Aquatic Life
Aquatic Life is a privately-held US manufacturer of specialty aquarium lighting (T5HO hybrid and LED fixtures) and reverse osmosis/deionization water filtration systems, selling direct-to-consumer via its website and Amazon storefront to hobbyist aquarium keepers, hydroponic growers, and automotive detailing consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersSouth El Monte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aquatic Life does
Aquatic Life is a privately-held, US-based (South El Monte, California) manufacturer of specialty aquarium and water filtration hardware, founded in 2008 and operating with 11–50 employees. The company's portfolio centers on two product lines: (1) aquarium lighting, anchored by its patent-pending T5HO hybrid mounting fixtures (G2, G3, DX18, X18) that combine fluorescent and LED lighting and integrate with third-party LED fixtures (EcoTech Radion, AquaIllumination Hydra/Prime, Kessil) and major aquarium controllers (Neptune APEX, GHL ProfiLux); and (2) reverse osmosis/deionization water filtration systems (RO Buddie, Classic 4-Stage, Twist-In) plus replacement cartridges, membranes, and color-changing DI resin used for aquarium water preparation, hydroponic applications, and spot-free automotive rinsing. The company's HME sub-brand adds smartphone-controlled LED fixtures (Coral Cover) and the HME Aqua Master App.
Aquatic Life sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its Shopify-based aquaticlife.com storefront and an Amazon Storefront, supplemented by a dealer network for retail aquarium shops and product placement within reef-keeping communities such as REEF2REEF. Pricing spans low-cost consumables (cartridges $10–$25) to premium hybrid fixtures ($129–$500+), with a $150 free-shipping threshold indicating an enthusiast AOV. The company has been recognized via the Marine Depot Best Light of 2018 award and continues to invest in IP, with a filed patent application (No. 62/536,848) covering the hybrid mounting system.
The business model is hardware sales to a long tail of hobbyist and small commercial customers, with recurring revenue from consumable RO/DI cartridges and DI resin. There is no evidence of external venture funding, institutional ownership, or M&A activity, and the company appears to be operating as an independent, owner-operated specialty manufacturer.
Aquatic Life firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aquatic Life
- Legal name
- Aquatic Life
- Website
- https://aquaticlife.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aquatic Life is a privately-held US manufacturer of specialty aquarium lighting (T5HO hybrid and LED fixtures) and reverse osmosis/deionization water filtration systems, selling direct-to-consumer via its website and Amazon storefront to hobbyist aquarium keepers, hydroponic growers, and automotive detailing consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aquatic Life industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aquarium Equipment
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Electric Housewares & Fans (3634), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquarium & Fish Supplies Retail (CRALAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail (CRAMAIAB), Water Heating & Treatment Appliance Retail (Water Heaters, Water Softeners, Filtration Systems) (CRACACAF)
Keywords
Where Aquatic Life is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South El Monte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aquatic Life business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Aquarium Equipment E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer sales of aquarium lighting fixtures, water filtration systems, protein skimmers, and accessories through aquaticlife.com and Amazon Store. Products include T5 HO hybrid fixtures, LED lights, RO/DI systems, and replacement parts/consumables.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Aquarium Lighting Fixtures |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Aquatic Life product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aquatic Life designs, manufactures, and sells aquarium lighting fixtures and water filtration systems for freshwater and saltwater (reef) aquariums. Its core product lines are T5HO hybrid lighting fixtures (G2, G3, DX18, X18) that combine fluorescent and LED lighting on a single mounting system, RO/DI reverse osmosis and deionization water filtration units, and accessories such as cartridges, protein skimmers, and pumps. The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce site and Amazon Store.
Product overview
Aquatic Life is a product company selling aquarium and hydroponic water filtration and lighting equipment. The core product portfolio consists of two main lines: (1) Reverse Osmosis/Deionization (RO/DI) water filtration systems including the RO Buddie series (50-150 GPD), Classic 4-Stage systems, and Twist-In cartridge systems with related accessories; and (2) Aquarium lighting solutions including T5HO Hybrid fixtures (G2, G3, DX18, X18 models), HME Coral Cover LED fixtures, and Reno LED clamp lights. The company also offers protein skimmers, aquarium pumps, and a consumer spot-free car rinse unit. Products feature third-party integrations with Neptune APEX, GHL ProfiLux controllers, and LED fixtures from EcoTech, AquaIllumination, and Kessil. Located in South El Monte, California, with products available through their website and Amazon store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RO Buddie: Product line of reverse osmosis and deionization systems for residential and hydroponic use
- HME (HME Aqua Master)
Products and services
- RO Buddie RO/DI Systems Compact 3-4 stage reverse osmosis/deionization water filtration units designed for residential aquarium and hydroponic use. Available in multiple capacities with chloramine removal options.
- Classic 4-Stage RO/DI System Four-stage reverse osmosis/deionization system providing up to 100-150 GPD of filtered water, reducing chlorine, heavy metals, total dissolved solids, and chloramines from tap water for aquariums and hydroponics.
- RO/DI Cartridges and Membranes Replacement and bulk cartridges for RO/DI systems including sediment filters, activated carbon blocks, color-changing mixed-bed deionization resin cartridges, chloramine removal cartridges, and RO membrane cartridges.
- DX18 T5 HO Dimmable Hybrid Fixture Patent-pending hybrid lighting system combining dimmable T5HO fluorescent lamps with LED fixtures. Features 0-10V input for controller integration, built-in HEP brand dimmable ballasts, and available in 24-inch, 36-inch, and 48-inch lengths. Compatible with EcoTech Radion, AI Hydra, AI Prime, and Kessil LED fixtures.
