Chihiros Vivid II LED Review: Compact Rimless Light
Chihiros launched the Vivid II as a half-step between the workhorse WRGB II and the premium Optiwhite-skinned RGB Vivid range, aimed squarely at 30 to 60 cm rimless builds where aesthetics matter as much as PAR. This chihiros vivid ii led review from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park draws on a year of bench testing and live builds in HDB nano scapes, where the Vivid II’s slim footprint and warmer default tuning have made it a popular pick for shrimp keepers. We will walk through the spectrum, real measured output, the controller experience, and how the fixture stacks up against Chihiros’s own WRGB II at the same price tier.
Form Factor and First Impressions
The Vivid II is noticeably thinner than the WRGB II, with a brushed silver finish that sits cleanly over Optiwhite glass. Mounting hardware is finished better, with milled brackets rather than bent steel, and the integrated cable run is more discreet. For exposed-top rimless tanks where the light is part of the visual composition, this matters more than spec sheets suggest.
Measured PAR and Coverage
Across a 45 cm rimless tank at 30 cm water depth we logged 110 to 130 PAR at the substrate at 100 percent. That is a touch lower than the equivalent WRGB II, but more than enough for stem plants, carpets and even a moderate Monte Carlo carpet. Coverage is slightly tighter than the WRGB II at 110 degrees, so over wider rimless footprints expect dimmer outer zones unless you suspend the unit higher.
Spectrum Profile in Practice
Default tuning leans warmer than the WRGB II, sitting closer to 5800 K with a stronger red bias. Plants with anthocyanin-heavy leaves like Ludwigia super red, Rotala H’ra and AR mini show off well under it; greens are slightly muted in comparison. We tend to lift the blue channel by 10 to 15 percent for general planted display, which restores neutral whites without flattening the reds.
App Control and Schedule Behaviour
The Vivid II uses the same Chihiros App as the rest of the lineup. Schedule editing is competent but the timeline interface remains fiddly on small phone screens. As with all Chihiros units, the controller drifts slightly across power cuts; pair it with a budget UPS or a smart plug and you avoid the early-morning surprise. Our best aquarium Bluetooth LED controller guide covers add-on options.
Suitability for Nano Rimless Scapes
This is where the Vivid II earns its keep. The slim profile and clean cable management make it the natural pick for 30 to 45 cm rimless tanks intended for living-room display. Pair it with a rimless tank from a Singapore retailer and the visual coherence is excellent. For shrimp colonies where you want strong colour without algae creep, the Vivid II’s warmer profile and easy dimming work in your favour.
Heat and Power Draw
The 45 cm Vivid II draws roughly 35 W at full output, raising water temperature by about 0.4 degrees in a 30 litre nano under typical 29 degree ambient conditions. That is meaningfully less heat than a WRGB II at the same length and matters for unchilled shrimp tanks where every fraction of a degree counts during monsoon afternoons.
Comparison Within the Chihiros Lineup
The Vivid II is positioned as the design-conscious sibling to the WRGB II. Outright PAR favours the WRGB II by about 15 percent at the same length, but the Vivid II wins on aesthetics, slim profile and slightly better colour rendering on red-dominant scapes. The Vivid II Mini at 30 cm is the obvious pick for shrimp cubes; we have logged it on three cherry shrimp display tanks in the last six months.
SGD Pricing and Stock Availability
Expect $200 to $230 for the 30 cm Vivid II Mini, $260 to $290 for the 45 cm, and $330 to $370 for the 60 cm. Polyart and Y618 carry stock most consistently; Green Chapter occasionally has the Mini in pre-loved trade-ins around $130 to $160. Shopee grey-market units exist but warranty claims become awkward outside the authorised dealer network.
Limitations Worth Knowing
The Vivid II is not the right choice for high-tech Dutch scapes that need 180+ PAR at the substrate, nor for very deep tanks where penetration matters more than spread. It also does not currently support WiFi, only Bluetooth, so remote management away from home is not an option. For 80 percent of nano rimless builds, none of that is a real constraint.
Verdict for SG Hobbyists
If your build is a 30 to 45 cm rimless cube intended for living-room or bedroom display and you want a fixture that looks as considered as the scape underneath it, the Chihiros Vivid II is the call. It does not push the absolute PAR ceiling, but for shrimp colonies, low-tech planted nanos and design-led builds in HDB or condo settings, it sits at the meeting point of looks, output and price.
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