Reflectors

[ebrcknrdg]

Just bought two reflectors. One for my 18w light and one for my 20w light as i have just over 1WPG in my tank so want to get all the light i can. I cant really tell much difference in the light so are they doing anything?

 

[Aeropars]

Withoubt a doubt. Its not generaly noticable by eye but the plants certainly know abou it!

 

[JamesC]

I find they make quite a big difference.

James

 

[Neo8223]

YES THEY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! BUY ONE!

In my other tank i had 2wpg without any reflectors. My plants never used to pearl. In this tank, they pearl ALL the time!

 

[ebrcknrdg]

this may be a dumb question but do reflectors higher the amount of watts that the tank will recieve. i.e will my 20w light now be 20w (whereas before some light was being lost) or will it be more than 20w. confused!

 

[rsands]

it reduces the amount of light wasted...instead of the light going up to the lid...it gets bounced back into the water

 

[SuperColey1]

Even with reflectors a 20W light won't give the tank 20W of light but it will drastically improve how much of the light is directed at the tank. As stated above the reflectors stops so much of the light being wasted as it redirects the 'upward' and 'sideward' beams back into the tank.

The WPG rule assumes that you are using reflectors.

Andy

 

[ebrcknrdg]

since installing these reflectors the water temp has gone up alot! Also burnt my arm on them a couple of times

 

[rsands]

ye things can be pretty hot with all the light bouncing off them.