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Lighting for new tank

B

Becksy

Member
Joined
16 Jan 2022
Messages
56
Location
Bedfordshire
Good morning -

This is my first attempt at hardscaping a tank, and while I’m all up for no expense spared I’m struggling to choice a light for my setup. I’ve got an ADA 60 by 30 - 36 tank and plan on creating a concave scap. I’ve been and seen the ADA lights working and must say they really make the greens punch out! My only issue is that they don’t dim and are very expensive for a first timer. Can any of you light specialists recommend a good all round led light that will take care of my plants and have a dimmer setting. I’m planning on planting mostly green plants with green carpet and the odd few reds. With co2 Many thanks in advanc. I’m looking to spend £250 if poss.
 
Thank you very much buddy. It’s an expensive hoppy and just don’t want to rush in spending loads of unnecessary money.
 
Semana Aqua p
 

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If you had the money and was just starting out would you have this one or go for the ada ? I’m not sure if I should just save for the more expensive one. Lol.
 
Starting out new to planted aquariums l would go more budget friendly and many still use t5s. But its a choice and l understand price aside ADA is quality.
 
PARAGUAY said:
Starting out new to planted aquariums l would go more budget friendly and many still use t5s. But its a choice and l understand price aside ADA is quality.
Click to expand...
I 100% get it. But after visiting the store and seeing the ADA lighting I’m so hooked lol. They just pop the greens soooo nicely. I’ll research the ones people here have kindly recommend and go from there. Wonder why the ADA don’t have a dimmer function for new plant growth?
 
Becksy said:
I 100% get it. But after visiting the store and seeing the ADA lighting I’m so hooked lol. They just pop the greens soooo nicely. I’ll research the ones people here have kindly recommend and go from there. Wonder why the ADA don’t have a dimmer function for new plant growth?
Click to expand...

The ADA system is a very prescriptive one, their substrates, lighting and fertiliser regime is designed to work together as a system, but you have to follow it by the letter. Hence why they don’t include a dimmer or allow users to change the output settings.

If internet rumours are to be believed Week Aqua actually manufacture the ADA Solar RGB in China, so the light linked to by @medlight will likely be an exact clone, possibly with a lower quality external power supply (as I believe the ADA comes with a beefy German unit). Same goes for the UNS Titan 1, another clone from the same factory.

Similarly the Chihiros lights likely use the same combination RGB LED’s as the other units, but rather than have fixed voltage and current inputs into those LED’s they add a controller to give the user the ability to dim them, change the RGB mix, and set up ramp schedules.

If you like the look of the ADA lights in store, you’ll be able to replicate the same effect with the Chihiros RGB lights, but with the control flexibility we really all need in a light.
 

ADA RGB Solar vs Chihiros RGB

A short video with some thoughts about the ada rgb solar and the chihiros rgb.
www.ukaps.org

Week Aqua includes UV bulbs. Dennis Wong has mentioned on his social media that he has been testing the lights but so far there hasn't been any follow up comments. If UV made a big difference I presume he would have informed everyone already 😀

I'm interested in the WRGB2 Pro - according to MJ's youtube, it has a 4th White channel, i.e. RGBW chips?
 
Last edited:
Wookii said:
The ADA system is a very prescriptive one, their substrates, lighting and fertiliser regime is designed to work together as a system, but you have to follow it by the letter. Hence why they don’t include a dimmer or allow users to change the output settings.

If internet rumours are to be believed Week Aqua actually manufacture the ADA Solar RGB in China, so the light linked to by @medlight will likely be an exact clone, possibly with a lower quality external power supply (as I believe the ADA comes with a beefy German unit). Same goes for the UNS Titan 1, another clone from the same factory.

Similarly the Chihiros lights likely use the same combination RGB LED’s as the other units, but rather than have fixed voltage and current inputs into those LED’s they add a controller to give the user the ability to dim them, change the RGB mix, and set up ramp schedules.

If you like the look of the ADA lights in store, you’ll be able to replicate the same effect with the Chihiros RGB lights, but with the control flexibility we really all need in a light.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your informative reply. This has helped me 10 fold in making my mind up. I’m going to research a little into these lights you’ve mentioned. I actually like the look of the chihiros lights.
 
Hi @Becksy

I do wish that I'd already bought one of the lights from the following manufacturers. But, as yet, that's not the case. So, I include them here in order to mention a couple of names. I am drawn to the products below for the following reasons:

[1] German engineering is generally excellent

[2] The choice of LED wavelengths tallies well with the needs of plants

[3] There is a wide range of customizable options.

[4] You're not paying for a name

The trouble is that, in the UK at least, LED Aquaristik is not well-known. So, a bit of trawling the internet to find any reviews would be very advisable. Anyway, here's a link:

www.ledaquaristik.de

aquaLUMix LED-light-bar AMAZON-GROW

Compact light - ready-configured: AMAZON GROW colour variation is a bright, tropical light, with a focus on optimum plant growth, including Grow LEDs.
www.ledaquaristik.de www.ledaquaristik.de

And, one other company comes to mind:

www.aquariumcomputer.com

Mitras Slimline

www.aquariumcomputer.com www.aquariumcomputer.com

JPC
 
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jaypeecee said:
Hi @Becksy

I do wish that I'd already bought one of the lights from the following manufacturers. But, as yet, that's not the case. So, I include them here in order to mention a couple of names. I am drawn to the products below for the following reasons:

[1] German engineering is generally excellent

[2] The choice of LED wavelengths tallies well with the needs of plants

[3] There is a wide range of customizable options.

[4] You're not paying for a name

The trouble is that, in the UK at least, LED Aquaristik is not well-known. So, a bit of trawling the internet to find any reviews would be very advisable. Anyway, here's a link:

www.ledaquaristik.de

aquaLUMix LED-light-bar AMAZON-GROW

Compact light - ready-configured: AMAZON GROW colour variation is a bright, tropical light, with a focus on optimum plant growth, including Grow LEDs.
www.ledaquaristik.de www.ledaquaristik.de

And, one other company comes to mind:

www.aquariumcomputer.com

Mitras Slimline

www.aquariumcomputer.com www.aquariumcomputer.com

JPC
Click to expand...
Thank you very much. I’ll check these out.
 
erwin123 said:
Week Aqua includes UV bulbs.
Click to expand...
Hi @erwin123

What reason does this manufacturer give for including UV light in their freshwater product(s)? And, do they specify the range of UV wavelengths (in nm or nanometres) that they are using? It has been demonstrated that UV wavelengths can promote algae growth.

JPC
 
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