On Dec 25, 12:22*pm, Larry Blanchard wrote:
On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 07:40:31 -0800, AquariumFatasies wrote:
*I'll bet you a coffee that proper bulbs (no
more than 2x40Watters of the correct kelvin temps and "PROPER"
reflectors will be more than enough light for "ANY" Freshwater plants
you can possibly grow in a 55 gal tank.

I'm not so sure about that. *They may be sufficient at first, but light
output seems to drop off fairly quickly. *I've had good luck with the
proverbial 2 watts per gallon in tanks of normal depth.

Even then I'd use the Tropica website and stay away from any plants they
describe as needing high light.

As far as a homemade reflector, I used aluminum flashing in a couple of
homemade hoods. *Certainly no work of art, but seems to work. *Just make
sure the flashing you buy is polished on at least one side.

Biggest problem on making ones own reflectors is if they are not bent
exactly right for the diameter of the bulb used, the distance of bulb
from bottom of reflector, and from the sides of said reflector, and
from the substrate and the width of tank where you want yur light to
be at, all it does is create a false sense of ample lights but it does
little but look like it works better.......sxure it will be better
than nothiong, but what happens is called "restrike" which is whenm
light output hits the reflector and it reflected back at the bul
again, and then back at the reflector...and this happens over and over
with that light being lost bouncing back and forth. It adds heat
energy to a florescent tube which also shortens the lifespan and kills
phosphors off faster, and does little if anyhting to use the light the
bulb gives off to its fullest advantage. There is alot more involved
in making a reflector. There is a online program that gives the proper
bend angles and dimensions for use with various sized and types of
tubes like T8 or T5 or T12's etc etc and even compact florescents.
You'll find that most if not all reflectors will have more than a
simple U shaped bend in them and none will have a typical rounded
radius bend. They all a have faceted angles to reflect light from bulb
to reflector to water or from reflector to another spot on the
reflector and then into the water, but not back on the bulb itself to
any real amount. Even those reflectors you get in the strip lights
are a real joke........Wanna waste some money.buy some T-5 lights and
use reflectors you make or that were suitable for tyopical T8. 12 or
16 bulbs...............Its been proven that your better off without
any reflectors if you do not use the proper reflectors with those
bulbs (T-5 are approx 1/2 or 5/8" diam and are the latest in aquarium
lighting and cost big bucks as do proper reflectors for them) But
using improper reflectors with those T5's results in extremely poor
output of lighting plus extreme heat build up and veryshort life of T5
bulbs. A lot of foks tried to cut corners on reflectors and got bit!
If you think a good factory made reflector is expensive check out the
price for a good T5 reflector.........pricey!

A scotch brite pad and 0000 steel wool will polish up tyupical
aluminum flashing and its better than white reflectors any
day.............

Getting riod of algae is a process of experimenting as everyuones
tanks are different, as is available natural light sources that
infiltrate in the room, as is room lighting and evenminutes lights are
on or off, as well as a heap of other variables. All anyone can do is
suggest a somewhat in the ball park range to start at and then go one
way or another from there. It may involve buying different light
bulbs again, experimenting with plants used, time of lighting etc
etc..........but it can be done.........................Reef tanks are
doomed if algae builds up in most cases, yet folks with a bit of
perserverance do conquer the problems and win..My reef tanks as well
as the majority of my FW are all pretty well free of rampany bkliooms
of any kind of algae except for what I want growiong in there, and it
did take considerable time to get them that way..........and yes ,I
did buy a lot of bulbs over the years and still continue to do so
almost every year when I plonk a few bills down to replace ALL my
florescent tubes but its still worth it overall to not be eat up with
alage and to have a nice tank with minimal maintenance to enjoy it.
Even paintinmg the back of the tank with say black paint to eliminmate
light from coming in is good. Its better than those backgrounds they
sell which stil allows light to some degree and always look so tacky.
Regular latex paint does a great job of blocking light from theback of
the tank and in 99% of the cases it gives great contrast to planats,
substrate and fish in a tank than any stick on background could do.
Itys easy to remove with a razor blade scraper to.........and it
matters not what you use in regards to flat or gloss as it all looks
like gloss through the glass..plus the added benefit of hiding cords
and filters etc etc.