Low Budget LED Lights For Your Next Planted Tank!

[@MJAquascaping]

Twinstar A-line US: (V1) amzn.to/3GvVSD1 EU: (V2) amzn.to/3UnWZu5 Twinstar B-line II US: (V1) bit.ly/3o34QkE EU: (V2) bit.ly/3GxuILU Equipment I like to use (affiliate links) Tank US: bit.ly/3EbkdxH EU: bit.ly/3S3y9ht Light US: bit.ly/3S2WxjC EU: bit.ly/3z6R16F Filter US: bit.ly/3yxFttR EU: bit.ly/3eoYxUn Clear Filter Pipes US: bit.ly/3RsFJkT EU: bit.ly/3AL5oyv Substrate US: bit.ly/3bux8yR EU: bit.ly/3qhHDt4 Wood US: bit.ly/3VmDUJ0 EU: bit.ly/3MwgKfm Rocks US: bit.ly/3yAO7Yk EU: bit.ly/3Tn0tLX Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) US: bit.ly/3VsJIR5 Umbrella Hair Grass (Eleocharis Vivipara) US: bit.ly/3MpO9br Riccardia moss US: bit.ly/3SR3Zy9 Juncus repens US: bit.ly/3yyJjmo Crypt parva US: bit.ly/3Cs0APn Crypt lutea US: bit.ly/3yBGDo7 Crypt walkeri US: bit.ly/3rSxBzu 🚨Watch this next!🚨 Inspiration playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLrlvf56gZy-ipL3105SdfKsUBrMUSttoh CO2 buying guide! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq5o6Vnrrhmqbc How to SETUP your CO2! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4Sri2d8Z7V8aNE Simple fertilizer dosing! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5Cuc4KLgpaFjq8 👉🏻Cool Aquascaping T-shirts: mosscotton.com/ Code: mjaqua10 👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin channel: KZbin.com/mjaquascaping 👉🏻 Use Code ''MJAMSTERDAM'' for 10% off Fzone products #plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping

[@libideitch6354]

Your definition of "low budget" is considered by most people to be an expensive budget

[@wisdomSP]

I'm growing plants like crazy with a $15 US, LED shop light from home depot.

[@DJKuroh]

I'm looking to start a nano tank, and some of these light prices are absolutely ludicrous. I'm happy to hear it's not a pass/fail with going cheaper.

[@ThePlantedTankTV]

Can you list the light you are using specifically?

[@DJKuroh]

@ThePlantedTankTV It's not their fault, but I hate when a comment says something like "I did xyz for way cheaper" and never puts what the exact thing is. Help us out! Haha

[@wisdomSP]

@@DJKuroh I did reply with the specifics, but it appears my comment was deleted. It's model: Model # SHOP/3X1/840/HD

[@wisdomSP]

$17.99 US now.

[@gagefouts6909]

Yes finally a timer, and dimmer, well done twin star!

[@Tropictank]

Nice review Thank you buddy. In the year 2023, I hope that they will come up with an app upgrade soon, rather than relying on buttons 🤞

[@888fluffy]

Looks cool, i personally prefer my hygger. It's got more leds, its a wider light. its much sleeker looking too. I just bought some twinstar looking brackets for it and the whole look is premium.

[@onyx4250]

can you send me a link for the brackets

[@DJKuroh]

I 100% need to know what brackets you bought

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

Regardless of lights, I really dig the two tanks you featured.

[@manishsyangtan6250]

I think you are the first person to review the A series, i was looking everywhere, glad you uploaded it though its sponsored Thanks

[@priyankardas2668]

I quite like the A series... definitely a bang for the buck for low tech or high tech setups too... The dimmer is a good thing which comes as a default on these unit. Sometimes simple is better...❤

[@ksaandor]

Cool vid, as always. It would be cool to see a comparisation with other budget lights like a hygger or nicrew (maybe a side by side, with new/identical tanks?)

[@gallardo20000]

he's in EU those aren't sold there.

[@ksaandor]

Im in the Netherlands too. Amazon delivers here aswell😂

[@MaxPowers-uv9eg]

I have the A60 line 22W in a 54l tank with CO2 and my rotala colorata, rotala macandra and Limnophila hippuridoides are doing very good.

[@tombarb2864]

I like that there is a timer built right in. Thanks for the review. 🪴

[@metallixro]

So the 30A-II is actually the better deal if you dont mind the cheapo support brackets, the extra 10% lumen the B has isnt a big difference. And for anyone fearing these lights arent powerful enough for plants let me tell you the absolutely are if you use them for the proper tank size. I use lights that range from 500-700 lumens for my 25cm and 30cm cubes and they grow eleocharis carpets, rotala and anubias just fine without CO2, the plants look great they just grow slower and thats actually a good thing. ;) Next tank I might try a Twinstar even thou im really happy with my cheaper Nicrew lights.

