Best Reflector and HPS Bulb for 1st grow.

nixusr

Member
Aye folks, I'm looking for a little insight on a good reflector and HPS bulb to purchase for my 1st grow. Although this will be my first grow I am planning on getting a reflector that is versatile. I’ve been researching and reading a ton and have been getting stumped on the reflector / bulb choices since there are soo many to choose from.

I will be purchasing a 600Watt Lumatek digi ballast and will be flowering 6 – 12 plants using a 4 X 4 flood table. (My grow is a hydro environment)

The room is about 6 X 6 and there will be a good amount of air circulation. I do not need the reflector to be air cooled but having the option of a coolable reflector is ideal. Since the room is in the basement and winter will be here shortly I am not too concerned just yet with an air cooled reflector.

Ultimately I want to make a smart purchase on the bulb and reflector. I do not want to cut corners but do not want to rush into buying the most expensive stuff when I might not need it.

I’ve narrowed down the following reflectors and bulbs to buy. Any insight on this would be GUREEEAT.

*Bulb wise I am leaning toward the Sun Master Super HPS.

REFLECTOR CHOICES:
Hydrofarm.com
Hydrofarm Xtrasun - $81.95

Hydrowholesale.com
Sun System Yield Master II reflector - $66.99
Sun System Super Sun reflector - $105.99


BULB CHOICES:
HTGSupply.com
SunMaster 600 Watt Super HPS Deluxe (90,000 lumens) - $75.95
Hortilux 600 Watt Super HPS Bulb (85,000 lumens) - $124.95
 

Danthebull

Well-Known Member
This all depends whether or not your on a budgit or have mountains of cash. the choice is yours buddy..
 

nixusr

Member
This all depends whether or not your on a budgit or have mountains of cash. the choice is yours buddy..
Guess I left the most important part out. Yeah I am working with a budget... Preferably $140 max on the reflector and $100 max on the bulb. Unless the bulb and reflector are ungodly in results then maybe I will shell out a bit more.
 

homebrewer

Well-Known Member
I use a few different hoods and have a light meter (had to buy one to diagnose a bad capacitor in a ballast). I highly recommend the radiant hood from hydrofarm: http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=3757

It reflects the most light down to the plants in the most even manner, if that makes sense. Simply put, a larger area gets more light.

I'd also recommend the hortilux bulbs. I actually saw a comparison grow on here that showed a substantial difference in plant size when using the hortilux. It's all I buy.
 

nixusr

Member
I use a few different hoods and have a light meter (had to buy one to diagnose a bad capacitor in a ballast). I highly recommend the radiant hood from hydrofarm: http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=3757

It reflects the most light down to the plants in the most even manner, if that makes sense. Simply put, a larger area gets more light.

I'd also recommend the hortilux bulbs. I actually saw a comparison grow on here that showed a substantial difference in plant size when using the hortilux. It's all I buy.

Thanks for the advice! (once again)

I've been seeing quite a bit about hortilux's bulbs on other sites and catalogs that I got from the hydro store. Couldn't figure out why they were soo much more but I figured you pay for what you get. Looks like I will have to consider going the hortilux route. I have some good strains so I probably shouldnt try and skimp on the setup equip.
 
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