The Chihiros B Series is one of our favourite lighting upgrades for freshwater and planted aquariums where you want strong plant-growing performance, a clean modern look and smart app control without stepping all the way up to the premium WRGB range.
The B Series combines white and RGB LEDs to provide bright, attractive aquarium lighting while supporting a wide range of easy-to-moderate aquarium plants.
It also includes Bluetooth control through the My Chihiros app, allowing you to adjust brightness, set daily schedules and create gradual sunrise and sunset periods directly from your phone.
Important NZ Inclusions (Read This)
All Chihiros B Series lights sold by Simply Fish in New Zealand include the dimmer and Bluetooth controller as standard.
If you have seen or heard otherwise, this is because in some overseas markets the B Series is sold in different configurations where the controller is purchased separately.
In New Zealand, you do not need to buy anything extra — the dimmer/controller is always included and ready to use out of the box.
Why Choose the Chihiros B Series?
The B Series sits in a really useful position in the Chihiros range.
It's a substantial upgrade over many standard aquarium lights, but it's still much more affordable than the WRGB II and other high-end Chihiros fixtures.
We recommend it when you want:
Better lighting for live aquarium plants
A significant upgrade from a basic factory aquarium light
App-controlled brightness and scheduling
A slim, modern-looking light
Better presentation of fish and plants
Enough output for a good range of planted aquarium setups
Excellent value without paying for a flagship light
For a lot of normal planted aquariums, the B Series is honestly all the light you need.
Who Is It For?
The B Series is particularly well suited to:
Beginner planted aquariums
Low-to-medium-tech planted tanks
Community aquariums
Aquariums containing easy and moderate plants
Aquascapes where you want a clean, minimal light
Customers upgrading from a basic Aqua One or similar factory light
Anyone wanting automatic lighting schedules from their phone
Plants such as:
Anubias
Java Fern
Cryptocoryne
Vallisneria
Hygrophila
Ambulia
Rotala
Amazon Swords
Many common stem plants
can all make good candidates under suitable B Series lighting when the rest of the aquarium conditions are appropriate.
If you're planning a demanding high-tech aquascape with strong CO₂ injection, carpeting plants and difficult red plants, we'd usually look at the WRGB II or WRGB II Pro instead.
Which Size Should I Buy?
Simply Fish currently stocks:
B20 – 20cm For nano and very small aquariums.
B30 – 30cm For tanks around the 30cm size class.
B45 – 45cm For aquariums around 45cm long.
B60 – 60cm A very common size for standard 60cm planted aquariums.
B80 – 80cm For larger aquariums around 80cm long.
B90 – 90cm For tanks around the 90cm size class.
B120 – 120cm For larger 120cm aquariums.
The adjustable mounting legs give you some flexibility, so the light does not necessarily need to be exactly the same length as the aquarium.
However, tank length isn't the only thing that matters.
Also consider:
Aquarium depth
Aquarium width
Plant selection
How densely planted the aquarium is
Whether you're running CO₂
How much lighting intensity you actually require
If you're unsure which model will fit your aquarium, send us the tank dimensions and we'll help choose the right one.
How Does the App Control Work?
The B Series includes a Chihiros Commander Bluetooth controller and connects to the My Chihiros app.
From your phone you can control the lighting rather than relying on a basic plug-in timer.
You can set:
Brightness
Daily on/off times
Sunrise ramp-up
Sunset ramp-down
Automated daily schedules
Once you've programmed the light, it can follow the schedule automatically each day.
This is one of the biggest reasons we like the B Series over basic aquarium lighting.
B Series vs Chihiros WRGB II
This is probably the most important buying decision.
Choose the B Series if:
You have easy-to-moderate aquarium plants
You're running a low or medium-tech planted tank
You want good lighting without spending WRGB II money
App control and automated timing are important
You want a strong upgrade from a basic factory light
You're not trying to push demanding plants as hard as possible
Choose the WRGB II if:
You're building a serious high-tech aquascape
You have demanding carpeting plants
You want stronger performance for difficult red plants
You're running injected CO₂ and regular fertilisation
Fish and plant colour rendition is a major priority
You want individual control over red, green and blue channels
You want considerably more lighting headroom
The WRGB II is the superior light.
But that does not mean everyone needs one.
For a straightforward planted community aquarium, the B Series often gives you a much better balance between cost and performance.
B Series vs a Standard Aquarium Light
This is where we think the B Series makes a lot of sense.
Many complete aquarium kits come with lighting that is perfectly adequate for viewing the fish but fairly limited when you start getting serious about live plants.
