ADA · Stand-mounted
Aquasky RGB II
- Made for tanks
- 60 cm tanks
- Power
- 66 W
A 60 cm planted tank where you want strong, tunable light and a clean ADA look without a separate controller.
1 model
Gear catalogue · 50 lights
Aquarium lights, compared properly
Planted-tank LEDs sized to your tank length, with power and spectrum. From ADA, Boyu, Chihiros, Dophin, Eheim, Juwel, Oase, SunSun, Twinstar, UNS. Match them to your tank, then put up to four side by side.
TL;DR, choosing aquarium lights
Buy a light for your tank length first and your plants second. Most aquarium LEDs are sold to fit a tank size (a 60 cm light for a 60 cm tank), and the fixture should be the same length or slightly shorter so the ends of the tank are not in shadow. How much light you need depends on your plants: anubias, ferns and crypts are happy in low light, while carpets and red stems want high light and, realistically, CO2 to go with it. RGB and WRGB lights make reds and greens pop and let you tune the colour, while plain white lights are cheaper and still grow plants well. App control and a built-in sunrise and sunset are worth having, because a steady 6 to 8 hour photoperiod is one of the best defences against algae.
How to choose
- Match the light to your tank length. The light should be as long as the tank or a little shorter.
- Low light for epiphytes and crypts, medium for most stem plants, high only with CO2 and good fertilising.
- WRGB and RGB lights show off colours; white-only lights grow plants just as well for less money.
- A timer or app with ramping makes a 6 to 8 hour photoperiod effortless.
Boyu · Bar / clip-on
CB Ultrathin LED
- Made for tanks
- 50–90 cm tanks
- Power
- 26–55 W
Low-tech planted and community tanks where you just need decent white light.
5 models
Boyu · Clip-on
CL Clamp Lamp
- Made for tanks
- 20.8–28.6 cm long
- Power
- 1.2–13 W
Nano and small tanks with low-light plants.
7 models
Boyu · Clip-on
CM-10 LED Clip Light
- Made for tanks
- 22.3 cm long
- Power
- 10 W
Nano tanks and desktop scapes with easy plants.
1 model
Boyu · Bar / clip-on
ZN WiFi LED
- Made for tanks
- 45–90 cm tanks
- Power
- 40–72 W
Planted tanks from 45 to 90 cm where you want scheduling and colour control on a budget.
4 models
Boyu · Stand-mounted
ZN-800 / ZN-1600 Arm LED
- Made for tanks
- 13–52.9 cm long
- Power
- 80–160 W
Open-top tanks where you want a hanging-style look without a ceiling mount.
2 models
Chihiros · Bar / clip-on
A II Max
- Made for tanks
- 30–140 cm tanks
- Power
- 32–96 W
Medium-light planted tanks from nano to large that want a simple, bright, app-controlled bar at a fair price.
6 models
Chihiros · Clip-on
A II Series
- Made for tanks
- 30–60 cm tanks
- Power
- 14–26 W
Nano and small low to medium light tanks where you want app control and a nearly invisible fixture.
4 models
Chihiros · Bar / clip-on
B Series
- Made for tanks
- 20–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 12.7–51.3 W
Low to medium demand planted tanks and beginners who want app scheduling without spending much.
7 models
Chihiros · Clip-on
C II Series
- Made for tanks
- 24 cm long
- Power
- 16–20 W
Small nano tanks and open-top bowls where one compact, adjustable light is enough.
2 models
Chihiros · Clip-on
C Series
- Made for tanks
- 20–36 cm tanks
- Power
- 7–18 W
Nano tanks from roughly 8 to 38 L with easy to moderate plants.
4 models
Chihiros · Stand-mounted
Magnetic Light 2
- Made for tanks
- 9 cm long
- Power
- 15 W
Tiny tanks, or spotlighting a single plant or stone where a bar light won't fit.
1 model
Chihiros · Clip-on
Nano Universal RGB
- Made for tanks
- 20–36 cm tanks
- Power
- 13–18 W
Shrimp tanks, betta tanks and small planted nanos that want colour control in a compact clip-on.
2 models
Chihiros · Stand-mounted
RGB Vivid II (10th Edition)
- Made for tanks
- 35.5 cm long
- Power
- 130 W
Tall or demanding high-tech tanks where one small panel has to deliver a lot of light.
