LEDs - Well, this is interesting

[fixerupper]

Recently I've been unhappy with my TMC Aquaray LED lights.

I'll post my 'issues' with these lights another day. I was not pleased so I took them down and replaced them with MarsAqua 165w LEDs. These cheap 'sh*t boxes' have a strong following over at Reef Central so I though "why not?"

Now to the point:
I was working in very close proximity with the AquaRay while they were on at 100% for about 2 hours. I replaced them with two MarsAqua and fiddled with them for (while lit) for about 1 hour. Then (here it comes) I also installed a Kessil A360WE my wife bought me for Christmas in between the 2 Mars Aqua fixtures. I turned it on and started adjusting it. Oddly enough it got progressively dimmer as I was working on cable management.

As a matter of fact the entire tank was getting dimmer even with the other fixtures still on. WTF? So, I walked out of my fish room to get to the other side of the tank and I could barely see where I was going. Then it was obvious. My new eyeglasses with a photochromic option had gone as dark as I've ever seen them. Interesting, no?

I've always heard that the Kessils have true UV emitters but this really showcased that particular claim. To reinforce this (now obvious) theory I took my glasses off and held them under each fixture at 100%. My T5s were removed so I couldn't experiment with them yet.

MarsAqua - no change. Glasses stayed clear.
TMC AquaRay - no change. Glasses stayed clear.
Kessils - almost immediate and intense change. Glasses look like sunglasses.

While this really proves nothing as to how effective these lights may or may not prove to be, I found it very interesting. As an aside, the Kessil lights also look like they are providing less illumination in the tank at 100% (with my glasses off, lol) than the other fixtures. I've read that much of their output is at wavelengths that are difficult for the human eye to perceive.

I'd be interested to hear anyone's comments regarding Kessil's UV properties.

Cheers