[@nazs2560]

great timing Mark. I just jumped into your channel to see any new videos, and u uploaded one 4 secs ago. lol

[@danthebannerman]

Same!

[@MoonchildBrody]

I'd never watch an advertisement for a product I wasn't interested in. Unless it was the Super Bowl, or you. Love your videos!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Good review! The absolute best budget lights I've used and I mean budget are "Kruger Meier" insanely cheap and put out some seriously good results. The only thing the really need is a dimemr but you can't get everything for the price point.

[@Marcoaleite]

Interesting!! I'm about to by a Chihiros wrgb 2 60cm for my planted aquarium. I don't have co2 and I'll not have!!! Is it to much for my tank? I have a lot of plants but not carpet. I don't want algae but at the same time I want some good light because is a aquascaping project at my living room. Any opinions on what should I have? Twinstar II wrgb? Or the Chihiros wrgb 2? Even the B series could be a good option but a I want some good light as well

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@Marcoaleite you can't go wrong with either of those. They are fantastic. But they are higher end lights with some decent features but if you want to save money get a generic brand. They all do the trick but you're pretty much just getting light and not much else for the price 😂

[@Marcoaleite]

@@IndoorEcosystem make sense 😅 I have a budget light but sometimes I think it's. It enough and I want better light and better results.. I think I'll keep my money think the pocket

[@IndoorEcosystem]

@@Marcoaleite From my experience cheaper lights generally pump out too much light and are locked into basic colour tones. The higher end lights give you more flexibilty with colour rendition dimming and the ability to control them wtih apps. But if you just want plant growth you don't really need anything special. Just plug it into a timer and you're good to go. If it's too strong and causing algae issues I generally just raise the light up a bit that seems to solve the problems pretty quickly. You can also hunt around for secondhand high end lights. People jump into the hobby pretty often and can't handle the work load and quit then sell al the high end gear for dirt cheap. Something to keep an eye out for as well.

[@Marcoaleite]

@@IndoorEcosystem that's what I think. I'm thinking in going to a Chihiros wrgb 2 because it will not cost much, coming from a friend. At the same time, is it too much light?? Will I have algae problems?? 🤯

[@Vidoff25]

Hi. Thank you for your beautiful videos. Do you use the lights at their max power ?

[@stephenevans7884]

Boss vid. I got the fluval plant 3.0 and it seems awesome after a month or so

[@ryanstn]

I have another choice for budget LED in Indonesia, it called Kandila S-Series, its so good and really cheap.

[@petrfrolich7544]

I have two of B series and yeh .. good budget light. I like yours endler tank, nicely top up without the lid, no jumpers? I lost few endlers coz they jumped out :(It’s a good niche for one of the next videos, jumpers and no-jumpers fish. 😅😅😅 thanx

[@frankvermeulen4621]

A 80cm light would be interesting for an old tank I've got laying around... Otherwise it'll have to be a 60cm light, I guess? Thanks for the review!

[@globalist1990]

2x E27 type 13W 1500 lumen for £6 in my local shops. 65000k or 25000k

[@yabinuh]

bagus lampunya 👍 Cocok buat aquascape..

[@BurtyHaxx]

you may have already done this, but could you make a video with the different ranges of twinstar on an aquarium so we can see the difference (ambient lights off)

[@BurtyHaxx]

or not even just twinstar but a range of light models, preferably a deep tank so we can see how the light penetration differs

[@Mullette]

I've been struggling to decide between the wrgb 2 slim or the twinstar EA IV...I have a 55gal planted tank with co2, and high light demanding plants... can't decide! MJ help me make a decision lol PLEASE

[@Ray47nl]

Ok, i got officially scared to start with aquascaping. Without looking around (for now), i said: i just look at all the equipment you showed down here and just added all to my shopping cart, so i get an idea of the costs of starting something like this.. Well... before i got to the plants i saw the total price for the equipment, that gave me a massive heart attack and threw me to the floor, still laying there now and wondering what a nice entry price would be for a starter. So lets say i need all, but a more affordable option so i can try out if i like this hobby and want to invest in higher end equipment.

[@stefDB]

Good review. I was just wondering how long the light strips themselves are, not counting the stands

[@treysimmons2179]

Nice tech review! Always appreciate your expert opinion. Thank you!

[@jaspervanachteren8883]

Can you make them longer? Because i have a juwel primo 70 and i want to make my aquarium open

[@rickyabdullah4758]

Nice LED lights

[@AquaOne1]

I have the older version of the A series. I really doubt, that it Makel over 700 Lumen.

[@lonerider7177]

Does this light bring the color output of bucephalandra with co2 ?

