How to get the water Shimmer effect

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by dustin0479, Mar 13, 2011.

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  1. dustin0479

    dustin0479 Peppermint Shrimp

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    I have been playing around with my tank and even though i have good surface agitation I am not getting ANY shimmer from the lighting. Could i have my lights too close to the water surface?
     
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  3. malac0da13

    malac0da13 Torch Coral

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    Do you have halides or Leds?

    Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
     
  4. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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    T5 don't shimmer much. Metal Halide shimmer and I think maybe LED do, too.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2011
  5. littletnklvr

    littletnklvr Astrea Snail

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    Your sig says you have t5's I didn't think you could get shimmer effect with those, I have t5's and two aquaclear filters on my 15 gallon they ripple the water a lot and I have no shimmer. You would need led or mh lights.
     
  6. kss2801

    kss2801 Montipora Capricornis

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    He has t5 in his sig. You wont get a shimmer out of those. I supplemented my t5's with some PAR 30 bulbs and get a lot of shimmer from those.
     
  7. jbraslins

    jbraslins Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    From observation at 2 local LFS, LEDs have stronger shimmer effect than halides. I think that has to do with multiple light sources versus one. Halides have shimmer too but not as strong as LEDs. T5s have no shimmer.
     
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  9. dustin0479

    dustin0479 Peppermint Shrimp

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    that sucks... I never noticed this before. I only just noticed it because there is a recess light above the tank and i took the hood off to work on it and saw the shimmer.

    Thanks everyone.
     
  10. Pickupman66

    Pickupman66 Tassled File Fish

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    flourescents wont shimmer because of the bulb size and the way the light is output across the entire area. you need more of a spot lighting (MH or LED) to get it.
     
  11. Fishluvr

    Fishluvr Bristle Worm

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  12. Clonefarmer

    Clonefarmer Millepora

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