Low tech t8 lighting help

[Wasserpest]

Originally Posted by frostby

AAAAHHHGGGHHH! I need help. Is there a "support" forum I can grieve at?

Try slickdeals.net ... That will take care of any money you might have left.

[Sundevil_brian]

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

Suspense is killing me...

Regarding reflectors for T8's, I used excellent reflectors from AH Supply, they are made for CF bulbs, but work great for T8's too.

Since then I switched to T5's and now the reflectors are collecting dust.

yea i just thought of that too. i got an ah supply 2x55 watt kit for my 20gal reef tank but im gona be using the wh5 to power some t5s, so i will also have the reflectors just lyin around.

[epicfish]

I think I just went blind.

I just got the bulbs for my 4x54w Tek fixture. Put in 2 6700K bulbs and 2 10000K bulbs. DON'T LOOK AT THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON.

[Sundevil_brian]

Originally Posted by epicfish

I think I just went blind.

I just got the bulbs for my 4x54w Tek fixture. Put in 2 6700K bulbs and 2 10000K bulbs. DON'T LOOK AT THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON.

lol thats prob the most light anyone has put over 2 10 gal tanks. hope you have fun trimming plants every two days with all that light!
i can't wait till i upgrade my reef tank and use t5 on it!!!
i think im also gona go with t5 on my high tech planted only w/o reflectors.

[killerproblem]

i needed reflectors for a 8 lamp 3xODNO, (so 32 ft of reflectors) there was no way i was paying 20-40 for ea 4 ft refletor...so for my current project i'm making some reflectors out of 4" pvc (thin wall smooth sewer pipe 2"-4" would work i got the 4" cheap), slice them in half longways, and glue in a 1/2"x1/2" or so triangle (wood would work i'm using plastic) as a restrike deflector, then fine sand the insides (talking about starting at 500grit and working thru 2000 then using 000 and 0000 steel wool), until you have got them really smooth. then prime them with a plastic adhesion type paint (krylon fusion or rustolem's plastic paint), i'm using white for the primer. last i'll spray them with hi-grade crome paint (like the stuff you get in a auto body shop)to get them looking like a mirror...

[Sundevil_brian]

Originally Posted by killerproblem

i needed reflectors for a 8 lamp 3xODNO, (so 32 ft of reflectors) there was no way i was paying 20-40 for ea 4 ft refletor...so for my current project i'm making some reflectors out of 4" pvc (thin wall smooth sewer pipe 2"-4" would work i got the 4" cheap), slice them in half longways, and glue in a 1/2"x1/2" or so triangle (wood would work i'm using plastic) as a restrike deflector, then fine sand the insides (talking about starting at 500grit and working thru 2000 then using 000 and 0000 steel wool), until you have got them really smooth. then prime them with a plastic adhesion type paint (krylon fusion or rustolem's plastic paint), i'm using white for the primer. last i'll spray them with hi-grade crome paint (like the stuff you get in a auto body shop)to get them looking like a mirror...

it might be easier to use the pvc but instead of all that sanding and then painting it with crome paint, just get some mylar and glue it to the pvc. but that is a good idea using the pvc

[killerproblem]

I looked at the "mylar" i can get here and most of it is traslucent or fairly expensive, $30-40 to get the amount i'd need (plus glue) vs. $11 in paint... but yes, good mylar would be nice if You could get it reasonable...

[Sundevil_brian]

have you looked online for it? you can get a 25' roll for $20 but thats probably a lot more than you need. im doing three hoods with it so it'll be more cost effective for me. if i just had one hood to do i'd prob do the same as you.