maverick786us
Member
I am planning to upgrade the the lights of both my planted Aquascape 45p and 60p. What’s your suggestion on Chihiros WRGB II SLIM lights?
-
You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up
Chihiros WRGB II Slim Lights
- Thread starter maverick786us
- Start date
FrozenShivers
Member
You haven't really asked anything specific. You also haven't stated any of your requirements, what plants are you trying to grow? CO2 or non-CO2? Please take more time when asking for advice.
Here's a photo of my 90x40x40cm tank with a little CO2 injected running a Chihiros WRGB II Slim 90 light mounted as high as the Chihiros aquarium stand will allow and on 20% power. All the plants are easy to grow epiphytes - java fern, anubias, bucephalandra
View attachment IMG_0735.jpg
maverick786us
Member
Sorry about that.
I am an aquascapist. These are 2 of my aquaecapes (Link at the end). The first one is a small tank with dimensions 45 X 30 X 30 CM the second is a med sized tank with dimensions 60 X 40 X 40 CM. The plants that I am trying to grow are carpet grass, epiphytes, and some background plants to make it look very natural.
In both my aquascapes I am using Sun Sun ADS series light. The light is find, but its brightness, color cannot be adjusted. Yes I am using pressure injected CO2. I keep the lights and CO2 on for 8 hours a day. I use smart plugs, so using the app I have set the scheduler. At 13:30 CO2 turns on and the light turns on at 14:30. CO2 automatically turns off at 21: 30 and the light at 22:30.
My second aquascape was on Dry Start for 3 weeks, 36 hours ago I flooded it. Therefore first week I am keeping CO2 and light for 12-14 hours, so that the plants adjust and then I will gradually reduce it 8 hours in a week.
I am an aquascapist. These are 2 of my aquaecapes (Link at the end). The first one is a small tank with dimensions 45 X 30 X 30 CM the second is a med sized tank with dimensions 60 X 40 X 40 CM. The plants that I am trying to grow are carpet grass, epiphytes, and some background plants to make it look very natural.
In both my aquascapes I am using Sun Sun ADS series light. The light is find, but its brightness, color cannot be adjusted. Yes I am using pressure injected CO2. I keep the lights and CO2 on for 8 hours a day. I use smart plugs, so using the app I have set the scheduler. At 13:30 CO2 turns on and the light turns on at 14:30. CO2 automatically turns off at 21: 30 and the light at 22:30.
My second aquascape was on Dry Start for 3 weeks, 36 hours ago I flooded it. Therefore first week I am keeping CO2 and light for 12-14 hours, so that the plants adjust and then I will gradually reduce it 8 hours in a week.
Last edited:
FrozenShivers
Member
That's ok, we all live and learn 🙂 Nice tanks, I don't think there is much that the WRGB II Slim can't grow that you want to grow. It's a good light in my opinion, nice colour rendition, app control including ramp up and down, reasonably priced - although in the future if you ever want to buy Chihiros stuff and aren't time constrained, they normally run 20% off site wide around Black Friday.
maverick786us
Member
Thank you. When you compare it to my mediocre Sun Sun ADS 500, will Chihiros have a wow factor for the growth of my plants?
FrozenShivers
Member
I have no experience with the light, in fact, after a quick search it doesn't look like it even sells over here.
maverick786us
Member
Its a cheap knock white light, with fixed brightness, color and height, Those color settings range and other features, in Chihiros, does it affect the plants growth?
I have the Chihiros WRGB universal and really like the control over the colour rendering.
Plants don’t care as they will broadly adapt to whatever is available but it makes a big difference to how the tank looks to us humans.
Also, I found the Chihiros WRGB super powerful. Way more than I needed.
I run a 550 long light on a 600 long and 400 deep tank (96 liter tank) at just 25% power.
I would still buy it again for the really pretty colour tones you get to achieve.
Plants don’t care as they will broadly adapt to whatever is available but it makes a big difference to how the tank looks to us humans.
Also, I found the Chihiros WRGB super powerful. Way more than I needed.
I run a 550 long light on a 600 long and 400 deep tank (96 liter tank) at just 25% power.
I would still buy it again for the really pretty colour tones you get to achieve.
FrozenShivers
Member
People often over estimate their light requirements, I'm personally happy to pay more for a colour rendition I like as well as the actual aesthetics and build quality of a light, however you can grow many plants with very basic/budget lights. If you're struggling to grow plants, the issue is most likely not your lighting (unless you're trying to grow some certain hard category plants for example). If you're having issue with plant growth I suggest making a thread in the Journal sub-forum so that you can get lots of helpful input.
maverick786us
Member
I am not facing any issue with plant growth, the problem is algae. The light is good very bright, I can somehow block it littlest by using floating plants. People say that 3 most important components of a good planted aquascape are Filter, Light and CO2. I am fine with my light, I was curious if Chihiros, will further enhance the growth and make the plants more vibrant.
if you’ve no problems with plant growth, then the biggest difference you’ll notice is that the chihiros light will better bring out the colours of your fish and plants.
500 is listed as 24 watts. I assume on the 60 x 40 x 40 tank. So about 25 gallons.
The style is usually easily made dimmable and programmable if the power supply output is between 12 - 24 volts dc.
color of course is set. Honestly the white led spectrum quality isn't too bad (big guess) but will be low in red at that k temp.
Anyways just stuff..
Chihiros slim 60 is 45 watts and all RGB leds and about $200 US
Being RGB they will punch up the colors due to the spectrum and punch the growth due to roughly doubling the # of photons.
Now as to being "natural"or "more realistic" well that's another story.
All a matter of opinion.
Choosing the best light spectrum for planted tanks
What is the best light spectrum for a planted aquarium? Is 6500k lighting the best for plants? (no) An in-depth read on tuning light spectrum for better color and pigmentation for your planted tank.
www.2hraquarist.com
For looks I personally prefer white leds (6500k or greater) with 660nm red supplementation for a more natural look.
Or white with 660/450nm blue leds.
There are a number of other combinations but not readily available commercially.
There is no right or wrong here..
This preaching was sort of brought on when you said:
Which of those tanks in the "2 HR" link looks natural.. 🙂
Glass Box Diaries
New Member
This is just a heads-up, and I may be wrong, as all my lights are regular RBG, but to my understanding, a true WRGB should have a separate channel of white LEDs in it. However, Chihiros WRGB II SLIM lights don't actually have that, even though they have WRGB in their name.
The official Chihiros sales page lists both the Chihiros WRGB II Slim and the Chihiros WRGB II 10th Edition as "3 in 1 RGB leds, APP controllable, 3 colors(Red, Green and Blue) adjustable" while the Chihiros WRGB II Pro is listed as "4 in 1 WRGB leds, APP controllable, 4 colors(White, Red, Green and Blue) adjustable".
I thought this may just be a typo, but Chihiros support confirmed it here. Someone purchased the Chihiros WRGB II Slim thinking they would get independent control of the white light channel, only to be told it's an RGB light.
Just pointing it out incase you want that separate white light channel for your setup.
