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  #1  
Old 12/04/2007, 12:29 AM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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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

http://www.current-usa.com/powerbrite.html

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

http://www.current-usa.com/lunarlight.html

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
  #2  
Old 12/04/2007, 03:19 AM
carlos_fb carlos_fb is offline
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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.
  #3  
Old 12/04/2007, 03:46 AM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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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.
  #4  
Old 12/04/2007, 10:07 AM
Tennsquire Tennsquire is offline
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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.
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  #5  
Old 12/04/2007, 11:13 AM
ClayWagner ClayWagner is offline
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Same here. Halides just have more lumens to refract and give that "shimmering" effect.
  #6  
Old 12/04/2007, 11:18 AM
tkeracer619 tkeracer619 is offline
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The shimmering is from the light being point source. Since flourescents are tubes then it is not possible to get shimmering.
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  #7  
Old 12/04/2007, 11:42 AM
iantoh iantoh is offline
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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
  #8  
Old 12/04/2007, 11:42 AM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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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.
  #9  
Old 12/04/2007, 11:46 AM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by iantoh
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
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?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...g_fixture.html
  #10  
Old 12/04/2007, 12:17 PM
ryan_paskadi ryan_paskadi is offline
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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.
  #11  
Old 12/04/2007, 01:32 PM
Jareth Jareth is offline
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What kind of bulb is in the track lighting?
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  #12  
Old 12/05/2007, 08:46 AM
ch0daboy ch0daboy is offline
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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.
  #13  
Old 12/05/2007, 10:06 AM
luke33 luke33 is offline
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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.
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  #14  
Old 12/05/2007, 12:57 PM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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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

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

Those of you using halogens, are you noticing any algae growth?
  #15  
Old 12/05/2007, 01:12 PM
JACOXVIII JACOXVIII is offline
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they allso make a 12 volt for driveing lights on cars


http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...0053&langId=-1
  #16  
Old 12/05/2007, 02:53 PM
mcliffy2 mcliffy2 is offline
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The best bet might be going with a couple LED spotlights, something like this: http://www.smarthome.com/97314t.html
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  #17  
Old 12/07/2007, 02:52 PM
trueperc trueperc is offline
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Just curious about the halogen lights idea to.
  #18  
Old 12/07/2007, 04:44 PM
rickh rickh is offline
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My Nano tank has some shimmer effect with fluorescent lights. I have a nano propeller PH that makes "waves" on the surface. R
  #19  
Old 12/07/2007, 05:47 PM
jwccwj jwccwj is offline
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For about 4 thousand dollars you can get the kz corallight it has built bin leds...lol.... how badly do you really want shimmer??
  #20  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:01 PM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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LOL, for 4 thousand dollars, I'd expect a lot. I only want shimmer if I can find an easy-to-install, economical solution.
  #21  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:07 PM
JC VT JC VT is offline
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Same as rickh, turbulent surface can cause shimmer
  #22  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:07 PM
DarG DarG is offline
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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.
  #23  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:32 PM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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what's the secret, Dar?
  #24  
Old 12/07/2007, 07:09 PM
tbone28 tbone28 is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by JC VT
Same as rickh, turbulent surface can cause shimmer
How turbulent should the surface be? My surface gets good agitation already. Can you post a pic of your surface?
  #25  
Old 12/07/2007, 08:19 PM
DarG DarG is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by tbone28
what's the secret, Dar?
Well, I supplement my two T5's with 2 X 250 watt halides ...

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.
 

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