Finnex Stingray vs Stingray 2 – is it better? And, if it is better, is it worth the extra money?
For a while now, the Finnex Stingray has been an excellent choice for fishkeepers who don’t want to shell out too much for a light. While it might be cheaper than the best of the best, it still managers to be miles ahead of the competition.
So earlier on in the year when Finnex released the Stingray 2 naturally people wanted to pit the original Stingray light against the new Stingray 2!
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – PAR Values
PAR data is valuable for planted aquarium owners. Simply put, PAR tells us how much usable light reaches our plants. The higher the number, the better. And because PAR meters can be so expensive, it can be challenging to perform tests.
Luckily for us, the excellent fishkeeping YouTube channel “A Gamer’s Wife” has given us the all important numbers—it’s an awesome channel by the way, and I recommend subscribing to it for sure.
In a standard sized 10 gallon aquarium, the original Stingray managed a PAR of 33. Whereas the new version pretty much doubled that value, peaking at 62!
So, hands down, if you want to grow plants with your Stingray—I assume you do, because otherwise any old light would do—then the upgrade to the Finnex Stingray 2 is definitely worth the extra money.
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – Unit Size Differences
You can get both versions of the Stingray in the same sizes:
- 12 inch / 30.48cm
- 16 inch / 40.64cm
- 20 inch / 50.8cm
- 24 inch / 60.96cm
- 30 inch / 76.2cm
- 36 inch / 91.44cm
- 48 inch / 121.92cm
There’s enough range in size there that you’ll almost certainly be able to find a light to fit your tank.
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – Power Usage
Both lights are LEDs so, naturally, you can expect watts to be low. So on one tank a watt difference might not be a big deal, but if you have a large fish room with multiple tanks then the power usage can add up.
So, here are the numbers:
As you can see, the Stingray 2 uses more power than the original Stingray, but that’s to be expected when you see that it has more LEDs and produces higher PAR values.
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – Anything Else I Need To Know?
Yes! The newer version of the Stingray features a moonlight mode where only the blue LEDs are on. This is an update versus the original Stingray because it only had an on/off switch. So, if you like to run your blue lights only in the evening the Finnex Stingray 2 is the light for you.
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – Price Difference
The Stingray 2 is slightly more expensive, but not by much. Prices are always changing so I haven’t got them here, but you can check the prices on Amazon with the links below. Check them out.
Stingray vs Stingray 2 – Conclusion
For a small increase in price, the Stringray 2 sure does provide you with a significant PAR output. Couple that with the moonlight mode and, for me, it’s a no-brainer—the Stingray 2 is definitely a nice upgrade on the original Stingray. So much so that even if you already had the original Stingray, I’d honestly consider upgrading from that to the new version; especially if you’re running a planted tank and want to see some more growth. You can always swap your original Stingray light onto another tank that needs a bit more light? Just an idea!
