wich reflector to use in tent ??

Hey everyone ! I have been looking into different types of reflectors to use in my 3x3 tent. I am planning on using a 400w hps/mh set up. And i am stuck between wich style to get, a cool tube or a reqular squarre reflector. I know that it is very importat to keep the heat down while using a tent. So i am wondering if anyone out there could lend any advice or expeirence they have with this subject. Here are some of the questions that i had.

1. Is there any lumen loss by going with a cool tube ?

2. Will an air cooled square reflector that has the glass panel run as cool as the cool tube with the same ventalation set up ?

3. What size fan (cfm) would work best for either of these set ups ?

Thanks

i would def suggest a cooltube bro. if not the heat will be pretty bad, 6inch and up, you can do the square one and shouldnt lose many if any lumems.. im guessin you could lose sum on the tube one but either way the regular reflector is bad for heat. trust me i know lol

I live in Australia and I have my grow tent in a roof and It stays at 28c with the lights on fine (150m Exhaust) . Mate I wouldn't go with the cool tube save you money for a better light. (also the fans in those things are a cunt too get going )!!! I use an Ablite Mk3 shade in my tent now I guess you could say that's a bit of a waste but it fits perfectly because they are fully adjustable. I have been 100% happy with the A just- A - Shade and I think you should get one. Just one tent grower too another...... Good luck with you decision.

So those square reflector get pretty hot huh. Sounds good man thanks for the advice wi ll def go with a cool tube what size ya think for a 3x3x6 tent ?

Since you're going with a cool tube. Check out this one:

http://www.dchydro.com/product/2381/19-Cool-Tube-w-cord/

By far the cheapest one you'll ever find. I wish I had bought this before making my own.

I use sunlight supply hoods with glass and all this bullshit about them being hot is misleading.Cool tubes do not spead an even canopy and Ill yeild 20% more than any cheap ass cool tube.Buy you a nice hood and glass with the proper size fan and your set..........peace

i work with 2 cooltubes.. from the cool tube company... i dont understand what hydrohead means about the fans for cool tubes... the idea is that you hook your air exhaust, (extractor) to the cool tube on one side and your carbon filter on the other... that way air is sucked in from the carbon filter and sucked throught the cool tube all the way to outside your house.... or tent....
now when it comes to the reflective light of the cool tube it sucks.... u pretty much use only direct light... so if your using a single 400 or a single 600 watt lamp you may wanna find another solution to use it fully..meaning to use all the direct light possible along with reflected light...(as much as possible)
if on the other hand you work with a set up like me, (medium size grow tent with 2 600watt lamps... youll definatly need cool tubes cause heat will be by faaaaar a problem... and when you have that many lumens in such a small space, its ok to be using only direct light and no reflected light.... cause the entire space to cover is well covered with the 2 lamps....
happy growing, peaceee ouuuuttt

Every time I have seen Cool tubes running they have ducting running out of each end with a 2 x 150mm fan (One blowing in and one blowing out).

LovesGreens said:

Hey everyone ! I have been looking into different types of reflectors to use in my 3x3 tent. I am planning on using a 400w hps/mh set up. And i am stuck between wich style to get, a cool tube or a reqular squarre reflector. I know that it is very importat to keep the heat down while using a tent. So i am wondering if anyone out there could lend any advice or expeirence they have with this subject. Here are some of the questions that i had.

1. Is there any lumen loss by going with a cool tube ?

2. Will an air cooled square reflector that has the glass panel run as cool as the cool tube with the same ventalation set up ?

3. What size fan (cfm) would work best for either of these set ups ?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I have a 400 watt in my veg tent (2x4 Sun Hut) and it's cooled by a 6" inline fan (435CFM) - the temps never get more then two or three degrees over the ambient temp of the room the tent's in (4" inline fan at 170CFM for intake as well).

Sure, cooltubes do run MUCH cooler, but unless you're popping a 1000 or 2 6's in your tent, any ole air-cooled hood will do you fine.

Just my $.02.

If a cool tube is installed with two blowing fans duct taped one pulling air in and one taking it out... its been set up wrong...
One proper fan like this http://www.hydrogrowsystems.co.uk/store/product.asp?spc=SYF should be hooked up to one side of the cooltube using flexible tubeing (whatever you call that stuff) and on the other side of the cool tube you dont really need anything... unless you wanna hook a carbon filter to it all... and that would be to get rid of any smell that would come out of the tent into the room or outside the house...
peaaace

Word man. But that is different too the ones I have ever seen.

cool tube all the way ! .. I made a 4X5X7' tent and had to raise the roof twice literally cuz the heat generated from a traditional light set up. once i picked up a cool tube the clouds had lifted ! .. cloudy skies are again clear.. the difference is day and night with heat. my 600w hps went from 3 FEET away (due to heat) to 8 INCHES from plant canopy, growth spurted! I have one fan on the outside (exhaust) . i hooked up another for intake on the light and didn't notice any difference so i went back to the single fan exhaust with passive intake. You'll love it !