Reflectors... What do you use?

TruenoAE86coupe said:

I run a hydrofarm Radiant, IMO it is perfect for the 4x4 with awesome penetrating power, they make them in both air cooled and not cooled to fit your application. I have a link to a site that sells them for $100 plus shipping if you are interested.

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I also have 4 air-cooled Hydrofarm Radiant 8"s and one air-cooled Hydrofarm Daystar 6". They are excellent and provide lots of light.


The only other hood I've used is a Sunlight Systems Cool Sun, once, in a 400watt closet grow, it did just fine, I got just under an el b. from 6 plants.

kricket53 said:

i have a feeling the answer is no, but would tin foil or aluminum foil work?

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If what he's doing is wrapping up a sandwich to take to work for lunch, sure.

purrrrple said:

If your looking for a happy medium between spread and penetration I would suggest something like the radiant or blockbuster. The blockbuster truly is the perfect reflector for a 4x4 area.

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Is this the one you mean, the Chinese made reflector hood called Blockbuster?

Blockbuster Reflector


Blockbuster Reflector Add to Basket Add to Product Favorites
Product Description
Blockbuster Reflector
-Interior made from 95% reflective European aluminum
-Safety hinge for easy lamp changes and cleaning
-Extra aluminum in two ends for higher efficiency
-Completely sealed with hinged glass
-Ready to "plug and play" after you install a lamp and connect the SINOWELL ballast
-Available in both 6" and 8"
-Size: 10"H x 25 1/2"W x 28 1/3"L
-Comes with 15' pre-wired lamp cord
More Product Features
Trademark: SINOWELL Standard: UL Productivity: 100000PCS/Month Unit Price/Payment: FOB Shanghai USD1-50/PC Origin: China Packing: Carton Min. Order: 50PCS Transportation: by Sea/Air Type: Grow Light Power Source: Electric Export Markets: North America, South America, Oceania Company: Sinowell (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

stelthy said:

The Sun Systems - Super Sun 2 is awesome it has 4 angled sides and air-flow is great! .. Defo my reflector of choice I would have gone with the Sun Systems - Blockbuster but due to the width of my cab the Sun Systems - Super Sun 2 was perfect!! (Cab size :- 2' X 4' X 7') - STELTHY

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I also use this reflector due to its small physical foot print due to space restrictions in a cabinet. It stays extremely cool, plus the wife gives me hell because it says super sun 2.
She states, "Just one sun wasn't enough?"

Here is a chart that compares the sun line of reflectors. Although, I thought the site was overpriced

http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=3039

The reflector on the page is the classic sun system 2, which is not as nice as the Super Sun 2

There are a number of things to consider when picking a reflector hood. The closer the bulb to the top of the hood the shorter the distance the light has to travel to be reflected and less is lost, as in weakened. But the closer the bulb is to the top the hotter the bulb will get and remain so it will not last as long. So you pick an air cooled hood to deal with that, but you lose some light due to the glass that encloses the hood, plus you lose some reflective surface because you have openings on either side for duct work to connect that otherwise would be providing reflection,

So even if someone does not think about it there are tradeoffs to be made when picking a light hood.

I use a Sun-Systems - Super Sun 2 6" air-cooled reflector... and what ever Watt HPS takes my fancy at the time (have : 250w, 400w, 600w ballasts) I use a mixture of lamps : Philips MH, Digi-lux Dual Spec HPS as well as UVB and I also use 'diamond Mylar' to line the inside of my cab...when the 600w fires up ~ the room the cab is in is to bright to properly open your eyes The ladies love it !! - Ztelthy