Scientific Light Question

[The Curious]

OK, so I am in the middle of building a canopy for my 90 gallon. I was thinking about painting the inside black, like the outside will be painted. Then I started thinking about biology class...

If I remember correctly, the color we see on an object is the only color that isn't absorbed. That being said, if I were to paint my canopy black, every other color would be absorbed except black, which is being bounced off the object, therefore allowing me to see it as black.

So...should I paint the inside of my canopy white? Scientifically it seems that if the inside of my canopy were painted white, the super white light coming off of my LEDs would be "bounced" off into the water, rather than absorbed.

I have a feeling that this might just not really make any substantial difference, since we are talking about 450 watts of LED light only 12" from the top of the water. I just had the thought and wanted input from someone more knowledgeable than myself.

Thanks for any input

 

[jerpa]

White will reflect more than black but it is insignificant in this situation. LED's already project the light straight into the aquarium with very little spillover. MH in a reflector will not benefit either. You would see a benefit if you were running MH, VHO's, or T5 supplements without a reflector but even then mylar, or a similar reflective surface, would benefit you more than paint.

 

[The Curious]

White will reflect more than black but it is insignificant in this situation. LED's already project the light straight into the aquarium with very little spillover. MH in a reflector will not benefit either. You would see a benefit if you were running MH, VHO's, or T5 supplements without a reflector but even then mylar, or a similar reflective surface, would benefit you more than paint.

Thats about what i was thinking. Thanks

 

[disc1]

every other color would be absorbed except black, which is being bounced off the object, therefore allowing me to see it as black.

There is no such thing as black light. Black means all colors of light are absorbed and none are reflected. White means everything is reflected.

 

[Dimple]

Don't paint it, coat it with this stuff to reflect whatever spillage remains...
https://www.fish-street.com/nano_reflective_film?category_id=134