The 10 Best LED Refugium Lights to Buy in 2024

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:2 x 12.2 x 1.4 inches
• Position: Hung from ceiling
• Spectrum: Red, blue, UV, and IR wavelengths
• Power: 45, 50, or 150 watts

The Osunby Grow Light LEDs have a lifespan of over 50,000 hours and can work at any temperature from 0 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It arrives with a hanging kit of ropes and hooks so that you can easily attach it to your ceiling. It also comes in three different sizes and LED densities, and is a relatively inexpensive LED light that’s well suited for large aquarium tanks and refugia.

However, this light is not waterproof, so you’ll want to make sure that it is suspended securely above the tank. It also doesn’t have an on and off switch, so you’ll need to manually unplug it when you want it to stop shining. It is also quite large, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough space above your aquarium to use it since it does need to hang from the ceiling.

Interestingly enough, this one LED light covers the full spectrum of colors and wavelengths, suited to help the plants and reefs through any stage of the growth process. With red, blue, UV, and IR wavelengths, it uses 225 LEDs to light up your refugium with the optimal combination of colors. The water penetration of the combined waves is enough for your tank, no matter how deep it may be, though it may be too much for smaller refugia.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:88 x 4.88 x 1.3 inches
• Position: Clipped to the side of the tank
• Spectrum: 8 different LED colors
• Power: 60 watts

The AquaIllumination LED light connects to your phone app via Bluetooth, so you can fully customize the intensity, timing, and LEDs from your phone without having to go to the tank. In addition, with 16 different LEDs and 8 different colors, you’ll be able to find the setting for the perfect wavelength.

The newest added LED wavelength is for moonlight. It’s suitable for your refugium regardless of whether you’re cultivating coral reefs or microalgae. It clips onto the side of the tank and faces the water from above. This newer design is also water resistant and won’t become damaged if it gets wet.

However, while it does connect to your phone via Bluetooth, it won’t connect through WiFi or any other method. In addition, the app can be a little clunky to use, though it’s definitely effective.

If you’re not a fan of the app but still want better control over your refugium lighting, check out the Kessil H80 light which has an associated remote control you can buy. This lighting choice is also more expensive than the other options, but it offers much more control over the specifics of the lighting as well.

This refugium light also has a defense against overheating as it uses fans to keep it cool. It’s suitable for larger tanks and smaller tanks, since the intensity of the lights can be toggled, and the mountable Prime arms are easy to use. It can also be hung from the ceiling if you want it to rise higher above your tank for better coverage, all using the Prime mounting software from the same company.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:5 inch, 11 inch, 14.5 inch, or 18.5 inch options
• Position: Placed within tank on sides
• Spectrum: White or blue
• Power:5 to 4 watts

The MingDak light comes in four different sizes of varying lengths, suitable for smaller and larger tanks. The design of the bar-shaped LED lights includes suction cups so that it can be secured to the walls of the aquarium, and it will be able to light up the tank from within. The power cord itself can be easily detached so that you can turn it off at any moment, though it doesn’t have an on and off switch.

However, each MingDak light only comes in one color. There’s both a white and a blue option to choose from, but you’ll be unable to toggle between any wavelengths to find the most optimal one for your plant. If you want a smaller refugium light that comes in multiple wavelengths, you should look at the ChaetoMax refugium light.

As a result, this is unsuitable for some of the reef based refugia and best for a few plant refugia that aren’t as picky about lighting specifics. It’s also not as durable as other lighting options.

The light panels on the MingDak design can have anywhere from 18 to 57 LEDs, and because it can be stretched out over a great distance, this is a relatively inexpensive option for aquariums of any size.

In addition, while it boasts bright lights, it consumes very little power so that you won’t have to worry about your electric bill either! As it lights up the refugium from inside the tank, the lights are also brighter, and the plant will get greater benefit from the MingDak strip.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions: 10 x 2.5 x 9.5 inches
• Position: Clipped on to the side of the tank
• Spectrum: 660 nm red light and 420 nm blue light
• Power: 5 watts

The Finnex FugeRay aquarium light is meant to last over 40,000 hours of use. Paired with the fact that it only needs five watts of power, and you realize you have a durable option that won’t cost too much on your electricity bill.

