Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anyone know of a place to buy a cf reflector? I have looked at hydroponics reflectors but they are steep.
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Matt

You can usually buy mirrored plexiglass on ebay in smallish sheets for pretty cheap. ($5 plus S&H) Those can be cut to size and used . . . they could even be "warped" into a parabolic shape by heating it up on a cookie sheet in the oven and placed over a form to get the right shape. I have a thermoplastics working guide somewhere that even told the right temp to preheat the oven.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Homer, I am almost convinced that you are the smartest man alive....and I knew the "cheap" would grab your attention. I have a large piece of broken/scrap mirror that I can cut to size and use, but wondered if the "parabolic" shape made much of a difference. Should i just use the mirror?
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Matt

Yes, the "cheap" always grabs my attention. LOL! I can assure you that I am not the smartest man alive, but working in the patent industry keeps me on my toes and always thinking around things. My Scotch heritage (and years in school without an income) makes me pinch my pennies.

I actually would have recommended the glass before, but I did not know whether you had mounted your lamps to the top of the hood via screws . . . that would have been problematic with glass. I really don't think that you gain much (but there is some gain) with a parabolic type reflector in a terrarium, but it does really help in aquariua due to surface reflection. If you already have the glass mirror (and I know you're adept with a glass cutter), I'd recommend just going with that. It doesn't get much cheaper than using what you already have. And if you have a wife, she's happy you put one more piece of your "inventory" to use and out of her way!
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

I should probably just ue the mirror. I have thrown away so much money with the lights so far, I need to watch it. Thanks,
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Matt

I have not read all of the posts on this thread, but if you go to wormsway.com they sell a reflective tape that works good. you could buy some of this for cheap and fabricate your own hood from a scrap piece of tin or sheet metal. Also keep in mind that white reflects most light as well as the metalic reflective material.

awesome. That page reminded me of MYLAR. I can get a space blanket at walmart for 3 bucks. I forgot all about that stuff.

Thanks,
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Matt

can you say 3 dollar space blanket?? with virtually no weight.
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Matt

That's definitely an option as well. I don't know why I didn't think of that. However, I am seriously considering buying some of that mirrored plexi to make some parabolic reflectors for the four 13 watt CF's over my "future vent tank." I'll let everyone know if it turns out to be a disaster or not. If it works, I might make a few extras (since the mold will be the most time consuming part) for others to try out.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Here:
Check out the film:
www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights3.shtml

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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

I like that film, but I don;t know what I would use for the frame shape. I would like a curve or something like the miro reflectors.
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Matt

My thoughts would be to put it under the lights then screw it to the sides to create a curve, I have not tried it yet though. In my 15gal I used normal kitchen foil, siliconed to the hood.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

ok...thanks for the ideas
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Matt

Hey Kyle, after looking at that film again, I am pretty sure it is mylar. You can get a space blanket at walmart for 2 bucks and it is the same thing. Can't believe I didn't think of it sooner
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Matt

What section do they sell these in?
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators
0.0.2 D. ventrimaculatus

camping. Called emergency space blanket.
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Matt