GHL, a German company known in US mainly for their Profilux Aquacontroller, has a brand new LED light that has been already labeled as one of the most advanced, high-end fixtures available on the market today. Although GHL didn’t have a dedicated booth at 2012 MACNA, one of the coral vendors had the new light on display and I managed to learn some interesting things about this new product.

It’s called Mitras LX series, consist of three models with different spectrum outputs and two color choices, black and white. All GHL Mitrax models used Cree and Osram LEDs, have an integrated 2.4GHz radio unit for wireless communication with PC, an on-board USB socket for wired connection and have either 8 color channels, dimmable independently from each other (the most of any light available on the market).

Digging deeper into GHL Mitras specifications, we have three choices available:

–Mitras LX 6000, designed for freshwater tanks, it has a light output adjustable from 1000 K – 18000 K with the center temperature set at 6000K (perfect for aquarium plants). It has 66 LEDs in 8 separately dimmable colors:

12 x Cree XP-E blue

12 x Cree XT-E cool white

6 x Cree XT-E royal blue

12 x Cree XT-E neutral white

6 x Osram Oslon SSL true green

6 x Osram Oslon SSL yellow

6 x Osram Oslon SSL red

6 x Osram Oslon SSL hyper red

-Mitras LX6100 has the same color ratio as LX6000, but it’s centered at 8600K. It has 8 color channels divided into:

12 x Cree XP-E blue

12 x Cree XT-E cool white

12 x Cree XT-E royal blue
6 x Cree XT-E neutral white

6 x Osram Oslon SSL true green

6 x Osram Oslon SSL yellow

6 x Osram Oslon SSL red

6 x Osram Oslon SSL hyper red

-Mitras LX6100 HV has 1000K-24000K spectrum range, the output is centered at 9200K and the light consist of:

12 x Cree XP-E blue

12 x Cree XT-E cool white

12 x Cree XT-E royal blue

6 x Cree XT-E neutral white

6 x Osram Oslon SSL true green

6 x Osram Oslon SSL yellow

6 x Osram Oslon SSL red

6 x Osram Oslon SSL hyper red

6 x hyper violet 425 nm

As I mentioned earlier, each channel can be controlled individually with 3000 steps of adjustment. With that level of customization, user can create a fine tuned spectrum of light and weather effects with a simple click of a mouse or using the onboard screen.

GHL Mitras fixtures use only LEDs from well known and respected companies, Osram and Cree. According to GHL, thanks to a large number of emitters (compared to other LED lights on the market), the LED driver doesn’t run diodes on maximum current, extending their life and reducing heat build-up. The light is cooled down both passively, by means of large aluminum heatsink, as well as actively, using four, temperature controlled fans.

The diodes themselves can be replaced in case of failure or when new LED emitters enter the market ( at the time of writing this article, there is an optional near-UV replacement kit for the light).

The LED panel from GHL has an impressive specifications and is built with great attention to details, but quality comes at a price- the Mitras LX 6100 light retails at about $1200. Nevertheless, GHL Mitras line of fixtures are no doubt the most advanced LED light available in a reefing world. Par it with ingenious German engineering and quality of built and you have an epic light. Learn more about Mitras series by visiting GHL American website at:http://www.aquariumcomputer.com/System__E_/Products/Illumination_technics/LED_technology/LED-pendant_lamp_Mitras/led-pendant_lamp_mitras.html