Aluminum Foil as Light reflector??

[fishfood]

Just wondering if anyone uses aluminum foil for a light reflector. I have a spider reflector with the MH but was thinking about a cheap way to put something behind my VHO's. Its not the best for reflecting light but is very cheap. What do you all think?

 

[wallda]

If you want to do it yourself cheap why not go to your local hardware store and buy a piece of aluminum and some polish, you can get a great mirror like finish and aluminum is very easy to bend/cut.

 

[mr . salty]

I have used that in the past.But it deteriorates pretty quickly.Then small pieces of aluminum will start falling in the water.It does work,but you need to replace it about every month to be safe...

 

[fishfood]

it deteriorates that quickly. Well it was just a thought.

 

[dburr]

I have read if it falls in the tank it could be fatal to corels. I would not use it. My .02

 

[twoods71]

I used aluminum tape I bought from HD. It works great and have had it for a couple of months now and it is still holding strong. I am not anticipating any problems in the future either as the stuff seems pretty tough.

 

[wallda]

I guess I am the only one who has a glass cover on my tank. I never have to worry about alluminum falling into my tank.

 

[kevin01]

I would really like to know about Aluminum Foil also. It is a great heat dissipant. 375 degrees in the oven for 30 minutes and I can take it out with my bare hands. (cooked pizza last night) Also a lot cheaper reflector.

 

[justinl]

I used aluminum foil for a few months and it worked great. No problems at all. I just replaced it with aluminum sheeting though just to make it more durable.

 

[seabass]

I used the aluminum from duck work! this has riples in it and is thicker than aluminum foil. The nice thing about it is when the light reflects off of it, it creates a ripled light that looks really cool! just like sun rays

 

[mal]

Seabass,
Where did you get it? Home improvement place? I've been using foil for a while too, and would like to change it something less cheesey looking yet just as effective.
amalaby@hotmail.com if needed.

 

[fender]

I used aluminum flashing - look in the roofing section of your local hardware store. You can get a 2' by 10' sheet for < $10. Is thicker than foil, can polish easily and is very flexible.

 

[seabass]

home depot plumbing deparment, comes in sheets, I really like the ripple effect I think you'll like it to ")

 

[mal]

You know where I'm goin.....thanks for the replies gents'.

 

[javajoe]

I don't have MH lights, but i built my own lighting "hood" for flourescents with a white vinyl gutter with end caps- don't laugh- if you looked at it, you would not know that it was homemade unless i told you (most people are amazed when i tell them).
Anyway- i was trying to find out what to do for reflection, and a friend of mine who does heating and air conditioning gave me some tape that he uses for heating and cooling systems-- it is shiny like aluminum foil, and it reflects the light great. the best thing, is that it is desinged to hold heat IN and you wrap it around pipes that are hot- so the hotter it gets, the better it actually sticks-- so you don't have to worry about the heat making it fall off. the stuff i got does have the brandname on it in little red logos, so it is not 100% reflective, but if you really wanted to you could but pieces out to cover all that....
i can look if you want when go home for lunch and post the brandname so it is easier to find.
worked great for me.... oh- i am using NO bulbs, but it would work with VHO as well....
joe
[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: Javajoe ]

 

[twoods71]

I used the same stuff as the above post but the stuff I got has the label printed on the inside of the roll.

 

[chevydragtruck]

well, I don't know where this stuff came from (previous owner put it on) but on every bulb that I got from him (even the spares) have an aluminum type tape on the back side of the bulb it's self, I personaly have never seen or heard of this before, but it seems to work pretty well.