A Freshwater aquascaped lighting problem

[Qckslvr]

Wednesday night my wife did an OTA update to her Fluval 4.0 Plant and it bricked. We have tried everything to get this light working again, and it will just not respond. We have had the light for 4 weeks, and luckily the seller is allowing us to return it. BTW Fluval's customer support sucks, filed a claim, and have not heard from them.

As of this moment I have tied a very old fluorescent aquarium light to a mic stand and that is giving her tank at least some light. Her tank has no top due to plants. Is the light janky.... hell yes, ugly.. check.... annoying the wife... more than you can imagine.

So we are checking out some other lights. We are looking at the Orphek Freshwater (great sale right now), AI Hydra 32 Freshwater (used, new is way to much), and also Hygger. She wants an app controlled light, or at least a light that has a remote. She was almost sold on the Orphek, but the 1 year warranty and NO return policy has her scared. She likes the Hydra, but the price for a new one scares the crap out of both of us. The Hygger checks alot of boxes, but no app control. I tried to point her to Kessil, but she thinks they are all ugly. Form over function is not in her vocabulary.

Any recommendations? Anyone have experience with the Orphek? or Hydra 32 freshwater?

Thanks

 

[TX_REEF]

I am generally happy with all the hygger products I use, haven't done anything with freshwater though. You're safe going with them if you're on a budget, i dont think app control matters as much with freshwater, you can just put it on a wifi outlet like this: https://amzn.to/3WWHZpi

 

[oreo54]

Wednesday night my wife did an OTA update to her Fluval 4.0 Plant and it bricked. We have tried everything to get this light working again, and it will just not respond. We have had the light for 4 weeks, and luckily the seller is allowing us to return it. BTW Fluval's customer support sucks, filed a claim, and have not heard from them.

As of this moment I have tied a very old fluorescent aquarium light to a mic stand and that is giving her tank at least some light. Her tank has no top due to plants. Is the light janky.... hell yes, ugly.. check.... annoying the wife... more than you can imagine.

So we are checking out some other lights. We are looking at the Orphek Freshwater (great sale right now), AI Hydra 32 Freshwater (used, new is way to much), and also Hygger. She wants an app controlled light, or at least a light that has a remote. She was almost sold on the Orphek, but the 1 year warranty and NO return policy has her scared. She likes the Hydra, but the price for a new one scares the crap out of both of us. The Hygger checks alot of boxes, but no app control. I tried to point her to Kessil, but she thinks they are all ugly. Form over function is not in her vocabulary.

Any recommendations? Anyone have experience with the Orphek? or Hydra 32 freshwater?

Thanks

What size tank dimension wise?
Common "app controlled" lights are Chihiros, Micmole and a collection of others like week Aqua.
Bluetooth or WIFI.

"Premium brand FW include Mitras, AI prime and of course your larger AI's like Hydras.
Didn't know Orphek advertises fw lights anymore, well besides bars. Not to long ago I was told that they still will sell an Atlantik fw as a special order.
Honestly though Orphek isn't my go to lighting though. IF I had go to lighting (DIY function vs form guy)
Before a bunch of RGB led lights came out my "go to" would have been the AI Prime freshwater.. Back in the day when pricing wasn't insane.

Unless you go high tech fw (CO2 ect_) high wattage leds aren't necessary really.
1WPG in LED (humor me) is about all one needs.


You mentioned open top because of plants. Is this for emergents or to favor gas exchange?
There are "pieces" that one needs to know b4 recommending lights.
From water resistance to lens beam angles. Color tuning, mounting, natural vs enhanced color, fav "look" ect.

Hyggar has one with a remote though not an "app".
Amazon product
Interesting as a RGBW plus "violet"
33880K full power color temperature.

BTW since this is a reef site don't expect too much in the way of responses.

 

[Qckslvr]

What size tank dimension wise?
Common "app controlled" lights are Chihiros, Micmole and a collection of others like week Aqua.
Bluetooth or WIFI.

"Premium brand FW include Mitras, AI prime and of course your larger AI's like Hydras.
Didn't know Orphek advertises fw lights anymore, well besides bars. Not to long ago I was told that they still will sell an Atlantik fw as a special order.
Honestly though Orphek isn't my go to lighting though. IF I had go to lighting (DIY function vs form guy)
Before a bunch of RGB led lights came out my "go to" would have been the AI Prime freshwater.. Back in the day when pricing wasn't insane.

Unless you go high tech fw (CO2 ect_) high wattage leds aren't necessary really.
1WPG in LED (humor me) is about all one needs.


You mentioned open top because of plants. Is this for emergents or to favor gas exchange?
There are "pieces" that one needs to know b4 recommending lights.
From water resistance to lens beam angles. Color tuning, mounting, natural vs enhanced color, fav "look" ect.

Hyggar has one with a remote though not an "app".
Amazon product
Interesting as a RGBW plus "violet"
33880K full power color temperature.

BTW since this is a reef site don't expect too much in the way of responses.

I know this is a reef site, but it's a shot. Plus I don't belong to any freshwater. The freshwater is my wife's tank, and mine is reef.

Her tank is 37 gallons, 12-13W x 30L x 23H

Her plants are growing out of the tank, plus the back and side rim have plants hanging on them. Also water letuce.

