Very Good thread and info!

I wish you could have also tested 1 other reflector material, aluminum tape. I am currently using this and seems to be OK(which doesn't mean much, lol). To the eye it seems close to aluminum foil but may not be quite as good?

Anyway I guess just something else to test(prob wont ever be tested, just food for thought). its $3 for a roll and easier to use because its tape.

I currently have a 10G with a similar hood and its modded, at 1st I just used aluminum foil on the stock 15w T8 tube. I think this would be another great comparison test. To me it seems like the loss of light from the spiral bulbs may mean that the stock 15w bulb and alum foil is just as good as 2x 13w spiral screw in bulbs with foil?.

So far I have just cut the excess silicone away from that narrow "window" in the hood, I guess I need to cut the plastic also to get a little more(thanks to this thread)

For my 10G I made some reflectors out of 44oz plastic cups, covered with the alum tape. It gives an OK parabolic effect, but the bulbs are too large in diameter along with the narrowness of the plastic fixture to use them effectively.Currently with this setup (no CO2) I get green dust just on the sides of my 10G.


I believe that using a "U-shaped" bulb would be better for these fixtures, they are just harder to find with "daylight" ratings. I also think these T10 screw in bulbs would be the best bulbs possible for this type of setup, even harder to find except for the standard 7w, except for these 20w:
Mini Power Compact - Colormax - 20W - 8 in. | Compact Fluorescent Straight Pin Bulbs | Bulbs & Lamps | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com