Grow light reflectors, cool tubes and bare bulb

[Stonefree69]

Over the years I've come across a lot of different reflectors and would like to share the one's I've found. Eventually I've settled on vertical bare bulb after refining my grow room & equipment as I've found it to be the most advantageous. In case you don't know, there's a whole subforum here on vertical growing if you're interested. There are some nice reflectors out there. Lately the bigger ones have come into favor as well as vertical light reflectors.

Well here's my list of favorite reflectors or ways to use your HID lights:

Feel free to chime in on your feedback w/reflectors, cool tube or bare bulb setups.

 

[TREE KING]

im curious did you run light tests on all of these with a meter?

 

[Stonefree69]

im curious did you run light tests on all of these with a meter?

No, just from what the plants responded to and from final results. I did like the Big Daddy, you can even adjust the bulb inside like the Big Kahuna, pretty bulky and heavy though. Others like the Magnums and the Raptors are solidly built (Magnums rattle and Raptors don't if vibrations are an issue). Bell uses titanium instead of aluminum. Aluminum can tarnish over time, some replace but maybe just polished?

Sure wish I had a Quantum PAR light meter though, it's on my list.

 

[TREE KING]

No, just from what the plants responded to and from final results. I did like the Big Daddy, you can even adjust the bulb inside like the Big Kahuna, pretty bulky and heavy though. Others like the Magnums and the Raptors are solidly built (Magnums rattle and Raptors don't if vibrations are an issue). Bell uses titanium instead of aluminum. Aluminum can tarnish over time, some replace but maybe just polished?

Sure wish I had a Quantum PAR light meter though, it's on my list.

damn you've used alot of of different relectors lol. i just noticed you dont have the radiant reflector on that list. i only use non air cooled ones and the only ones ive used so far are the radiant, bell lighting, and the blockbuster. as far as 4 x 4 spaces go the radiant was the best and it was even tested with a light meter compared to the bell lighting. the only thing is when your using the radiant you gotta keep it 24" above the plants, with the bell its 18". i dont have enough height currently so im using all bell lighting. my question to you is out of that list which non air cooled reflector is the best for a 4 x 4 space?

 

[Stonefree69]

Yeah TREE KING, despite people saying you need to get the plants as close to the lights as possible w/reflectors, 24" actually outdoes that because of coverage. Even Big Mike @ AN realized this, though I don't endorse AN (cheaper nutes like Dyna-Gro, GH etc... do just as well if not better from other real grows). I haven't used all of them listed above (though I've been tempted to compare) but also tons of feedback on most of them over the years.

 

[TREE KING]

Yeah TREE KING, despite people saying you need to get the plants as close to the lights as possible w/reflectors, 24" actually outdoes that because of coverage. Even Big Mike @ AN realized this, though I don't endorse AN (cheaper nutes like Dyna-Gro, GH etc... do just as well if not better from other real grows). I haven't used all of them listed above (though I've been tempted to compare) but also tons of feedback on most of them over the years.

thats not true it depends on the reflector i suggest you get a light meter and see for yourself. with the bell lighting ones you wanna be at 18" my friend ran the tests. even though the radiant stays 24" inches from the plants it reaches further down the canopy than the bell lighting reflectors thats why its better. it also put out stronger light on all 4 sides which is how your supposed to take the readings

 

[Stonefree69]

I made a generalization, depends if you're using ceramic, MH, HPS, 600 or 1,000 watt bulbs as well as different reflectors that also determine distance. If you want to maximize PAR try to go bare bulb vertical - there's vertical donuts, coliseums/stadiums and XOX (light-plant-light) arrangements growing trees. If your talking about coverage, here's some COVERAGE:

I don't really try to measure distance from bulb but go by 50 watts/sq ft (to give me a general PAR figure for HID) and size it from there. The bulb generally should be just about same height as plant tops. Heath Robinson has the right idea, instead if putting reflecting material around the whole grow room, just put it around the area you measure out to achieve 50 w/sq ft. Light then travels and bounces around less, and is more efficient. Just make sure you get air circulation right among other things. He's had over 2 grams/watt harvests. If you don't believe me check out his work-of-art grows.

 

[TREE KING]

i was only talkin about 1000 watt lights

 

[Stonefree69]

i was only talkin about 1000 watt lights

OK I added the Radiant. That might be good for early veg & HID before going to vertical (instead of fluoros) if you do it that way. Thanks, still seem to learn something new everyday.

 

[TREE KING]

OK I added the Radiant. That might be good for early veg & HID before going to vertical (instead of fluoros) if you do it that way. Thanks, still seem to learn something new everyday.

yeah good move its the best ive found for a 4 x 4 space so far real deep penetration down the canopy. after you try it out if you notice that you've used a better non air cooled one let me know
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Radiant-Reflector-With-Cord/dp/B000C1ZGWY

 

[Guest 343357]

A nice fresh bare bulb, free of dust or smudges...all the best homies!

 

[the gnome]

you've run thru quite a pile of lite systems stoney.
I'm getting my new bloom room ready, 20x14 and plan to put 6000w in there.
I'd like to give the 4ft parabolics a try w/vert bulb,
I see you've run em before.
so how did they do for you?

 

[Stonefree69]

That's a very good choice gnome, I was just looking at them yesterday to maybe adapt them to hang bulb lower on the reflector and put a hole on top to have a fan vent from floor below (facing up). This was for a bare bulb vertical grow - wanted to have bulb's sides under plant canopy, not above. Might even choose it over those newer vertical reflectors, as it would direct the light down better and more evenly. That's how parabolas work when bulb is at the focus.

No I haven't actually used them or many other listed myself, but reflectors were the "pick of the litter" from forums on the web and their feedback/results.

 

[the gnome]

yeah, I think i like the vert bulbs on the para's r better then the vertizontals they have out now @ 3Xs the cost,

the vert/bulb $46 para's allow for up and down bulb movement to close or open up your footprint.
also when you hanging em low your still going to be getting a good amount of side lighting 360degree's around the bulb.

i saw you posting in my mh vs hps thread,
check out vaped 13's 6000w grow using the para's with a vert bulb and taking in 12lbs using a cheep $21 mh bulbs
nothing short of impressive

 

[willyweed]

hi there i would like to add the diamond reflector made by ecotechnics in france europe ,also they have the air cooled model of the same ,has the best footprint of light i have seen or heard about.kind regards.ww

 

[TREE KING]

hi there i would like to add the diamond reflector made by ecotechnics in france europe ,also they have the air cooled model of the same ,has the best footprint of light i have seen or heard about.kind regards.ww

where can i buy one of these in the u.s?

 

[supermanlives]

i used to run parabolics . i loved em . got close to gpw without even trying.

 

[willyweed]

what size would you like? ie 400 600 1000? they do sell them on ebay am sure they would post to usa for a small fee, if not i will get a price and sort it out if you want to try one?

 

[willyweed]

check out this site first its in the uk have others in europe but let me know www.ecotechnics.co.uk/
diamond reflector not sure about the air cooled one yet as it only blows the heat away from the bulb but the heat stays in the room !

 

[TREE KING]

check out this site first its in the uk have others in europe but let me know www.ecotechnics.co.uk/
diamond reflector not sure about the air cooled one yet as it only blows the heat away from the bulb but the heat stays in the room !

i dont know its usually alot of money to ship stuff from europe. i need a non air cooled 1000 watt one what would the price be shipped?