Are there any items that i may have around my house or that i can get at a grocery store that would work as a reflector for my lights on my tank???
lighting reflectors???
- Thread starter Fishman07
- Start date
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
no, tin foil is a diffuser, not a reflector. it's created to diffuse heat evenly to cook... won't work well.
it would probably take forever, but you could probably polish up the inside of a metal gutter, an old stainless fying pan, a bent cookie sheet... to be reflectors, but we're talking a lot of polishing
it would probably take forever, but you could probably polish up the inside of a metal gutter, an old stainless fying pan, a bent cookie sheet... to be reflectors, but we're talking a lot of polishing
foiled again...hehehehehehe 
If I recall correctly....one side of foil is a reflector and one side is a diffuser. You have to make sure you get the right side up. However, foil will oxidize with time so if you want to use it you should check it periodically and replace it. I had a friend who took 5" or 6" pvc pipe, cut it in half and painted it with a metallic chrome paint. Most of the lighting fixtures I have seen are painted white on the backside. It seemed to work when I saw it freshly installed but I never saw it again. Also...if you are looking for cheap, if you can find galvanized gutter? It will probably not be possible to get as efficient a reflector system with a homemade setup as you can with a setup made especially for it but you have to weigh the trade off - cost vs. efficiency. If you do not have plants in ur tank then you may find an adequate substitute. If you want to plant your tank you may not be happy with anything but a proper reflective setup.
If I recall correctly....one side of foil is a reflector and one side is a diffuser. You have to make sure you get the right side up. However, foil will oxidize with time so if you want to use it you should check it periodically and replace it. I had a friend who took 5" or 6" pvc pipe, cut it in half and painted it with a metallic chrome paint. Most of the lighting fixtures I have seen are painted white on the backside. It seemed to work when I saw it freshly installed but I never saw it again. Also...if you are looking for cheap, if you can find galvanized gutter? It will probably not be possible to get as efficient a reflector system with a homemade setup as you can with a setup made especially for it but you have to weigh the trade off - cost vs. efficiency. If you do not have plants in ur tank then you may find an adequate substitute. If you want to plant your tank you may not be happy with anything but a proper reflective setup.
thanks guys, I think that i'll try the foil, I understand mellowvision, but i just want to try it.
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
I second that idea.
FYI: the shinny side vs. non-shinny side on aluminum foil is nothing more than cosmetic. It has to do with the way it's rolled in the manufacturing plant. Both sides do the same job. It falls under the “old wives tales” category.