Canopy - reflectors

[Barry N.]

Before I install my new lighting system on the 180, any idea about the reflection of the canopy top, other than just the reflectors that come with the retro kits. Do you paint, use foil or what?

I have seen acrylic mirrors and they are cheap but do not know if it will get to hot for that?

Any suggestions?
Barry
My Site: http://barryreef.homestead.com/index.html

[Ltspd]

I bought a sheet of spectral aluminum and had my shop break it to the desired form. It covers the whole inside of the canopy.
I also have the inside painted with a high temp resantance high reflective epoxy white paint.

I would atleast paint it white.

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Paul C
Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.
Einstein

[johnny]

toptank,

on reefcentral there is a good thread about this... do a search for "reflector mistakes".

Nick

[Firefish]

When I built my canopys, I used a 4'x3' sheet of aluminum I found at HomeDepot. If you use a straight edge,you can score the aluminum with a razor and bend to make it fit the conturs of your hood. But before you do that...If you have a buffer (like a car wax buffer) Use some polish and buff the aluminum to a mirror finish. It only takes a few minutes. My canopy and reflector looks nicer then any factory made one. Between the oak canopy and the reflector is a 3/4" air gap. The canopy stays cool with the fans on but,even if I shut them off,after 8 hours the oak is hardly luke warm.

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"It's better to have a hen tomorrow then an egg today."

[Barry N.]

Thanks for the replies......

Need to get this show on the road, installing lights the the last thing I need to do [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] other than move everything from the 90 to the 180 [img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

Barry

[SPasse]

Hi All,

I am moving this to the lighting forum.

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/