Help Choosing A Reflector Please

Hi I would really like some input from the experienced growers here on some reccomendations for a 1000w hps hood/reflector. Ones I have been looking at are magnum xxxl, king cobra, raptor, and the big foot. Would consider others if you have any advice... My grow area is about 7.5 x 7.5 ft x 7ft high but part of the room is going to be for a veg grow tent so I plan on using about a 6x6 area of the room maybe even 4x4 or 5x5 if it's reccomended... ALSO has anyone used the new solis tek 1000w hps bulbs and do you reccomend them over the hortilux?

And by the way I have done extensive research but what I am looking for is a good size foot print but also a reflector that's not TOO big where I'm losing light.. Also an airtight one that seals would be great.. Buddy has a raptor and it seems like around the glass there's about a quarter inch gap just open but maybe it just looked that way I've heard lots of good reviews on them just looking to get the best possible hood the first time so I don't need to upgrade, thanks!

open bulb reflectors like adjust-a-wing give the best light penetration imo, parabolics give the best footprint.

if you are looking for air-cooled the magnum ochos are excellent but if you can get away with it, open bulb is the way to go!

ghb said:

open bulb reflectors like adjust-a-wing give the best light penetration imo, parabolics give the best footprint.

if you are looking for air-cooled the magnum ochos are excellent but if you can get away with it, open bulb is the way to go!

Click to expand...

Can you explain what you mean by the term 'footprint'?
I thought enclosed and ventilated reflectors allowed the light to be placed closer to the plants causing greater light penetration....

Now you say that, for best penetration, open bulb is the way to go....?

Do you have a different way of reducing the heat radiating off the bulb in an open reflector?

Sorry to jump aboard this thread but it relates to my own enquiries.
On Monday I am going to collect a PowerStation Aero Wing Pro.

footprint is the size of available light on the floor, if you use a parabolic reflector with the bulb hanging vertically you will generally have a hot spot in the middle then at least a 5x5 light spread with quite even coverage.

if you use an air cooled reflector you lose a lot of light at the periphary. they can be placed closer to the plants but then you lose light spread, the glass also does some fucked up things to the light.

they are good for if you are having problems with heat but they will give less yield than an open bulb reflector under the same temps.

hope that cleared it up a bit, here it is in a sentence.

"bare bulb reflectors ( or open hoods) give the plant more useable light than air cooled reflectors"


in the summer i use air cooled reflectors, in the winter i use open bulb reflectors, i never use air conditioning.

bare bulb or cool tube??
they are both technically "air cooled reflectors"
I got confused on this once too i thought someone was talking about a cool tube but they were talking about a bare bulb setup horizontally with a parabolic reflector

no, bare bulb is bare bulb. you can touch the bulb with your hand, these include your standard cheapo wing reflector, adjust a wing reflectors and parabolics

air cooled reflectors use a layer of glass and you cannot touch the bulb with your hands, it is enclosed in the hood.
cooltube is a closed reflector that is used with a fan to suck or blow air over the bulb to keep it cool.