Inside of DIY hood paint/reflectors???

[ralph50]

My 90 gallon hood is almost complete.

The stain and varnish has dried and all the hinges are in place.

My 65W PCs get here on tuesday.

Now what to do with the inside so that I get a max. amount of light into the tank?

I was thinking about getting some thin polished aluminum sheets and lining the insides of the hood or

just painting it a gloss white.

I was going to make my own PC reflectors.

Any suggestions???

[briandmiles]

I wouldn't make your own. You can get a far better product from AHSupply.

Brian

[anthonysquire]

For my 10 gal I painted it a gloss white using either latex or oil based paints (can't remember which) but I am also using an ah supply kit. I would suggest sealing the inside of the hood with something to protect it from any water damage and using an ah supply reflector. You can buy them without the kit and they aren't that much.

[ralph50]

The inside has been varnished as well.

I might just paint it an oil based gloss white and go with the reflectors.

AH claims they reflect 168% more than conventional reflectors.

Do you guys think this is true???

[tazcrash69]

Originally Posted by ralph50

Do you guys think this is true???

I can't give you a number. but I love my AH supply reflectors, and they do focus a ton of into the tank. They made a big difference over the flat reflectors I had in other light fixtures.

[turbosaurus]

Yes. I believe it to be true. I can't be sure if it is 168%- but it is an obvious glaring improvement.

I had a cheap-o 48" light fixture with 220w of PC lighting (4x55). I took it apart to pull out the crappy flat reflector, and add some of the AH supply reflectors instead. I had to remove a bank of lights to fit the new reflectors. I have to say that IMO it is brighter with one bank of lights (110w) and the AH reflectors than it used to be with 2x the wattage and lousy flat aluminum reflectors.

I have to say I am a die hard DIYer, and there is never a time that I won't put in more work to save the cash and have the satisfaction of making it myself and usually coming out with a better product, but in this one case, I would absolutely without doubt go with the AH supply reflectors.

[ralph50]

I have to say I am a die hard DIYer, and there is never a time that I won't put in more work to save the cash and have the satisfaction of making it myself and usually coming out with a better product, but in this one case, I would absolutely without doubt go with the AH supply reflectors.
__________________

OK I'm sold.

[fishscale]

I will say this much: you can probably build something better than AH supply, but you'd need a lot of math and probably too much free time

http://www.solardeathray.com

[ralph50]

http://www.solardeathray.com

Looks good but then I'll need a chiller. LMAO

[AaronT]

Yup, AH supply is the way to go for reflectors. The materials are gauranteed for something like 25 years. You can't beat that with a stick.

I use one on my 36 watt DIY fixture for my 10 gallon tank and it's great.

Just an FYI, they don't list it on the website when you order the reflectors separate, but they do come with the bulb clips as well.

[Gundy]

I know there is a reflective type metallic paint that Krylon had at wal-mart the other day. Might be worth a shot, only thing is if that crap chips and you have open top aquarium.

[jinx©]

Originally Posted by Gundy

I know there is a reflective type metallic paint that Krylon had at wal-mart the other day. Might be worth a shot, only thing is if that crap chips and you have open top aquarium.

In my experiences with the "chrome" type paints, none of them are anywhere near being chrome-like much less have any reflective quality.
You would be better off using white paint before any of them IMHO.

Like the others said...Go the AH route if you have the funds.

[fishscale]

I'd either go with plain white paint, or AH supply. Anything in between those costs is going to be not worth it for the few bucks you save from AH supply.

[dwstonebraker]

Ahsupply is great! You might also try mylar - aquaticeco.com has it in stock.

[LS6 Tommy]

Don't use any "metallic" or "chrome" paint instead of or behind a reflector. The metal chips in the paint refract the light. They don't "aim" it in one specific direction. In more specific terms, the light waves are not sent out all in the same, straight direction. They go out all over the place in different directions as they reflect off the individual chips that aren't all "aimed" the same way. If you must paint, white is the way to go.

Tommy