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View Full Version : Shimmer with T5?


Porthos
03/19/2007, 04:36 PM
I really like the shimmer effect of MH, but I have pretty much decided to go with T5 for my tank due to cost, heat, what I plan to keep, etc...

What I'm wondering is if it is possible to recreate the shimmer effect by suplimenting the T5 fixture with a strip of white LEDs? Would this work, or would any shimmer created get drowned out by the T5 light?

If this would work, is the any LED strip lights you would recommend? I really like the R2 Solutions signiture series, but they are blue moon lights. Maybe the LEDs could be swapped with white ones?

GSMguy
03/19/2007, 04:39 PM
the white LEDS would get washed out by the t5s i dont see the point

mile sq. reefer
03/19/2007, 04:43 PM
Shimmer=Metal Halides

mg426
03/19/2007, 04:53 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9516023#post9516023 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mile sq. reefer
Shimmer=Metal Halides
Thats how I see it too.

treejohnny
03/19/2007, 05:19 PM
i am setting up a 125G and plan on using t-5 for light and MH 175 for shimmer in middle.......thinking of 4 of the 54W not sure of the color yet.......have to play a little i suppose.....i currently have a few extra workhorse 5's and hoping they will do the job.

Ti
03/19/2007, 05:26 PM
you can with VERY STRONG surface agitation, but it will not b like halide

Scottkelly911
03/19/2007, 05:44 PM
agree'd with everyone else. While I don't personally don't have T-5's I've seen enough of them to know that they just don't have that same shimmer. Definitely nicer looking than PC's for coloration, but in my opinion not anywhere close to MH's and that shimmer with MH's just can't be duplicated. As someone said, maybe with surface agitation you'll get a shadowing effect that's similar to a shimmer, but not the shimmer caused by the reflection within the water that gives the MH's a shimmer.

davocean
03/19/2007, 06:39 PM
I just came from Current USA and saw a led strip light made for this very reason.
T5's w/ shimmer like MH.
I thought it looked great.

Porthos
03/20/2007, 10:48 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9517176#post9517176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
I just came from Current USA and saw a led strip light made for this very reason.
T5's w/ shimmer like MH.
I thought it looked great. Sounds cool. Any idea when they are coming out? Is it the LEDs alone, or is it part of a fixture?

Porthos
03/20/2007, 10:59 PM
Oops... double post

coyoteseven
03/20/2007, 11:09 PM
I actually get a decent shimmer with 4x55w PCs that supplement my MH... of course I have some hellacious surface agitation and it's not as pronounced as the MH, but it's shimmer nonetheless.

dzhuo
03/20/2007, 11:32 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9515959#post9515959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Porthos

What I'm wondering is if it is possible to recreate the shimmer effect by suplimenting the T5 fixture with a strip of white LEDs?


go to home depot and just buy a regular halogen light bulb (yes just the regular 70w or whatever you can find. color don't matter too. get the cheap one if you want), put it on a timer so it turns on when you view the tank (probably just a couple of hours anyway) and you will have shimmer just like MH. cheap and easy.