Setting up your light source...

[iwantFUEGO]

ok, so i was at kmart and i found this "work light" where its like a lightbulb assembly, but around it is a metal bowl thing used to direct the light. anyone who's owned a reptile or something in a tank knows what im talking about.
Anyways, i noticed that alot of you just hang your CFLs and dont have anything around them. Is it better or worse to have the metal bowl around it?
Thanks

iwantFUEGO Reviewed by iwantFUEGO on 06-04-2006. Setting up your light source... ok, so i was at kmart and i found this "work light" where its like a lightbulb assembly, but around it is a metal bowl thing used to direct the light. anyone who's owned a reptile or something in a tank knows what im talking about. Anyways, i noticed that alot of you just hang your CFLs and dont have anything around them. Is it better or worse to have the metal bowl around it? Thanks Rating: 5

[iwantFUEGO]

anybody? i just want to know if i should use the bowl to direct light or if i should leave them hanging free and just put up some foil to reflect?

[asintx]

I like using the reflector bowls, I think it helps to concentrate the light into a smaller radius.

[Tom Swierzbinski]

If you can afford and have the space for some sort of reflector, then go ahead. I think it would be cheaper to get some card, line it with mylar and use that. Mylar costs something like £2 for a 1m x 1.4m sheet, so it actually works out cheaper that way. Plus, mylar reflects around 95% of the light.

[Lady Vapor]

Flat white paint is one of the best ways to reflect light... So I just paint everything white - except the plants