Pawfly 6W Clip-On LED Aquarium Light for 1 to 5 Gallon Tanks

The Pawfly 6 W LED Aquarium Light is a clip-on lamp for very small tanks: betta bowls, shrimp cubes and desktop nano setups from 1 to 5 gallons. A flexible gooseneck lets you aim it at any angle, and it runs from a USB cable about 3 feet long.

Spectrum

Pawfly lists 6500 K white, 450 nm blue, 520 nm green and 660 nm red LEDs, with a stated CRI of 91, LUX of 1200 and PAR of 25. That PAR figure places it in low-light plant territory: java fern, anubias, mosses and floaters, rather than carpets.

Modes and brightness

Short presses on the M button switch between daytime mode, where all LEDs are on, and night mode, where only the blue is on. Holding M for 3 seconds turns everything off. The N button adjusts blue intensity and the D button adjusts the other channels, with 6 intensity levels.

Built-in timer

Choose an 8, 10 or 12 hour duration and the light switches off on its own, then comes back at the same time the next day. On a tiny tank, starting at 8 hours and only extending if plants need it is the easiest way to keep algae down.

Power: buy the right adapter

The adapter is not included. Pawfly asks for a 5V/2A supply. With too little power the light flashes as a warning; on a 5V/1A adapter you should reduce brightness to avoid flicker. A computer USB port may not supply enough current.

Alternatives

If you want a light that includes its adapter, the DaToo 7W mini clip-on is a close match. For a 12 to 18 inch tank, step up to the Pawfly 11W light.

Because the head sits on a gooseneck, you can also angle it toward the front glass so the light falls on your fish rather than on the back wall. Wipe the lens when you do water changes, since mineral spots from evaporation slowly dull the output over time.