The Noopsyche K7 Mini on my 14-gallon cube refugium hits 500 PAR at the very bottom center when turned up to full brightness. That tank is 14.25" deep with a 2" sand bed, and the light hangs about 1" above the top. It’s got power, no question, though there’s an odd jump of ~50 PAR between 19% and 20% on the blue channel. One downside: even at 1%, the light’s still surprisingly bright, which means no
real dimming ability. Also... the app sucks. It creates a vacuum (figuratively, not literally, though the fan on it sometimes sounds like it's trying - not
super loud, but far from silent). I really wish they'd just use @oldrev’s open-source controller app.
For my main 50.3 AIO, I'm running a Current USA Orbit Marine IC Dual Pro 24" lights (54W total). They sit on top of the lid using the included brackets. I'm seeing 200+ PAR in the center of the tank (17.5" deep with a 2" sand bed) and 150 at the bottom center. I was frankly surprised by the results - I was expecting more like 50 PAR on the bottom - but it exceeded both my expectations and those of the reefer helping me tune the system. Shimmer’s surprisingly good, the spectrum is fine for my needs so far, and ramping is super smooth. The 1% channel power actually
is dim. The app’s nothing amazing, but it works, and the gentle transitions are kind to the livestock.
Would I recommend them? Eh... mixed feelings, but I think yes. I like mine, especially as they were gifted to me, but at around $250 on sale, they’re not exactly cheap. Also worth noting: they’re fanless, which is a plus noise-wise, but they do have to be run at 100% to hit my PAR numbers, and I don’t expect them to last as long as fan-cooled options with more raw output that can be run at lower wattages - I plan to eventually supplement them with something like an Orphek OR4 bar to help with spectral fill and reduce the load so I can hopefully tune the power down a bit lower and extend their life expectancy.
You mentioned a few other options:
- Nicrew 50W: It’s popular for budget builds. It’ll get you light, but don't expect great ramping or spectral tuning. You’ll probably have to swap it out down the line if you go full SPS or want serious control.
- Smatfarm G5: Surprisingly capable for the price (~$140 last I checked), and now comes with decent app control and spectrum options. Ramping is still a little abrupt for my taste, but people seem to get decent results.
- Viparspectra: Brute-force PAR for not a lot of money. Big drawback is lack of ramping and finesse. You can light a tank with it, sure, but corals and fish aren’t going to love the on/off abruptness (which I personally hate and is one of the reasons I won't use T5's alone ever again).
- Noopsyche K7 Mini: As mentioned, great PAR output in a small package. App’s trash, dimming isn’t dim, but it's punchy and compact. I love mine for a fuge, but would hesitate to rely on it solo for a display unless you’re mainly using it as a spotlight and pairing it with something else.
- Kessil: Great lights. Fantastic shimmer. Legendary reputation. But to light a 30” tank evenly, you’re probably looking at two A160s minimum, and that’s before you even add a controller, which you'll want. The cost balloons fast, even secondhand (I don't recommend buying secondhand lights anyway). No bar-style offerings from them yet, unfortunately.
For your PAR goals (200–300 midway down), you’ve got flexibility. If you’re staying under $200, it’s probably going to be the Smatfarm or Viparspectra- you'd need a pair of the Noopsyche's to ensure good coverage across a 30" length, same as with Kessils. Just know that with those two you’re trading off control, efficiency and/or longevity for raw output. If you can stretch the budget a bit for an Orbit IC Dual Pro pair like mine, it might be worth it, as you should get even better numbers in your smaller 20 gallon than I get in my 50 without running at max power.
