clean Reflektores how important?!

[berlin-riff]

HEy Guys,

I have a question to you,

my reflectors are very old... 2or 3 years.

My tank looks very dark.. I have 10x 39 Watt T5 bulbs are from ATI
6x Aquablue Special and 4x blue+.

I will change the reflectors and I hope, that the tank looks better after it!

I see some other tanks, which have 8x54 Watt with the same combination of bulbs... and they are all brighter then my tank!

Do you think my corals and me will be happier about new reflectors :dance::lol:

thanks!

 

[myaerica]

I think A good reflector makes all the difference in the world.

 

[berlin-riff]

I think you are right

 

[buy_baff]

Good clean reflectors are very important.

 

[stevek480]

I try to clean my reflectors once a month with vinegar. If you let it go too long the salt build-up is a lot harder to get off. Have you changed your bulbs recently also?

 

[berlin-riff]

I must change my bulbs next month! They are 6 Month old .

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

I use NXT all metal polish on mine when I change bulbs. No odor, no residue only shines like a freaking mirror. I use it on my exhausts and blower and it shines them all up!

I will spritz with water and buff with a microfiber just in case in the aquarium.

 

[dixiedog]

I've seen results of PAR testing here recently which demonstrated an amazing LACK of difference between dirty old reflectors and brand new ones.

That said, I keep mine clean anyway.

 

[Felixc395]

I feel the same way but I also feel like my plexi-glass shield has something to do with it. It gets very dirty and i don't even know how to get all the salt off it. Plain water doesn't work. I feel like both are important.

 

[berlin-riff]

@dixiedog: can you show me the thread pls?!

@Felix: is it a self made plexi-glass shield or in your lightning? Like Sunpower or something else?

 

[Felixc395]

Well it's a AquaticLife 4 bulb fixture with the plexi on it. It's on my 37 and i'm upgrading very soon so i'm not super worried about it other than the fact that i will have to sell it so i don't know how to get the salt off.

 

[Wolfgang]

Hi Berlin-Riff:
It has been demonstrated that the 54W T-5's have substantial more Par than the 39W T-5's... And on the T-5 Par thread, there was Zip difference when the reflectors were changed on Par levels (Dirty to new Reflectors).
-Wolfgang

 

[dixiedog]

@dixiedog: can you show me the thread pls?!

It's also mentioned here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641235&highlight=time+to+change+bulbs

It's a very long thread but it contains some pretty interesting stuff.

 

[CleveYank]

I spray my reflectors and fixtures down with RO/DI water once a month to keep the salt off of them. My T5's, VHO reflectors and enclosed metal halide DE lenses all get a rinse in the morning via a spray bottle so it has 8 hours or so to dry before the lights come on. Salt is such a creep on equipment...