Mirrors for light reflectors

number1gsxxr

number1gsxxr

Member
I just had an idea. Has anyone tried using mirrors for light reflectors? I always see the aluminum metal type reflectors. There must be a reason why mirrors aren't used. Cost? Maybe it's too difficult to angle the light properly to focus it in the right spot? I read that silver is practically the best at reflecting. It's also the coating that is on the back of glass to make it into mirrors. I would think mirrors would be the best type of reflector. I could see it adding a lot of weight though.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Somebody asked this question a million years ago, and I believe Bang Guy had the answer that I remember most accurately. Lemme see if I can word it as eloquantly (sp?) as he did.
Since mirror has that pane of glass on top of it's reflective material, the light has to penetrate that glass in order to reflect, which diminishes the intensity, and as if that wasn't enough, it has to come back through the glass again on its way off of the reflective material. So even though mirror is highly reflective, your light will be filtered twice through the glass that makes it, thus a less intense par.
Not to mention that the constant temp change will eventually cause the glass to crack and fall all over your tank.
HTH
 
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