What Reflectors Are You Using With Your MH???

[hurrifan]

I am thinking of upgrading to some sort of parabolic reflector. I am looking at the spider and another one from Champion that claims to reflect 96% of the light back into the water. Anyone using wither of these?

Also, what is best parallel or perpendicular to the fron of the tank? Some reflectors are designed for perpendicular use. Any input would be great.

 

[jdeets]

I use the spider lights, mounted perpendicular. I've always heard that mounting perpendicular is better, but I can't back that up. The spider lights are very reflective, but who knows whether one parabolic is better than the other? I do think the spider lights look cool!

 

[henkelsfamily1]

I am thinking of using the spiders in my new hood. How far does the light cast from the botom of the reflector? What I am trying to sayb is I want all of the licht to go into the tank not onto the floor. The hood will be suspended with the top of the tank being open.

Thanks

Walter

 

[SteveP]

I use the Spiderlights mounted perpendicularly as well. I have Iwasaki bulbs so that's why they are mounted that way. The light doesn't come out of the ends of the bulb, it comes out of the sides. Think of it this way - if you mounted the bulb vertically the light would project outward like a lighthouse, not like a spotlight shining into the sky. So you mount them perpendicularly to have the light spread over the length of the tank instead of having it shoot out the front and back glass.

Steve
8{I

 

[M.E.Milz]

I am using the PFO reflectors in my new lighting set-up. They have a mirror-like finish. They come in 2' and 3' lengths.

If you want to mount your bulbs perpendicular to the front of the tank, then I suppose you can cut then in 1' lengths. I mounted mine parallel to the front because I have a wide tank (32") and this would give me better coverage. This configuration also accomodates the PC actinics that I have mounted along the edge of the reflectors.

 

[npaden]

Here is an article from the old Aquarium Frontiers site by Richard Harker with some information on the spiderlight reflectors. There is a reference in the article concerning the benefits to mounting bulb perpendicular to the front of the tank.

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/feb/product/default.asp

FWIW, Nathan

 

[wasabi]

polished aluminum sheets cut to fit the inside of my hood. i dont think anything would or could be better.

 

[Jeff Hood]

I have flat aluminum sheets On my 75 gallon. They are very oxidised now but still reflect some light. I have bought 4 Spiderlight reflectors for my new tank. I have held them in place to see what it did for intensity. WOW. It is like I turned on another bulb. Keep in mind, my current reflectors are flat and not all that shiney but they do work very well.

Secondly, Most mount them perpendicular to the front of the tank. I have read the above article and decided to mount them paralell on my new tank. I have a very deep tank (40 inches) So I wanted to take advantage of the better spread front to back and I am placing 4 over a 7 foot tank. That gives me one MH per 1.75 feet and the reflector give good front to back coverage. Very happy so far.

Jeff

 

[M.E.Milz]

As Jeff explained, if you have a wide (front-to-back) tank, and plan to keep the bulbs fairly closely spaced, parallel to the front is the better way to go. My new tank will be similar in size to Jeff's. I will have 4x 400watt bulbs over a 78"x32" tank, giving me a bulb every 1.5'.

 

[hurrifan]

I have a 180 AGA 6x2x2. I currently have 2 400 W MH, but am adding another. So I will have one light every 2 feet. SO from what i have read perpendicualr is best for me b/c of my relative small tank width (24") and depth (24") wise. Correct??

 

[rharker]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by wasabi:
<strong>polished aluminum sheets cut to fit the inside of my hood. i dont think anything would or could be better.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The specular reflectors by Digital Ocean or PFO are worth the money and much better than just using flat reflectors. A flat aluminum reflector is just going to reflect a great deal of the light back into the bulb whereas the facets of the parabolic reflectors send the light into the tank.

Based on my testing, a 175 watt set up with parabolic reflector is better than a 250 watt set up with a flat reflector.

Richard Harker

 

[chris_h]

I have a hamiton pendant in which the bulb is mounted so it is perpendicular to the water surface instead of parallel like most hoods. I have been considering building a hood. Would I get more light with a hood and these spiderlight reflectors or with my pendants?