Why don't we have more aesthetically pleasing lighting options?

[naterealbig]

Our lights are much stronger, most require active heat management and alot of us prioritize the animals well being over how it looks. It's a life support system, Not a painting on a wall

Why can't we prioritize the animals and still desire a lighting solution that blends with the overall aesthetic of the home.

To a lot of people (myself included) our tanks, are in fact a living piece of art, and not completely different than "a painting on the wall".

I find that most (not necessarily you) who don't care about this aspect of the hobby, are missing this from their reef.

There used to be good looking lights in the hobby. Sfiligoi (who unfortunately shut down their aquarium line) had these...













And some from non-defunct Giesemann, although for many of their models you'll have to order from Germany...

 

[Reefering1]

I disagree, there are plenty "good looking" lights available. Not sure what you're really trying to discuss. With style, you tend to lose some function. There's a balance available to suit anyone's desires.

 

[twentyleagues]

Also what canopies were designed for. You dont want to see whats over the top of your tank? canopy!

 

[Tamberav]

ATI Straton look good.

I have a canopy so don’t care what they look like.

The freshwater lights you linked… well in saltwater world you would sacrifice power or perhaps spectrum for that. They need fans or a bigger heat sink.

AI blades may look cool but they are severely lacking vs something industrial like a reefi or quanta atlas.

So what is it you want? The power to punch down on deeper tanks and superior spectrum or a clean look?

Companies make both so buy whenever satisfies your need.

 

[RMS18]

The new maxspect is slick

 

[bobnicaragua]

My lights are a complete monstrosity with T5, LED and metal halides, but you’d never know it with the canopy!

 

[ATXreefer]

The new maxspect is slick

Agree

Also what canopies were designed for. You dont want to see whats over the top of your tank? canopy!

Also agree, I just expect for the price of name branded reef lights they would look good enough to avoid the additional cost and space of a canopy.

ATI Straton look good.

I have a canopy so don’t care what they look like.

The freshwater lights you linked… well in saltwater world you would sacrifice power or perhaps spectrum for that. They need fans or a bigger heat sink.

AI blades may look cool but they are severely lacking vs something industrial like a reefi or quanta atlas.

So what is it you want? The power to punch down on deeper tanks and superior spectrum or a clean look?

Companies make both so buy whenever satisfies your need.

I like what Quanta is doing for our hobby. He's offering great value for the price, which I actually think strengthens my point; his lights look comparable to the notable big manufacturers for far less cost. which means for that extra several hundred dollars you pay for an XR30, they could make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Tamberav]

Agree

Also agree, I just expect for the price of name branded reef lights they would look good enough to avoid the additional cost and space of a canopy.


I like what Quanta is doing for our hobby. He's offering great value for the price, which I actually think strengthens my point; his lights look comparable to the notable big manufacturers for far less cost. which means for that extra several hundred dollars you pay for an XR30, they could make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

They can’t even make a working app so doubt they can do such thing. The glare from Radion is also awful so can’t say I can see what they look like when my eyes are burning. They have bigger issues then looks.

 

[ATXreefer]

My lights are a complete monstrosity with T5, LED and metal halides, but you’d never know it with the canopy!

Nice tank!

Why can't we prioritize the animals and still desire a lighting solution that blends with the overall aesthetic of the home.

To a lot of people (myself included) our tanks, are in fact a living piece of art, and not completely different than "a painting on the wall".

I find that most (not necessarily you) who don't care about this aspect of the hobby, are missing this from their reef.

There used to be good looking lights in the hobby. Sfiligoi (who unfortunately shut down their aquarium line) had these...

Great minds think alike!

 

[Tamberav]

Rimless ranks and stands should start coming with matching floating canopies is the answer.

 

[twentyleagues]

Agree

Also agree, I just expect for the price of name branded reef lights they would look good enough to avoid the additional cost and space of a canopy.


I like what Quanta is doing for our hobby. He's offering great value for the price, which I actually think strengthens my point; his lights look comparable to the notable big manufacturers for far less cost. which means for that extra several hundred dollars you pay for an XR30, they could make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

I was going to say Quanta also because of the industrial look of them. I think they look sweet!

 

[ATXreefer]

Rimless ranks and stands should start coming with matching floating canopies is the answer.

I couldn't agree more. How do we tag redsea, waterbox, etc?

 

[twentyleagues]

I couldn't agree more. How do we tag redsea, waterbox, etc?

I would also leave Redsea out of the tag......

 

[ATXreefer]

LOL

 

[VintageReefer]

LOL

The Maxspect razor line I felt always has been sleek and good looking

 

[ryshark]

ATI Straton look good.

I have a canopy so don’t care what they look like.

The freshwater lights you linked… well in saltwater world you would sacrifice power or perhaps spectrum for that. They need fans or a bigger heat sink.

AI blades may look cool but they are severely lacking vs something industrial like a reefi or quanta atlas.

So what is it you want? The power to punch down on deeper tanks and superior spectrum or a clean look?

Companies make both so buy whenever satisfies your need.

I have Straton Pros in a canopy, make me want to take the top off

 

[cilyjr]

Although I completely understand the OP reasoning and want, I have thought about this too, I decided that I just don't think it's very likely one will see much thought into the ascetics of the housing. These lights are going to prioritize function over form.
Personally, I would rather have a well-designed good working light that is as minimalistic as possible and can be hidden in my own way to my own liking.
Walk into the lighting section at any box store there's a thousand different fixtures to fit individual tastes, now try doing that with a light that's primarily functioning is growing coral.
This hobby and particularly the lighting companies are simply not big enough to offer more than a single option, maybe two (one in white one in black).

The absolute worst is the wire hanging systems that so many people used. Then you just see the cord pigtailing off to the side. Ugg.
I have seen a ton of clever solutions up to including people just using an old-fashioned lamp shade over a Kessel.

Just my thoughts.

 

[rtparty]

I don’t know if everyone likes the look but I spent some time planning this out:

To say the Blades are lacking is far from my experience. They had their first generation issues for sure but got those worked out. With a little planning, I don’t know of another light that is so easy to mount and make look good

 

[ATXreefer]

I don’t know if everyone likes the look but I spent some time planning this out:

To say the Blades are lacking is far from my experience. They had their first generation issues for sure but got those worked out. With a little planning, I don’t know of another light that is so easy to mount and make look good

Did you use two grow and one glow in this combo? I think it looks pretty good, especially the way mounting arm is coming from the back corner. It makes it look more out of the way and easier to focus on the tank space

 

[HNR]

Lots of commenters really missing the mark here. The main difference is how the actual hobby differs between freshwater planted and reefing. Freshwater nature style aquariums are more akin to actual art than the majority of reefing (although it’s coming around). The freshwater hobby is literally competitive in the form of IAPLC, the hobby tends to follow more artistic principles as opposed to reefing. Nature style aquariums have been around longer than reefing as a whole and one can argue that they are extensions of even older hobbies, mainly Japanese and Dutch gardens. The hobby values this more than reefing and thus high end fixtures are designed with this in mind. Reefing is coming around though.

Edit:

Another main difference is the sources of inspiration. The lights you have shown have more or less been all influenced by ADA, which tends to favor a more sleek “barebones” aesthetic in typical Japanese fashion which favors elegance in simplicity.