1 model
Chihiros · Pendant
RGB Vivid II Mate
- Made for tanks
- 60–90 cm tanks
- Power
- 125 W
High-tech 60 to 90 cm tanks, especially deeper ones, where you want a pendant with lots of headroom.
1 model
Chihiros · Stand-mounted
RGB Vivid Mini
- Made for tanks
- 35.5 cm long
- Power
- 75 W
Smaller high-tech tanks, or deeper nanos, where you want strong RGB colour from a compact panel.
1 model
Chihiros · Bar / clip-on
WRGB II Pro
- Made for tanks
- 30–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 37–138 W
High-tech planted tanks and deeper aquariums where you want lots of output and control over colour.
6 models
Chihiros · Bar / clip-on
WRGB II Slim
- Made for tanks
- 30–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 23–90 W
Everyday planted tanks where you want RGB colour tuning and a very low-profile fixture.
5 models
Chihiros · Pendant
WRGB Vivid 3
- Made for tanks
- 52 cm long
- Power
- 180 W
Large or deep high-tech tanks with CO2 where you want maximum light and colour tuning from one fixture.
1 model
Chihiros · Clip-on
Z Light Tiny
- Power
- 6 W
Adding highlights or accent lighting to a nano or display tank alongside a main light.
2 models
Dophin · Clip-on
LED 109 Clip Light
- Power
- 3.4 W
A small nano with low-light plants such as Anubias, Bucephalandra, Java fern and mosses.
1 model
Dophin · Clip-on
Mini LED Clip Light
- Made for tanks
- 8–19 cm long
Lighting a desktop tank or betta setup with a few low-light plants.
4 models
Eheim · Bar / clip-on
powerRGB
- Made for tanks
- 78.7–125.4 cm tanks
- Power
- 21.9–30.7 W
Tanks that already have a white main light and where you want richer reds and greens, or smooth dawn and dusk.
3 models
Juwel · Bar / clip-on
HeliaLux Spectrum
- Made for tanks
- 53.4–149.2 cm long
- Power
- 27–60 W
Juwel tank owners who want to grow a wider range of plants than the stock MultiLux allows.
8 models
Juwel · Bar / clip-on
MultiLux LED
- Made for tanks
- 53.3–149.2 cm long
- Power
- 24–58 W
Juwel owners converting from T5 or replacing a lid light for a low-light planted or community tank.
8 models
Oase · Bar / clip-on
HighLine Classic LED
- Made for tanks
- 40–120 cm long
- Power
- 8–28 W
HighLine owners, or anyone wanting simple, waterproof daylight tubes for a low to medium-light tank.
5 models
Oase · Bar / clip-on
MotionControl LED
- Made for tanks
- 44–133 cm long
Keepers with an Oase HighLine or ScaperLine who want app-controlled, adjustable-spectrum lighting.
5 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
ADE LED Light
- Made for tanks
- 28–113 cm tanks
- Power
- 12–28 W
Low to medium light planted tanks on a budget.
6 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
ADF LED Light
- Made for tanks
- 70–150 cm tanks
- Power
- 45–90 W
Larger planted tanks that need a bright, wide light.
4 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
ADP Slim LED Light
- Made for tanks
- 18–124 cm tanks
- Power
- 1.5–20 W
Low-tech planted tanks, shrimp tanks and fish-only setups that want a neat, low-profile light.
11 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
ADS LED Light
- Made for tanks
- 38–130 cm tanks
- Power
- 14–80 W
Medium-light planted tanks where you want a single bar with decent output.
9 models
SunSun · Clip-on
ADT Round Clip Light
- Made for tanks
- 50–80 cm tanks
- Power
- 48–80 W
Mid-size open-top planted tanks where a single bright light is enough.
2 models
SunSun · Stand-mounted
ADT-2 Stand Light
- Made for tanks
- 30–60 cm tanks
- Power
- 20–60 W
Small open-top planted tanks where you want a strong, focused light.
3 models
SunSun · Stand-mounted
ADT-3 Stand Light
- Made for tanks
- 40–80 cm tanks
- Power
- 50–80 W
Medium open-top planted tanks that need more punch than a nano light.