Moving to a B Series gives you:
Stronger planted-tank lighting
Better control over intensity
Automated scheduling
Sunrise and sunset functions
A cleaner standalone lighting system
More flexibility as your planted aquarium develops
If you've started adding plants and feel like the original aquarium light is holding you back, this is one of the first upgrades we'd consider.
Don't Automatically Run It at 100%
Just like the WRGB II, more light isn't automatically better.
If you're installing the B Series on a new aquarium, we'd generally start conservatively rather than immediately running the light flat out for 10–12 hours.
Too much light relative to your plant mass, CO₂ and nutrient availability can quickly contribute to algae.
A sensible approach is:
Start at moderate intensity.
Run approximately 6–8 hours per day.
Give your plants time to establish.
Watch plant growth and algae.
Increase the intensity gradually if required.
There is no magic percentage that suits every aquarium.
Tank depth, plant species, CO₂, fertilisation and plant density all affect how much light you actually need.
Do I Need CO₂?
No.
One of the reasons we like the B Series is that it works very well in low-to-medium-tech planted aquariums where injected CO₂ isn't being used.
CO₂ can certainly improve plant growth and lets you push the aquarium harder, but it isn't compulsory.
If you're not running CO₂, we'd simply be more conservative with light intensity and focus on good fertilisation, sensible lighting duration and choosing plants appropriate for your setup.
What Lighting Period Should I Use?
For most planted aquariums, we'd start around:
6–8 hours per day
rather than immediately running the light for very long periods.
The My Chihiros app also lets you create gradual sunrise and sunset periods.
If you're having algae problems, increasing the photoperiod is generally the last thing we'd recommend.
Specifications
Brand: Chihiros Series: B Series Lighting: White + RGB LED combination Control: Bluetooth via Commander controller and My Chihiros app Brightness Control: Yes Automated Scheduling: Yes Sunrise/Sunset: Yes Power Supply: 24V DC Body: Aluminium alloy Primary Use: Freshwater and planted aquariums
Available Simply Fish Models:
B20
B30
B45
B60
B80
B90
B120
Simply Fish Recommends
The B Series is probably one of the easiest Chihiros lights for us to recommend because it suits such a broad range of customers.
If you've got a normal freshwater aquarium, you're getting into live plants and you want something substantially better than a standard aquarium light, we'd start here.
You get a good level of plant-growing performance, app control and a much more refined light without jumping immediately into premium WRGB pricing.
The biggest mistake would be assuming you need the WRGB II simply because it's the better light.
If you're keeping easy-to-moderate plants and aren't building a full high-tech aquascape, we'd often tell you to save the money and buy the B Series.
On the other hand, if you've already invested in CO₂, aquasoil and quality fertilisers and you're chasing demanding carpets, intense red plants or the best possible fish and plant colour, we'd spend the extra and move to the WRGB II.
FAQ
Is the Chihiros B Series good for aquarium plants? Yes. It's designed as planted-aquarium lighting and is a strong option for a wide range of easy and moderate aquatic plants.
Can I control the B Series from my phone? Yes. Current B Series lights include a Commander Bluetooth controller and work with the My Chihiros app.
Does it have a built-in timer? Lighting schedules are controlled through the My Chihiros app, so you don't need a separate plug-in timer for normal operation.
Is the controller included in New Zealand? Yes. All B Series lights sold in New Zealand include the dimmer and Bluetooth controller as standard. Overseas listings may differ, but NZ units are fully included and ready to use.
Can I create sunrise and sunset effects? Yes. The app allows the light to gradually ramp up and down rather than simply switching instantly on and off.
Does the B Series have RGB LEDs? Yes. Chihiros describes the B Series as using white LEDs together with 3-in-1 RGB LEDs. Unlike the WRGB II, however, it is not designed around individually adjustable RGB channels.
Do I need CO₂ with a B Series? No. It's a very good choice for low-to-medium-tech planted aquariums without injected CO₂.
Can it grow red plants? It can grow many commonly kept red and coloured stem plants under suitable conditions. If your goal is demanding red plants with the strongest possible colouration, we'd generally recommend stepping up to a WRGB II.
B Series or WRGB II? Choose the B Series for excellent value and normal planted aquariums. Choose the WRGB II for high-tech setups, demanding plants, stronger output and superior colour control.
How long should I run the light each day? We generally recommend starting around 6–8 hours per day and adjusting based on plant growth and algae response.
Which B Series size do I need? Start by selecting the model closest to your aquarium length, then consider tank depth and plant requirements. If you're unsure, send us your aquarium dimensions and we'll help.
Estimate shipping
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
