36" T5 Reflector Indecisiveness

[sevenleaf]

Obviously, I want to get maximum output from my 2 x 39W Hagen GLO T5s, and am now turning my attention towards reflectors. The Tek reflector claims to +300% of the output of the tube.

My research has thrown up these 2 options:

• IceCap T5 Reflector 35"
• T5 Tek Light 36" Reflector

However I cannot find either for sale here in the UK. My 3rd choice is

• T5 GLO Reflector 36""

Does anyone in the UK have any experience of a) sourching options 1 or 2 over here, or can anyone point me in the direction of a solid 'non semi-circular' reflector?

 

[Themuleous]

All reflectors suffer from something called re-strike, i.e. light being produced by the tubes hitting the reflector and bouncing back into the tube, rather than into he tank. This means that no reflector is going to give you 100% light into the tank. I am very sceptical about the claim that one can increase light reaching the tank my 300%, thats ridiculous to be perfectly honest.

Ignore the marketing hype and dont wouldn't worry to much about which brand you get. Any reflector is going to be better than no reflector.

The other thing to remember is that you'll quickly find that water evaporating on the surface of the reflector leaves water marks, these reduce the efficiency of the reflector, and this happens to every reflector, no matter what the price (I've not see a self cleaning reflector yet! ). Keeping the reflector clean by rubbing it with a damp cloth is going to be more beneficial than spending lots of money on one that claims to increase light getting into the tank by 300%.

Sam

 

[sevenleaf]

All reflectors suffer from something called re-strike, i.e. light being produced by the tubes hitting the reflector and bouncing back into the tube, rather than into he tank. This means that no reflector is going to give you 100% light into the tank. I am very sceptical about the claim that one can increase light reaching the tank my 300%, thats ridiculous to be perfectly honest.

Ignore the marketing hype and dont wouldn't worry to much about which brand you get. Any reflector is going to be better than no reflector.

The other thing to remember is that you'll quickly find that water evaporating on the surface of the reflector leaves water marks, these reduce the efficiency of the reflector, and this happens to every reflector, no matter what the price (I've not see a self cleaning reflector yet! ). Keeping the reflector clean by rubbing it with a damp cloth is going to be more beneficial than spending lots of money on one that claims to increase light getting into the tank by 300%.

Sam

Cheers for that bud. My tank has a sliding glass condensation lid so hopefully evaporation marks won't be too much of an issue! The Hagen ones seem to be slightly more 'heart' shaped rather then the standard semi-circular to try to lessen the re-strike, think I'll give them a go instead of shipping one of the others from the states!

 

[Themuleous]

No probs

 

[fozziebear]

remember to keep those cover glasses nice n clean too they can be horrible for cutting out light.