Tank Lightstrip dosn't have a reflector. - Aquarium Advice

William · 11-27-2003, 09:47 AM

I just realized while working on m y 29gal tank this morning that it does not have a reflective surface of any kind behind the bulb

Its just a piece of molded white plastic..

Should I stick a piece of tinfoil behind the bulb or anything to act as a reflector and get more light down into my tank?

BrianNY · 11-27-2003, 10:21 AM

Hey William, we think alike [acronym:ce6399e5b5="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:ce6399e5b5]. I tried that on my light strip for a 29 also. It didn't work. I think because the foil tends to wrinkle. Then I tried painting the plastic with white reflective paint. Problem there was the plastic wouldn't accept the paint.

Madame_X · 11-27-2003, 11:05 AM

I seem to remember someone telling me they've used metal flashing (used in roofing) to make a reflector for a hood light. You can buy this at Home Depot and cut/bend it to suit your needs.

Enki · 11-27-2003, 12:13 PM

Cool. Something I have info about!

Foil and galvanized metal look like they would work well cause they are shiny, but they actually absorb a fair amount of light and absorb some spectrums more than others, often important ones for plants.

Plain flat white will actually give you the most light reflected back. Go look around a local hydroponics or indoor gardening shop and you will see that most light hoods will have plain white surfaces. Any shiny surfaces will be really 'brightly' shiny.

You can bet those guys are carefully herding every lumen they can. Can't blame them, considering the cost of electricity.

Enki · 11-27-2003, 02:25 PM

Decided to check my own info and found this article:

http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/lights-wozniak.html

The angle of the light beam hitting the surface of the water is a major factor that I did not think of.

A good shiny surface would be best, if angled correctly.

11-27-2003, 09:47 AM	#1
William Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,553 Images: 5	Tank Lightstrip dosn't have a reflector. I just realized while working on m y 29gal tank this morning that it does not have a reflective surface of any kind behind the bulb Its just a piece of molded white plastic.. Should I stick a piece of tinfoil behind the bulb or anything to act as a reflector and get more light down into my tank? __________________ 30gal; Bala Shark, Pl*co

11-27-2003, 12:13 PM	#4
Enki Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eureka, CA Posts: 361 Images: 25	Cool. Something I have info about! Foil and galvanized metal look like they would work well cause they are shiny, but they actually absorb a fair amount of light and absorb some spectrums more than others, often important ones for plants. Plain flat white will actually give you the most light reflected back. Go look around a local hydroponics or indoor gardening shop and you will see that most light hoods will have plain white surfaces. Any shiny surfaces will be really 'brightly' shiny. You can bet those guys are carefully herding every lumen they can. Can't blame them, considering the cost of electricity. __________________ 50 Gallon 4' Under construction 50 Gallon 4' - 9 Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Ngara Flametail' juvies - 3 Botia almorhae 'Yo-Yo Loach' 30 Gallon 3' - 6 Lamprologus ocellatus 'Gold' - 2 Altolamprologus calvus babies - 2 Schistura mahnerti Check out my aquarium pics! "Listen to everyone else's opinion, then form your own." ~My Mom~

11-27-2003, 02:25 PM	#5
Enki Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eureka, CA Posts: 361 Images: 25	Decided to check my own info and found this article: http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/lights-wozniak.html The angle of the light beam hitting the surface of the water is a major factor that I did not think of. A good shiny surface would be best, if angled correctly. __________________ 50 Gallon 4' Under construction 50 Gallon 4' - 9 Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Ngara Flametail' juvies - 3 Botia almorhae 'Yo-Yo Loach' 30 Gallon 3' - 6 Lamprologus ocellatus 'Gold' - 2 Altolamprologus calvus babies - 2 Schistura mahnerti Check out my aquarium pics! "Listen to everyone else's opinion, then form your own." ~My Mom~

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11-27-2003, 10:21 AM	#2
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Hey William, we think alike [acronym:ce6399e5b5="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:ce6399e5b5]. I tried that on my light strip for a 29 also. It didn't work. I think because the foil tends to wrinkle. Then I tried painting the plastic with white reflective paint. Problem there was the plastic wouldn't accept the paint.

11-27-2003, 11:05 AM	#3
Madame_X Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 580 Images: 14	I seem to remember someone telling me they've used metal flashing (used in roofing) to make a reflector for a hood light. You can buy this at Home Depot and cut/bend it to suit your needs.