Lateral Tank Lighting

[Akwarius]

Can a reef tank be lit laterally (ie from one or both sides)?

Anyone who has seen my build thread knows that I have a series of deep shelves. It's pleasant rockwork, but the stark shadows created under the shelves leaves far less coral real estate than I had originally anticipated. Has anyone ever tried pointing a light source through a side panel? If so, were there any drawbacks to this type of setup? I plan to use it as a supplemental light source, and will most likely be some type of compact led, as to not obstruct side viewing. It will also not run as long as the main lights, depending on the amount of glare produced.

Potential pitfalls:

1. Glare
2. Inefficient light penetration through glass
3. Frequent algae buildup on glass
4. Disturbing to fish
5. Multiple light angles disruptive to coral growth patterns

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I've not seen 360 degree lateral lighting, but MarineLand just introduced a "hidden" LED strip that affixes to the top of the front of the tank. They are using low-power LEDs and it only produces ~25 PAR at 12", but it might help minimize some shaded areas for those that have rimmed tanks.

http://www.marineland.com/sites/marineland/products/Detail.aspx?id=4655#tabs-Ask