Anyone using Light Shades on Their Aquarium?

[PeterC99]

Recently installed 3D printed light spill shades on my Ecotech Xr30 Radions and what huge difference they make.

1) Significantly reduces almost all glare when viewing aquarium.

2) The light is now focused into the Aquarium and the colors are popping. Will try and test to see if they improve Par.

3) Clean Inside glass less often. Normally clean inside glass from algae every 2 to 3 days. NOW cleaning them every 5 to 6 days and cleanup is quick - not nearly as much algae on the glass, and no thick algae spots that require constant back and forth with magnetic glass cleaner.

Who else is using light shades and what has been your experience?

 

[WVNed]

I made some. The tanks are more pleasant to look at if nothing else.

 

[PeterC99]

How did you make yours?

 

[WVNed]

The Photon V2 is made with some thin black plastic stuck on with double sided automotive trim tape.
The big one is made of tongue and groove siding form Home depot. It is hung from the Unistrut that holds the lights with chains. It has louvers in the bottom to block the reflected light from the insides.

 

[Robertellis30]

Recently installed 3D printed light spill shades on my Ecotech Xr30 Radions and what huge difference they make.

1) Significantly reduces almost all glare when viewing aquarium.

2) The light is now focused into the Aquarium and the colors are popping. Will try and test to see if they improve Par.

3) Clean Inside glass less often. Normally clean inside glass from algae every 2 to 3 days. NOW cleaning them every 5 to 6 days and cleanup is quick - not nearly as much algae on the glass, and no thick algae spots that require constant back and forth with magnetic glass cleaner.

Who else is using light shades and what has been your experience?

Where did you find these? Looking for some that will fit xr15

 

[PeterC99]

Where did you find these? Looking for some that will fit xr15

Purchased them from @chemisfun11

 

[WVNed]

Purchased them from @chemisfun11

They look very nice. I always cobble some up myself but they dont look bad in pics or from across the room..

 

[PeterC99]

They look very nice. I always cobble some up myself but they dont look bad in pics or from across the room..

Their effectiveness has really surprised me.

 

[ajm83]

Recently installed 3D printed light spill shades on my Ecotech Xr30 Radions and what huge difference they make.

1) Significantly reduces almost all glare when viewing aquarium.

2) The light is now focused into the Aquarium and the colors are popping. Will try and test to see if they improve Par.

3) Clean Inside glass less often. Normally clean inside glass from algae every 2 to 3 days. NOW cleaning them every 5 to 6 days and cleanup is quick - not nearly as much algae on the glass, and no thick algae spots that require constant back and forth with magnetic glass cleaner.

Who else is using light shades and what has been your experience?

Would indeed be interesting to test the PAR. Gut feel is that it would lower it, I guess if the inside was white or some kind of reflective surface it could help.

 

[WVNed]

An essential item in my opinion.

I just took mine down to fix a dead bulb.
Here is the inside so people can see how it is made. No tricky carpentry.

 

[WVNed]

Would indeed be interesting to test the PAR. Gut feel is that it would lower it, I guess if the inside was white or some kind of reflective surface it could help.

Nope because it blocks light that never went in the tank in the first place. Painting it white might send some of that light into the tank and raise it though.

 

[PeterC99]

Would indeed be interesting to test the PAR. Gut feel is that it would lower it, I guess if the inside was white or some kind of reflective surface it could help.

Excellent point. Will have to take out the Par meter and test!

 

[ajm83]

Nope because it blocks light that never went in the tank in the first place. Painting it white might send some of that light into the tank and raise it though.

If he's getting less algae on the glass then presumably it is affecting the light reaching the tank though?

 

[WVNed]

If he's getting less algae on the glass then presumably it is affecting the light reaching the tank though?

He says he is going to find out. We will see.

 

[pledosophy]

Excellent point. Will have to take out the Par meter and test!

I would suggest putting a reflective surface over them to increase it further. You will see a bigger jump that way. The difference between plain white, and a silver reflector can be huge.

You can try plain foil, but I would suggest taking the extra step and visiting your local camera store and buying some reflective roll on material that photographers use in studio lighting. It's similiar to foil but reflects, but much more.

Cheers!

 

[PeterC99]

I would suggest putting a reflective surface over them to increase it further. You will see a bigger jump that way. The difference between plain white, and a silver reflector can be huge.

You can try plain foil, but I would suggest taking the extra step and visiting your local camera store and buying some reflective roll on material that photographers use in studio lighting. It's similiar to foil but reflects, but much more.

Cheers!

Great recommendation! Will try to find that photo reflective material!

 

[ajm83]

Great recommendation! Will try to find that photo reflective material!

We're all going to end up going full circle and running LEDs in halide style reflectors - mark my words!

 

[elysics]

We're all going to end up going full circle and running LEDs in halide style reflectors - mark my words!

Any particular reason we don't already besides cutting cost? Op probably isn't the first one to get annoyed by lightspill, and theres always discussions about how this light's and that light's lenses are inadequate

 

[smiley28]

We're all going to end up going full circle and running LEDs in halide style reflectors - mark my words!

This is funny cause I got mine from @chemisfun11 monday night I had the mh pendant thought but I’m loving this shade. I also thought for a second.. hmmm what if there was a reflective surface like ati fixtures.
Had to edit again. Kept getting typos.

 

[chemisfun11]

I am actually exploring reflective surface addition. I think it can be a relatively easy to include, but it would have to occur as a post production process.