[@diedampfbrasse98]

cheap aquarium lights really became capable now ... have a couple of nicrew rgb+w 24/7 now. Much better programmable timer and light settings plus remote control for a similar price. Decent brightness and features like ramping up and down between 5 freely adjustable phases for the whole day/night. each LED type (R/G/B/W) can be set with its own brightness level for each phase ... will never go back to those simple timers which have just 3 static settings and barely any / no control over brightness/color. I just hope there will be more brands catching up when it comes to features of the programmable side soon, so that there is more competition pushing quality up and prices down. SO far the lights with such a rich feature set are still too few and very limiting in their design/size options.

[@josecarlosarroyo3480]

Nice video and interesting, like all yours. I have a question. Is it possible remove the controller? I think it's not possible. This new IIB looks like previous B model, but with the controller integrated.

[@ddivesh2709]

i have a question that ive been curious about for a very long time...if the planted tanks are abundant with lots of plants there are tons of oxygen produced but during the night plants respirate and the dissolved oxygen level drops...so how does the organisms in the tank are able to still survive although the oxygen are used by the plants?

[@titanuranus2136]

If you want to go really budget Aldi sometimes do various wattage 6500K LED floodlights for £6 to £20 or something, starting at 10W up to way higher than you would want. They aren't dimmable and dont come with cable or plug, I cut the end off a 13A PC power cable and used that as it needs an earth wire. My 25L tank is on a bookshelf, light mounted under the shelf above, but if the tank was positioned somewhere where I couldnt hide the light, I would rather use a better looking light such as the ones in the video.

[@moviemasti2859]

Hi, please guide me what I should buy ? Hygger or twinstar line B ? Please reply

[@SimplyAquascaping]

Great review MJ. I’m curious though as I run the 45B on one of my tanks and it gets incredibly hot. Have you found your lights doing the same?

[@Hellacop6]

I like the effort to produce some entry level cheap light units but I am more excited about the new chihiros b line, will probably have better features and spectrum than these. ✌️

[@hellfish0815]

Hey Mark, good review. I'm more of a Chihiros guy and i read somewhere there is the new B-Series coming or allready for sale, would be cool if you can get your hands on one and review those as well. Greetings from Austria

[@istvanp3714]

Helló! I would like to ask why you dind't use the Week Aqva ARK430 in an older lamp video in which you tested it? Did you just get it for a test?

[@BreadInToilet]

Please make a video on chihiros b series

[@zvezdanlipovac3394]

What light do you recommend for 45 litres aquarium 50x27x33 cm dimensions.I ve got tidal 35 and I need good light for low tech aquarium no co2.That isnt too bright because of algies?

[@reckon6493]

I'm just starting a new planted tank so this review is perfect timing! But it looks like the version 2s aren't available in North America yet?

[@MJAquascaping]

Yeah I guess it's going to take a few more weeks before they will arrive there

[@ericsonbonus490]

How do I keep my red color plants from not melting? And get colorful

[@FISHHOBBY3]

How is my planted aquaria?

[@istoppedlaughing5225]

In my country it costs only 10$ for aquarium light with a power supply

[@luukdebeijer5062]

Hallo MJ! Ten eerste, je bent de beste aquarium youtuber die ik ken. Ik heb een vraag over aquarium leds. Ik zoek een aquarium led voor mijn 80cm aquarium. Ik wil graag een sterke lamp zodat ik mooie rode planten krijg, ik ga ook co2 toepassen op mijn aquarium. Ik zag de chihiros argb 80cm, deze is 250 euro wat ik heel veel vind. Welke zou jij aanraden? Moet het bedrag zo hoog zijn om dit doel te behalen?

[@MJAquascaping]

Hey Luuk! Ik zou deze aanraden: Chihiros A2 LED AII801 80cm

[@luukdebeijer5062]

@@MJAquascaping dankjewel!

[@whitecorner1456]

Hi MJ , can you give an advice please i have a 75x35x40 tank and i want to buy an A line light. Which lenght schould i buy ? I saw that the 80cm one could be a little bit too big for it. Thanks and great Video ❤

[@MJAquascaping]

Yeah 80cm is too big, so you have to go for the 60cm

[@whitecorner1456]

@@MJAquascaping Thank you very much😄

[@whitecorner1456]

@@MJAquascaping I just ordered it

[@pittsburghaquaria6011]

Can twinstar lights only be mounted on rimless tanks?

[@MJAquascaping]

Think so yeah

[@bbaasje]

Did you say 19 euros? Because then they raised the prices.

