T5 Deflectors Or Not?

[Rob5]

In my All Pond Solutions 200litre tank it has 3 x 39w T5  lighting system built into the hood.
 
i have just been looking at a write up on a T5 reflectors saying that they will improve the efficiency.
 
Is this just a gimmick or will they improve the efficiency in my tank?
 
 

 

[techen]

They bounce back what light is hitting the roof of the housing, So yea I'd say there's a benefit from that.

 

[Rob5]

Thanks for that, will have to look into investing some then

 

[DrRob]

My only question is, do you need more light?
 
It's often done as it's easy, but a balanced tank may be fine without them and algae up with them. Do consider what else you may need to do to up CO2, ferts, circulation etc. Although if light is your limiting factor and the rest are sorted it's a very cheap and efficient way to up the power.

 

[Chad]

Reflectors are quite needed in my experience and individual ones are best. There is a lot of wasted light otherwise and the reflectors serve to focus it.

 

[baker360360]

They say they double the light. I'm also considering them, but the juwel reflectors are £15 each so I've gone old school and used some tin foil and double sided tape , with results.

Not saying foil is as good tho lol.

But be carful too much light and you'll get more algae.

 

[SO19Firearms]

What DrRob said.

And white paint would be better than tinfoil for the DIY'er.

 

[DrRob]

Took me a while to get my head around the tin foil/white paint thing, but it's all to do with even surfaces and colour rendition, aluminium is good at giving a clear image but white paint reflects more total light and is far easier to get into a smooth surface in DIY.

 

[baker360360]

Took me a while to get my head around the tin foil/white paint thing, but it's all to do with even surfaces and colour rendition, aluminium is good at giving a clear image but white paint reflects more total light and is far easier to get into a smooth surface in DIY.

Yep that's why the reflectors are best. Try to think of it as a reflection when looking over still water, you can see yourself clearly but if you droped a stone in it it cause the surface to become distorted and wouldn't reflect.

The material of tin foil is better but its impossible to get it perfectly smooth and straight.

OP- do those allpondsolutions fit juwel t5s ?
I've got the allpondsolutions external filter and wavemaker I think they are defiantly value for money and will keep buying their products.

 

[DrRob]

Hadn't seen reflectors from APS, apart from in their luminaries. I know that iquatics do some though, and there's juwel's own.

 

[baker360360]

Hadn't seen reflectors from APS, apart from in their luminaries. I know that iquatics do some though, and there's juwel's own.

I just got iquatics lights last week, buy 2 get 1 free and they fit juwel so I'm assuming their reflectors would too.

 

[Rob5]

Iquatics do sell reflectors which are quite expensive,
 
They also sell reflector replacement strips which are a lot cheaper and i can adapt.
 
Having too much light will not be a problem as my tank has 3 T5 lights built in, so i will be able to turn tubes off if need be

 

[DrRob]

On the subject of price, I believe they're in pairs, which makes them slightly more reasonable, but yes, they do sell the strips as well.