My first DIY - Reflector

[fodupos]

this is the first step to my DIY reflector... i was so proud of how it is turning out i had to get it on here... i got the plans from http://www.reefdiversity.com/DIYPage/DIY_HTML/DIY_ReflectorIndex.htm ... i bought the reflective aluminum at home depot... it is a tubular skylight extension... costs about $25... my next step to this is to add an aluminum frame around the base that i can slide a piece of glass into... i figured this will help keep the salt spray off of the reflector... is this a good idea.. let me know... and does anyone know a good way to cut slots into aluminum to make an adjustable bracket for the socket... i don't get how his is adjustable and he doesn't really have a good pic of it...

 

[waynem]

Looks good, oddly makes me think of medieval Knights

 

[runningstix]

looks good. Here are my first 2 diy lumenarcs!

 

[justilorah]

i think it looks good..

 

[yrema]

:thumbsup: very nice.

 

[Returnreefer]

fodupos, that looks very nice. what are the dimensions of the reflectors? how do you get the drawing onto the reflector sheet?

 

[runningstix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13642794#post13642794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Returnreefer
what are the dimensions of the reflectors? how do you get the drawing onto the reflector sheet?

Reefdiversity plans are for the lumenarc minis 14.5" x 14.5" x 7"

Cut out the design and trace on aluminum with a sharpie. Take tin snips and cut away.

 

[Returnreefer]

When i printed the drawing, it fits the 8.5 x 11 sheet. I guess it does not work for the lumenarc minis dimensions. So how did you do it?

 

[runningstix]

do you have access to a plotter? If not take it to kinkos have them scale up the 8.5x11 sheet so that the dimension of the dotted lines is 14.5"

 

[Returnreefer]

"the dimension of the dotted lines is 14.5" - what does it mean?

Sorry I am not good at DIY.

 

[runningstix]

do you have the plans for the reflector printed or can look at them? the bottom of the main 4 sides has a tab which is folded. there are two dashed lines above the tab. on the bottom dotted line measure 14.5" when blown up if you look at my reflector on the right you can see the aluminum folded in. so the line where the fold is needs to be what ever dimension you want the square reflector

 

[fodupos]

i have access to a plotter so i printed it on that... i then measured it myself cause those dimensions mean nothing... it turned out to be like 21 inches or something... the skylight that i used was 20 long... so i took the measurement and divided 20... i then used a function in the printing options to shrink the image to 95% its original size... i cut out the paper taped it onto the dull side and marked with a sharpie... i used snips that look like giant scissors and a utility knife (to make the inside cuts...

i was just wondering if anyone had an opinion on the glass shield for this... whether it is a good idea or not... i know glass can filter out some of the uv rays... do the corals need these or no....

 

[runningstix]

not if your running a mogul halide which judging by your hole you are. hqis need the uv glass. I would skip it (i did) get more par too

 

[Returnreefer]

so from the bottom dotted line of one side to the bottom dotted line of the opposite side, the measurement is 14.5"?

 

[runningstix]

yes

 

[BrianOKC]

looks good

 

[mflamb]

 

[fodupos]

mflamb that is a genius way to make the socket adjustable... i think that is how i am gonna make my bracket... much easier than trying to cut a slot into the aluminum

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13645659#post13645659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fodupos
mflamb that is a genius way to make the socket adjustable... i think that is how i am gonna make my bracket... much easier than trying to cut a slot into the aluminum

Thank you...nothing needed but a drill and snips, and flat aluminum from HD.