lighting help

a4edwin · Mar 23, 2026

hello everyone. i’ve been gone for a bit but i’m planning to make a comeback. my thought is to purchase a UNS R120 what keeps me from ordering is the lighting. it will be going in our sitting room so my wife does not like the light spillage. i had ración xr15 gen 4 on my last tank. which i still have in the garage. my wife hated them. i have to admit the spillage does get annoying after awhile. does anyone have any recommendations for keeping spillage under control? it will be mixed reef a few pieces of sps corrals. i’ve seen some ai blades mounted pretty much at tank height. any suggestions or recommendations will be greatly appreciated. added some pictures for reference

JTP424 · Mar 23, 2026

Best personal suggestion would be to build a canopy for it. The printed shades are good, but I don't think they would provide enough "directed light" based on what I think you're looking for.

a4edwin · Mar 30, 2026

not really a fan of canopy’s. but i figured that would be my best option. thank you.

JTP424 · Mar 30, 2026

Yea... Otherwise you're going to have some massive shades, which won't be too bad... Might be worth getting a couple of the straight radion 15 shades and seeing if they work?
Worst thing you sell them if they don't.

memorc27 · Jun 7, 2026

Either get Orphek lights or ATI Straton X. Minimal to zero spillage

oreo54 · Jun 7, 2026

a4edwin said:
not really a fan of canopy’s. but i figured that would be my best option. thank you.

Add ghl mitras to the low spill column.
Any lights using reflectors over lenses is naturally low spilling.

Low mounted bars w 120 degree lenses can be low spill. Unless waterproof a glass cover would be needed.

The last more extreme way is getting lights with very narrow lenses and hanging them high.

Orphek amazonas for example: