Cheapest way to add shimmer...?

[JoeinLA]

If I'm already satisfied with the PAR of my lights but want to add shimmer, is there a "cheap" way to do it? My original thought was to add a Kessil 360 just for shimmer and dim my other light (Radion XR30 Pro) to avoid nuking anything, but I was wondering if there was a cheaper alternative (e.g., maybe a small Kessil or some chinese blackbox) that provided the shimmer if I didn't care about PAR specifically?

This would be for an 85 gal that's 34.5" long x 23.5" wide x 27.5" tall (CADE 900 S2). If I wanted to just blow a ton of money, my understanding is that the "optimal" lighting would be 2 XR30's mounted 90 degrees (so the long sides are perpendicular to the length of the tank), and then for shimmer I'd add a Kessil in the middle. But that seems horrendously expensive so I was thinking maybe adding a Kessil as a second light for the lesser light demanding corals on one side and also to add shimmer...

In hindsight, I'm pretty sure the XR30 was a bit overkill for my actual needs and I probably should have went with a Kessil A9X or something like that. I suppose I could try selling the XR30 and getting that A9X...

Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions appreciated

 

[blaxsun]

If you dim the Radions you get less "shimmer", just FYI.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If I'm already satisfied with the PAR of my lights but want to add shimmer, is there a "cheap" way to do it? My original thought was to add a Kessil 360 just for shimmer and dim my other light (Radion XR30 Pro) to avoid nuking anything, but I was wondering if there was a cheaper alternative (e.g., maybe a small Kessil or some chinese blackbox) that provided the shimmer if I didn't care about PAR specifically?

This would be for an 85 gal that's 34.5" long x 23.5" wide x 27.5" tall (CADE 900 S2). If I wanted to just blow a ton of money, my understanding is that the "optimal" lighting would be 2 XR30's mounted 90 degrees (so the long sides are perpendicular to the length of the tank), and then for shimmer I'd add a Kessil in the middle. But that seems horrendously expensive so I was thinking maybe adding a Kessil as a second light for the lesser light demanding corals on one side and also to add shimmer...

In hindsight, I'm pretty sure the XR30 was a bit overkill for my actual needs and I probably should have went with a Kessil A9X or something like that. I suppose I could try selling the XR30 and getting that A9X...

Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions appreciated

Try placing crinkled foil above the lights

 

[JoeinLA]

I thought the foil idea was genius (and I'll try it out once my lights cycle up), but I'm sure there's no way my wife will accept the aesthetic impact of a sheet of aluminum foil over the tank since we don't have a canopy...

I guess if we had a canopy or some other light hood, that would be a really great way to "recycle" alot of otherwise wasted light...

 

[bobnicaragua]

Add a couple kessil a80s.

 

[Spare time]

There are kessil knock offs you could try for cheaper

 

[mdb_talon]

There are kessil knock offs you could try for cheaper

I have two on the way way now anxious to see how they do. $200 cheaper and dont have to buy extra equipment to program them is worth a shot. Love my knockoff orphek bars hope like these as much

 

[JoeinLA]

I have two on the way way now anxious to see how they do.

Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. i assume they’re on Amazon - any hints to point me in the right direction? Or just look for the Kassil 350x’s

 

[Sean Clark]

I'll second the addition of a couple A80s

 

[mdb_talon]

Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. i assume they’re on Amazon - any hints to point me in the right direction? Or just look for the Kassil 350x’s

The ones i bought are on aliexpress and alibaba. I find the sellers on alibaba usually are much more responsive and often better prices.

 

[Sigmund]

How about just adding more surface agitation at the top of water. Whenever that is high, I get more shimmer. Also 0 cost.

 

[mdb_talon]

Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. i assume they’re on Amazon - any hints to point me in the right direction? Or just look for the Kassil 350x’s

Here are ones i am trying. There are couple other places to find them maybe a couple dollars cheaper but i have used this seller before and worked well so went with them.

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

m.alibaba.com

 

[jda]

Cheapest? Buy a used 70 or 150 watt metal halide.

 

[kadamik]

On these do you need to get the condenser len for it. Not sure what that does, but I want to add shimmer also and this seems like a great deal. Please let me know what the lens is for?

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

m.alibaba.com

 

[kadamik]

Here are ones i am trying. There are couple other places to find them maybe a couple dollars cheaper but i have used this seller before and worked well so went with them.

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

A7 Ii 100 Watt App Controlled Dimmable Full Spectrum Saltwater Wifi Marine Led Reef Aquarium Light For Sale - Buy Reef Light Wifi,Saltwater Reef Light,Led Reef Light Product on Alibaba.com

m.alibaba.com

@mdb_talon

I got the lights from the above site and they seem really good so far, but I am having trouble with the app. I have it connected to wifi and I have a sunrise/sunset plan saved, but I am not what I need to seclect so it will follow the lighting diagram. Any way you could give me a quick basic instruction on how to tell it to follow the led profile that I have saved. I see it when I open the app but it just stays the same color and never reduces like the profile.