Best Wifi & Bluetooth LED aquarium lights with mobile app control

Updated: March 10, 2022 - By: - Categories: Equipment

New technology has made it easier to maintain a thriving freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Wireless lighting solutions, in particular, have changed the way people set up and maintain fish tanks or planted tanks. Not only do they enable you to turn your aquarium lights on and off from afar, but they also let you control every aspect of your lighting with the touch of a button via a mobile device. The following are eight of the best Bluetooth-controlled and WiFi-ready LED aquarium lights you should consider investing in.

Best LED aquarium lights with mobile app control

Model Our rating Ideal for Fixture sizes For tanks LEDs Modes Wattage
ONF Flat Nano Plus Nano Aquarium Plant Light editor's ratingONF Flat Nano Plus Nano Aquarium Plant Light #ad low-high light plants 9.4″ 2-9 gallons 60 pcs Bluetooth app control with a 24/7 light circle, dimmable 15 watts
Chihiros C II Full Spectrum LED Light with Bluetooth Controller editor's ratingChihiros C II Full Spectrum LED Light with Bluetooth Controller #ad most plant types 9.4″ 8-18″ 60 pcs ‘my Chihiros’ app (Bluetooth) for dimming & timing 16 watts
Fluval Plant Spectrum Bluetooth LED 3.0 editor's ratingFluval Plant Spectrum Bluetooth LED 3.0 #ad medium-high light aquarium plants 48-60 inches (available 24-60″) 48-60 inches 366 total Bluetooth app control, 24-hour light cycle, preset modes 59 watts
Fluval Aquasky 2.0 LED Aquarium Lighting editor's ratingFluval Aquasky 2.0 LED Aquarium Lighting #ad fish-only, low-medium light plants 24-36 inches (15-60″ available) 20-30 gallons 28 white + 14 RGB Bluetooth app control, 24-hour light cycle, preset modes 18 watts
Kessil A360X Tuna Sun LED Light with WiFi Dongle editor's ratingKessil A360X Tuna Sun LED Light with WiFi Dongle #ad high light plants (reef option available #ad) 30 x 30″ deep planted, each unit for every 30″ long multi LED chips in a single array WiFi app control for timing and dimming, multi preset programs 90 watts
Kessil AP9X LED Aquarium Light With Built-in WiFi editor's ratingKessil AP9X LED Aquarium Light With Built-in WiFi #ad high light corals 16.46″ L x 5.71″ W x 1.42″ H 4 foot x 2 foot mixed reef or 3 foot x 2 foot SPS reef 55 LED chips in a single array WiFi app control for timing and dimming, multi preset programs 180 watts
AquaIllumination Prime 16 Freshwater LED Fixture editor's ratingAquaIllumination Prime 16 Freshwater LED Fixture #ad medium-high light plants (reef option available #ad) 24 x 24″ deep planted, 1 unit for every 24″ 10 x White, 2 x Blue, 1 x Photo Red, 1 x Green, 1 x Moonlight Bluetooth app control for light colors and schedule 55 watts
Aquatic Life Reno WiFi Multi-Color LED light editor's ratingAquatic Life Reno WiFi Multi-Color LED light #ad fish-only 36 inches (20-48″ available) 30-50 gallons full-spectrum RGB LEDs WiFi app control for timing and color customization. –

Bluetooth and WiFi LED aquarium light reviews

ONF Flat Nano Plus Nano Aquarium Plant Light

The ONF Flat Nano Plus Aquarium Light is perfect for freshwater aquariums 10 gallons and below. It’s designed to promote plant growth and can also be used for growing succulents and other indoor plants too.

This lamp’s Bluetooth capability allows you to control it on your mobile device via the ONF Link App, which is compatible with both Apple iOS and Android. Pairing the lamp with your device is easy. Just plug the light in and open the ONF Link app on your device – the blue indicator on the light will flash, indicating that it’s waiting for a connection. After a successful connection, you can easily customize the light via your device.

Adjustable daylight cycleAdjustable daylight cycle #ad

The first time you open the app, it will show you the controller for the brightness. The clock setting is where you can set the start and end times for your light. You can also add your custom time periods and set their light intensities. The app will remember your settings and automatically adjust the light’s intensity to mimic the sun’s rhythm and provide a natural lighting experience to your aquarium.

An excellent feature of this light is its built-in memory that will remember the last setting you chose. In the event of a power failure, it won’t lose your settings and will resume normal operation once the power is restored.

Chihiros C II Full Spectrum with Bluetooth Controller

The Chihiros C II Full Spectrum with Bluetooth controller is a great option for those looking for a cheaper alternative. It’s designed specifically for nano aquariums but is also advertised to work for terrariums and paludariums. It features 60 white LED lights with 8000 K color temperature closely resembling natural sunlight.