The light is stronger than other clip lights and can be used to light up larger sized aquariums, and its adjustable gooseneck gives it a range of angles that it can be used in.

However, for some refugium tanks, this light may be a little too big or intense. In addition, this aquarium light is not waterproof, meaning it may break if too many droplets end up landing on it. A more water resistant option would be the AquaIllumination AI LED light.

Unlike other options, this light also gains heat when powered for a long period of time due to its greater power and size. This is because the material is a combination of both plastic and aluminum.

But if you have a large refugium with microalgae and Chaeto plants, the LEDs of the Finnex FugeRay light is perfect when it comes to encouraging growth. With red and blue colors blended together, you’ll be able to see an improvement in plant growth very quickly. In addition, the LEDs combine in different ways to create red light, a white light, and a blue ‘moon’ light that’s been shown to encourage growth.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:7 x 1.85 x 0.39 inches
• Position: Mounts to side of the tank
• Spectrum: 5 LED colors, from 420 nm to 660 nm
• Power: 9 or 18 watt options

With over 45 LEDs in the ChaetoMax, it optimizes the combination of four different wavelengths of light to help your Chaeto plant grow. These wavelengths include a 660 nm red light, a 630 nm magenta light, a 470 nm violet light, and a 420 nm blue light. It can be directly attached to the side of the tank and comes with included mounts to make the installation process easier.

However, this refugium light is not waterproof, so make sure you don’t place it inside your tank. In addition, the light itself is not very big and doesn’t reach as far. If your refugium is taller than 6 inches, the light won’t be strong enough to help your Chaeto plant reach maximum growth.

If you do want a smaller, inexpensive lighting option that reaches further, check out the MingDak light which can be submerged in the water to help with lighting.

The design and creation of the ChaetoMax were tailored to help sumps and refugia reach optimal Cheato growth, though many other microalgae will grow until this light as well. In addition, it doesn’t have an issue with heating up when used, which is important as it is placed directly on the glass walls. The 18-watt option is larger, making it perfect for bigger refugia, and comes with twice as many LEDs.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:6 x 2 inches, with 5.2 inch flexible neck
• Position: Clipped to the side of the tank
• Spectrum: 21 white and 6 blue LEDs
• Power: 7 and 10 watt options

The Nicrew clip-on light can be securely attached to one side of your tank and has multiple blue and white LEDs to simulate sunlight. The adjustable arm mount lets it be bent at any angle so that it can light up the tank as needed. As long as the sides of your tank are less than 0.9 inches thick, the Nicrew clip-on light can easily be secured.

However, this light is very low-wattage and power, and can only be used for smaller tanks. Think under 5.5 gallons. Yeah. That small. If you do have a larger tank, one option is to buy two or more of the Nicrew clip-on lights, since they’re one of the more inexpensive options, and clip multiple to the sides of your tank.

Unfortunately, it also doesn’t have any extra wavelengths and colors for you to choose from besides the two.

For its small size and power, it lights up enough of a nano refugium to encourage microalgae growth. In addition, as this light doesn’t need to be hung from the ceiling, it’s much easier to set up than many other options available on the market. While it doesn’t have a timer or dimmer for the light settings, the intensity is not strong enough to end up burning any of your plants.

This light also has two settings to replicate daylight and nighttime environments. During the day, all 27 LEDs can be powered, and during the night, only the 6 blue LEDs can be powered, so that your plants get used to the day and night cycle they would experience in nature. If you want a clip-on refugium light with red and blue LEDs, check out the Finnex FugeRay light.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:7 x 4.7 inches with 5 inch stand
• Position: Can be placed on a flat surface, fixed to the wall, or fastened to a bar
• Spectrum: 460 nm, 630 nm, 660 nm, and white light
• Power: 12 watts

The Acke refugium light can work for your aquarium, no matter what set up you might envision. It can be clamped onto a bar above the refugium, screwed to the wall beside the refugium, or even just placed on a flat surface close by. For a low wattage light, it also produces enough light to take care of a smaller sized aquarium. If your tank contains more than 30 gallons of water, you may need to look into a more powerful light.

However, keep in mind that the diodes are mostly in red and blue wavelengths, with a white light option as well. This is more suited for plants in the refugium than anything. You won’t be able to get the versatility that some of the other options have since it has less color and wavelength choices.