 

[oreo54]

I know this is a reef site, but it's a shot. Plus I don't belong to any freshwater. The freshwater is my wife's tank, and mine is reef.

Her tank is 37 gallons, 12-13W x 30L x 23H

Her plants are growing out of the tank, plus the back and side rim have plants hanging on them. Also water letuce.

Yea I get it some don't want to join things for a one of project..
Hey technically "I" shouldn't be here..

Tanks with like driftwood sticking out or plants are kind of difficult to recommend lights for.
OTC lights aren't designed for double duty.

You really need like 60 degree lights hung high to cover both "worlds".
There are reef lights one can "dumb down" for freshwater like any with a fair amount of "not blue" leds.
Chinese BB's and even Reefi units.

Like I said above i'd have suggested 2 AI primes freshwaters.
Prefer the 2 over the 1 Hydro.

Right or wrong a lot of led fw lighting has been "dumbed down" over the more full function of the AI prime
Like so. Another Hygger though I'd def go with 2..

hygger Full Spectrum Clip On Light - hygger

Full spectrum clip on light can be used with 9 colors for 11"-55" planted tanks, easy to install with the clip bracket, and meet the different lengths of tanks.

www.hygger-online.com

But that brings up another point.. rimmed or rimless.. which does matter.


The 30" is also a less common size in stick lights.
Most would be 24" for 30" tanks.

An idea of mounting..
Image from
https://www.co2art.us/blogs/blog/ho...44ieHIz9jnzg-7V1fKivbKi_tviRMD7R__za5UEq2e1py

Use lights like this:

 

[Qckslvr]

Yea I get it some don't want to join things for a one of project..
Hey technically "I" shouldn't be here..

Tanks with like driftwood sticking out or plants are kind of difficult to recommend lights for.
OTC lights aren't designed for double duty.

You really need like 60 degree lights hung high to cover both "worlds".
There are reef lights one can "dumb down" for freshwater like any with a fair amount of "not blue" leds.
Chinese BB's and even Reefi units.

Like I said above i'd have suggested 2 AI primes freshwaters.
Prefer the 2 over the 1 Hydro.

Right or wrong a lot of led fw lighting has been "dumbed down" over the more full function of the AI prime
Like so. Another Hygger though I'd def go with 2..

hygger Full Spectrum Clip On Light - hygger

Full spectrum clip on light can be used with 9 colors for 11"-55" planted tanks, easy to install with the clip bracket, and meet the different lengths of tanks.

www.hygger-online.com

But that brings up another point.. rimmed or rimless.. which does matter.


The 30" is also a less common size in stick lights.
Most would be 24" for 30" tanks.

An idea of mounting..
Image from
https://www.co2art.us/blogs/blog/ho...44ieHIz9jnzg-7V1fKivbKi_tviRMD7R__za5UEq2e1py

Use lights like this:

I have been checking out the Master 600, that is a nice light. Also I found a really good deal on a pair of AI freshwater lights. Lots of avenues to check. And thank you, you listed some brands I have never heard of.

I do have to give a shout out to AI though. I have called them a few times, and they have always answered my questions thoroughly.

Also the wife's tank is rimmed. It was a freebee from a family member, sitting in their garage unused for 15 years.

 

[oreo54]

I have been checking out the Master 600, that is a nice light. Also I found a really good deal on a pair of AI freshwater lights. Lots of avenues to check. And thank you, you listed some brands I have never heard of.

I do have to give a shout out to AI though. I have called them a few times, and they have always answered my questions thoroughly.

Also the wife's tank is rimmed. It was a freebee from a family member, sitting in their garage unused for 15 years.

Just an fyi with a bit of cheap influencer- ness.
Finnex makes a lot of 30" lights that fit rimmed tanks. Simple programming and meant to be low hung though

Finnex Vivid Plus 3.0 Color Extreme Enhancing Aquarium LED Light

Finnex Vivid Plus 3.0, Finnex Vivid+ 3.0, color enhancing aquarium LED, no white LED, Flowerhorn lighting, Discus LED, Arowana light, high saturation, goldfish light, planted tank capable, vivid color

www.finnex.net

I' m testing the above out on my 40b..

 

[Qckslvr]

We ended up picking up an AI blade freshwater yesterday. It was more than I wanted to spend, but the wife loves it. The Mobius app not so much. But the light is much brighter than the Fluval.

 

[oreo54]

We ended up picking up an AI blade freshwater yesterday. It was more than I wanted to spend, but the wife loves it. The Mobius app not so much. But the light is much brighter than the Fluval.

Did you get the 30.1" model?
And elevated tank mounts?
Just for completeness.

 

[Qckslvr]

We ended up picking up an AI blade freshwater yesterday. It was more than I wanted to spend, but the wife loves it. The Mobius app not so much. But the light is much brighter than the Fluval.

Did you get the 30.1" model?
And elevated tank mounts?
Just for completeness.

Yes we did

 

[GarrettDie4U]

Tell your wife I love her Tank !!!! I've been worried about my lights for my reel lately i think im going to need to upgrade before i get corals . My only issue is i have 4 cats . So they cant get to hot , Anyone know what would work best for a Innovative Marine Nuvo fusion 20 gal ?