This full-spectrum aquarium LED light has excellent Bluetooth capabilities, with its settings fully customizable via the My Chihiros app. Once you have installed it with its Bluetooth receiver, you can pair it with your mobile device and start customizing the settings remotely.

The My Chihiros app is very intuitive. From the app, you can set the brightness of the light manually or automatically. There’s also a preview feature for when you select automatic light adjustment, allowing you to preview how the brightness of the light changes throughout the day.

Everything you need to set the timing and the ramp-up times is done remotely through the mobile app. It’s also worth noting that the light has no on/off switch. It will turn on once plugged, but the only way you can turn it off without unplugging is via the app.

Adjustable angle and heightAdjustable angle and height #ad

A major advantage of this model is that the mounting bracket and arm are both adjustable, making it very convenient. You can adjust the frame to your desired height and rotate the 360-degree swivel arm for more strategic light distribution inside the tank.

Fluval Plant Spectrum Bluetooth LED 3.0

This aquarium light has gained an excellent reputation among aquarium hobbyists over the past couple of years, and for a good reason. Out of the box, you will discover that this is a high-quality aquarium light with innovative features. It is controlled via Bluetooth. Once set, it will program memory that will allow the light to perform different modes.

aquarium-led-lightTouch power button

On the light fixture, you will see a touch power button indicating the working status of the light. It turns red when the light is off, white means it’s on, and blue indicates that it is in night mode. Switch it to green to use its program mode. In this mode, you will be able to control the light settings via the Fluval Smart app.

Programmable 24-hour automatic light cycleProgrammable 24-hour automatic light cycle #ad

Upon opening the app, you will be directed to a screen displaying three available modes: Auto, Manual, and Pro.

Five color channels and six unique band wavesFive color channels and six unique band waves #ad

The manual mode lets you adjust to a specific light setting. It will enable easy color adjustments through its five color channels: bright white, warm white, cool white, pink, and blue. The light also lets you choose from three optional preset habitat configurations: lake Malawi, tropical, and planted.

In the Auto mode, you will have a preset 24/7 light cycle with Sunrise, Daylight, Sunset, Night, and Sleep settings that are all adjustable. Here, you can set how long the sunrise and sunset last and how much power the light will have on the daylight setting.

Finally, the Pro mode is what will let you unlock the Fluval LED 3.0’s true potential. Here, you can play with different settings and have complete control over the color and intensity of the light.

Fluval Aquasky 2.0 LED Aquarium Lighting

Another great aquarium lighting with Bluetooth capability you can’t miss is the Fluval Aquasky 2.0, designed for both freshwater and marine fish-only aquariums. This light is fully customizable via the FluvalSmart App on your mobile device. It features red, green, blue, and white LEDs for unlimited color blends.

You can program the light to go through a 24-hour light cycle through the app, mimicking sunrise, midday, dusk, and nighttime. This is done through the auto mode on the app, where you set up your start and stop points and select the intensity of each of the colors to create your preferred color spectrums. You can also engage a specific spectral combination with one touch through the preset options.

The app also enables you to recreate weather effects in your aquarium. Using this mode, you can adjust the light intensity to create a cloud cover, fading lunar, storm, or a lighting effect. All this can be engaged into your program, which the light will run automatically after setup.

Let’s not forget the most remarkable feature of the app: the preview. When this feature is engaged, it will let you playback the entire program you have created in less than a minute. You can stop the preview anytime to make adjustments to the setting.

Kessil A360X Tuna Sun LED Light with WiFi Dongle

Perhaps the most innovative and flexible aquarium light on our list is the Kessil A360X Tuna Sun LED Light with WiFi Dongle. It offers both high performance and outstanding design. It’s compact, lightweight, easy to install, yet trustworthy in terms of its durability.

The color spectrum is adjustable from 6000 K to 9000 K. Despite its compact form factor, this product offers a lot of lighting power and is perfect for high-tech freshwater planted aquariums. It is optimized for the healthy photosynthesis and growth of freshwater aquarium plants.

It may appear small, giving the impression that it only works as a spotlight. In reality, it has a 30″ x 30″ inch coverage area and is designed for deep penetration. You can use it for a deep and large planted tank, each unit is recommended for every 30 inches long.

When paired with the Kessil WiFi dongle, it can be programmed via the Kessil app. The app can give you complete access to various modes, allowing you to set the ramp-up and ramp-down times of a preset 24/7 light cycle and access moonlight, acclimation, and weather modes. The best thing about this product is that you can add more lights to your system and control all of them individually with a single Kessil WiFi dongle.

Without a mobile, you can also manually control this light through two adjustment knobs on the unit. You can adjust the colors and intensities of the light through the knobs. For more flexibility, though, you will need the Kessil WiFi dongle to control the light through your mobile device.

