Is it just me? :confused:
Am I the only one not quite gettin' it? :confused:
What's the deal with J & L (I assume it's them and not the manufacturer, as no manufacturer name was provided) sayin' that this reflector gets mounted this way and that reflector gets mounted that way?
I read most of the AA article newguy provided. Pretty heavy stuff. I didn't get all of it, but I didn't see in there anything about mounting reflectors perpendicular this and parallel that.
It's not how you mount it, but the design of the reflector itself, right?
In this case, either a parallel reflector or a perpendicular one.
Both get mounted the same way, no?
That being the reflector facing down, toward the water surface, no?
And your light rays will be either of the parallel reflected type or the perpendicular reflected type, depending on which type of reflector you have, correct?
:confused:
No....? :confused:

Cheers,

Mark, PFO recommends that these reflectors are mounted perpendicular to the tank.

That's bizarre.
I just can't get my head around that.
This is one of those things I'd have to see to get.:redface:

Cheers,

ya, I'm not sure either, and I've done them both ways and I can't see any difference.

Old PFO Website from 2003:

http://web.archive.org/web/200304221...ofit+Items.htm


"OPTIMAL REFLECTOR(Reeflector): This reflector is designed to mount perpendicular to the front of the tank. It is made with 95% reflective aluminum and will put about 40% more light into the tank than a standard flat sheet of reflective metal. "


"PARALLEL REFLECTOR : The parallel reflector is designed to mount parallel with the front of the tank using fluorescents. It is made with 95% reflective aluminum and will put about 25% more light into the tank than a standard flat sheet of reflective metal. "


Light Distribution for Optimal reflector:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/imag...icular-top.gif

Light Distribution for Parallel reflector:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/imag...rallel-top.gif

Under the optimal reflector at 6"-9", the area with the brightest light is greater along the X axis.

Under the parallel reflector at 6"-9", the area with the brightest light is greater along the Y axis.

Thus, at 6"-9", it is better to mount Optimal reflectors perpendicular to the tank and Parallel reflectors parallel to the tank.

At 12", it looks like both should be mounted parallel.

Christy...

Did you look at mine closely? Old flourescent fixtures, tin snips. rivet gun & drill, and a few hours and mine is mirrored, parabolic, cooled, mounted and wired... I have a 3 foot chunk you are welcome to if you want to try it... anybody with a light meter? I would like to know what I'm getting...

Jim, I already have what looks like DIY even though they probably aren't. Besides, I am mostly DIY challenged and quite frankly for $35 I'd rather just buy the damned things :wink:

I measured the reflectors I have now and it looks like the perpendicular ones are the only ones that would fit anyways :rolleyes: