Diy Reflectors

[L046]

Cant see this idea anywhere.

Reflectors are cheap so dont spend too much time/money on making some!

You will need, Kitchen tin foil, sticky tape!

Just tape the foil to the underside of your hood housing the lights making sure that the foil is as smooth as possible. 'arc'ing the foil slightly will also enhance the light directed into the aquarium.

 

[Rooster]

Sticking cooking foil is a right pain ! Whatever you use tends to fall apart when it sees water !

If you MUST diy a reflector, nip to a plumbers and get some self adhesive aluminium tape, as used to seal fire backs to the chimney breast... probably cost more than a reflector !

 

[L046]

True, it is necessary to have condensation trays for this method.

 

[bluesmartie]

would it work if you covered the foil in plexi glass? so the foil would be stuck behind a screwed on bit of plastic? does the plastic absorb uv?

 

[Qays]

Cool idea!

You could also try using mirrors. Couldnt you glue them with that aquarium super-glue ? (not aquarium sealant)

 

[Taridan]

Not sure about the heat of your lights, but a word of caution:

My father is a fire fighter, and several of the kitchen fires he's had to put out were started by someone using tinfoil to help keep the burners clean...

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

Ok Refelective material

Reflective plastic sheet (mylar) 90-95%
matt white paint 85-90 %
semi-matt white paint 75-80 %
matt yellow paint 70-80 %
Aluminium foil 70-75 %
Black paint less than 10%

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

In the Netherlands it is almost impossible to find chap Mylar sheets. so i was almost readyto buy it in the UK and get it shipped out but then. I remembered from my moutainerring kit i had a survival blanket. and guess what a survival blanket is made out of....

Mylar.. ha ha and it is over 6ft long and 4ft wide.

It is also thickish so it will flex without ripping. so i have now found my backing for my lighting hood.

I am so pleased... ha ha

 

[bluesmartie]

Cool idea!

You could also try using mirrors. Couldnt you glue them with that aquarium super-glue ? (not aquarium sealant)

what about using the plastic mirrors sold in the craft shops? they would fix with sealant

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

Cool idea!

You could also try using mirrors. Couldnt you glue them with that aquarium super-glue ? (not aquarium sealant)

what about using the plastic mirrors sold in the craft shops? they would fix with sealant

Mirrors are not as reflective than mat white paint. so go for the cheaper option of white paint. if you want that extrat 7% then you will need to go for mylar

 

[Qays]

can you paint with ordinary matte paint?

Or would this flake off and fall into the tank?

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

can you paint with ordinary matte paint?

Or would this flake off and fall into the tank?

Yea mat paint is ok.

it shouldnt flake. flaking only happens when you put oil based paints oner oil based paints.

Paint it with waterbased paint. And it wont run if you let it dry before putting it on the tank

 

[catastrophi]

i read somewhere that aluminum foil is actually a light diffuser not a reflector.

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

if you could find the report of article it would be interesting to read.

 

[Rooster]

i read somewhere that aluminum foil is actually a light diffuser not a reflector.

1. Goto kitchen
2. Find cooking foil
3. Unroll a section - be careful not to wrinkle
4. Place on flat surface
5. Look at the foil
6. Arrange stace so as to be perpendicular to foil surface
7. Focus on image in foil... is it you ?

THAT'LL BE A REFLECTOR THEN !