Will the Kessil AP9X be the right tool for one of the most challenging reef tanks we try to keep?

Find out today how to use the latest Kessil AP9X for some very specific tank shapes, sizes and reef tank types. We show you how the newest AP9X can be the right tool for one of the most challenging tanks out there, the mixed reef tank! All of the data and numbers are in and today you get to see the results!
#BRStvInvestigates #BRStv
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[@BRStv]

What would you consider to be the most challenging reef tank type? LPS and Softie? SPS Dominant? Mixed Reef? Get your hands on the brand new Kessil AP9X here! ➡ Kessil AP9X : www.bulkreefsupply.com/ap9x-led-lighting-panel-kessil.html ➡ Kessil AP9X Mounting Arm : www.bulkreefsupply.com/ap9x-mounting-arm-kessil.html

[@tompeifer6798]

Love me some brs t.v. guys are awesome and supply us all with the most accurate study on EVERYTHING! THANK YOU GUYS!

[@SpiegNet]

18x36 is a pretty popular footprint for tanks and deserves some direct light testing. I bet one of these fixtures would be outstanding on this size tank.

[@WesFu]

40 breeder is maybe the best form factor out there!

[@edwardthayer9386]

Another incredible video!👑

[@sjuicehockey]

Great video

[@volteface69]

Merci pour ta vidéo !!!👍👍👍

[@ArrickthaRed]

Great video! I spend money on my tank. I currently have some old kessil a360N's supplemented with Orphek blue plus strips. What I am noticing with all the new LED updates is no matter what you find they are all lacking in one aspect mostly spread sometimes spectrum or blending. You end up having to get so many fixtures at such a high price to get what is needed. With all these updates no fixture has put it together 100%.

[@tom-andrethomsen]

Philips Coral Care & Coral Care Gen 2? 😊

[@StNovaSt]

The next thing they need to work on is modular bar/rail type light with slideable pucks so reefers can determine where and how their spread falls. Kinda like those home accent light bars. Everybody is just delivering the past gen in a new body at this point. Spectrum isn't the major issue right now. Delivery of light is.

[@firebird5288]

Darn, I was thinking abut going back to Kessil after my AI HD Primes have started acting up a bit. Before I bought the AI's I had 4 Kessils over my 75 and they were extremely loud, all of them. But they had amazing shimmer. This looks so cool, but I can't justify spending that $$$ on one, when I'd need two...

[@johnkidd3975]

Ah! Finally coool

[@tomnscrubs]

Going back to Hamilton MH Kessil 360we for 18 months. Tried different settings and heights getting nothing. MH might be old but it worked.

[@BRStv]

Bummer to hear that the Kessils didn't work out for your setup, but nothing wrong with MH lighting! They might be older, but they've produced great results for years and years

[@starfan6299]

I just had my LED lights burn out on my freshwater planted tank. I'm looking at getting a metal halide because it's 48" deep. But I would much rather get fluorescent bulbs to keep the costs down a little. Any suggestions?

[@braydentorp6097]

I wish there was an led light that didn’t cost as much as my college tuition. Something everyone could afford to grow the hobby not scare people with crazy price tags

[@JaguarGod087]

They exist.

[@radsdad1]

You can rent them from Bulk Reef Supply.

[@MiddleAgedMike]

Look into the reefbreaders lights. I have a few of their lumenbars and have been very happy with them

[@truereefkeeping6022]

They don’t exist I have tried all of the “cheaper” ones and they all suck they either bleach my corals or my corals slowly die

[@apdroidgeek1737]

​@truereefkeeping6022 the light might not be the problem.... what corals are you keeping?

[@jabberman3000]

Awesome! Looking at the tests looks like 1 would be perfect for my lps tank im planning in a RSR 250. Would I be able to up the settings and keep 1 or 2 acroporas on the top later on? Also, would it be better to get 2 a360x's? I'm just thinking the light might not around the aquascape, as on one side I'm planing on building up the rock 16" or so

[@BRStv]

The nice thing about the AP9X is that it creates zones of higher and lower par. If placed correctly, you could absolutely keep a couple SPS corals in your tank. That said, I do like the two A360X plan in your case as you'd be better able to spread out the two pucks over the 36" Reefer 250.

