Chihiros vivid 2 mini or WRGB 2 Pro

[Bra1799]

I have been deciding between the vivid 2 mini or the wrgb 2 pro, for my aquascaper 600.
The tank dimensions are 60cm (length) x 50cm (depth) x 36cm (height)

I have used the calculators for lighting, and these are the results:

This is the results for the vivid 2 mini, which has a par of 137 at the front of the tank and then 182 at the back of the tank.

Then the results of the WRGB 2 Pro:

So overall the vivid 2 mini has a higher par by 2 at the front of the tank, and a higher par of 3 at the back of the tank.

The costs of the light are the same, and the vivid 2 mini has more depth, but doesn't have the same length. Do you think I should go for the vivid mini 2? even though the results are marginal.

What I'm worried about is that the WRGB 2 Pro is rated for 60-80cm tanks, but the vivid mini 2 is rated for 40-60cm tanks, so I'm a little confused.

Thanks for all the help, it is extremely helpful. By the way I am growing medium and advanced plants in this tank with a full co2 injection system, with a reduced fish load and tropica specialised nutrition so this tank is high energy. I'm currently running a twinstar 600e v3, but I want more control with the colour spectrum, and everything in my scape is controlled by my phone so it would make everything alot easier.

 

[erwin123]

I have been deciding between the vivid 2 mini or the wrgb 2 pro, for my aquascaper 600.
The tank dimensions are 60cm (length) x 50cm (depth) x 36cm (height)

What I'm worried about is that the WRGB 2 Pro is rated for 60-80cm tanks, but the vivid mini 2 is rated for 40-60cm tanks, so I'm a little confused.

The largest sized tank I would run with the Vivid 2 mini would be ADA60P (60x30x36cm). Using the mini with a 60x50x36 high tech tank with advanced plants is pushing it.

A Vivid 2 or WRGB2 Pro would be more suitable for high-tech 60x50x36 with advanced plants.

My own preference would be double WRGB2 Pro, one in front, one at the back, to ensure even coverage, but its fine to just start with one.

 

[Courtneybst]

I agree with @erwin123 - 50cm is a decent amount of depth and I wouldn't be confident the mini would cut it. Even the pro might be stretched in terms of coverage, unless you were able to suspend the lights and then run them at higher intensity.

 

[Bra1799]

I agree with @erwin123 - 50cm is a decent amount of depth and I wouldn't be confident the mini would cut it. Even the pro might be stretched in terms of coverage, unless you were able to suspend the lights and then run them at higher intensity.

Would you say that the pro with a hanging kit would cut it? Because chihiros do a separate hanging kit, but then would the vivid 2 be the best option as it is only £80 more, but then i would have to find a way to suspend the lighting as the ceiling is quite high? What would be your recommendation?

 

[Courtneybst]

Would you say that the pro with a hanging kit would cut it? Because chihiros do a separate hanging kit, but then would the vivid 2 be the best option as it is only £80 more, but then i would have to find a way to suspend the lighting as the ceiling is quite high? What would be your recommendation?

Personally, I prefer to suspend my lights over everything other than nano tanks for ease of maintenance and aesthetics.

I'm not sure that the £80 difference is worth it, the Pro is a seriously capable light unit. Have you considered using a light stand? That way you could suspend it without it being screwed into the ceiling. If a light stand is not an option I'd still go with the Pro because the Vivid will need either a light stand or suspension anyway. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[Bra1799]

Personally, I prefer to suspend my lights over everything other than nano tanks for ease of maintenance and aesthetics.

I'm not sure that the £80 difference is worth it, the Pro is a seriously capable light unit. Have you considered using a light stand? That way you could suspend it without it being screwed into the ceiling. If a light stand is not an option I'd still go with the Pro because the Vivid will need either a light stand or suspension anyway. Hopefully that makes sense.

I think that i will go with the pro, and then suspend the lights over time with the light stand kit from chihiros. I’ll see how it goes, i think that it would be fine as my plants are growing well at the moment. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Musicmanryann]

Curious how you did your lighting calculations? Thanks in advance!

 

[palcente]

Quick tip. If you get the old wrgb2 then they come with just standard holes to screw in £10 hanging kit. New enhanced pro version instead has these over engineered mounts that chihiros sells for £20. I wondered who complained about the holes? LOL