- G3 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixture Third-generation hybrid lighting fixture combining T5HO lamps with LED fixtures. Features HEP brand ballasts, rounded corners, thinner profile, peninsula tank power cord routing, and universal mounts for EcoTech Radion, AI Hydra, AI Prime, and Kessil 360 LED fixtures. Available in 24-inch, 36-inch, 48-inch, and 61-inch lengths.
- G2 T5 HO Hybrid 4-Lamp Mounting System Fixture Second-generation hybrid lighting fixture combining T5HO fluorescent lamps with LED fixtures. Available in 24-inch, 36-inch, 48-inch, and 61-inch lengths for 18-24 inch wide aquariums, with universal mounts for EcoTech Radion and AI LED fixtures.
- X18 T5 HO Non-Dimmable Hybrid Fixture Hybrid lighting system combining non-dimmable T5HO fluorescent lamps with LED fixtures. Available in 61-inch length with built-in HEP ballasts. Compatible with AquaIllumination Hydra, EcoTech Radion, and Kessil LED fixtures.
Quantifiable outcome
- DX18 fixture available in 24", 36", and 48" lengths; G3 available up to 61"
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Aquatic Life
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aquatic Life technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature6 records
Aquatic Life partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EcoTech MarinecoreAquatic Life hybrid fixtures include universal mounts for EcoTech Radion LED fixtures, enabling cross-brand compatibility for reef aquarium setups.
- AquaIlluminationcoreAquatic Life products support AI Hydra and AI Prime LED fixtures with universal mounting brackets included with hybrid fixtures.
- KessilcoreAquatic Life hybrid fixtures accommodate Kessil A360X, A360WE, and AP700 LED fixtures with compatible mounting options.
- REEF2REEFminorAquatic Life partners with REEF2REEF Reef Aquarium Forum as a community engagement channel for reef aquarium enthusiasts.
- AmazonminorAquatic Life maintains an Amazon Store presence (stores/aquaticlife) for expanded e-commerce distribution.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aquatic Life competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AquaIllumination: Reef-aquarium LED lighting brand whose Hydra and Prime fixtures are integrated into every Aquatic Life hybrid fixture. Directly competing in the same reef-lighting category with the same enthusiast customer base.
- Kessil: Specialty reef-aquarium LED manufacturer (A360X, AP700) that is both an integration partner of Aquatic Life and a direct competitor in dense-diode reef lighting.
- EcoTech Marine: Premium reef-aquarium LED and pump manufacturer (Radion, VorTech) whose lighting products are mounted on Aquatic Life hybrid fixtures. Competes head-on in premium reef lighting and shares integration DNA.
- Neptune Systems: Manufacturer of the APEX aquarium controller — a 0–10V integration partner for Aquatic Life DX18 fixtures. Competes in connected-tank control and adjacent dosing/filtration categories.
- Innovative Marine: Manufacturer of aquarium filtration, skimmers, and LED lighting for saltwater and reef setups. Direct peer in the broader 'aquarium equipment' category that Aquatic Life also competes in.
- Reef Octopus: Specialty protein skimmer and filtration equipment brand for reef keepers. Comparable because it competes with Aquatic Life in the skimmer/circulation category among the same enthusiast customers.
- Current USA: Aquarium LED lighting manufacturer (Satellite, Orbit) targeting similar freshwater and reef hobbyist buyers. Competes directly in the same DTC channel through Amazon and pet-store distribution.
- Finnex: Aquarium LED lighting brand offering planted-tank and reef fixtures at value price points. Direct peer in aquarium lighting with overlapping hobbyist channel and Amazon distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Coralife: Broad-line aquarium equipment brand (lighting, filtration, fixtures) sold through mass-market pet retail. Comparable as an incumbent in the same hobbyist lighting category with a wider mass-market channel.
- Fluval: Flagship aquarium brand of Rolf C. Hagen covering lighting, filters, and accessories across freshwater and saltwater. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Aquatic Life across multiple product lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aquatic Life social profiles
Digital presenceAquatic Life financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aquatic Life leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aquatic Life funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aquatic Life M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aquatic Life
What does Aquatic Life do?
Aquatic Life designs, manufactures, and sells aquarium lighting fixtures and water filtration systems for freshwater and saltwater (reef) aquariums. Its core product lines are T5HO hybrid lighting fixtures (G2, G3, DX18, X18) that combine fluorescent and LED lighting on a single mounting system, RO/DI reverse osmosis and deionization water filtration units, and accessories such as cartridges, protein skimmers, and pumps. The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce site and Amazon Store.
Is Aquatic Life a public or private company?
Aquatic Life is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Aquatic Life founded?
Aquatic Life was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aquatic Life based?
Aquatic Life is headquartered in South El Monte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aquatic Life make money?
One revenue line is on record: aquarium Equipment E-commerce.
Who are Aquatic Life's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AquaIllumination, Kessil, EcoTech Marine, Neptune Systems, Innovative Marine, Reef Octopus, Current USA and Finnex. Broad incumbents are Coralife and Fluval.
Does Aquatic Life have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aquatic Life.
What industry is Aquatic Life in?
Aquatic Life's product category is Aquarium Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAHAI, Aquarium & Fish Supplies Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAIAB, Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail. Its NAICS code is 3351 and its SIC code is 3634.