[@evanraml7493]

Would the recommended height or intensity (for mixed reef) change if over a 36 inch tank? Waterbox 100.3

[@volcommaveric]

Do you have a close up of the par layout in the 120g with mixed reef settings? I’d love if you took all of the work out of my new tanks lighting for me. 🙂

[@BRStv]

We don't have additional data beyond what was shared here in the video. The par data for the 120 gallon with mixed reef settings can be seen at the 14:30 minute mark.

[@7birdies221]

Will they have a bracket to use on the mounting arm to go over a peninsula style tank? I need a fixture that can mount the light long ways to cover a 36 inch peninsula

[@BRStv]

If you need a bracket that long, you may have to do a little DIY work. Right now, there is no tank mount arm that can reach that far.

[@timothydillard9507]

Spread performance

[@markviloria7355]

I just purchased 2 from you today and 2 hanging kits. Please help me with the mounting measurements for my tank. 60x30x24. I don’t know if I should keep it at 10 inches or higher since I’m 30 wide. And since I’m 60 long what would the mounting be between the 2. I really just want to make sure it’s right the first time before I go and make hundreds of holes in my ceiling 😆! Thanks In advance

[@BRStv]

Given that you'll be mounting these over a longer and wider tank than our test tank, you'll likely want to mount them higher. Unfortunately, we didn't test that particular tank size to be able to give you exact recommendation, but you can take the spacing discussed in the video here and use those ratios to make a good educated guess.

[@ScottyR951]

I really love Kessil What is shame that not one of these companies could bring the prices down if they could’ve brought their prices down on this they could’ve really did damage to all the other companies I cannot believe that this light truly cost close to $900 if they were to sell this in the $650range they would’ve sold 10 times the amount and really would’ve put a hurt on these other companies

[@sheilamorrison1954]

Pretty sure they will know how to best optimise their business. Making cheaper and selling more isnt always a good thing..

[@jtroutt19]

Right their ROI with their lights is insane but they will continue to charge this amount as long as sheep continue to pay it

[@tommydrywater5559]

nothing like spending $900 on a light to find out you need 2 if its over a 4ft wide tank lol. at that point you can buy 3 kessil a360we for the price of 1 ap9x and cover 6ft+ of tank .

[@bmxbum111]

@Stan Z the mounting arm is not plastic lol its solid metal

[@Matt-dc8lp]

I think you overestimate the market size and the real price sensitivity of reefers. While the difference of $250 might sound like a lot, I dont think it matters very for those spending thousands on their tank, equipment and inhabitants. But I do think its overpriced for a light that cannot do SPS well.

[@atx0025]

So I had a 36"x21"x18"(LxWxD) and have upgraded to a Red Sea Reefer 425XL. I have 2 a360x but I have thought about adding one of these ap9x in the middle. Would a 3rd a360x be a better choice? Mixed reef tank eventually.

[@BRStv]

For a mixed reef, I'd personally just add a third A360X and run with three of them total. Will save you some cash and ultimately get very similar results.

[@Elev8minh]

@BRStvInvestigates I have a 6 foot Peninsula tank, do you recommend using 3 AP9X’s for my tank dimension at 72.3"×25.3"×23.6" for a SPS only? Thank you in advance. 🙏🏻

[@BRStv]

For an SPS dominant system of that size using the AP9X, three fixtures would work best.

