periods of 8 to 12 hours will do it.

[@anthonytroia3432]

Where did you get the Arms ?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

They sell them on Amazon.

[@AndyP126]

I bough one of these bulbs and they are BRIGHT. They look awesome. But, man, they get HOT. Need to find a way to cool this thing off.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

I've had my GE ultra brights on for 12 hours a day, and I can still grab the outer metal of the holder with no problems at all. These lights have to be designed for what little heat output they do produce. Did you leave the plastic cap on or off?

[@albertbraunwalder4357]

Why are the lights not the same distance over water level?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

The heights were adjusted to illuminate the antique aquarium from end to end 100%. Plus the fact the Kessil light is rated at 14,000 luminous according to Kessil ( or equal to 175 W metal halide bulb) and the GE light is only rated at 4500 luminous according to GE. Now do you think it would be fair to place both lights exactly the same height when one is three times brighter than the other?

[@V8ToYy]

you are right on the lighting, very wrong on the watch analogy.

[@Mrsboncouer]

It appears the lights are at different heights? Does that matter?

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

no, the Kessil light is supposed to be three times brighter than the GE light.

[@mikefritz4111]

I need to know these cheaper tank equipment because I'm on fixed income. As u know every thing is going up just to eat and ⛽️

[@fadetoblack.-]

you have to get two for the pearling to start 😢.

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Holy cow that's only about $500 worth of lights for a little 20 gallon aquarium. Doesn't seem like that much does it?

[@fadetoblack.-]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums yes but kids these days want the latest and greatest! check out my latest video short from a old timer ⏱️ 😄.

[@fadetoblack.-]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums kzbin.infoynpzVR-eWys?feature=share

[@xavalinho]

the proof is in the pudding....erm... photosynthesis. Great!

[@alecthenice8115]

I hope kessil gets exposed! (You can trust their warranty though)

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Something just isn't right in Denmark as they say. Everyone keeps giving this 160 Kessil LED light great reviews yet in my smallish 20 gallon aquarium none of the plants ever photosynthesized and had pearling bubbles from the light. It only has 24 little bitty LEDs on the cob. The GE ultra bright light bulb has 145 LEDs connected to its plate.

[@alecthenice8115]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I never saw what they were talking about with the halide comparison either! Its not a bad light but defiantly not a halide replacement

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

@@alecthenice8115 Quote: " basically take the A150, make it brighter using less power (40watt equals 175Watt halide comparable) and make it fully controllable with Kessil's new special controller. There you have it. Kessil's, new A160 offers, incredible power, brightness, and controllability, and different spectrums." as per Saltwater Aquarium @ saltwateraquarium.com

[@alecthenice8115]

@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I just don't see how or why they make that comparison and I'm an electrician

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

@@alecthenice8115 then, if they are lying, then people deserve to send the lights back because they were deceive to make a sale, which is against the law.