No thorough optimization of the reflectors has been performed,

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In order to consider various reflector shapes from the point of view of their optimality, I conducted a computer simulation (using my own program for calculating lighting systems - OptCom). For the simulation, my aquarium was chosen, 36 (91 cm) long and 12 (30 cm) wide. The lamps were chosen 24 (61 cm) long. Conventionally, the luminous flux of each lamp was taken as 1000 lm. The reflection coefficient of the mirror reflector is 80%. Depending on the type of material used, the reflection coefficient of the aluminized reflector can reach 85% (an ordinary mirror has a reflection coefficient of about 90%). To simulate the roughness of the reflector material, it was assumed that the reflected light is scattered within a small angle according to the cosine law and this scattering depends on the angle of incidence.

Only the light falling on the water surface was taken into account. Losses due to reflection from the water surface, light scattering, etc. were not taken into account. It should be noted that the obtained usa student data do not characterize the reflector efficiency, which will be higher, since some of the light coming out of the reflector does not reach the water, due to the small width of the aquarium. This should be kept in mind, since reflector manufacturers often provide a value for the reflector efficiency, i.e. the amount of light coming out of the reflector.

Light distribution on the water surface was not taken into account. For example, sometimes it is desirable to have uniform illumination on the surface or, conversely, to have more light in front.

so it can be expected that with further optimization it is possible to obtain 5-10% efficiency. However, due to errors in the manufacture of the reflector, errors in the position of the lamps relative to the reflector, variations in the luminous flux of the lamps, which can reach 10%, the dependence of the luminous efficiency of the lamps on the temperature, supply voltage, etc., this optimization seems impractical.

Different reflectors produce a light flux with different angles of incidence to the water surface. To minimize reflection losses, you should try to keep the angle of incidence as close to 90 degrees as possible. On the other hand, if the water surface is in motion, for example, a filter or compressor creates waves, then such optimization does not make much sense.

I simulated standard lamps with diameters T12 and T5. For lamps with diameter T8 the result will be somewhere in the middle. The lamps were assumed to emit uniformly along their length and with a surface emitting according to Lambert's law (those who don't know this may well miss it). Light falling back into the lamp is re-emitted with an efficiency of 10% (in reality, probably even less). The lamps were placed at a height of 8 cm from the water surface.