[@sebastiang6179]

Great Video as always :) Just have a shot question. My tank is just 48x16x16" and LPS only. I have 2 OR3 90 Bars Blue Plus from Orphek 16" above my waterlevel and 2 AI Primes between them. I thinking of change the 2 Primes for a AP9x, maybe for better spectrum and colors . The AP9x in comination with my 2 OR3 Bars will be a good combo for my tank, all lights mounted 16" abouve the water? Thanks a loooot Grettings sebi

[@BRStv]

16" is a bit higher than we tested the AP9X for "optimal" mounting height (which was 10"), so it's going to have a bit less PAR output in the tank. That said if 16" is what you need and you have a PAR meter to dial your Orphek and Kessil combo, then you certainly won't be disappointed.

[@sebastiang6179]

@@BRStv thank u very much

[@muhammadamirbinmohdazman6363]

How is it going? I also use orphek sky blue for supplementing my ap9x. May i know what is the color ratio used for ap9x?

[@MrPrentissDJones]

👋🏽please🙏🏽review the ati straton led

[@BRStv]

We're done light testing for 2020, but you might see us revisit some of the new light fixtures early 2021

[@garryburrell954]

If i was to take the top off of my fluva 32.5 flex and put a light over it. Would this light work for a mixed reef

[@BRStv]

Definitely. This light would easily cover the ~33" length of that tank.

[@cassiecwilliams]

I’m starting a 55gallon reef tank hopefully with LPS, SPS, and Softies. My tank is 48”X13” would you think I would need 2 APX9s for my tank?

[@BRStv]

For a mixed reef with a 48" x 13" footprint, consider going with two A360X fixtures instead. This way, you can more evenly space them over the 48" length to get the coverage you need without having to buy more (or more expensive) light fixtures. www.bulkreefsupply.com/a360x-controllable-led-aquarium-light-tuna-blue-kessil.html

[@przemekpietrzak2653]

Hello what settings do you recommend tank 70cmx70cmx70cm mixed reef thank you

[@BRStv]

We didn't test that specific tank size, but if you take Randy's settings for the 60 cube in our video and increase the percentages by 10-15%, that'll likely get you VERY close. Of course, you can always use a par meter to confirm.

[@DunkiSwann]

Can these mount on the aquatic life t5 unit ?

[@BRStv]

With the light being roughly 5-1/2"inches wide, it will fit between the Aquatic Life fixture which allows for LED fixtures up to 7"inches wide with the included 18"inch end plates.

[@TheBebow53]

Great light but way to much money for my 6 foot 180 tank! I guess it would take 3 @ $840 a light. That’s $2500! I’ll stay with my 360’s. Thanks for another great BRS review!

[@rosonowski]

How many 360s are you running? Wide or narrow angle?

[@TheBebow53]

3 wide angle with 2 60” 80watt T5s.

[@jonathonrobinson44]

Do you think I could use one of these to light a 40g breeder?

[@BRStv]

I think it's a great option for 36"inch tanks like a 40B.

[@MindBeyondtablets]

Do these have a schedule setting? For sunrise to sundown?

[@BRStv]

They're fully controllable, so you can have sunrise to sunset as well as moon light settings

[@sheilamorrison1954]

Looks to me like you didnt raise the light enough. The drop front to back is insane. Higher position, maybe 12"-16" might also help the PAR spread too which was still too focussed.

[@BRStv]

I agree completely and this is something we've seen with all the lights we've tested so far over the past 4 months. As we do with each light we test, we stop the height test when more than 15% of the light is lost outside of the 24"inch by 24"inch testing area. In this case, that happened at 10"inches whereas the A360X was 8"inches and the T365 was upwards of 36"inches. That doesn't mean reefers must mount them at 10"inches, 15% percent is the testing standard we keep. Certainly you would see better spread performance as you raise the light higher, however we have to keep in mind that as you raise the light higher you also lose PAR so there is a balance between PAR loss and optimal spread that we should remain aware of.

[@pouchour]

Yes i agree as well. I would like to see higher placement and higher intensity might get better average PAR results throughout the tank

[@BRStv]

We tested at 100% intensity, meaning there's not much more PAR we could've squeezed out to achieve higher PAR numbers. The "color" channel percentage primarily changes the spectrum, not necessarily the output intensity. Increasing the color channel to say 50% might edge out a little more PAR, but overall I wouldn't expect it to drastically change the numbers we tested.

