AI Prime™ 16HD — Smart Reef LED
AI Prime™ 16HD — Smart Reef LED
The Prime™ 16HD Reef is the most popular compact reef LED on the market for a reason: 16 individual LED channels, Mobius® smart control, and a 4.88" square footprint that covers 24" × 24" — packing reef-grade output into nano and mid-size tank applications without the cost or footprint of a full-size fixture.
Coral Compatibility & PAR Reference
PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation, µmol photons/m²/s) is the scientifically measurable unit of usable light intensity at the coral surface. The Prime 16HD reaches 100 µmol at 24" depth at full power — which positions it clearly in mixed-reef and LPS territory, with SPS performance possible in shallower tanks or placed at reduced depth. Verify actual PAR at coral placement with a PAR meter.
| Coral Type | Target PAR (µmol/m²/s) | Prime 16HD Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Soft corals (mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers) | 25–75 | ✓ Excellent — 30–55% intensity |
| LPS (hammer, torch, frogspawn, brain corals) | 50–200 | ✓ Excellent — 45–80% intensity |
| Mixed reef (LPS + moderate SPS) | 100–250 | ✓ Good — 75–100% intensity, keep tank under 18" deep |
| SPS-dominant (acropora, montipora) | 200–400 | ⚠ Limited — best in nano tanks under 12" deep; consider Hydra 32HD for taller systems |
Peak PAR of 100 µmol at 24" depth measured at full power. Shallower tanks will see proportionally higher values. PAR drops roughly with the inverse square of distance — at 12" depth, expect approximately 2–3× the 24" measurement.
Photoacclimation Protocol
Corals cannot rapidly adjust zooxanthellae density in their tissue — abrupt PAR increases cause photoinhibition, visible as bleaching from colony tips downward. Follow this ramp when installing a new fixture or adding new corals:
- Weeks 1–2: 30–40% of your target schedule
- Weeks 3–4: Step up to 55–65%
- Weeks 5–6: Step up to 75–85%
- Week 7+: Advance to full target intensity
Too much light: pale/white tips, tissue recession. Too little: brown coloration (excess zooxanthellae), polyp elongation toward the light.
Key Features
- 16-channel LED array: Cool White, Blue, Royal Blue, Photo Red, Green, Violet, UV, and Moonlight
- Peak PAR: 100 µmol at 24" depth | 24" × 24" coverage
- Limitless spectral combinations via Mobius® app
- Full Mobius® app control (iOS & Android)
- Neptune Apex / Fusion compatible
- Compatible with tank mount, hanging kit, and flex arm (12" or 18") accessories
- Available in Black or White
LED Configuration
- 4× Cool White, 4× Blue, 4× Royal Blue, 1× Photo Red, 1× Green, 1× Violet, 1× UV, 1× Moonlight
Specifications
- Power: 59W at full power
- Coverage: 24" × 24"
- Recommended Mounting Height: 4–10" above water surface
- Dimensions: 4.88" × 4.88" × 1.34"
- Weight: 0.95 lbs
- Input: 100–240VAC / 50–60Hz
Expert guidance
Have a question about this piece?
Cameron draws on 25+ years in the hobby and a marine biology background to help you choose the right fit for your system.