- Hey, it's Thomas here,
and today we're gonna be checking out Kessil's
newest addition to their lighting lineup: the A500X.
We're also gonna check out the new reflector option.
Not yet, it's not even out of the box!
Man, that doppelganger needs some practice.
Anyways, let's do this.
I've said it before, Kessil is one of the titans
of LED lighting for aquariums,
they began their reef lighting journey back in 2009,
and they've spent the last decade plus
helping reefers achieve gorgeous reef aquariums
with big, beautiful, and colorful corals
while creating dramatic metal halide like shimmer
with their unique, dense matrix LED spotlight
approach to reef lighting.
Their new A500X platform, in essence,
takes their very popular A360X Tuna Blue platform
and doubles the output while sticking to the same size
dense matrix array behind this same optic.
So you get the same awesome spectrum,
color blending, shimmer, and spread,
the same on-board control utilizing Kessil logic.
You can use the same wifi dongle for app control
or the Spectral Controller X,
it's compatible with the same quick mount magnetic optics
plus a new one that I'll touch on shortly.
So isn't just meant for bigger tanks
since it has twice the output?
Not necessarily, Kessil is touting it
as their new SPS geared light,
but it's higher output and array of lens options
also makes it a practical choice,
not only for higher light demanding corals
or even penetrating deeper tanks,
but also for various mounting heights.
So let's open this beast up and get a closer look.
In the box, you'll find the A500X LED light,
the 55 degree reflector, the mounting hardware,
the power supply and cables, as well as a snazzy sticker,
warranty card, and a quick start guide.
Specs time!
The A500X draws a whopping 185 watts
and uses the same size dense matrix array and optic,
but with double the amount of diodes,
which translates to a very similar form factor and spread
with essentially twice the output.
The fixture itself is still very compact
with a 5.2 inch diameter and a 3.7 inch thickness,
which is fantastic.
Even though the A500X is a larger fixture,
it shares the exact same mounting hole spacing
as the smaller, A360X, making it compatible
with all the same mounting options.
And just like the 360, the 500 also comes
with a simple ring, triangular clips,
and screw hooks for mounting inside of a hood
or for hooking up a DIY hanging solution.
And if that isn't your style,
the flexible gooseneck,
as well as the A series mounting arm,
which is my personal favorite, are both fantastic options.
The A series arm keeps everything looking very clean
and completely hides the cord within
the body of the mounting arm itself,
it also has plenty of adjustability
for both mounting height and depth
over the aquarium front to back.
Just like the A360X,
you can also use the 55 degree reflector
that clips on magnetically to tighten up that beam of light,
there we go, to penetrate deeper into taller tanks
or to accommodate situations
where the light needs to be mounted higher up.
And that 55 degree reflector is actually included
with the A500X, which is great,
but there's also a new kid on the block too.
Kessil released a 35 degree reflector as well,
it clips on magnetically in the exact same way,
now you're on the ball, and with it,
the A500X can penetrate tanks
up to four feet deep or accommodate mounting heights
up to 22 inches off the surface of the water,
which will be great for those who prefer
to have lots of clearance between the top
of the tank and the lighting.
The A500X spectrum, just like the a 360X Tuna Blue,
has a wide band in the blues between 400
and 500 nanometers, with a peak right around 460,
it also includes a small peak in the violet range
and a hump in the greens and reds to round out the spectrum.
It comes very close to that gold standard spectrum
of the ATI Blue Plus T5 bulb
and uses that Kessil logic to make sure
that no matter where you turn that color knob,
whether you prefer a whiter or a bluer look,
you'll be providing your corals with a spectrum
geared towards healthy growth and coloration.
Kessil has also added separate channels of control
for the red, green, and violet LEDs
that you can adjust to through the Kessil app
when you pair up the A500X with a wifi dongle.
The app also gives you complete access
to set up custom light schedules that will ramp up
and down with your preferred spectrum,
as well as moonlight and acclimation modes.
Although, and I've said this before,
I would've liked to see that wifi capability
built right into the light,
Kessil's approach to this does make sense.
Instead of having to pay for that wifi chip
already built in to each individual light,
you can use a single wifi dongle
to program multiple light fixtures
that are hooked up together using K-link cables,
which can save you quite a bit of coin
when running multiple fixtures
versus paying the extra to have the same
wifi chip built into each individual light.
Or if wifi is not really your thing,
you don't have to use it at all,
you can put it on a simple digital timer
and just use your color and intensity knobs
to dial in the light, so it looks the way you want
to your eye and gives you the par numbers
that you're looking for.
Or you can even go with the Spectral Controller X,
which doesn't require wifi,
but still unlocks all of that control capability
and scheduling for the light.
If the A500X's flexibility in mounting height,
crazy penetration, and overall massive output
matches your reefing mantra, you can pick one up
for yourself by clicking right here.
(upbeat music)