A Buyer's Guide to AquaIllumination Reef Tank Lighting and Powerheads
AquaIllumination has a long-standing reputation as one of the most widely trusted names in LED aquarium lighting. The mass appeal can be attributed to the brand's focus on quality, affordable, and easy-to-use LED light systems, hallmarks that have now been carried over into the water flow category as well.
AI LEDs and pumps strike a balance, providing hobbyists with modern technology and wireless control capabilities without over-complicating things beyond a reasonable level of functionality. The resulting price point and relatively easy-to-navigate catalog of products attract the majority and continually rank them among the top 5 brands on our website.
Blade Smart LED Strip
Using a cost-per-PAR model, the Blade Smart LED strips are the most cost-effective approach to lighting your reef aquarium for soft corals, LPS, and SPS corals alike. The long strips provide an even, blanketed coverage over your entire reef that minimizes the shadowing effect we see with compact, centralized light sources. While the Blade LEDs are perfectly capable as a standalone reef light, they can also be used to supplement your existing light system as means of providing more balanced coverage across your aquarium.
There are 7 different lengths to choose from which means they can accommodate tanks up to 72 long and you can easily mount multiple strips side by side to expand coverage. Mix and match from any of the four different color spectrums to accommodate your particular application.
Coral Grow: A proven spectrum with the perfect blend of blue and white and spectral peaks corals need to thrive. Use stand-alone or in combination with Coral Glow to achieve an optimal color spectrum.
Coral Glow: Designed for maximum fluorescence, Coral Glow engages UV violet and blue LEDs to focus on bringing out the colors of your reef. Best used in combination with Coral Grow or as a supplement to your existing LEDs.
Freshwater: A full-spectrum LED that supports lush plant growth while also creating a brilliantly satisfying appearance that renders colors naturally.
Refugium: Tailored to promote maximum photosynthesis among your macroalgae, the Blade Refugium features blue, UV, white, and red LED diodes.
The Blade LEDs are wirelessly controlled using the myAI or Mobius app from the convenience of your smartphone and are rated IP66 water-resistant so you won't have to be concerned with damage from moisture, even when mounted close to the water's surface.
The 12, 21, 30, and 39-inch fixtures include sliding tank brackets while the larger 48, 57, and 66-inch fixtures include HMS clips for use with the AquaIllumination HMS mounting system. Elevated tank mounts, suspension kits, and hybrid brackets will also be available separately. For those of you who prefer the DIY route, each Blade fixture features a threaded M8 screw port on each end so you can make your own mounts and attach using standard M8 Screws.
Prime 16 HD LED Lights
The reef aquarium industry's most popular LED light system, the Prime 16HD is a compact light system that is affordable, highly effective, and satisfyingly easy to set up using the MyAI or Mobius control apps. The light engages Bluetooth technology which means you won't have to worry about any wifi connections or local internet, just connect directly to your LEDs using a Bluetooth-capable smartphone and all of the advanced control you need is at your fingertips.
The app control gives you a quick setup template to quickly create a successful light schedule while also allowing you to customize the spectrum and photoperiod to suit your needs. The fixture's sleek profile and straightforward mounting options allow you to install the Prime in a matter of minutes and won't distract from the contemporary look and feel of your aquarium.
- Recommended Mounting Height: 8-10" from the water's surface
- Dimensions - 4.88" x 4.88" x 1.34"
- Power Consumption - 55 watts maximum
- Number of LEDs: 16 (+1)
- Optical Reflectors: TIR (total internal reflectors)
The Prime 16HD is best used to illuminate LPS and Soft coral-dominated reef aquariums and is capable of covering up to a 24" square area and will penetrate down to a 24" depth. You have the option of a black or white colored housing in your choice of either a reef, SOL blue, freshwater, or refugium-focused light spectrum.
Hydra 32 LED Lights
The Hydra 32 is essentially the next step up from the Prime 16 in that it contains double the LED diodes and almost double the power of a single Prime. The more powerful pendant allows users to achieve a more efficient and even spread of PAR and accommodate higher light-demanding corals. A single Hydra 32 will cover up to a 24" square area and penetrate down to 24" deep while achieving PAR values more appropriate for mixed reef aquariums containing SPS corals.
- Recommended Mounting Height: 8-10" from the water's surface
- Dimensions - 7.28" L x 5.375" W x 1.42" H
- Power Consumption - 90 watts maximum
- Number of LEDs: 32 (+4 lunar)
- Optical Reflectors: TIR (total internal reflectors)
The operation of the Hydra 32 mimics that of the Prime in that it uses the same Bluetooth technology and user-friendly controls. You can set up a successful spectrum quickly or take time to customize the spectrum and output. It features a dedicated moonlight channel to create natural lunar cycles as well as the option of an acclimation mode to help your corals gradually adjust to new lighting conditions.
The Hydra 32 is available with either a white or black plastic housing in either a Reef or Freshwater color spectrum.
