Reflective aluminum or even foil for refugium?

[Gunzen]

I just bought a Marineland breeder basket for my 13.5 Fluval. Plan on using it is a refugium to help with nitrates and build up a copepod colony to keep a dragonet. Anyway, I have alight I am going to try, and was wondering if it would be worth he effort to line the bottom and or sides with reflective material or even aluminum foil to reflect the light back inside as well as hide the light? (I am going to run t opposite of my tank lights).

 

[grassy_noel]

Sure, I don’t see why not. My only concern would be heat. If you reflect most of the light back into the refugium, it will eventually be absorbed and turn to heat. You can assume that whatever wattage your light is will now act like that wattage of heater whenever the fuge light is on. As long as that won’t overheat your tank then the foil should be fine. It will also increase the amount of light your chaeto gets, which is probably good if it’s a fairly small light.

 

[Gunzen]

Sure, I don’t see why not. My only concern would be heat. If you reflect most of the light back into the refugium, it will eventually be absorbed and turn to heat. You can assume that whatever wattage your light is will now act like that wattage of heater whenever the fuge light is on. As long as that won’t overheat your tank then the foil should be fine. It will also increase the amount of light your chaeto gets, which is probably good if it’s a fairly small light.

Yeah, I think I will start with the bottom and follow the temp. Then the back. Water does move through it, albeit slow, I am using a tiny pump, the bubbler holds no appeal. Lol.

 

[cmcoker]

I'd paint the outside white, it will reflect the light back