How can you maximize your canopies escaping light?

wickedfish · 07/28/2010, 02:05 PM

I have a canopy open on the top and the back and I have a good amount of light escaping that i would love to redirect into the tank for my sps, I have spider reflectors because its a retrofitted t5/mh/led guy. I wish there was some way of being able to get all that good light into the tank. i will try to get a pic

wickedfish · 07/28/2010, 02:07 PM

I have seen pics of people who paint the inside of their canopy white does this reflect or absorb light.

Reefman29 · 07/28/2010, 02:09 PM

White reflects light as do all light colors. You could add more reflectors to the lights.

jefathome · 07/28/2010, 02:10 PM

Yeah... just paint it white and you will see a big diff.

GhostCon1 · 07/28/2010, 02:13 PM

Maximize or minimize?

White, as said above, reflects everything while black absorbs all. It is hungry nom nom

wickedfish · 07/28/2010, 02:39 PM

I want to use all light that is emmited, what paint should i use?

mm949 · 07/28/2010, 04:10 PM

buy some decent reflectors....

khaosinc · 07/28/2010, 07:27 PM

Rather than painting it white, look in to a roll of Mylar. Its really cheap on ebag or most greenhouses. was an amazing difference when I put it up in my hood.

mfinn · 07/28/2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaosinc

Rather than painting it white, look in to a roll of Mylar. Its really cheap on ebag or most greenhouses. was an amazing difference when I put it up in my hood.

I use mylar also.

Tang Salad · 07/28/2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm949

buy some decent reflectors....

khaosinc · 07/28/2010, 11:47 PM

50' roll of mylar... $5 decent refectors are spendy.. and I'm cheap.

mfinn · 07/29/2010, 07:14 AM

You could also make your own lumenarc reflectors for the exact size you need.
There is a pattern and directions to do this floating around RC.

r-balljunkie · 07/29/2010, 08:23 AM

i+1 K.I.

used christmas wrapping paper to block the light, the stuff thats shiny, mylar on the back side. cheap cheap cheap!!

RichConley · 07/29/2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedfish

I have a canopy open on the top and the back and I have a good amount of light escaping that i would love to redirect into the tank for my sps, I have spider reflectors because its a retrofitted t5/mh/led guy. I wish there was some way of being able to get all that good light into the tank. i will try to get a pic

Get rid of the crappy reflectors.

RichConley · 07/29/2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaosinc

50' roll of mylar... $5 decent refectors are spendy.. and I'm cheap.

There's no such thing as $5 decent reflectors. If you're really cheap, buy good reflectors. You're wasting a crapload of money (via electricity) running lights in poor reflectors.

khaosinc · 07/29/2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichConley

There's no such thing as $5 decent reflectors. If you're really cheap, buy good reflectors. You're wasting a crapload of money (via electricity) running lights in poor reflectors.

$5 is a roll of mylar. As the original poster was looking in to painting the inside of the canopy, I assumed that he wasn't interested in spending the money for high end reflectors.

B Mack · 07/29/2010, 04:49 PM

"reflectors" lol.. I used some roof flashing material to make a custom reflector setup in my hood works great.. bought material at home depot.. easy DIY mod.. I had alot of light escaping from the back as well.. not anymore..

07/28/2010, 02:05 PM	#1
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	How can you maximize your canopies escaping light? I have a canopy open on the top and the back and I have a good amount of light escaping that i would love to redirect into the tank for my sps, I have spider reflectors because its a retrofitted t5/mh/led guy. I wish there was some way of being able to get all that good light into the tank. i will try to get a pic

07/28/2010, 02:10 PM	#4
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Yeah... just paint it white and you will see a big diff. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

07/28/2010, 02:13 PM	#5
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	Maximize or minimize? White, as said above, reflects everything while black absorbs all. It is hungry nom nom __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

07/28/2010, 04:10 PM	#7
mm949 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1,843	buy some decent reflectors.... __________________ 219"x30"x48" - 1350gl reef Current Tank Info: ...18ft of double sided goodness

07/28/2010, 07:27 PM	#8
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	Rather than painting it white, look in to a roll of Mylar. Its really cheap on ebag or most greenhouses. was an amazing difference when I put it up in my hood. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

07/28/2010, 02:07 PM	#2
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	I have seen pics of people who paint the inside of their canopy white does this reflect or absorb light.

07/28/2010, 02:09 PM	#3
Reefman29 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 610	White reflects light as do all light colors. You could add more reflectors to the lights.

07/28/2010, 02:39 PM	#6
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	I want to use all light that is emmited, what paint should i use?

07/28/2010, 11:47 PM	#11
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	50' roll of mylar... $5 decent refectors are spendy.. and I'm cheap. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

07/29/2010, 07:14 AM	#12
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	You could also make your own lumenarc reflectors for the exact size you need. There is a pattern and directions to do this floating around RC. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

07/29/2010, 08:23 AM	#13
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	i+1 K.I. used christmas wrapping paper to block the light, the stuff thats shiny, mylar on the back side. cheap cheap cheap!!

07/29/2010, 04:49 PM	#17
B Mack Moved On Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Watauga, TX Posts: 33	"reflectors" lol.. I used some roof flashing material to make a custom reflector setup in my hood works great.. bought material at home depot.. easy DIY mod.. I had alot of light escaping from the back as well.. not anymore..

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS 55g, stand, canopy, light, uv sterilizer, driftwood, rocks, etc.	InTr4nceWeTrust	Southern California Reefers	9	07/30/2010 10:48 AM
Lighting? With Marineland Majesty Deluxe canopy?	razzmia	New to the Hobby	3	06/02/2010 08:35 PM
Flow Rates, Pulse Durations, Strategies for Creating or Maximizing Laminar Flow	herring_fish	Non-Photosynthetic Corals	11	03/13/2010 01:58 PM
Build fixture into canopy?	jeremyjoslin	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	14	12/29/2009 12:38 AM
Pictures of your lighting ideas	DaFishHead	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	5	10/05/2009 09:48 PM