Reflector neccessity

[cantchoos]

Hey all, I'm a newbie, really glad to have found such a cool site.

Anyways,

I grow with a friend in my basement in 4 x 6 x 8 box. It is very well ventilated, the temperature keeps around 70-75, RH always ~50-65%. We're currently about to begin growing our first crops and neither of us have very much experience whatsoever.

My friend and I are having a huge argument over whether or not a reflector on a light is necessary. We have our room completely Mylared up on all sides and celing and we're using an air cooled 6in Pyrex glass tube with inner top reflector and wings. We are using a 400w HPS bulb.

High Tech Garden Supply (http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=48137) is our reflector

I need a fairly detailed list of scientifically proved reasons why a top reflector and wings are always necessary in a grow setup. He is convinced that we should take the top inner reflector out of the tube and get rid of the wings. He thinks the ceiling Mylar is sufficient enough of a reflector.

Please help me mighty members of cannabis.com win my argument :D thx

[stra8outtaWeed]

its not about winning but doing things right :thumbsup:

bottom line is you lose effective lighting the farther it has to travel and reflect back to the plant...so you want as much direct energy from your light source to the plant as possible :jointsmile:

[canniwhatsis]

its not about winning but doing things right :thumbsup:

bottom line is you lose effective lighting the farther it has to travel and reflect back to the plant...so you want as much direct energy from your light source to the plant as possible :jointsmile:



^

What he said! :D

[cantchoos]

Thanks guys, he finally accepted the facts and our plants are looking great. Maybe I'll upload some pics in a few weeks.