reflective material for inside of hood???

agoutihead · 09/15/2007, 01:05 AM

I might need to put reflective material inside of my hood to help out my T-5's because my lumenarc mini is so wide, 14" of the T-5 is going to be semi blocked.

Now i'm hoping that the light will flood into my tank evenlly otherwise and look ok.

but i'm going to plan for the worst.

So what can I line my hood in to help with the light reflection of the T-5's into my water column?

tinfoil? or is there a better alternative? (surely not cheaper!)

and if tinfoil is the key, which side is more relective? the "inside" or the "outside" of the foil?

ljosh · 09/15/2007, 01:39 AM

I dont know what you should use but I know that tinfoil is not a good reflector.

agoutihead · 09/15/2007, 02:14 AM

its not? why isnt it?

Racing1 · 09/15/2007, 04:07 AM

Tinfoil is not the greatest reflector. You can use it if you like. Other than buying a reflector I believe Gloss White paint is better than tinfoil.

agoutihead · 09/16/2007, 12:11 PM

really? so just regular latex super gloss white paint will give me a great reflecting ability?

that seems cheap and even easier than lining it with tinfoil.

is there any other paint that would be better? or that will be plenty?

Remember, I'm only doing this to make my T-5's reflect better around my lumenarc reflector and into the tank.

MSU Fan · 09/16/2007, 12:56 PM

no, just use the white paint and you will be fine. Testing has shown that white paint is much more effective than aluminum foil (aluminum foil disperses light, not reflects - aim a laser pointer at it and look at the "reflection it makes".

They do make anodized reflector material, but it is expensive to get.

agoutihead · 09/16/2007, 01:15 PM

yeah I don't want to have to spend alot of money.

So just latex, white super gloss?

GatorCSM · 09/16/2007, 02:16 PM

I used white gloss enamel from HD along with my reflectors. Cleans up easily if you get any water on it.

coastalaqu · 09/16/2007, 10:39 PM

Tin foil, been there, done that years ago. It doesnt do good. White paint is much better.

aquataren · 09/17/2007, 07:28 AM

agoutihead - I am using a self-adhesive reflective wall paper which might suit your needs. I don't know what it's called but it does reflect light better than foil and white paint. It's easy to apply to any surface and can be taken off later if needed. It's not that expensive - $3 per foot. $15 - $20 is all it took to cover my 6' hood and still have plenty of left over. I got it at one of the LFS. They sell it along with other aquarium backgrounds. Here's a few pics of the material and how it look inside the hood. I've also include my tank build thread if you need additional pics.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...=&pagenumber=2

Travis L. Stevens · 09/17/2007, 07:31 AM

As aquataren suggested, Mylar is a nice reflective material.

09/15/2007, 01:05 AM	#1
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	reflective material for inside of hood??? I might need to put reflective material inside of my hood to help out my T-5's because my lumenarc mini is so wide, 14" of the T-5 is going to be semi blocked. Now i'm hoping that the light will flood into my tank evenlly otherwise and look ok. but i'm going to plan for the worst. So what can I line my hood in to help with the light reflection of the T-5's into my water column? tinfoil? or is there a better alternative? (surely not cheaper!) and if tinfoil is the key, which side is more relective? the "inside" or the "outside" of the foil? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

09/15/2007, 02:14 AM	#3
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	its not? why isnt it? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

09/16/2007, 12:11 PM	#5
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	really? so just regular latex super gloss white paint will give me a great reflecting ability? that seems cheap and even easier than lining it with tinfoil. is there any other paint that would be better? or that will be plenty? Remember, I'm only doing this to make my T-5's reflect better around my lumenarc reflector and into the tank. __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

09/16/2007, 12:56 PM	#6
MSU Fan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Russellville, TN Posts: 1,645	no, just use the white paint and you will be fine. Testing has shown that white paint is much more effective than aluminum foil (aluminum foil disperses light, not reflects - aim a laser pointer at it and look at the "reflection it makes". They do make anodized reflector material, but it is expensive to get. __________________ Craig & Holly 1-29g FW 5-cats, 1-dog (Shepherd Mix) Current Tank Info: To be set up 44g corner pentagon

09/16/2007, 01:15 PM	#7
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	yeah I don't want to have to spend alot of money. So just latex, white super gloss? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

09/15/2007, 01:39 AM	#2
ljosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 354	I dont know what you should use but I know that tinfoil is not a good reflector.

09/15/2007, 04:07 AM	#4
Racing1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 740	Tinfoil is not the greatest reflector. You can use it if you like. Other than buying a reflector I believe Gloss White paint is better than tinfoil.

09/16/2007, 02:16 PM	#8
GatorCSM Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 132	I used white gloss enamel from HD along with my reflectors. Cleans up easily if you get any water on it.

09/16/2007, 10:39 PM	#9
coastalaqu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 93	Tin foil, been there, done that years ago. It doesnt do good. White paint is much better.

09/17/2007, 07:28 AM	#10
aquataren Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lonestar Posts: 73	agoutihead - I am using a self-adhesive reflective wall paper which might suit your needs. I don't know what it's called but it does reflect light better than foil and white paint. It's easy to apply to any surface and can be taken off later if needed. It's not that expensive - $3 per foot. $15 - $20 is all it took to cover my 6' hood and still have plenty of left over. I got it at one of the LFS. They sell it along with other aquarium backgrounds. Here's a few pics of the material and how it look inside the hood. I've also include my tank build thread if you need additional pics. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...=&pagenumber=2

09/17/2007, 07:31 AM	#11
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	As aquataren suggested, Mylar is a nice reflective material. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront