Chihiros WRGB II 45 Review
The non-Pro WRGB II: the same tunable red-green-blue-white LEDs and app control that made Chihiros the aquascaper's default, in a cheaper 45 cm fixture with slightly lower peak output.
🌍 You'll be sent to Amazon in your country. Indicative price — live, localised pricing coming soon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
👍 Pros
- Individually-controlled red, green, blue and white channels render plants and fish far more vividly than a white-only bar
- My Chihiros Bluetooth app gives sunrise/sunset ramps, custom spectrum and a built-in timer
- Plenty of PAR for a mid-tech 45 cm scape — carpets are achievable with CO2
- Costs noticeably less than the Pro while keeping the same core RGB tech
👎 Cons
- Lower peak PAR than the WRGB II Pro — a demanding high-light carpet is easier on the Pro
- Enough output to grow algae if you run it hard without CO2 and ferts
- Bluetooth-only app pairing can be fiddly on first setup
The RGB colour, minus the Pro price
The Chihiros WRGB II 45 is the standard version of the fixture that turned Chihiros into the aquascaper’s default. It uses the same individually-addressable red, green, blue and white LEDs, tuned through the My Chihiros app, so you get the vivid colour rendition and spectrum control that white-only bars simply cannot match. What you give up versus the WRGB II Pro 60 is peak PAR and a little driver refinement — for a mid-tech 45 cm tank, that trade is easy to accept.
Match the light to the rest of the system
This is still a capable planted light, which means the usual rule applies: more light without CO2 and ferts grows algae, not plants. If you are injecting gas from our CO2 systems hub and dosing an all-in-one from the plant fertilizers guide, you can push it toward a carpet. If you are low-tech, dim it to 40–60% and hold a tight 6–8 hour photoperiod on the built-in timer until the tank finds its balance.
How it fits our other picks
Want maximum output for a demanding high-tech scape? Step up to the Chihiros WRGB II Pro 60. Prefer a gentler, still-excellent app-controlled fixture? The Fluval Plant 3.0 is a fine alternative. For the full line-up and the low-tech vs high-tech question explained, see our aquarium lighting hub, and match the light to your tank on the aquariums page.
The value entry into Chihiros' RGB line-up: the same vivid colour and app control as the Pro, a little less peak output, for meaningfully less money. The right WRGB for a mid-tech 45 cm scape.
Chihiros WRGB II 45 — frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the WRGB II and the WRGB II Pro?
The Pro pushes higher peak PAR and has a slightly more refined driver, which matters if you are chasing a demanding high-light carpet. The standard WRGB II uses the same RGB colour tech and the same app, at a lower price, and is plenty for most 45–60 cm planted tanks. If you are running a serious high-tech scape, step up to the Pro; otherwise the standard model is the value pick.
Can I run it without CO2?
You can, but keep it dimmed. More light without matching CO2 and fertiliser is the fastest route to algae. On a low-tech tank, run it at 40–60% on a tight 6–8 hour photoperiod and let the tank settle before pushing brightness.
Does the RGB actually help, or is it just for looks?
Both. Plants mainly use red and blue, so the tunable channels let you favour growth, while the full RGB mix massively improves how reds and greens read to your eye. It is colour rendition and spectrum control in one fixture.
Found your model? Buy it at the right price.
UniverTrack tracks the real price of your aquarium gear across several retailers, spots fake discounts and warns you when it's genuinely the right moment to buy — with an AI assistant to guide you.
More lighting we recommend