[@thadphillips9805]

For a tank, 18" wide by 48" length by 19" deep how many lights and at what spacing?

[@BRStv]

You're likely going to need two. Of course, the types of corals you're keeping and their lighting requirements definitely should be considered too.

[@kewincolon6290]

The fan is silent???

[@williamwelke8306]

7 foot 265 gallon lps and softies. 2 ap9x or would 3 make a difference? Also 12hrs on 12 off orr?

[@BRStv]

Two would probably be ok as long as the tank isn't more than ~24" tall and you have the ability to mount them a bit higher than normal (in other words, you don't have a canopy over the tank). You're right on the edge here. Three would certainly give you more flexibility.

[@williamwelke8306]

@@BRStv yes I have a canopy, can only mount about 12 inches from the water, also use glass lids but clean them regularly. Also tank is 30 inches tall.

[@CLINNYY_1]

Do the new AI Hydra range

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

Why does the AP700 seem to more evenly distribute light front to back?

[@BRStv]

Best guess is that the oval shaped and recessed lenses on the AP9X have a lot to do with that.

[@MrMangaWorld]

For a 75G mixed reef tank - 48x18 - would you still recommend 2? Or one would be enough?

[@BRStv]

For LPS, softies, or even a mixed reef, you can get by with just one. That said, if it's a standard 75 with the center brace, you're going to notice a shadow cast in the tank. In that case, you're probably better off with two A360X fixtures so that you can space them evenly over each half of the tank.

[@MrMangaWorld]

@@BRStv Thank you for the quick detailed response. I will get 2 AP9X...this way I will be ready for a bigger tank or if I was to get some LPS! The central brace was indeed a concern I had.

[@matgdowski7578]

I'm curious, does anyone have long tanks anymore? All of the reviews I see from BRS basically consist of a four foot tank or small cubes. I've been losing my mind trying to figure out what lights to get for my new-to-me 135g (72" x 18" x 24"), but all I see on all the light reviews are for the four foot tanks. :-( I was considering getting three A360X's and supplement those with two 80W T-5s on the outer edge (front and back). However, then I saw the AP9x and thought it might work better for my tank because it is long instead of square. On other reviews (and on Kessil's website) it was said that they reach 48" x 24", but 36" x 24" effectively for SPS. Well, even with two of them on my tank at a 36" reach, that should cover my entire tank, right? I'd still keep the two T-5s just for coverage light, but I wouldn't think I would need three of these, right? Yes, they are super expensive, but you do get what you pay for and a lot of R&D goes into lights like this.

[@BRStv]

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that we can't test every tank length. For that reason, we thought that by using a 24" and 48" test tank, reefers could use that info and extrapolate it out to a longer tank. For a 72" long SPS tank, you'd be perfectly fine with two AP9X fixtures and two T5 bulbs. Like you said, this fixture would be a great pick given the rectangular shape of your tank.

[@LucianoDiPiazza4903]

What would you say is good for a 40b

[@BRStv]

I think it's a great choice for a 40B!

[@sitlos.]

Do you think u could get away with one of these lights on a 4ft x 18in mixed reef tank of u keep most things in the middle? Kessil says it’s max is 48’?

[@BRStv]

You'll have to mount the light higher to get the full 48" spread, but as long as you place the SPS towards the center of the tank, you should be able to find some spots with adequate par for them. This is a case where using a par meter to help you determine coral placement is highly recommended.

[@sitlos.]

@@BRStv thanks for getting back to me. I’ll let u know how we make out. Light should be here end of week from you guys👍. Also got syncra silent pump and 2 Nero 5 blowers. Should be a nice setup when done. Have a great day.

[@KNP-jl2st]

I have a quick question. I just got my first saltwater tank. I have a 90 gallon (4 foot by 18 inches). I have been trying to find a light schedule for optimal results. I was told the Kessil preset does not have the correct intensity levels. Can you please provide me with a Kessil schedule that you think would work? I have soft and LPS corals.