2 models
SunSun · Stand-mounted
ADT-880C Panel Light
- Made for tanks
- 120 cm tanks
- Power
- 80 W
Open-top planted tanks where you want a wide, even spread from one fixture.
1 model
SunSun · Stand-mounted
ADT-I Nano Stand Light
- Made for tanks
- 20–60 cm tanks
- Power
- 10–30 W
Nano planted tanks and small shrimp setups with an open top.
3 models
SunSun · Pendant
ADZ Metal LED Spotlight
- Power
- 3–7 W
Accent lighting on a small open-top nano, or picking out a focal stone or plant alongside a main light.
4 models
SunSun · Clip-on
AMD Hang-On Nano Light
- Made for tanks
- 20–50 cm tanks
- Power
- 3–5 W
Betta tanks, pico scapes and shrimp cubes with easy plants.
4 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
Dream White Plant Tube Light
- Made for tanks
- 80–200 cm tanks
- Power
- 9–30 W
Large tanks that already have a lid and want a simple plant-oriented tube.
6 models
SunSun · Bar / clip-on
ZDO Amphibious Tube Light
- Made for tanks
- 120–200 cm tanks
- Power
- 20–30 W
Big lidded fish tanks that want extra or replacement lighting.
4 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
A Series
- Made for tanks
- 20–130 cm tanks
- Power
- 11–44 W
Beginners and low-tech tanks with hardy plants where a simple timer and dimmer is all you need.
6 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
B Series Ver.3
- Made for tanks
- 20–130 cm tanks
- Power
- 10–52 W
Low-tech tanks with Anubias, ferns, mosses, Cryptocorynes and easy stems, or anyone after an affordable app-controlled light.
7 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
C Series
- Made for tanks
- 20–135.1 cm tanks
- Power
- 16–62 W
Low to medium light tanks where you want flexible fitting across tank sizes and don't need an app.
6 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
E Series Ver.5
- Made for tanks
- 20–130 cm tanks
- Power
- 13–79 W
Medium-light planted tanks where you want good colour and app scheduling without paying for the S Series' extra punch.
7 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
EA Series (E IV)
- Made for tanks
- 20–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 17–74 W
Medium-light rimless tanks where you like the look of a very thin fixture and want a simple dimmer.
6 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
S Series Ver.5
- Made for tanks
- 20–130 cm tanks
- Power
- 17–125 W
High-tech planted tanks running pressurised CO2 where you want plenty of headroom and fine control over colour.
6 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
SA Series (S IV)
- Made for tanks
- 20–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 17–110 W
High-light planted tanks where you want strong output and are happy to schedule it with a plug timer.
6 models
Twinstar · Bar / clip-on
SM Series
- Made for tanks
- 30–90 cm tanks
- Power
- 23–84 W
Rimless tanks matched to the exact light length where you run CO2 and use a plug timer.
4 models
Twinstar · Pendant
SP Series
- Made for tanks
- 60–120 cm tanks
- Power
- 52–110 W
Larger high-tech tanks where you want a pendant look and room to reach in.
3 models
UNS · Pendant
Titan 1 RGB LED
- Made for tanks
- 60–90 cm tanks
- Power
- 90 W
Mid-size high-tech planted tanks where you want a pendant hung above an open-top rimless tank.
1 model
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing aquarium lights.
What size light do I need for my aquarium?
One made for your tank length. Lights are sold to fit tank sizes, so a 60 cm tank takes a 60 cm light. Slightly shorter is fine, longer usually means buying legs or a hanging kit.
How much light do aquarium plants need?
Low-light plants like anubias and java fern are fine at about 15 to 30 PAR at the substrate. Most stem plants like 30 to 50. Carpets and red plants want 50 or more, and at that level you really need injected CO2 to avoid algae.
Is a WRGB light better for plants?
For growth, not dramatically. The extra red and blue channels mostly change how the tank looks, making reds richer and greens deeper. A good white LED grows plants well; WRGB is about presentation and control.
How many hours should aquarium lights be on?
Six to eight hours at full intensity is a good target for a planted tank. Start at six on a new tank and add time only once plants are growing and algae stays away.
Other gear
Specs come from the maker or a major retailer’s listing and are checked where we can. Makers revise products, so confirm the figures on the product page before you buy. Product photos are supplied by the brands and their distributors.