I see a lot of people do this and say what to get, but has anyone actually posted brand and part no. of bulb? Or if you have seen brand x at Home Cheapo or Lowe's? I want to get the right one the first time. Thanks!!!!!
Specific part no's r names of parts for shimmer effect..
- Thread starter sc2dave
- Start date
Sorry, no part numbers. But water clarity, whether or not the light shines on the tank through glass or not, color of light all play a factor....even water movement. LED lighting can get that shimmer, but it needs to be in the 5-6k color spectrum which is normal sunlight. Metal halide lighting will also give you the shimmer, but they are hotand expensive to run.
The best way to get that shimmer is to get a light that is bright and more focused then a flooded beam, and play with the height above the surface of the water. Also, when light shines through the glass tops the glass has a dispersion factor so many reef guys shine the lights on the bare surface of the water.
Another big factor is using only 3 watt LED spaced several inches apart. Cheap (Beamsworks) use quarter watt LED'S. Spaced close together. Check out side by side and you will understand.
I'm using a single flood style LED bulb at a 45 degree angle, aimed from the front left corner of the tank to the rear right corner. This way I get directional light, shadows, and shimmer.
I mounted a clamp light base inside my canopy by removing the clamp and then using a washer and screwing it into the wood canopy. The metal is thin enough to bend it to fit into the corner and anchor it there with the screws. I put the washer there because the metal is thin enough I didn't want it to tear or stress enough to slip off the screw. Clamp light - http://www.lowes.com/pd_203213-1373-FL-300NPDQ12_0__
I ran the wiring on the inside of the canopy and anchored it so it had a drip loop.
The bulb I used is a Sylvania 8 watt, 500 lumen, 5000k bulb, 40 degrees. On the bulb it says - LED8PAR20/DIM/850/FL40/G3, suitable for damp locations. I bought it at Lowe's a few years back, the closest thing I see online tonight to it is this bulb. http://www.lowes.com/pd_592644-3-79074_1z10hrhZ1z10ht4Z1z140ll__?productId=50223599&pl=1
This lighting system is mounted on my 150 gallon tall which is 48" long, 24" wide, and 31" tall. It's plenty of light for this tank but if this was a shorter tank you may have to either play with the angle or the lumen output, this would overpower a shorter tank.
I mounted a clamp light base inside my canopy by removing the clamp and then using a washer and screwing it into the wood canopy. The metal is thin enough to bend it to fit into the corner and anchor it there with the screws. I put the washer there because the metal is thin enough I didn't want it to tear or stress enough to slip off the screw. Clamp light - http://www.lowes.com/pd_203213-1373-FL-300NPDQ12_0__
I ran the wiring on the inside of the canopy and anchored it so it had a drip loop.
The bulb I used is a Sylvania 8 watt, 500 lumen, 5000k bulb, 40 degrees. On the bulb it says - LED8PAR20/DIM/850/FL40/G3, suitable for damp locations. I bought it at Lowe's a few years back, the closest thing I see online tonight to it is this bulb. http://www.lowes.com/pd_592644-3-79074_1z10hrhZ1z10ht4Z1z140ll__?productId=50223599&pl=1
This lighting system is mounted on my 150 gallon tall which is 48" long, 24" wide, and 31" tall. It's plenty of light for this tank but if this was a shorter tank you may have to either play with the angle or the lumen output, this would overpower a shorter tank.
I have seen this done on the ends of the tank as well shining up to the center glass or the tops. If you angle it right it will actually bounce off the top back down through the tank.
Color and angel are the most important imo.
Color and angel are the most important imo.