Hydra 64 LED Lights
The most powerful LED light in the AquaIllumination lineup, the Hydra 64 contains 4 individual pucks of LEDs (64x total LED diodes) allowing hobbyists to cover larger areas per fixture, accommodate different mounting situations, and provide coverage over the most heavily populated coral reef tanks. A single Hydra 64 can cover up to a 30" square area and penetrate down to about 24" deep with PAR values appropriate for SPS-dominated aquariums.
- Recommended Mounting Height: 8-10" from the water's surface
- Dimensions - 11.875" L x 5.375" W x 1.42" H
- Power Consumption - 135 watts maximum
- Number of LEDs: 64 (+4 lunar)
- Optical Reflectors: TIR (total internal reflectors)
Just like the smaller Prime 16 and Hydra 32, the Hydra 64 is controlled by the myAI or Mobius control apps with a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. Each of the 4x LED pucks contains a TIR lens that blends the LEDs output in such a way as to create a uniform spectrum and a more even spread of PAR across the coverage area.
The Hydra 64 is available with either a white or black plastic housing in either a Reef or Freshwater color spectrum.
Nero Propeller Pumps
The Nero 3 and Nero 5 propeller pumps are AquaIllumination's first foray into the realm of water flow and they have managed to achieve the same level of efficiency and convenience we have come to expect from their LED light systems. The Nero pump brings a totally unique design with an extremely slim profile that produces a wide conical-shaped flow pattern.
- Max Flow: 2000 GPH
- Max Glass Thickness: 1/2"
- Dimensions (wetside): 1.54" x 2.25"
- Power Consumption: (variable) 20W @ 120VAC max
- Max Flow: 3000 GPH
- Max Glass Thickness: 1/2"
- Dimensions (wetside): 2.1" x 2.8"
- Power Consumption: (variable) 30W @ 120VAC max
The magnetic mount is what makes the Nero especially unique in that it cradles the entire pump motor and propeller inside your tank. This magnetic cradle allows you to position the pump in various directions to accommodate your rockwork and aim the flow where you need it most. Compared to other direction flow pumps, the Nero has an incredibly slim profile inside your aquarium wist still achieving impressive flow.
As for control, the Nero is unique in that it contains a wired controller with single-button controls for plug-and-play operation. You can also connect to the pump using Bluetooth to unlock more advanced controls using the myAI or Mobius apps on your smartphone. The pump features 5 different flow modes: random, pulse, constant, schedule, and feed with the ability to adjust the maximum pump speed throughout each of the modes. The scheduling mode allows you to program a 24-hour schedule where the pump can shift through different modes and speeds throughout the day.
Yet again, AquaIllumination strikes that balance where technology meets affordability and efficient performance. While the Nero pumps are the most exciting development from AquaIllumination in recent years, we are eager to see what advancements the future holds in the world of water flow. Could a larger or maybe smaller Nero be in the works? Will AquaIllumination set its sites on other categories of products? Only time will tell and if history repeats itself, we couldn't be more excited to find out!
Orbit Cross Flow Pumps
AI entered the crossflow game with their Orbit series pumps that provide unique and incredibly useful flow patterns in reef aquariums. The flat laminar flow is ideal for creating circular gyre currents around aquascapes and rock structures. Orbit pumps can be mounted horizontally or vertically and are safe to operate close to the water's surface without the risk of pulling air into the pump as you get with propellar-style powerheads.
- Recommended Tank Size: 20-88+ Gallon
- Dimensions: 8.78" W x 1.5" D x 2.83" H
- Max Glass Thickness: 0.59" (15mm)
- Power Consumption: Variable, 25W max
- Recommended Tank Size: 20-120+ Gallons
- Dimensions: 12.1" W x 1.69" D x 3.15" H
- Max Glass Thickness: 0.79" (20mm)
- Power Consumption: Variable, 45W max
Featuring smart control right out of the box, you can control the pumps using myAI or Mobius from any iOS or Android device. You can also connect and manage via your Neptune Systems Apex using the beloved MXM module. Pump speed is controllable and can even be reversed to work in harmony with a second Orbit pump. You can build and run a daily flow schedule using the four preset flow modes and take advantage of a customizable feed mode.
Axis Centrifugal Pumps
The Axis centrifugal pumps from AquaIllumination are celebrated for their remarkably compact profile, seamlessly integrating into various aquatic setups without imposing on aesthetics or space. They offer unparalleled controllability, allowing users to precisely adjust flow rates to cater to the specific needs of their aquatic environments through intuitive interfaces. Additionally, these pumps operate quietly and are designed for energy-efficient performance, ensuring a peaceful ambiance and reduced operational costs compared to equivalent AC pumps.
- Control with MyAI, Mobius, or MXM
- The small verticle profile makes it the perfect nano tank return pump
- DC controllable pump with variable flow rate, flow calibration, and feed hold
- Three convenient sizes to choose from
- Quiet and energy-efficient operation
- Axis 20: 185 GPH (2.125" x 5.5")
- Axis 40: 400 GPH (2.44" x 6.625")
- Axis 90: 925 GPH (2.91" x 7.75")
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