If you are interested in a more customizable option for smaller refugium light, you’ll want to take a look at the GrowStar LED light. Unfortunately, just like some of the other smaller lights, there’s no choice to dim or reduce the intensity of the light if it proves too powerful for your plants.

The set up for this refugium light is easier than most since you don’t need to dangle it above the tank. With a completely rotatable bracket, you’ll be able to get the perfect angle to light up your tank. In addition, due to the aluminum material, the light also doesn’t heat up too much and won’t accidentally burn any of your plants.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:9 inches diameter, 2.4 inches height
• Position: Hung from the ceiling above the tank
• Spectrum: 380 nm – 760 nm, and white light spectrum
• Power: 150 Watts

While the GrowStar LED is another small LED light, this one has more power than most of the other small lights. You’ll be able to easily hang this one up even if you don’t have a lot of overhead space, and the full spectrum of 12 different wavelengths lets it be used for any sort of refugium, a sort of customizability better than most other LEDs that are the same size. The CREE LED chips have higher quality light generation, and the red and blue light combo can help a Chaeto plant grow quickly.

However, this light doesn’t have a timer on it, so you’ll have to manually turn it on and off. In addition, you won’t be able to dim the lights either if it is too intense for your plants, though you can get around this by hanging it higher over the aquarium.

Unlike some of the other refugium lights, the GrowStar is not waterproof, so you’ll have to make sure you hang it securely. If you’re worried about the process of setting it up, you could look at one that’s a little more versatile about where it’s placed, such as the Acke grow lights.

It also comes with a kit to help hang up the light, and a power cord to connect it to the nearest outlet. The fan is also very quiet and not distracting in a home environment. In addition, the refugium light was built to last.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:7 x 4.7 x 4.5 inches
• Position: Hung above the tank
• Spectrum: 630 nm, 520 nm, 460 nm, 420 nm
• Power: 18 watts

The Kingbo refugium light is best for helping coral growth in the refugium and comes with six wavelengths to toggle between so that you can change color as needed. It helps with UV, blue, red, green, and white lights. In addition, the end is a screw so that it can fit in most light bulb fixtures (it fits E26 and E27 sockets). While the wavelengths are more tailored towards reef based refugia, it can also be used for sumps and plant aquariums.

However, you’ll be on your own when setting up the system for this lighting choice. First, you’ll need a lamp or holder with an appropriate socket, so that you can hang the light about a foot above the aquarium. In addition, since the bright white light doesn’t come with any yellow lights, it can be a little too intense for plants if it is too close to the surface of the aquarium.

You’ll definitely need to do some research before purchasing this LED light since you’ll have to decide which color is the best on your own. If you just want a simple option for your Chaeto plant, definitely look at the ChaetoMax refugium light so you won’t have to do as much research. It also keeps at a constant temperature even after a day of continuous use due to the aluminum it’s made of, which helps increase its lifespan. After all, with a 12-month warranty, you can be sure that the Kingbo aquarium lights are made to last.

Quick Facts:

• Dimensions:88 inch diameter, 0.98 inch height
• Position: Held above the tank
• Spectrum: IR, UV, and 360 nm to 780 nm wavelengths
• Power: 15 watts

For smaller refugia with Chaeto plants, you can’t go wrong with the Kessil H80 LED! It covers four different colors in its spectrum, including red, blue, bloom, and grow, and the choice in spectrum lets you tweak the LED light to the perfect wavelength for your plants. You can dim it when needed and it operates silently, unlike some of the other LED lights.

Unfortunately, the coverage only ranges from 14 inches to 24 inches, meaning it won’t be big enough for a larger tank. If you do have a huge refugium, you’ll want to invest in the AquaIllumination AI light which is another customizable option that is more intense for large tanks.

For this light, you’ll also need to purchase the Kessil Spectral controller as well if you want access to the full range of customizability and figure out positioning on your own. In addition, the wavelengths are more suited for microalgae and plants rather than coral.

This LED itself is very low-wattage but produces enough light to hit the perfect spot for plant growth. That means that you won’t have to pay as much on your electric bill while your Chaeto still has optimal growth! If you’re just starting out with your Chaeto plant and don’t know the optimal settings, you can simply choose the “Grow” option in the spectrum and it’ll do the work for you.