[@prohalowhale]

So Kessils suggestion of 48” max coverage is fluff. That’s a bummer. $1600.00 to light a 4 foot tank. No thanks

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

It’s not really. I’ve used an AP700 over a 4ft tank for 5 years with great results.

[@jacobmoser6474]

Probably just need to consider where you place the corals, then you can do just one

[@Rayrayjr1970]

Yah there stupid expensive

[@alangruesbeck7083]

I just purchased this light because of all the positive reviews. However I have an issue and tried to contact Kessil Customer Service. I'm very disappointed with Kessil's Customer Service. After 10 days and 2 emails they have failed to reply to me. Thank God for BRS Customer Service. I probably will never buy Kessil products again

[@BRStv]

So sorry to hear that Alan; that's unusual! I'm glad to hear that the BRS customer service team was able to help you out.

[@osider760]

Bummer I was hoping the SPS dominant recommendations of 36" from Kessil was going to be more true. I would need 3 units on my 6' tank. I was really hoping I could get away with 2 units and minimize my light footprint over my tank. Not to mention that with a euro-braced tank I am forced to go with the hanging kit since I cant mount arms on my tank thats 4 inches from the wall and has an external overflow in the center of the tank. That means I need get 3 units right now instead of two and adding a third later since I dont wont to have to drill more holes in my ceiling and realign the lights. Having to line up 6 different wires to for the 3 units is not going to be fun either. Not horribly ugly but not the most attractive setup.

[@osider760]

@Stan Z Another reason its disappointing that the advertised coverage doesn't seem to be enough I can afford two but for this price I will just supplement T5s on my current setup. I was quite excited to when I read that they could support a 6' tank with two units. I know thats asking a lot but one can hope.

[@un69perron]

How many of this light I need for a 75 gallons tank

[@BRStv]

If it's a standard 4 foot tank, you'd want one for softies/LPS or two if you wanted SPS dominant.

[@un69perron]

@@BRStv is 48w x21H but is 18.5D and have a plastic frame in the middle

[@patrickjones9023]

Giesemann Vervve please !!! Pleaseeee...

[@oceres]

I have the too from a few years ago. Did they stop making them?

[@ericj1500]

Its the perfect tool for my tank that is made from unuptanium 😄

[@raisethereef]

Why not bump the Violet to 100% no matter what? One of the biggest pieces that LEDs have been missing for years is the violet range. I also don't know of any negatives to running more violet. No LED fixture is running true UV that can be harmful. I also doubt Kessil has added in more than a handful of violet LEDs to begin with.

[@BRStv]

Certainly something reefers can adjust for their own desires, yet for the purposes of our testing we find one recommended spectrum mix then adjust overall intensity (or each channel in an even ratio) for PAR goals...rather than re-shoot the spectrum over and over again as we change the intensity to meet PAR needs.

[@richardfigueroa9443]

Ohh man if I didn't have to but a chiller I'd but this.

[@edwardthayer9386]

You probably don't! Why exactly are you buying a chiller? Is your tank housed outside? Are you using high wattage metal halides? Chillers are almost a thing of the past unless you have one of these very rare circumstances.

[@richardfigueroa9443]

@@edwardthayer9386 I keep a reef tank in the garage which is also my grow out tank otherwise I would not buy the chiller. The garage gets hot maybe around 90 which heats the tank to 84. The livestock isn't to happy with that and I have to cool it down with frozen water bottles lol

[@masonj19]

How many for a 36 x 36" tank do you think?

[@BRStv]

Two would be your best bet. We would suggest running them from front to back so that you can cover each 18" x 36" half of the tank with one light.

[@masonj19]

@@BRStv Damn, is there a single fixture which could light that size tank. What about the ati straton?

[@BRStv]

@@masonj19 36" x 36" is going to be challenging for a single LED fixture. We've yet to put the Straton through this same test, but based on the info that we have, it's not going to work as a single fixture over this footprint. If a single fixture is a must have, you might be best off with a T5 fixture.

[@masonj19]

@@BRStv hmm thank you. So at the minute I have a single geismen vervve (probably spelt wrong) over the tank. Should I go with an ati straton and maybe later down the line just add some light bars like the orpheks to fill in the gaps. Or go with a second vervve.

[@masonj19]

Went to for the ati sunpower 8 bulb in the end! Led fixtures just aren't quite there for me yet. Appreciate the advice.

[@stevenrulz225]

Why couldn’t you just turn them up if you wanted sps dominated par #s. It seems brs only refers to these lights as “Lps” and “mixed reef” lights. But never turned them up past %50. I only ask because I want to use them for my 5 foot by 18 in sps tank. The kessil seem like they would be powerful enough I just want to make sure I’m not missing something here.

[@BRStv]

You can definitely do that, granted, you'll have some areas that are over the 350 par threshold. If you're ok with that, you can definitely increase the par lower in the tank by doing so. One of these fixtures will cover a max area of 48", so for your 5 foot long tank, you'd want to go with two of them.

[@modotd3885]

3 units for a 6x2x2?

[@BRStv]

You may be able to get by with two for a softie or LPS tank, but for a mixed reef, we'd suggest three.

[@modotd3885]

@@BRStv Or a few sps just under the spots, high up on the rocks?

[@markushohle8797]

why there is no sps dominated setting this tine?😮

[@BRStv]

We felt that given the shape and size of our test tanks that this fixture would best be used for a mixed reef. If you have a more rectangular shaped tank like a 75 or 90 gallon, you could absolutely use the AP9X for an SPS dominated reef.

[@karennation3580]

Why would they make another light with the same form and distance between the led's (which was odd the first time) Couldn't they just improve on the 700 or I suppose that light had such a bad rap to begin with that they didnt want to associate this with the 700 in any way and maybe this was a do over? I do like the light but the mount is hideous and so overpriced for as plain as it is. One thing for sure is Ecotech knows how to make a bad ass mount!

[@t.regnerus301]

$99 just for the mounting support so you can spend more money to buy the actual arm itself. It's nearly $180 total for the arm and the mounting support. lol wtf.

[@BRStv]

The AP9X mounting arm comes with the bracket to hold the light and the actual arm that clamps to the tank. Just the one kit is all you need to mount a single AP9X. :)

[@t.regnerus301]

@@BRStv ahhhhh.... thanks for the clarification. I should read more carefully.

[@danleehill]

the cost, hahaha

[@tsurro8086]

Pretty bad when they don’t even give the numbers for a sps dominant tank, I guess it’s not that good after all, looks like one of those cobalt lights! A360 still their best light, and the cheapest!!

[@BRStv]

Hate to sounds like a broken record, but it's all about the right tool for the right job. In this case, the Kessil AP9X is the right tool for softie, LPS, or mixed reefs, while there may be other better options out there for SPS dominant systems.

[@weldonwhite2930]

Go back a lay spectrum chart from 360x over 9x and you will kill your sales on 9x. I’m not impressed

[@labryth_9178]

Not in this life or the next three will I pay 1800 for two of these

[@markackenheil4675]

They never bothered to fix the AP700 and simply decided to make another model to replace it, and expect us to shell out another chunk of $$. I will never buy another Kessil light after being left hanging with my multiple AP700s which i have waited years for them to correct.

[@jtroutt19]

Oh yea another led that cost 5k

[@raisethereef]

Oh yea another comment that over exaggerates things

[@jtroutt19]

Oh yeah another douche nozzle coming to save the world

[@chinsangs]

overpriced.... would not pick in almost any scenario.. come on kessil you guys have plenty competition

[@bmoreoutdoors4684]

Who’s going to pay $900 for a light that only covers 24”??? No thanks I’ll stick with T5 or Marineland LED light they work great 👍