Kessil AP700/AP9X

Inspired by @Drexl in his other lighting thread, the best looking tank I've seen in terms of color was that of someone running AP700 and AP9X units. I know some of these were popular at shows as well, but I remember seeing one (AP700 I think) at the LFS and it just had the windex look so I assumed maybe the LFS just didn't dial it in. What are people's thoughts about these lights?

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@Drexl
SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger
Joined Aug 202688 posts364 pts📍 Porter Ranch, CA
Sep 8#2
@wsoldier wrote: Inspired by @Drexl in his other lighting thread, the best looking tank I've seen in terms of color was that of someone running AP700 and AP9X units. I know some of these were popular at shows as well, but I remember seeing one (AP700 I think) at the LFS and it just had the windex look so I assumed maybe the LFS just didn't dial it in. What are people's thoughts about these lights?

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I personally love Kessil’s, but if you’re growing acropora, then you’ll need to add supplemental lighting to fill in the shading or more fixtures than what you think. By their nature/design, they provide contrast, shimmer and great depth of field, but it comes at a cost. I think Kessil’s running a little whiter spectrum combined with quanta meso blues is a perfect combo. Clams look amazing under them, especially if you run them 50-70% color, 100% violet and about 10% red and green. Fish, clams and certain colors (true blue, red and pink) look awesome. I would choose the AP9x over the 700, which is very outdated and lacks the control the newer “x” fixtures have. My nano system is all Kessil. I’m also a big fan of mixing LED styles (point source with panel or bars) as this covers a lot of ground. Contrast is one of the key components in recreating a “natural” looking reef tank, which is why I hate T5’s for displays. But if I was growing acropora to sell, then I would blanket the s*** out of the system.

— Clams and acros

@ktran

SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger

Joined May 2026161 posts683 pts★5.0(1)📍 Tustin, CA

🔧 Build Contributor

Sep 8#3

Love the shimmer of Kessils, I think they have the best shimmer of the LED's. Not sure about the rest though.

— Always keeping it simple

@BackbayReef

SCRM😎 Cool KidsReef Guru

Joined May 2026265 posts1,033 pts★5.0(2)

🔧 Build Contributor

Sep 8#4

I was running on the Kessil AP9X for a few months — very clean look and yes, awesome shimmer! However, way too much shimmer where I got a headache. I’ve swapped it out for 2 Radions 4 years ago.

— /yolo

@wsoldier

😎 Cool KidsAquascaperOP

Joined Aug 202632 posts140 pts📍 Burbank, CA

Sep 8#5

@BackbayReef wrote: I was running on the Kessil AP9X for a few months — very clean look and yes, awesome shimmer! However, way too much shimmer where I got a headache. I’ve swapped it out for 2 Radions 4 years ago.

Thanks for the comparison photo!

@wsoldier

😎 Cool KidsAquascaperOP

Joined Aug 202632 posts140 pts📍 Burbank, CA

Sep 8· edited Tue, Sep 8 · 11:36 PM#6

I remember the shimmer from the round fixtures, but honestly this guy (IG: ambrizreef) had the best colors (in person). Looking at his vids I see he is more LPS than acros, and no large acro colonies (to John's point), but I think I'll take the color reproduction all day every day and either add more fixtures to help fill. instagram.com/p/DWUNmvlDL6y

Kessil AP700/AP9X

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