VivaGrow DN RGB LED Aquarium Light Freshwater Plant 24/7 Remote Automation (120 cm- 48")

I've had this light for just over a month, and so far I am very satisfied. I don't think you can get a better light for the money. It grows plants very well.This light is very similar to the original Finnex Planted+ 27/4, which I also own. There's lots of information on the Internet about that light, so I've provided a detailed comparison here:Before I bought this, I thought it might be the exact same light, but with a VivaGrow label on it. After purchasing, I can see that everything is very similar, but nothing is exactly the same. The outside casing is similar but different. The LEDs are very similar but different. The plastic legs, the remote control, the Infrared sensor, the light colors... all very similar, but different. Even the remote control *instructions* are similar, but different.The physical LEDs: The VivaGrow has 32 RGB (red-green-blue) LEDs and 64 white ones. Finnex has 36 and 72. I'm guessing just from looking at the two lights that the LEDs are not the exact same. The white ones are slightly different color and the Finnex RGBs seems to have two reds instead of just one.The light color output: See Pictures! In each of the pictures, the VivaGrow is on top and the Finnex is on the bottom. Pic #1 is the instruction sheet, the pic#2 is what the lights look like at 6AM; pic#3 = 12pm (I skipped 9AM, I guess); pic4=3pm; pic5=6pm; pic6=9pm; pic7=12am; pic8=3am; They're all very similar, but in general, I'd say that the VivaGrow has a brighter white and the Finnex has more red.The instructions: See pic#1 above for the instruction sheet. Basically, there are two modes: auto 24/7 mode and manual mode. In manual mode, set the light however you want and it will stay there. In auto mode, the light will automatically cycle through the hours of the day to simulate sunrise, morning, high noon, afternoon, dusk, sunset, moonlight, etc. I keep both my Finnex and the VivaGrow in 24/7 mode all the time.The light output: If you are using this light for animals only (no plants), then it will be absolutely perfectly fine. If you are growing plants (like me), then you'll want more information like the PAR values and light spectrum output. I do not have any specifics, but I do have some first hand experience. Here's what I think: 1. The total light output seems to be slightly less than the Finnex Planted+ 24/7. I did measure the light output, in open air, with a free iPhone app and got about 83% as bright as the Finnex. That seems about right given that there are fewer LEDs. NOTE that I have no idea how the app works, how the filters on the phone's camera work, and what it is ultimately measuring. 2. The Finnex does seem to have more red. Visibly, I think I can see two red LEDs dots instead of one. Also the VivaGrow looks more blue in places where the Finnex appears more purple. I'll give a long term update after I see how it affects my plants. Currently, I have a heavily planted 65g aquarium with both the Finnex and VivaGrow running in 24/7 mode. The Finnex, by itself, on that size of tank, is considered low-to-medium light for planted tanks. Search the Internet for PAR ratings on the Finnex.The power cord on the VivaGrow is WAY longer/better than the Finnex. The cord is 12.5 feet total! 2.5 feet from the light to a connector, then 6 more feet until you reach the power brick, and then 4 more feet until you reach the plug. Oh, and my power brick was labelled BeamsWork. It's labelled a 15V, 3A, BeamsWork. For comparison, the Finnex light has a 7.5 foot power cord and is labelled 35w, 15v.The remote control looks extremely similar, but it functions way better. My Finnex remote control never really worked well. I had to program a universal remote for my Finnex light because the Finnex remote comes and goes. I assume that this inexpensive remote control will wear out quickly, so I plan to program my universal remote as a backup. NOTE: Even though they are very similar, it appears that the VivaGrow remote control will NOT control the Finnex light.IR Receivers. Both lights have infrared receivers hanging from a wire on the opposite side of the power cord. I think the wire is about 2 feet, but I actually keep it wrapped up and hanging there. There's a piece of 3M double-sided tape that you can use to stick the IR sensor someplace on/near your tank, but I don't use that.The 24/7 mode: Aim the remote control at the light's IR sensor. Press the 24/7 button to enter 24/7 mode. Press the time button nearest to the current time (3am, 6am, 9am, 12pm, etc.). That's it! Don't press anything else. The light will now automatically cycle through the day, starting with that time. Remote control tip: If the light receives and recognizes that you pressed a button on the remote control, it will blink or flicker a bit.Other light functions: If you don't use 24/7 mode, you can set the light to be whatever brightness and color you want. There are also some gimmicky functions like lightning, cloudy day, etc. that I don't use.Power outages: If there's a power outage while in 24/7 mode, the Vivagrow will pick up right where it left off when the power is restored. This sounds great at first, but it's actually a bad thing. If the power goes out at 10pm and comes back on at 6am, then the light will still be shining as if it were 10pm. It also will cause the light to get out-of-sync with real time if there are shorter outages.

I have the original planted+ and this on my 36". Finnex def is brighter. Vivagrow emits warmer light. With the finnex together It is def great. I dont think it will be good by itself not unless you plan to grow low light plants. For what you pay its good.I Attached some pics, not sure if you can see the diff but it in person, it is very obvious that the finnex is brighter. For a supplemental light i think its awesome.

This works great. I love it. I would buy more if I needed them. I've compared this against the Finnex 24/7, and I noticed the only difference is that the Finnex seems to have some sort of reflector on theirs. This may make the Finnex brighter, but I've never thought it wasn't bright enough.I don't know how I feel about the 24/7 mode though. It doesn't get dark enough for me and so I don't use it. I don't want an algae bloom.

I've been using 2 of these over a 58g (36"x18"x21") for 16 months on the 24 hr cycle and I absolutely LOVE these lights. (I only use 2 to cover the spread not for double intensity). I am growing several medium light crypts with great results including C. nurii, C. affinis "metallic red" and C. hudoroi. I don't know understand some of the reviews here like people complaining they aren't customisable enough. How much do you want for the price!? If you want something fully customisable then there is a product out there for that but it's gonna cost you way more money. But for this price you are not going to find anything even close to the PAR and customisation that this light offers. Yes, you could get more PAR but not in the exact color that you want at the exact time you want it (I change setting for taking photos and I like different settings for different photos etc). I do wish the lights went out completely at night though. But people complaining about algae due to those night lights are mistaken because there is no useable PAR during those hours so it is impossible for them to cause algae. I do get some minor GSA and BBA but I don't blame the lights at all, way more likely to my erratic fertilizing schedule lol. My favorite part of this light is the 24 hour cycle because I get 24 hrs of viewing whereas with a standard light on a timer you get either darkness (for 16 hours) or fully blown bright lights (for only 8 hrs). I think the fish enjoy the transitions as well, much better that BAM big light is on and BAM big light is off. I intend to buy several more of these lights for all my tanks, even the non planted ones just for the other features it offers.