Lighting

[FKIDN]

Hi, can anyone tell me which light is better ? Or if they have any suggestions for even better lights under £45 ?

 

[MattW]

I have the Chihiros B series and have no faults about it. The Lominie lights look quite good, based on what I've seen from MDFishtank. I would base it on the aquarium length personally and what plants you want. A cube tank would fit the Lominie well but a longer tank may have issues with lighting areas, especially with a single Lominie. The Chihiros would cover all sides of the aquarium. The app is quite good too. I have my tank only on 30% brightness. The sunset and sunrise features are a great bonus too! No sudden bright light when turning it on. 30min-1hr lighting increase/decrease makes the fish more comfortable IMO.

 

[FKIDN]

I have the Chihiros B series and have no faults about it. The Lominie lights look quite good, based on what I've seen from MDFishtank. I would base it on the aquarium length personally and what plants you want. A cube tank would fit the Lominie well but a longer tank may have issues with lighting areas, especially with a single Lominie. The Chihiros would cover all sides of the aquarium. The app is quite good too. I have my tank only on 30% brightness. The sunset and sunrise features are a great bonus too! No sudden bright light when turning it on. 30min-1hr lighting increase/decrease makes the fish more comfortable IMO.
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I would be looking at a slightly longer tank, so I think I’ll go with the chihiros, thank you. I want to try Monte Carlo, pearl weed, Anubias, and hornwort. Do you think they would grow well ? Also, the tank will have no co2 ?

 

[MattW]

All those plants should grow. I do find Monte Carlo a hit-and-miss plant IME. It grows decently well in my Dirted tank with no C02 for some reason, but it did badly in a fertilized + C02 aquarium that I used to have. Strange plant

 

[FKIDN]

All those plants should grow. I do find Monte Carlo a hit-and-miss plant IME. It grows decently well in my Dirted tank with no C02 for some reason, but it did badly in a fertilized + C02 aquarium that I used to have. Strange plant

Another quick question sorry, I am still sticking with the chihiros, I was just wondering what the difference is between all white lights, and the lights with colours in them

 

[MaloK]

Without any brand mongering, the strips always are tremendously more effective at distribution no matter power involved.

A 900 lumen WRGB can broil a 10 gallons tank with ease. I use less than 33% on 5 gallons and still have part of the substrate glowing in a fairly planted tank.

I don't know about high output light like Chihiros, but I would consider them as very potent.

 

[MattW]

Another quick question sorry, I am still sticking with the chihiros, I was just wondering what the difference is between all white lights, and the lights with colours in them

I don't know the full "science" behind the differences but I did find my plants did prefer the change to the Chihiros light from a regular white and blue light I was using previously, especially growth-wise. The fish colours were even better as well. This was taken with no flash and at 30% light intensity on my Chihiros light. Under this light, my Sawbwa have shown their best colours IMO. Just dont mind the algae consuming everything

 

[FKIDN]

I don't know the full "science" behind the differences but I did find my plants did prefer the change to the Chihiros light from a regular white and blue light I was using previously, especially growth-wise. The fish colours were even better as well. This was taken with no flash and at 30% light intensity on my Chihiros light. Under this light, my Sawbwa have shown their best colours IMO. Just dont mind the algae consuming everything
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I don’t know if I am being stupid or not here, so has the chihiros light got coloured LEDs in it ? Because from what I can see on the website it is just all white

 

[MattW]

It has. On sunrise and sunset modes you can see that red/pink lights are the first to turn on followed by white, managed to find an old pic of it. The website shows a diagram of the lighting as well. 3in1 RGB LEDs surrounded by white LEDs. If I remember tomorrow I'll get some screenshots of the app for you as well.

 

[FKIDN]

It has. On sunrise and sunset modes you can see that red/pink lights are the first to turn on followed by white, managed to find an old pic of it. The website shows a diagram of the lighting as well. 3in1 RGB LEDs surrounded by white LEDs. If I remember tomorrow I'll get some screenshots of the app for you as well.
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Thank you that would be much appreciated, do you think you could send me the link to the light please, as I’m unsure if I am looking at the right website.

 

[MaloK]

It has. On sunrise and sunset modes you can see that red/pink lights are the first to turn on followed by white, managed to find an old pic of it. The website shows a diagram of the lighting as well. 3in1 RGB LEDs surrounded by white LEDs. If I remember tomorrow I'll get some screenshots of the app for you as well.
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out of curiosity... Does the strip has 2 different kind of white leds ???

 

[MattW]

Thank you that would be much appreciated, do you think you could send me the link to the light please, as I’m unsure if I am looking at the right website.

This website was the one I ordered from. Do take into account that it’s coming from china. Mine took 3-4 weeks from ordering to arrive. Make sure to select UK plug as well.

out of curiosity... Does the strip has 2 different kind of white leds ???

That’s a good question. I don’t think so. The one that includes RBG could make a somewhat white colour from mixing the 3 which I assume this light does. It’s does not specify WRGB LEDs on the reviews I saw. I can’t remember if I threw out the box or not. Will check in the morning since it’s approaching 2:30 am

 

[MaloK]

The strips I have seems to arbor both 3000-3500 and 7000 to 8000 kelvin chips and are able to trow very powerful bluish light as much as reddish and yellowish if needed.

They are dumb light that still have 8 periods per day. That are a real pain to program in advanced mode. But within increment of 5% power on each separated color and period

I'm working on a somewhat natural equatorial look-a-like process that goes loosely around these lines.

I will go forward with discoveries along the path

 

[MattW]

The strips I have seems to arbor both 3000-3500 and 7000 to 8000 kelvin chips and are able to trow very powerful bluish light as much as reddish and yellowish if needed.

They are dumb light that still have 8 periods per day. That are a real pain to program in advanced mode. But within increment of 5% power on each separated color and period

I'm working on a somewhat natural equatorial look-a-like process that goes loosely around these lines.

View attachment 359728

I will go forward with discoveries along the path

I like it! Is the 5% increment quite noticeable when it changes? I could imagine in the future, aquariums especially biotopes having a natural lighting period fit to the habitat. Or perhaps it's already been done? I wonder if tank-raised and wild-caught fish would behave any differently from each other if the natural lighting period was met.

This was the packaging for my B60 series. As you can see a very good score in energy efficiency

@FKIDN Here are a couple of SS from the app. You can have up to a 2hr30 ramp up/down time for sunset/rise. I must have turned down the intensity as it is 25% now.

 

[MaloK]

Yes, it steps enough to be noticed, but it's fun to see the tank illumination change throughout the day.

I'm working on a spreadsheet that will include automatic calculation of different colors intensity at each period, to be able to adjust the total output in % and be able to keep ratios for separate color output.

Your light is pretty good, 37 w for 2214 lm is some good power, at 30% intensity it probably runs around 12 w max.