NICREW HyperReef Gen 2 Controller - Mixing Wattages

Grog · Feb 26, 2025

I have 200W NICREW HyperReef Gen 2 running with their Gen2 controller over the display tank. Doing a big tank reset/upgrade and all frags will be in a sump zone. Plan to run another NICREW fixture in the sump using the exact same light schedule.

The sump zone doesn't need 200W. So, I'm considering one of the smallest Gen2 units, 100W, for the sump frag zone.

I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has mixed different wattages of NICREW Gen 2 using a single controller. Does it even work? Does it handle the differences in wattage gracefully, or is one fixture being driven harder than the other?

I can get a separate controller; it isn't a huge expense, but having everything on one controller would be good for this application IMO. (Less programming, less cost, all fixtures on the 100% exact same schedule.) But, if the controller or fixtures misbehave when mixing the various wattages, then I don't want to mess around with it.

oreo54 · Feb 26, 2025

Grog said:
I have 200W NICREW HyperReef Gen 2 running with their Gen2 controller over the display tank. Doing a big tank reset/upgrade and all frags will be in a sump zone. Plan to run another NICREW fixture in the sump using the exact same light schedule.

The sump zone doesn't need 200W. So, I'm considering one of the smallest Gen2 units, 100W, for the sump frag zone.

I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has mixed different wattages of NICREW Gen 2 using a single controller. Does it even work? Does it handle the differences in wattage gracefully, or is one fixture being driven harder than the other?

I can get a separate controller; it isn't a huge expense, but having everything on one controller would be good for this application IMO. (Less programming, less cost, all fixtures on the 100% exact same schedule.) But, if the controller or fixtures misbehave when mixing the various wattages, then I don't want to mess around with it.

One thing I'm pretty certain about is you can't mix gen 1 and gen 2 lights on the Gen 2 controller.
Pretty sure this AI is for the old controller but dumb-ing it down on the new one would be a bit pointless.

To set different schedules on a single Nicrew controller for different sections of the same tank, you can utilize the "channel" feature on the controller, allowing you to create separate lighting schedules for each channel while controlling them all from the same unit; this functionality is typically explained in the Nicrew controller user manual, which you can find as a PDF on the Nicrew website

TO be honest, I just took a peek at the instructions on Nicrew and don't see that (channels) as an option.
AI is screwed up.. :)

Grog · Feb 26, 2025

Thanks, but I am running Gen 2 lights and have a Gen 2 controller. No Gen 1 material is in the equation. I don't intend to run any channels or different schedules. The intent is to run them using the USB C cable as designed, all plugged in a row. The question is about mixing a 200W Gen 2 with a 100W Gen 2.

DVaDeR77 · Mar 2, 2025

Just a thought. Don’t think the controller knows the difference between wattage on the lights. Each light probably also uses the same control board so linking together shouldn’t be a problem.

7digits · Apr 10, 2025

oreo54 said:
One thing I'm pretty certain about is you can't mix gen 1 and gen 2 lights on the Gen 2 controller.
Pretty sure this AI is for the old controller but dumb-ing it down on the new one would be a bit pointless.

TO be honest, I just took a peek at the instructions on Nicrew and don't see that (channels) as an option.
AI is screwed up.. :)

I have a gen2 controller and there is a port to hook up gen1 lights

oreo54 · Apr 11, 2025

7digits said:
I have a gen2 controller and there is a port to hook up gen1 lights

Afaict from Nicrews you can't use both gen 1 and gen 2 at the same time.
Gen 2 Controller will work for gen 1's OR gen 2

7digits · Apr 11, 2025

oreo54 said:
Afaict from Nicrews you can't use both gen 1 and gen 2 at the same time.
Gen 2 Controller will work for gen 1's OR gen 2

Good to know. Thanks

Mogwai · Jun 20, 2025

7digits said:
Good to know. Thanks

oreo54 · Jun 20, 2025

Sure but NOT at the same time.. you can't mix gen1 and 2.
You can run all gen 1's or conversely all gen 2's but not a "mixed" group.
At least that is my understanding.

The "and" should be an "or" really..

Mogwai · Jun 20, 2025

oreo54 said:
Sure but NOT at the same time.. you can't mix gen1 and 2.
You can run all gen 1's or conversely all gen 2's but not a "mixed" group.
At least that is my understanding.

The "and" should be an "or" really..

I agree. Unfortunately we can't run Gen 1 and Gen 2 same time.
I just switched from the Gen 1s to Gen 2 100watt HyperReef reef lights. Trying to figure out the best percentages because the default AB+ is very bright and too much white for my taste.
I doing 95% Blues and Violet with 5% White, red and green.