Mirror Frag Tank

[skatezen]

I've been thinking a lot about light and stuff mainly for growing frags. How well would a mirror frag tank work or if I paint it white on all of the sides and bottom. I know coraline will be an issue but as far as getting the most out of my lights...could it work or would I be going overkill? I know plant growers use reflective sheeting to provide optimal lighting conditions for plants what about corals?

[shelburn61]

white reflects more light than a mirror. good idea IMO

[skatezen]

Bump...Looking for some good input.

[kabboord]

With a mirror the light has to pass through glass tiwce, on the way in and on the way out. White paint just reflects however. Seems counter intuitive but white is more reflective than a mirror.

[Sparkss]

I agree with kabbord, plus I read somewhere that mirrors actualy make back reflectors for aquarium purposes, something to do with not passing all spectrums equally. Most likely to do with passing through glass twice, as kabbord had mentioned.

[Sparkss]

EDIT :

I read somewhere that mirrors actualy make back reflectors for aquarium purposes

should have read :

I read somewhere that mirrors actualy make BAD reflectors for aquarium purposes

but I didn't notice my typo until too late...

[skatezen]

Ok so if I did paint the out side of my tank white. Would it be effective?

[chrismhaase]

So would it be best to paint the inside of the canopy white or tape white sheets of paper on the inside of the canopy? What about aluminium foil?

[skatezen]

For a canopy, it is probably best having reflectors and then paint the rest white, that is how I have mine. In this thread I am talking about the glass on the tank itself, to reflect more light back in towards the corals.

[jjmcat]

a white canopy would be ok if you are using vhos.

[Pyrrhus]

If you have any fish in the tank at all, the mirror will drive them mad with a percieved competitor.

[exoticaquatics]

Flat white paint is 75-80% reflective. Or you could use mylar sheeting, which is 90-92% reflective. Aluminum foil isnt very reflective. Maybe 55% when it is flat.

[Jeremy6232]

mylar is what reflects and is similar to foil but it is made to reflect light check local head shops or grow shops that sell hydroponics