any one ever try a mirror as a reflector for light

[bigkai]

just wanted to know if any one has tryed to make dyi reflector useing mirrors you would thank they would make the most of your light

 

[Alattner]

mmm thats a cool idea i am interested to find out if anyone has done this.

 

[bigkai]

couse im in need of new reflectors and their 20$ a piece and i could prob get enuf mirrors frome the doller store to try it

 

[rrromine]

that a great idea. i'm going to follow along and see how things go.

 

[MimicOcto8]

sounds like a great idea but i havent got a clue. following along to see what happens

 

[BlazinNano]

I have used reflective tape that is used for indoor greenhouse (don't ask there is a company that sells everything you need to grow plants inside your house about 15 mins from my house).

 

[Alattner]

you should just go for it and be the test then when you have great successes we can all copy to you

 

[mojo]

ther was a test done on this some time ago. Mirror doesnt work.

 

[Troylee]

From what I remember it wasn't nearly as good as specular aluminum some with the way it refracts light wasn't that good.... I'll see if I can dig up the article..

 

[Troylee]

Here is a quote from bean animal...

They make terrible reflectors for many reasons.

1) they are simply not the correct shape to get light efficiently into the tank.

2) The light has to pass through GLASS twice before it reaches the tank. This causes VERY SIGNIFICANT losses.

If you want to DIY reflectors, then you need to look around and find the plans for the DIY lumenarc style reflectors, and adhere to the dimensions and angles exactly.

If that is not something you can pull off, then you should be looking at the Reef Optix III, Lumenarcs, Lumenmax, Lumen Bright, or similar HIGH EFFICIENCY reflectors. Anything less and you are wasting money by wasting a significant portion of the light.

 

[bigkai]

oh well that sucks lol i thought i had a good idia their for a sec

 

[Alattner]

wow that was kind of a shock to me i really thought they would at least be alright but from what it sounds like not so much. i guess the whole shape situation does make sense though

 

[RogerWilco357]

if you did try to get the mirrors to do this what adhesive would you use and do thing the heat from the halides would melt the adhesive? maybe with like led's?

 

[bigkai]

i use t5's so not as much heat i thank. but not sure what kind of adhesive. but i was going to try and make some of the same angles

 

[bigkai]

i just read on another forum that white paint would work better than a mirror

 

[bigkai]

hope i dont get in trouble for this but i found a guy that made one with mirrors not to bad
(PVC pipe 200 Watt Strip Light - DIY Aquarium Projects - Aquatic Plant Central)

 

[Triggerman77]

just wanted to know if any one has tryed to make dyi reflector useing mirrors you would thank they would make the most of your light

I have used one with 4 bulb T5s on a 75g It works great the mirror made it look like i had atleast 6 bulbs or more. i even tried individual reflectors and the mirror blew them away GO FOR IT

 

[Triggerman77]

Also what works for one not always works for the other. Its all in trial and error

 

[Alattner]

Also what works for one not always works for the other. Its all in trial and error

very true i say go for i and let us know how it goes what is the worst that can happen you will be disappointed and change it

 

[bigkai]

triggerman do you have any pics of you lights did you just do it flat or make angles