shimmer???

Hello!
I have the following lighting: 1 uv actinic t5
1 10,000k t5
2 250 watt mh
4 white moon leds (which I leave on all the time)

My problem is I was hoping to get more shimmer. I get a ton at night from the leds. Anbody have any ideas? Ps- my tank is 90 gal bow front ,30" deep.

 

Led's are the best for shimmer. The only real way to get the same shimmer as you are from your moonlights, is to go to a full LED fixture. But they are very expensive.

 

yes, very $$$$$$$

 

When you turn the T5s off do you notice more shimmer? I think maybe the T5 10k is overpowering your MH.
Something you might tyr next time you need to replace bulbs is go back to a 10k MH for more punch and put Actinics in both T5s for supplementation. The 10k MH will probably get you the desired effect plus fantastic growth. I used XM 10k MH for several years and nothing ever grew so fast either before or after. I now use Reeflux 12k MH and do not have the brightness (PAR), growth or shimmer I had with the XMs.

 

Maybe you need stronger halides to get through 30" of water? Also I would lost the 10K and get another blue as your halides are supplying plenty of white light.

~Will.

 

I agree leds are going to give more shimmer. How much surface agitation do you have. its the sados from waves that cause the shimmer.

 

I am thinking about getting another t5 bulb or trying different mh bulbs but I like blue water and don't want any yellow but I don't know what to buy, as buying bulbs just to see what they look like gets expensive.

 

I just wanted to clarify. LED's give the best shimmer in my opinion. But this doesn't mean you cant get more out of your MH lighting. Like others said, try a stronger bulb, and some more surface agitation. Just don't expect as much as your Moonlights are giving.

 

Yea! I did 'nt think about waves. Right now I don't even have a pump, Just the return from the sump. I also forgot to say my mh's are 14k.