LED Addition to T5 Fixture?

I want to add LEDs to my existing Tek 6x54w T5 fixture. Basically, I'm doing it to get the shimmer effect. Now, first I wanted to know if anybody else has done something similar? I've found these LED "tubes" from IceCap, their called IceCap Lunar Lite, IceCap LunarLite - Blue LED Retrofit - English. I was thinking of attaching them to the "peaks' in the Tek Reflector. I would only use two. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

I would just wonder with those tubes, since there's a large number of points where the light will be coming from and not just one strong one like MH, will it actually give a shimmer effect?

 

Yea they will, any point originating light will give the shimmer effect. I've held a flashlight up to the tank and it gives the effect.

 

Well, it's not really equivalent to a flashlight; there's many more points on the LED fixture. I'm talking about having the ~30 points of light from the LEDs, rather than the 1 point. If it does give a shimmer, it'll likely be less pronounced than the MH shimmer.

 

Hey Guitarman I think I can help you out on this one. I have a strong reccomendation for you. Have you seen the Panorama series LED's? Well one of there lines is the Exxotic stunner strips. These will do what you are looking for and you will be happy with them, I promise you. How it works is first you buy the transformer which is around $20. Then from that transformer you buy linkable LED strips. they come in White, True atinic, blues and daylights. You can link has many as 6 strips to one transformer. but even one is very bright. You link as many as you want depending on the lenght of your tank or the color arangment you want.

BTW these are not somthing I am endorsing from me googling or researching online and then telling you somthing I read. My LFS actually has the entire Panorama series LED's including there Fixtures. They have several of the stunner strips on a few of there frag and display tanks.. (The LFS owner gave me a presentation). you will be impressed at the florescent in corals they bring out..

They are great for just shimmer effect and standalone moonlights. but the cool thing is they actually add more color combos to your display lights. if you link 2-3 or more.

And also the strip are superslim and can be mounted directly down the middle of your fixture. (well on the aquticlife it would go over the strip wit the stock LEDS>

The Store is Kees aquarium in Shelby Township Michigan.

Aquarium Lighting & LED Lights: ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip

KEE'S AQUARIUM & PETS - Saltwater Fish

 

LEDS hands down give off a great shimmer effect. I have just 12 LED moonlights that shimmer significantly.

 

Thanks a lot, I'll definitly look into it.

 

Some interesting suggestions above. However, I don't know if you will notice the shimmering effect when your T5s are on. In my tank I run an 8 bulb Tek fixture, and even with only 2 of the bulbs running I can't notice any effect from my 48" LED strip. When the T5s are off, the LEDs give a wonderful shimmering moonlight effect. But when the lights are on there is no shimmer at all. But if you do find something that works, please post it so I can copy you!;D

 

Well, that may put a damper in my plan, as the only reason I want to add them is for the shimmer effect. What LED light do you have and where did you put it on the fixture?

 

becareful not to leave the true actinic leds on you can get the shimmer effect during the day and night but constant running of these bulbs can burn your corals