Kessil AP9X LED Reef Aquarium Light With Built-in WiFi

For most marine aquarium keepers, the Kessil AP9X is the answer to their need for a powerful reef light. This light provides all the controllability you could possibly need. That includes built-in WiFi connectivity that allows you to program your light through the Kessil app without the need for a dongle.

Multi connected Kessil units shown on the dashboardMulti connected Kessil units shown on the dashboard #ad

Through the app, you can control the blue-white color ratio of your light, the light’s overall intensity, and the UV, red, and green channels. The app also lets you set up a daily schedule that simulates how the sun would naturally hit coral reefs in nature. What’s new with the app is that it now lets you control other Kessil lights, which you can easily connect via K link cables to your AP9X.

It’s truly impressive how Kessil was able to fit all these innovative features in a light that’s only 16.5 inches long and 1.5 inches thick. Despite its sleek and lightweight design, the AP9X has many cool tricks up its sleeve. That includes a swivel design that gives you 60 degrees of vertical and 180 degrees of horizontal rotation. If you’re after outstanding color blending, power, and efficiency, you should opt for the Kessil AP9X.

AquaIllumination Prime 16 Freshwater LED Fixture

The AI Prime 16 is no doubt one of the best high-tech LED lighting systems in the market. Capable of producing a number of spectral combinations, this aquarium light can suit a wide range of freshwater aquarium needs. An option for reef tanks is also available for corals keepers.

This light fixture comes with cool white, warm white, blue, photo red, green, and moonlight LEDs. The LED bulbs feature a unique optic design that provides an 80-degree spread angle that could give you the best possible combination of power, color, and coverage.

Schedule mode with an adjustable light cycleSchedule mode with an adjustable light cycle #ad

Manual mode with color spectrum wheelManual mode with color spectrum wheel #ad

The AI Prime 16 comes with built-in WiFi that lets you control the light remotely via the myAI app on your mobile device. Through this app, you can use and apply customizations to the preset light schedule from the manufacturer Aquaillumination.

Besides the preset light schedule, you can manually control the light with its manual mode. It is very easy to adjust the light with the handy color spectrum wheel. It also comes with a lunar mode that simulates natural moonlight for nighttime enjoyment. If you choose the reef light unit, you can use the acclimation mode for acclimating your corals with the new higher output light.

If you’re looking for a highly customizable aquarium light capable of growing your plants fast and making the color of your fish pop, the AI Prime 16 should definitely be on top of your list!

Aquatic Life Reno WiFi Multi-Color LED Aquarium Light

Last but not least, we have the Aquatic Life Reno WiFi Multi-Color LED aquarium light. This lighting system offers you many valuable features at a very low price. It’s built for freshwater and marine water tanks and comes with full-spectrum RGB LEDs designed to promote plant growth and fish health.

One app does it all for this full-spectrum lighting system. Downloadable via the Apple Store and Google Play, the app enables you to fully customize your aquarium light with ease. Through the app, you can adjust the color and brightness of the light, play with different color combinations to suit your preference, and set a lighting schedule for your aquarium. The app also lets you choose from various lighting effects. You can even make changes to your settings even when you’re not at home.

Aside from its remote functionality, the light also comes with a built-in rocker switch that lets you conveniently turn the lights on and off. Finally, the light comes with an adjustable frame, making this fixture suitable for tanks between 35 and 39 inches long.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours should the aquarium light be on?

The primary purpose of aquarium lights is to promote plant and fish health. That said, it is supposed to mimic the properties of natural sunlight. Factoring in the density of the plants and the number of inhabitants in your aquarium, you should aim at leaving the lights on between 8 and 12 hours each day.

Some models of aquarium lighting systems come with a lunar mode that enables you to leave only the blue LEDs on in the evening. This allows you nighttime viewing of your aquarium without causing harm to your plants and fish.

How do you set an aquarium light timer?

Various brands and models of aquarium lighting systems come with built-in timers. If yours doesn’t have one, you can buy a separate one and connect it to your aquarium light. Setting up the timer is easy, especially with models that can be controlled via a mobile app. From the app, you can automatically set ramp-up and ramp-down periods that simulate sunrise and sunset times.

You should program the light depending on the plants and fish in your aquarium. If you have a planted aquarium, setting the light to stay on from 8 am to 5 pm is ideal. A fish-only aquarium doesn’t need as much lighting as a planted aquarium. If you want to extend the lighting period to 12 hours to watch your fish longer, lower the light intensity. Just reduce the lighting period if you start noticing a potential for an algae breakout.

We enjoy keeping fish, and have for many years. We are trying to promote the hobby as much as possible. We want to see many others succeed in their fish keeping efforts and are committed to sharing our knowledge when we can.

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