[@libideitch6354]

Your definition of "low budget" is considered by most people to be an expensive budget

[@leonie2309]

Hallo Ik heb een vraagje, ik weet niet zo goed welke lamp ik moet kiezen voor mijn nieuwe aquarium. Bijvoorbeeld Chihiros a serie, chihiros a 2 serie, chihiros rgb slim, een van de twinstar series, aquasky intens of de Juwel helialux. Welke lamp zou u aanbevelen? Of welke is het sterkst? Ik wil graag een beplant aquarium, maar ook de mogelijkheid om wat gemiddelde/moeilijkere planten te laten groeien. Is het zo dat de lamp met de meeste Lumen het beste/sterkste is? Of moet je altijd een rgb lamp hebben? Trouwens erg leuke leerzame video’s! Ik heb er al veel van geleerd 😊

[@MJAquascaping]

Hoi Leonie! De namen/merken die je noemt zijn eigenlijk allemaal goed. Dus het is meer afhankelijk van je budget, wat je qua design mooi vind, en of je graag een lamp met app besturing wilt. Lumen geeft eigenlijk alleen aan hoe fel een lamp is RGB is zeker niet nodig. Hoe groot is je bak?

[@leonie2309]

Dankjewel voor de reactie! Een lastige maat 100x50 70 cm hoog, ga hem binnenkort opstarten. Hoe het eruit ziet maakt mij niet zoveel uit ;) als het maar goed werkt. Als ik zo keek had de chihiros a901 de meeste Lumen van ze allemaal. Ik vind het erg lastig welke lamp ik moet kiezen

[@MJAquascaping]

Aparte maat inderdaad. Omdat de bak zo hoog is heb je ook echt wel een sterke lamp nodig. Dus ik zou persoonlijk voor de WRGB2 90 of de Twinstar S gaan.

[@leonie2309]

@@MJAquascaping dankjewel voor je hulp! Ga ik naar die lampen kijken :)

[@godolord9298]

Can we use normal growlights for plants in aquarium?

[@Sinserg]

I've used some 38 watts GE grow light the flowering version, it grew the plants but a lot of algae as well, I ended up switching back to regular WRGB lights, I think that the issue with my grow lights was that they used a lot of the red spectrum.

[@godolord9298]

@@Sinserg did you have co2 dosing?

[@Sinserg]

@@godolord9298 Yes a lot of CO2 and couldn't keep algae at bay, I was able to control it if I made at least 2 40% water changes a week, but that was too much, the plants were growing wild though, but I did not like the color rendition of that specific grow lights.

[@globalist1990]

You can use normal lights. And I don't mean normal grow lights, which you also can. Might not be the best, but it's possible.

[@godolord9298]

@@Sinserg thank you

[@antonenero]

❤❤❤

[@slinkyscapes8530]

Do like Twinstar but I think we’ve kind of been spoilt with Chihiros lights, especially the ones you can adjust each colour channel. On price though and ease of use Twinstar are a great go to light.

[@AquaOne1]

And then? You download a preset 😂

[@slinkyscapes8530]

@@AquaOne1 you can but that’s where Chihiros exceeds, I run my reds high, greens mid and blues very low, with most other lights you just can’t do that and I find presets or fixed LEDS too generous on greens meaning washed out red plants

[@AquaOne1]

@@slinkyscapes8530 but most people do, because they dont even know, what they do. One half downloads a preset and thats it. The other half plays around almost every day. Aquariums are not a disco. A doctor also cant give you a mix of pills and say "Take what you want", because people dont know, what they are doing. 😀

[@napaquatics3639]

No contest. Chihiros b series is 10x better . I see no reason to ever get Twinstar. Controller in 2023? Are they taking notes from Aquarium Co op now?

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

@@napaquatics3639 But then again I don really trust chinesium apps on my phone so

[@sumitkahar96]

Are these Twinstar Models available in India?

[@MJAquascaping]

I don't know sorry

[@indianfishmonsters157]

Yes, they have been available since February 2023 with us. Indian Fish Monsters, official Importer and Distributor for Twinstar in India.

[@csfilms2572]

good buget light, but i dont like the design and color... go full black :)

[@WesleysFishClub]

Needs grounded power plugs.

[@DRaquascapes]

The yellowish color is not for me.

[@rsl2988]

👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@ethanjefferson]

Something tells me my budget and your budget are wayyyy different 😅

[@aurikarusnak8872]

👍👍👍😍😍😍

[@simongower1607]

I like the reviews but you missed the energy efficiency rating . Should always be a consideration these days

[@ShrimpinAquatics]

Hello, I have a request for people who have tanks with lids there are no videos on KZbin! It would be awesome if you could make a video for tanks with lids please! I am struggling to find a decent low priced LED for a heavily planted tank. Specially we need LED’s that will bring out the red colours in plants 🙏

[@miguelcruz7673]

this dimmer is the worst thing they could have done... if you want 7hours of light, you can’t... if you want it to turn on at a certain time, you have to turn it on the first time at that exact hour... that would probably not be a problem if you only had to do it once... but every time there is a power outage, it resets to 10hours and starts turning on at the same hour power comes back...