In my humble opinion:

You need a reflector ON the light fixture. I am also in the aquarium hobby. I raise and sell salt water corals. I use Metal Halide, T5 and Compact Fluorescent lighting.

The biggest and most important concern is directing the light where you want it to go. That is done with reflectors ON the fixtures and very close to the bulbs. If you look at any high end aquarium light with T5 High Output bulbs, you will see it has individual reflectors on top of each light tube. Same with any compact fluorescent fixture. It has a reflector over each and every bulb. It will work if you just have one very large reflector over all the light tubes, but it is WAY more efficient if you put a reflector on each and every bulb.

The ideal behind a reflector is to well.... REFLECT that light down and away from the bulb end and down, onto the corals...... or plants in this situation.

Most good light fixtures will have polished aluminum reflectors. These are usually made in Germany and are polished to a "mirror finish" meaning they look as bright as the chrome fenders and pipes on your average Harley motorcycle.

You can buy polished aluminum reflector material from aquarium supply stores - probably not locally - you'll have to order it over the internet.

Look at these reflectors:
http://www.reefgeek.com/product/Reef...unlight_Supply

This is for a metal halide bulb. See how the reflector is shaped like a parabola? It's called a parabolic reflector. Letting light escape to light the TOP of your grow closet does nothing for plant growth. You want to direct the light DOWN and onto the plants.

Here is a reflector for a T5 High Output fluorescent tube:
http://www.reefgeek.com/product/Tek_...unlight_Supply

Again, arch shaped or parabolic shaped reflector. Directs the light where you want it to go.

Anybody can make one of these reflectors themselves. All you need is the polished aluminum and a sheet metal brake. Cut to length. Mark it up and put it in the brake. Kink and bend it into a parabolic shape.

Or just buy them.

Direct your light guys. It's CRUCIAL. We're not trying to light the top of the closet or cabinet. We want the light on the plants.

Now get out there and build/buy some proper reflectors!! :stoned:

:thumbsup: