Kessil A160WE Controllable LED Aquarium Light, Tuna Sun

Fantastic LED aquarium light! I really can't say how great the Kessil A160WE really is, as you have got to see it for yourself. I have had aquariums for well over 35 years, both freshwater and saltwater. I have used just about every type of aquarium light out there at one time or another. This is the very best, by far. I started using LED's about 6 years ago and was quickly sold on the benefits - good plant growth, cool operation, low energy consumption, etc. The LED strip lights from Marineland were just about as good as it gets until I started watching Jacob's Aquarium on YouTube. Great channel if you haven't discovered it yet, BTW - thanks Jacob. Jacob reviews the Kessil line and I was impressed enough to order one of these bad boys for my 30 gallon (30LX12WX18D) planted freshwater tank. Normally the price would have given me pause, but it was one of my crazy moments and I ordered it. I also ordered the gooseneck mounting arm and the Kessil Spectral Controller. I had it all set up in about 30 minutes - not bad for an old guy like me having to figure out the electronic controller programming. I have mine installed 5 inches above the waterline - about 19 inches above the substrate level. Coverage in my tank is great, though they say it is only good for a 24" spread. There is some lessening of the intensity at the edges of the 30 inch length, but that isn't a problem really. You can manually control the spectrum and intensity by the knobs on the top of the unit, but using the controller is fantastic as you can set it up so the light mimics the natural day long intensity and spectrum pattern and turn on and off the system automatically. Both plants and fish have responded to this greatly. Fish behavior is now based on the "time of day" this light creates and plant growth has been super. As others have said, the shimmer created enhances the natural sun light effect and is just cool to see. Yep this is on the expensive side but worth it. Your plants and fish will thank you.

Nice and bright for Planted aquarium plants, will grow dwarf hair grass and dwarf baby tears. The intensity adjustment is what makes this product a standout, along with the color adjustment capability. Pricey for a seemingly small product but very bright. The water shimmers from surface movement that is a nice penetrating effect. I have two over my 48 inch long tank by 21 in deep. The plants have responded nicely to the new lighting. They were not getting enough light with. a (1) T4 6500 double bulb fixture compact fluorescent, a (2) Beamswork 48"-52" single bright LED fixture 800 and an (3) Aquatic Life LED Aquarium Light Fixture 48". These new Kessils will enable me to grow anything thing I want. The spacing is 24" apart which according to their website will give ample coverage. I will see the results and add my results at a later date. These lights are nicely housed in a rigid body with a cooling fan which is nearly silent. The housing gets warm only, not hot at all. I bought the Tuna Sun model and the goose neck to mount on my 72 gallon bowfront which fits perfectly. The gooseneck is very good quality not moving at all when positioned where you want it. All the mounting hardware is included in the light fixture packaging including brass hooks, metal triangles the gooseneck screw receptacle and the screws. The product is complete and well made. The light housing has some weight to it feeling like it's a well built fixture, the adjusting knobs (pots) are very good quality and have a retention in them which will make them stay where they are adjusted to. This has been a quality purchase for me which I hope will last the 50,000 hours of predicted use per the website.

I have this running on a tank on the opposite side of the room from a pair of AI Nano Super Blues. The Kessil has better depth of color, but I expect the considering it is three years newer. One slight downside compared to the AI, is that the Kessil can't go quite as dim. When it transitions from its lowest setting to off, it's a stark change, always catching my attention fairly dramatically, especially when compared to the AIs, which barely catch my attention when they turn off from their lowest settings. (I am using the Kessil Spectral Controller with this.) That aside, this is an incredible light, and well worth the expensive over that of the Kessil A150, which I replaced with this. The A150 had a VERY loud fan, which other reviewers of it have mentioned. While still audible, the fan on the Kessil A160WE is quite enough that it doesn't bother me at all. This unit is running on a 5 gallon pico tank. It's way more power and dispersion than the tank needs, but my LPS and softies are thriving equally as well as similar ones under my AI Nano lights. This is a great little unit, and I highly recommend it.