Picking out lighting for a 120, question re: LED shimmering

Belegul · 04/23/2011, 09:21 AM

TL;DR: Is there a way to eliminate, or at least dramatically reduce, the shimmering effect from LEDs while still maintaining adequate aquarium hygene/circulation?

Hey all, working on setting up a 48x24x24 FOWLR (plus a nem in a year or so when the tank is more mature) and trying to pick out lighting.

I really like the color, power, and customability of LED lighting, and was just ready to order 3 AI Sol LEDs, when I decided I should get my wife's opinion about the "shimmering" effect that they give. Which I love, I might add.

So we went to our LFS (we've got a very good one nearby, one I trust quite well. Their advice is 90% the same as that I've gotten on RC), and looked at some examples of LED lighting on their reef tanks. They all had a fair amount of surface agitation and shimmering, and Dena (wife) within like 20 seconds started getting nauseated.

Now, I'm willing to chalk some of this up to (a) warmth in store, (b) crowded and cramped quarters, and (c) that there was alot of surface agitation. However, I don't want to take a chance that the wife will be upset with the tank and not be able to enjoy it! Is there a way to use LED lighting that minimizes or -gasp- eliminates the shimmering effect?

dohc97 · 04/23/2011, 10:27 AM

well as you already mentioned, no surface agitation means less shimmering. It is not in the best interest of your reef's inhabitants to have less agitation so maybe you should start looking at a different light, t5s are great and do not produce shimmer.

Belegul · 04/23/2011, 10:58 AM

Yeah, I'm 95% sure that I'm going to need to go T5's on the tank. Was just covering all my bases though, and hoping somebody could come up with a reasonable and coherent argument for why I was wrong

04/23/2011, 09:21 AM	#1
Belegul Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 90	Picking out lighting for a 120, question re: LED shimmering TL;DR: Is there a way to eliminate, or at least dramatically reduce, the shimmering effect from LEDs while still maintaining adequate aquarium hygene/circulation? Hey all, working on setting up a 48x24x24 FOWLR (plus a nem in a year or so when the tank is more mature) and trying to pick out lighting. I really like the color, power, and customability of LED lighting, and was just ready to order 3 AI Sol LEDs, when I decided I should get my wife's opinion about the "shimmering" effect that they give. Which I love, I might add. So we went to our LFS (we've got a very good one nearby, one I trust quite well. Their advice is 90% the same as that I've gotten on RC), and looked at some examples of LED lighting on their reef tanks. They all had a fair amount of surface agitation and shimmering, and Dena (wife) within like 20 seconds started getting nauseated. Now, I'm willing to chalk some of this up to (a) warmth in store, (b) crowded and cramped quarters, and (c) that there was alot of surface agitation. However, I don't want to take a chance that the wife will be upset with the tank and not be able to enjoy it! Is there a way to use LED lighting that minimizes or -gasp- eliminates the shimmering effect?

04/23/2011, 10:27 AM	#2
dohc97 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 4,183	well as you already mentioned, no surface agitation means less shimmering. It is not in the best interest of your reef's inhabitants to have less agitation so maybe you should start looking at a different light, t5s are great and do not produce shimmer. __________________ "I upgraded my lighting to HID with angel eyes" Current Tank Info: IM 25 lagoon, diy stand, kessil A360we, mp10 wes qd, apex jr

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04/23/2011, 10:58 AM	#3
Belegul Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 90	Yeah, I'm 95% sure that I'm going to need to go T5's on the tank. Was just covering all my bases though, and hoping somebody could come up with a reasonable and coherent argument for why I was wrong