Shimmer!

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 10:38 AM

Haha the title of the thread doesn't mean a Broadway play or a shade of lipgloss

. I'm talking about the shimmery effect that people get in their tanks from metal halides. I'm going to have a FOWLR tank so don't need MH lighting and am going with 130 watt fluorescent lighting with 2 moon lights. So my question is how do I get "shimmer" in my tank without having to buy a metal halide?

pong · 10/31/2008, 10:40 AM

LED produces the shimmer effect... but i dont know how you would do it with flourescent... or if it would still shimmer with the lights on...

i have led lights on at night and it shimmers but cant see it when full lights are on..

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 10:42 AM

So If I just leave the moonlight's on will that create shimmer? Or won't that be strong enough?

pong · 10/31/2008, 10:44 AM

20+ led's for me... and i cant see the shimmer...

im using 400w of t5's

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 10:54 AM

Ah-that's just a little more wattage than me

so i guess we'll have to see. Any other input?

justilorah · 10/31/2008, 11:08 AM

get lower watt mh's and you will have the shimmer...

crvz · 10/31/2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fender4string
So my question is how do I get "shimmer" in my tank without having to buy a metal halide?

Buy a metal halide setup.

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:10 AM

Ok so what's the lowest watt MH they make? Also, "shimmer" is caused by a "point light source" right? There's no other bulb that I can use for the same effect?

jprince58 · 10/31/2008, 11:11 AM

I think you'll find almost any light source (including ambient) will trump any shimmer you get from moon lights. They're just simply too low in power output. The only reason you can see the shimmer, is because no other lights are on. I see it in my tanks all the time...but only after I turn off the room lights and let my eyes adjust to the low light level.

justilorah · 10/31/2008, 11:12 AM

lowest i have seen is 70 watts

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:20 AM

Hey how about these?
http://www.petmountain.com/product/l...ng-system.html

justilorah · 10/31/2008, 11:22 AM

they wont give you the shimmer you want

MileHighFish · 10/31/2008, 11:22 AM

i would use a 150 DE and this should be very nice. not much power difference from the 130 watts of florescence your planning on using.. then if you want later you could have lps and shroom etc..

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by justilorah
they wont give you the shimmer you want

Not to argue but why

? I'm just pretty curious about this

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:27 AM

Also what are DE's?

justilorah · 10/31/2008, 11:34 AM

de = double ended bulb

i dont know the answer why but i have them in my tank as moonlights and i dont get any shimmer from them even with no lights on in the room.

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:37 AM

Ok, thanks alot for all the answers guys and, like I said justilorah, i wasn't trying to argue with you but I just like to know the "why" behind answers

Zestay · 10/31/2008, 11:37 AM

if you want shimmer. get a halide set up.

if you dont want shimmer
get a t5 set up ( with individual reflectors )
also maybe check these guys out

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...S&Category=707

if you want a good budget kit

the reflectors arent amazing infact they are on the low end ( the metal halide reflectors ( also known as HQI which means double ended .. ) ) but ive heard medium reviews on thier t5 reflectors.. what are the dimensons of your tank and we can help you choose a lighting set up

any other lights are wasted money if you plan on keeping corals.

justilorah · 10/31/2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fender4string
Ok, thanks alot for all the answers guys and, like I said justilorah, i wasn't trying to argue with you but I just like to know the "why" behind answers

np i understand totally wanting to know the why behind answers myself, and i dont know why they dont i just know they dont from personal expirence..

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:46 AM

Well Zestay I actually already ordered a set of lights from Current

. They're just basic low wattage (130W-65W full spectrum and 65W actinic plus moonlights) lights as the tank will be an 85 gallon FOWLR and I have no intention of keeping coral in this tank as I don't want more limits on my livestock options other than max size (i.e. I don't feel like buying $50 treats for my trigger

).
Honestly, the whole reason this thread started is my brother is setting up a 90 gallon reef, with MH and I saw the shimmer and wanted that for my tank

. So the shimmer really isnt that important but just something I'd like to add to my tank

.

fender4string · 10/31/2008, 11:47 AM

thanks Justin, my only guess is that maybe the lunar lights aren't bright enough to show through the other lighting but who knows if that's right or not.

So I guess shimmer's out. Maybe it'll be something I can spend more money on later

.

Zestay · 10/31/2008, 01:10 PM

if you want a little shimmer. find a 70 watt metal halide. toss a 20k bulb in there.
you can make a retrofit one yourself for under 100 dollars

silverwolf72 · 10/31/2008, 01:59 PM

If you get the water surface to produce waves instead of just ripples you get a decent shimmer. I get the best effect when the waves travel parallel with the bulbs. My closed loop pushes water strait across the back glass of the tank and this produces waves instead of the randomness of the ripples

WaterssretaW · 10/31/2008, 02:26 PM

you have to point your returns toward the top. You need surface 'waves.'

Michael · 10/31/2008, 02:29 PM

LEDs will give you a shimmer i have 2 sets of them in my hood, they are along side 4 t5 lamps and when they are all on together it looks great, i definately see a shimmer with my LEDs

10/31/2008, 10:38 AM	#1
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Shimmer! Haha the title of the thread doesn't mean a Broadway play or a shade of lipgloss . I'm talking about the shimmery effect that people get in their tanks from metal halides. I'm going to have a FOWLR tank so don't need MH lighting and am going with 130 watt fluorescent lighting with 2 moon lights. So my question is how do I get "shimmer" in my tank without having to buy a metal halide?

