I want my T5-only tank to shimmer like it has halides!
 

I heard that I can hook up some white-colored LED's to get the shimmer back.

Question is: At 1 watt per bulb, would they be overpowered by my T5's? Would I still get a shimmer? I'm not looking for a moonlight shimmer; rather, a shimmer when my main lights are one.

Assuming they'll get me the shimmer, I was looking at the following LED's from Current USA:

1) Powerbrite strip (has 4x1W LED's) - costs about $60

[url]http://www.current-usa.com/powerbrite.html[/url]

2) the Lunar Lights (has 2 LED's) - costs about $13

[url]http://www.current-usa.com/lunarlight.html[/url]

The Powerbrite's literature says it's "for the shimmer" effect. is it just marketing? Do you think I can get the shimmer from the Lunar lights, which are a lot cheaper?

Thanks

I tried the lunar lights and the don't create any shimmer effect at all when the T5's are on. I've been wondering about those Powerbrite too.

That's good to know. Thanks for your response. Hopefully, someone who has tried the Powerbrites will chime in.

The hard part will be finding LED's that are strong enough to give the shimmer when the T5's are on.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Your lamps are going to wash out any LED's that you add to the tank. The glitter lines are from point sources of light. To me, it's what the reef actually looks like, and it's why I keep halides on my main display tank.

Same here. Halides just have more lumens to refract and give that "shimmering" effect.

The shimmering is from the light being point source. Since flourescents are tubes then it is not possible to get shimmering.

hi there tbone28,

i recently got a light shop to custom make me an LED array utilising 3w LEDs and they give me great glitter lines though i cant have them turned on for more than 20 mins at a time as theyd overheat. (the reflectors trap heat and i dont run any fans for my T5s.

they are terribly expensive though- to give you an idea, about the price of a new Tunze Nano 6055. but as my tanks packed and i havent added anything to my system for a while, i thought to give it a try.

you can circumvent the heat situation by adding a fan for active cooling though. i opted for a dimmer circuit instead, as i only need them on when im viewing the tank.

perhaps you can pick up an LED torch and shine it down your tank with your main lights on to see if the glitter lines show, then proceed to DIY an LED array similar to the torch if they do?

i think it very much depends on the strength of the LEDs you employ and the depth of your tank. anything deeper than 2 feet and i doubt the glitter lines will be discernable.

cheers,
ian

To the Halide users: Yes, i do miss that, but I left halides because of the high electricity costs, and won't be going back.

tkeracer: I understand that I can't get shimmering from my T5's. That's the point of this thread. That's why I'm asking if I can get shimmering with LED's while my T5's are on.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11311566#post11311566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iantoh [/i]
[B]hi there tbone28,

i recently got a light shop to custom make me an LED array utilising 3w LEDs and they give me great glitter lines though i cant have them turned on for more than 20 mins at a time as theyd overheat. (the reflectors trap heat and i dont run any fans for my T5s.

you can circumvent this situation by adding a fan for active cooling. i opted for a dimmer circuit though, as i only need them on when im viewing the tank.

perhaps you can pick up an LED torch and shine it down your tank with your main lights on to see if the glitter lines show, then proceed to DIY an LED array similar to the torch if they do?

i think it very much depends on the strength of the LEDs you employ and the depth of your tank. anything deeper than 2 feet and i doubt the glitter lines will be discernable.

cheers,
ian [/B][/QUOTE]

That was helpful. I'm trying to find a unit that won't overheat, though. My tank is 24" deep. Was looking at this 10-lamp LED clamp on. Do you think it has enough juice?

[url]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~lighting_moonlight_moon_lunar_lamp_led_taam_rio_mini_sun_lighting_fixture.html[/url]

I have some low watt track lighting....the little lights that hang on a wire suspunded accross the ceiling. And if I point one at the tank presto instant shimmer.

What kind of bulb is in the track lighting?

I would like to hear from people that run t5's and suppliment LED's for shimmer as well. It would be great if there are pictures out there as well. Along for the ride.

Never seen shimmer in a t5 tank from led's but have seen shimmer in t5 tank's from halogen's. Basically add a couple halogen lights, the cheapo lowe's clip on's and you'll get good shimmer lines.

I emailed Current about the PowerBrite fixture. Their recommendation is one fixture for every 40watts of T5 lighting - that means 16 fixtures I need to hide inside my canopy! LOL :D

so, seems like question's been answered - LED's will get washed out.

Those of you using halogens, are you noticing any algae growth?

they allso make a 12 volt for driveing lights on cars


[url]http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?marketID=401&onlineStore=true&locStoreNum=8125&Ntk=AllProps&N=10000003+90401+502548&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&langId=-1[/url]

The best bet might be going with a couple LED spotlights, something like this: [url]http://www.smarthome.com/97314t.html[/url]

Just curious about the halogen lights idea to.

My Nano tank has some shimmer effect with fluorescent lights. I have a nano propeller PH that makes "waves" on the surface. R

For about 4 thousand dollars you can get the kz corallight it has built bin leds...lol.... how badly do you really want shimmer??

LOL, for 4 thousand dollars, I'd expect a lot. I only want shimmer if I can find an easy-to-install, economical solution.

Same as rickh, turbulent surface can cause shimmer

You want the shimmer ...
You need the shimmer ...
You got to have the shimmer ...

I have a lot of shimmer with my T5's, seriously, lots.

what's the secret, Dar?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11336974#post11336974 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JC VT [/i]
[B]Same as rickh, turbulent surface can cause shimmer [/B][/QUOTE]

How turbulent should the surface be? My surface gets good agitation already. Can you post a pic of your surface?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11337132#post11337132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28 [/i]
[B]what's the secret, Dar? [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, I supplement my two T5's with 2 X 250 watt halides ... :D

Sorry, I couldnt help it. I was just in one of those type of moods that I fully realize nobody else here, aside from myself, will appreciate.

I did use two incandescent spotlights to add shimmer to NO Flourescent lighting many many moons ago.