mirror as a reflector...

[reefmut]

I am uograding to 2 250w metal halide to go along with my vhos already up and running... What are you r responses to puttin a mirror in the top of my canopy to act as a reflector??

 

[Danno]

I went to a local metal shop and got a chunk of polished stainless steel. a 16"x 35" only cost $25 and I don’t have to worry about breakage or corrosion. If you need to bend it they will do it there for you. Just have your specs right. If it gets dirty I pop out the bulbs and wipe it down. Works slick!!

Hope this helps.

 

[hhinojosa]

DONT DO IT! I had the same smart idea on my 175MH canopy. The glass mirror overheated and cracked. Luckily, it did not fall into the tank. But, I learned my lesson.

 

[davelin315]

I would think that the mirror would also distort the light a lot as it passed through and was reflected back into your tank, not really what you want. Polished steel or aluminum (I use aluminum flashing on mine) will reflect the light without making it pass through it first.

 

[reefmut]

I really appreciate the feed back... I think I will try to construct somekind of deflector...Thanx

 

[mariner]

Sheet metal polished with Brasso metal polish. It'll look like a mirror when finished.

 

[StirCrazy]

a miror won't distortthe light, it is one of the best reflective surfaces you can use but there are problems with it, heat and moisture can cause the coating to flake or turn black, and could even crack the glass. Polished metal is good but not great, it may look nice and shiny but when you magnafy the surface you will notice a lot of pitting on the microscopic level.
If you can find "spectral aluminum" it is the one thing that is rated higher than a miror for reflectivity, it is aluminum that is coated with another small particle metal like nickel (which will resist corosion also) and then shone to a high level, I just bought a 4'x 10' sheet for people up here and I am impressed with it.. the cost was about 6.50cdn / square foot but I am sure if you are not on a island it would be cheeper.
oh by the way.. it is the same stuff that PFO reflectors and spider reflectors are made of.. the brand name of "spectral aluminum" that the spider reflectors are made of is "Everbright"

Steve