10/31/2008, 11:08 AM	#6
justilorah Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: pa Posts: 98	get lower watt mh's and you will have the shimmer... __________________ Justin Lorah

10/31/2008, 11:11 AM	#9
jprince58 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jenks, OK, USA Posts: 751	I think you'll find almost any light source (including ambient) will trump any shimmer you get from moon lights. They're just simply too low in power output. The only reason you can see the shimmer, is because no other lights are on. I see it in my tanks all the time...but only after I turn off the room lights and let my eyes adjust to the low light level. __________________ 'I refuse to discount another man's opinion -- until he opens his mouth to speak.' -- Anonymous Jeff Prince Current Tank Info: 72g bow mixed reef; 40g frag

10/31/2008, 11:12 AM	#10
justilorah Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: pa Posts: 98	lowest i have seen is 70 watts __________________ Justin Lorah

10/31/2008, 11:22 AM	#12
justilorah Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: pa Posts: 98	they wont give you the shimmer you want __________________ Justin Lorah

10/31/2008, 10:40 AM	#2
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	LED produces the shimmer effect... but i dont know how you would do it with flourescent... or if it would still shimmer with the lights on... i have led lights on at night and it shimmers but cant see it when full lights are on..

10/31/2008, 10:42 AM	#3
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	So If I just leave the moonlight's on will that create shimmer? Or won't that be strong enough?

10/31/2008, 10:44 AM	#4
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	20+ led's for me... and i cant see the shimmer... im using 400w of t5's

10/31/2008, 10:54 AM	#5
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Ah-that's just a little more wattage than me so i guess we'll have to see. Any other input?

10/31/2008, 11:10 AM	#8
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Ok so what's the lowest watt MH they make? Also, "shimmer" is caused by a "point light source" right? There's no other bulb that I can use for the same effect?

10/31/2008, 11:20 AM	#11
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Hey how about these? http://www.petmountain.com/product/l...ng-system.html

10/31/2008, 11:22 AM	#13
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	i would use a 150 DE and this should be very nice. not much power difference from the 130 watts of florescence your planning on using.. then if you want later you could have lps and shroom etc.. __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

10/31/2008, 11:27 AM	#15
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Also what are DE's?

10/31/2008, 11:34 AM	#16
justilorah Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: pa Posts: 98	de = double ended bulb i dont know the answer why but i have them in my tank as moonlights and i dont get any shimmer from them even with no lights on in the room. __________________ Justin Lorah

10/31/2008, 11:37 AM	#17
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Ok, thanks alot for all the answers guys and, like I said justilorah, i wasn't trying to argue with you but I just like to know the "why" behind answers

10/31/2008, 11:37 AM	#18
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	if you want shimmer. get a halide set up. if you dont want shimmer get a t5 set up ( with individual reflectors ) also maybe check these guys out http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...S&Category=707 if you want a good budget kit the reflectors arent amazing infact they are on the low end ( the metal halide reflectors ( also known as HQI which means double ended .. ) ) but ive heard medium reviews on thier t5 reflectors.. what are the dimensons of your tank and we can help you choose a lighting set up any other lights are wasted money if you plan on keeping corals.

10/31/2008, 11:46 AM	#20
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Well Zestay I actually already ordered a set of lights from Current . They're just basic low wattage (130W-65W full spectrum and 65W actinic plus moonlights) lights as the tank will be an 85 gallon FOWLR and I have no intention of keeping coral in this tank as I don't want more limits on my livestock options other than max size (i.e. I don't feel like buying $50 treats for my trigger ). Honestly, the whole reason this thread started is my brother is setting up a 90 gallon reef, with MH and I saw the shimmer and wanted that for my tank . So the shimmer really isnt that important but just something I'd like to add to my tank .

10/31/2008, 11:47 AM	#21
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	thanks Justin, my only guess is that maybe the lunar lights aren't bright enough to show through the other lighting but who knows if that's right or not. So I guess shimmer's out. Maybe it'll be something I can spend more money on later .

10/31/2008, 01:10 PM	#22
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	if you want a little shimmer. find a 70 watt metal halide. toss a 20k bulb in there. you can make a retrofit one yourself for under 100 dollars

10/31/2008, 01:59 PM	#23
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	If you get the water surface to produce waves instead of just ripples you get a decent shimmer. I get the best effect when the waves travel parallel with the bulbs. My closed loop pushes water strait across the back glass of the tank and this produces waves instead of the randomness of the ripples

10/31/2008, 02:26 PM	#24
WaterssretaW Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 474	you have to point your returns toward the top. You need surface 'waves.' __________________ Oceanic Tech 120 + 30gal Sump, Aqua C EV 180, BRS Duel Carbon+GFO Reactor, Ecotech Vortech MP40w, 2X250 Icecap Pendents w/Icecap Balast; 14K bulbs Current Tank Info: Coral only with Live Rock

10/31/2008, 02:29 PM	#25
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	LEDs will give you a shimmer i have 2 sets of them in my hood, they are along side 4 t5 lamps and when they are all on together it looks great, i definately see a shimmer with my LEDs __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)