Reef Lighting: Aqua Knight vs AI Prime HD

FishyDP · Nov 12, 2018

I am looking for opinions on this. I just started my first reef, 125g softy/lps, about 8 months ago. I have been using the Aqua Knight (aka Hipargero) led lights, $60 apiece. I have 3 of them on the tank and all corals have responded well, and have grown (slowly). I do have to have the corals mostly directly under the light for them to respond well. It seems that each light has about a 16x16 spread.

Now my question is, the bulbs are 3w cree leds, on the Aqua Knight. There are 9 bulbs per fixture, so about a 30w fixture. I want to upgrade my lights to the AIs. If I am not mistaken, doesn't this light use the same 3w cree led bulbs as the Aqua Knight? There are 13 bulbs on the AIs, so this makes them about a 40w fixture. So my options are: I could add 3 more Aqua Knights at $180 total, and have 6 total giving me about 180 watts over my tank. Or I could upgrade to the AIs (3 total) and spend $200 per fixture, plus mounting, so I would be at $700+ and around 130 watts over my tank.

Besides the controllability technology of the AIs, what would be the big difference in these 2 fixtures, given that they are using what seem to be the same bulbs?

FYI - I do not have a PAR meter but my zoos, hammers and gsp open up no problem on the sand bed about 22" down, with the Aqua Knights.

https://www.amazon.com/HIPARGERO-LE...ywords=reef+light&refinements=p_85:2470955011

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-HD-Ill...ywords=reef+light&refinements=p_85:2470955011

James M · Nov 12, 2018

Following. I was loooking to upgrade to a AI prime from a aquakight.

Robert Binz · Feb 1, 2021

James M said:
Following. I was loooking to upgrade to a AI prime from a aquakight.

Bump for same reason

FishyDP · Feb 1, 2021

I did end up purchasing 3 more aqua knights. 2-3 years in no problems. Had to replace 2 of the power supplies, but this was due to them getting wet. I am able to keep some stylos and higher light monti caps under them, with decent growth in middle of a 27" tall tank. Acans, zoos on bottom no issues. With some timers can create ramp up/down. These lights seem to pack a fairly strong punch for the price in my experience.