Kessil 360w shimmer...

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

So I have 4 of these over my 180 mixed reef and I love them but the shimmer is just waaayyy too much...it literally looks like a disco ball going off in my tank and I was wondering if there is anyway to tone the shimmer down? I have already tried messing with the surface water and fixed that the best I could, but it's still not great. Is there a lens or screen or anything that would help with this? I literally can't look at the tank because it has so much shimmer it makes me almost sick to my stomach...any ideas or opinions??

ThePriceSeliger · Nov 23, 2014

Reduce the surface agitation.

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

I have done that and it's still ridiculous... Is there anything else? I mean I guess I could fix it a little more but if I do I will almost have 0 movement on top

ThePriceSeliger · Nov 23, 2014

I assume there is a give and a take. My two 360W's create a ton of shimmer with four spin streams creating a ton of agitation. I guess it's been forever since I've been to a disco, it doesn't seem to bother me too much. I wonder if the height of the light off the surface of the water would make any difference. Worth a try I suppose.

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

Yeah I could try that to see if it works...thanks for the quick responses

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

Any other things I can do that might work?

Nevil · Nov 23, 2014

How long have you had them. I thought the same thing when I 1st set up my tank. I don't have kessils but was my 1st LED setup. I got used to after awhile. Also tank was newly set up and I used dry rock and sand, which were bone white enhancing the effect. Once the rock and sand got dirtier it helped.

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

I've only had them 2 days now, so maybe I should just give it some more time then...I mean I love the lights, I just need to either get used to it or tone it down somehow! Or take some motion sickness pills haha

ghostman · Nov 23, 2014

I love the look of the kessils and the shimmer they provide, but I don't have much surface agitation with them. Since you asked for any other options, how about adding a few T5 bulbs to "fill in" the shadows of the shimmer? That would probably be best done in a canopy to hide the look, but I think it would reduce the effect. Just a thought.

rayn · Nov 23, 2014

T5 will reduce the shimmer. I am awaiting another kessil, but currently have one. Running a dual T5 bulb to help with sps growth, I think, and the shimmer tones way down. I was almost disappointed with how much it toned it down.

MrDJeep123 · Nov 23, 2014

ThePriceSeliger said:
Reduce the surface agitation.

+1.

Mike&Terry · Nov 23, 2014

Gwitness said:
So I have 4 of these over my 180 mixed reef and I love them but the shimmer is just waaayyy too much...it literally looks like a disco ball going off in my tank and I was wondering if there is anyway to tone the shimmer down? I have already tried messing with the surface water and fixed that the best I could, but it's still not great. Is there a lens or screen or anything that would help with this? I literally can't look at the tank because it has so much shimmer it makes me almost sick to my stomach...any ideas or opinions??

Love the Kessils, but can definitely relate as the shimmer is so intense it's like hanging a strobe light over your tank. Mixing light sources can help. In our situation, we are mixing AI LED fixture with Kessils to counter the effect.

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

Thank you everyone for the ideas!!

Gwitness · Nov 23, 2014

Mike&Terry said:
Love the Kessils, but can definitely relate as the shimmer is so intense it's like hanging a strobe light over your tank. Mixing light sources can help. In our situation, we are mixing AI LED fixture with Kessils to counter the effect.

What about 2 blue led stunner strips?? Or do I need something stronger like a reef brite strip or something like you did? I have to fix the 1980 disco club in my reef lol

Mike&Terry · Nov 24, 2014

Gwitness said:
What about 2 blue led stunner strips?? Or do I need something stronger like a reef brite strip or something like you did? I have to fix the 1980 disco club in my reef lol

Honestly, you are probably going to need a bit more ooomph than you'll get with the stunner strips. Cutting back the intensity a bit might help as well.