Chihiros WRGB II Aquarium LED Light
The Chihiros WRGB II is a high-performance RGB LED aquarium light designed for planted tanks and aquascapes where plant growth, colour rendition and lighting control all matter.
Rather than simply producing bright white light, the WRGB II uses RGB LEDs to bring out reds, greens and blues throughout the aquarium. This can make both aquatic plants and fish look dramatically more vivid while providing the intensity required for more demanding planted aquariums.
If you want the best and most natural colour representation of your fish, this is one of the strongest lighting systems on the market. The WRGB II is widely used in aquascaping specifically because it enhances fish colour in a way that standard white LEDs simply cannot match. Reds look deeper, blues become richer, and even subtle natural patterns in fish stand out far more clearly.
Built-in Bluetooth control through the My Chihiros app lets you adjust the individual red, green and blue channels, control brightness, create daily lighting schedules and gradually ramp the light up and down for sunrise and sunset effects.
Why Choose the Chihiros WRGB II?
The WRGB II makes sense when you want to move beyond basic aquarium lighting and have much greater control over how your planted aquarium looks and grows.
It's particularly useful for:
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Heavily planted aquariums
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Aquascapes
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High-tech planted tanks
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Red aquarium plants
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Carpeting plants
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Aquariums running injected CO₂
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Tanks where accurate colour rendition is important
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Anyone wanting full app-controlled lighting schedules
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Aquarists who want the most natural and vibrant fish colour possible
The big difference compared with a basic LED aquarium light is control, output, and colour quality.
You aren't limited to simply switching the light on and off. You can adjust the colour balance, intensity and timing to suit your aquarium — and in doing so, dramatically improve how your fish and aquascape are presented.
Who Is It For?
We recommend the WRGB II for aquarists who are serious about planted tanks and overall aquarium presentation.
It works particularly well for people who:
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Want stronger plant growth
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Keep medium-to-high-demand plants
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Want better red plant colouration
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Use CO₂ and regular fertilisation
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Want precise control over lighting intensity
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Want sunrise and sunset automation
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Care about how accurately fish and plant colours are displayed
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Want their fish to show their most natural, vibrant and true-to-life colours
If you only keep very easy plants such as Anubias, Java Fern and Cryptocoryne and don't need strong lighting, you may not need this much light.
A more affordable Chihiros B Series or another lower-output fixture may make more sense.
Which Size Should I Buy?
We currently stock the WRGB II in:
WRGB II 45
For shorter planted aquariums around the 45cm size class.
WRGB II 60
The common choice for planted aquariums around 60cm long.
WRGB II 90
For larger aquariums around the 90cm size class.
WRGB II 120
For planted aquariums around 120cm long.
Tank length is the starting point, but don't choose lighting from length alone.
Also consider:
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Aquarium depth
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Aquarium width
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Plant species
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Whether you're running CO₂
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How densely planted the aquarium is
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Whether the light is sitting directly on the tank or suspended above it
A deep 60cm aquarium filled with demanding plants can require considerably more light than a shallow 60cm aquarium containing Anubias and Java Fern.
If you're unsure which model is right for your aquarium, send us your tank dimensions and what plants you're trying to grow and we can help.
WRGB II vs WRGB II Slim
This is a common question.
The WRGB II Slim is designed as a lower-output version of the WRGB II.
Choose the WRGB II if:
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You want more lighting power
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You're growing more demanding plants
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You're running a high-tech planted aquarium
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Your tank is deeper
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You want more headroom to increase intensity later
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You want the strongest possible colour enhancement for your fish
Choose the WRGB II Slim if:
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Your tank is shallower
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Your plants have moderate lighting requirements
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You don't need the full output of the standard WRGB II
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You want the WRGB colour rendition and app control at a lower output
Chihiros states that the WRGB II Slim produces roughly 40–50% less brightness performance than the WRGB II, so there is a meaningful difference between the two ranges.
How Do I Control It?
The WRGB II connects to the My Chihiros app via Bluetooth.
From the app you can:
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Adjust overall brightness
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Adjust red intensity
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Adjust green intensity
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Adjust blue intensity
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Set automatic lighting schedules
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Create sunrise effects
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Create sunset effects
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Save customised lighting presets
Once your schedule is set up, you don't need a separate plug-in aquarium light timer for normal daily operation.
Don't Start It at 100%
This is probably the most important advice we'd give someone installing a powerful Chihiros light.
More light does not automatically mean better plant growth.
If you put a powerful WRGB II over a new aquarium, immediately turn it to maximum intensity and run it for 10–12 hours per day, there is a good chance you'll grow algae faster than you grow plants.
For a newly planted aquarium, we normally recommend:
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Start with conservative lighting intensity.
