I bought a roll of this the other day at the HD. 3" wide by 150' for like $7.68. Has anyone ever used this as a cheap reflector? I'm thinking I'm gonna retrofit some of my old aquarium fixtures. I may even do some of the Exo-Terra hoods as I personally don't think their cheap metal reflectors are that effective. Any thoughts anyone?
Hi Jon,
You could probably get the same effect painting them white.
Hey Glenn, that's a good idea. If they were both equally effective the tape would be much easier to use. Just cut to fit, peel off the backing, stick it on and your ready to put your light bulbs back in. Paint would be nowhere near as easy. Plus I would spill the paint all over :oops:
Flat white paint is supposed to be more 'reflective' than a mirrored or polished surface.....who knew>?
If the tape is easier for you, I'd use that. Spray paint is pretty quick though.
Yeah, I seem to recall a few years ago one of the "light gurus" in the reef hobby did some measurements and painting canopies flat white supposedly did a better job than a reflective mylar coating (and neither were close to actual specular reflectors). I'm not sure it's enough difference to matter, tho.
frogfreak Wrote:If the tape is easier for you, I'd use that. Spray paint is pretty quick though.
Lol... Was just thinking that too -- roll of masking tape, can of Krylon, done! :mrgreen:
Well there ya go...the thought of spray paint never crossed my mind. You kids and your new technology.
I have a fixture lined with the tape and it works well... I made a home made fixture for cfls out of aluminum gutter
Rusty_Shackleford Wrote:Well there ya go...the thought of spray paint never crossed my mind. You kids and your new technology.
LOL!
Glenn, sometimes we make things way more complicated than they need to be lol.
Don't be sad Jon...now you can make that Tin Man costume you have always wanted...now where to find a brain?
fieldsmith Wrote:Don't be sad Jon...now you can make that Tin Man costume you have always wanted...now where to find a brain?
Not in Kansas I can tell you that, all I'll find is the Lion and the Scarecrow in a mixed tank.
Been a long time since I whiled away the hours conversin' with the flowers.
I used the reflective tape on my exo terra hoods. It was cheap and prob a waste of time as I realized after the fact that my LEDs are directional... they point down .... Dooohhhhh
RanaVenenosa Wrote:I used the reflective tape on my exo terra hoods. It was cheap and prob a waste of time as I realized after the fact that my LEDs are directional... they point down .... Dooohhhhh
Yes, but light still bounces off stuff like glass and plexi, think glare. So a reflector of some sort is still useful to an extent.
Rusty_Shackleford Wrote:Not in Kansas I can tell you that, all I'll find is the Lion and the Scarecrow in a mixed tank.
Careful bubba...I hear that lion may carry raccoon aids...