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Keep the initial photoperiod sensible.
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Allow the plants to establish.
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Increase intensity gradually as required.
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Watch the plants and algae rather than chasing an arbitrary percentage.
For many new setups, starting somewhere around 20–30% intensity and gradually increasing from there is much more sensible than beginning at full power.
Your eventual settings will depend heavily on aquarium depth, plant selection, CO₂ and fertilisation.
What Lighting Period Should I Use?
For most planted aquariums, we'd generally start around 6–8 hours of meaningful lighting per day.
You can use the My Chihiros app to gradually ramp the light up and down rather than switching instantly between darkness and full brightness.
For example:
Morning: gradual ramp up
Main period: normal selected intensity
Evening: gradual ramp down
Don't increase both intensity and lighting duration aggressively at the same time.
If algae starts becoming a problem, lighting is one of the first things we'd review.
Do I Need CO₂?
No — the light itself does not require you to run injected CO₂.
However, there is an important balance in planted aquariums:
More light creates more demand from your plants.
If you're running the WRGB II at high intensity, your plants need enough carbon and nutrients to take advantage of that light.
That's why the WRGB II is particularly well suited to planted aquariums running:
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CO₂ injection
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Consistent liquid fertilisation
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Good substrate/root nutrition
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Suitable water circulation
If you're running a low-tech aquarium without CO₂, we'd usually run the WRGB II considerably lower rather than simply using its full output.
Specifications
Brand: Chihiros
Series: WRGB II
Lighting Type: RGB LED
Colour Channels: Red, Green and Blue
Control: Bluetooth via My Chihiros app
Individual Colour Adjustment: Yes
Brightness Control: Yes
Automatic Scheduling: Yes
Sunrise/Sunset: Yes
Primary Use: Freshwater planted aquariums and aquascaping
Available Simply Fish Models:
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WRGB II 45
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WRGB II 60
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WRGB II 90
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WRGB II 120
Simply Fish Recommends
If you're building a proper planted aquarium and want lighting to be one of the strengths of the setup, the WRGB II is one of the lights we'd be very comfortable recommending.
The colour rendition is a huge part of the appeal. Healthy green plants look richer, red plants become far more noticeable, and fish colours are transformed — showing their true, natural vibrancy in a way that standard aquarium lighting simply cannot achieve.
But the biggest mistake we see with powerful planted-tank lighting is using far more light than the aquarium actually needs.
Don't buy a WRGB II and assume you have to run it at 100% to get your money's worth.
Having extra output available is useful. It means you can tune the light to the aquarium rather than having a weak fixture permanently running flat out.
For a serious high-tech planted tank with CO₂, good fertilisation and demanding plants, we'd choose the WRGB II over the B Series or WRGB II Slim.
For a straightforward low-tech aquarium with easy plants, we'd probably save some money and choose a lower-output Chihiros model instead.
FAQ
Is the Chihiros WRGB II suitable for beginner planted tanks?
Yes, but it's considerably more powerful and adjustable than many beginners actually need. Start at a lower intensity rather than immediately running it at maximum output.
Can I control the light from my phone?
Yes. The WRGB II connects through Bluetooth to the My Chihiros app, where you can adjust brightness, RGB channels and lighting schedules.
Does it need a separate timer?
No. Daily schedules, sunrise and sunset effects can be programmed through the My Chihiros app.
Can I adjust the red, green and blue channels separately?
Yes. The WRGB II allows individual adjustment of its red, green and blue channels.
Is it good for red aquarium plants?
Yes. Strong RGB lighting and good colour rendition make the WRGB II particularly popular in aquascapes containing red plants. Successful red plant growth still depends on overall plant health, nutrients, CO₂ and suitable lighting intensity.
Can it grow carpeting plants?
The WRGB II is designed for demanding planted aquariums and can provide substantial lighting output. Whether a carpet succeeds still depends on tank depth, CO₂, nutrients and the carpet species you're growing.
WRGB II or WRGB II Slim?
Choose the standard WRGB II when you want higher output or are running a more demanding planted tank. The Slim retains RGB colour and app control but Chihiros rates it at roughly 40–50% lower brightness performance.
WRGB II or B Series?
The B Series is an excellent-value option for easier and moderate planted aquariums. We'd step up to the WRGB II when you want significantly more control, stronger lighting capability and individually adjustable RGB channels.
Should I run my WRGB II at 100%?
Not automatically. Many aquariums don't require anywhere near maximum intensity. Start conservatively and increase the output based on plant growth and algae response.
Which WRGB II size do I need?
Start by matching the model to your aquarium length — 45, 60, 90 or 120cm — then consider tank depth, width and plant requirements. Contact us if you're unsure. All the sizes come with stand-offs/legs to allow for extra length.
