Pros and Cons of using a reflector with CFL's

[FreddieFreeloader]

Looking for input from more experienced growers on whether it's best to use a reflector or going without a reflector when using CFL's. Yes, a reflector does reflect the light traveling up but it also traps the heat. Then again, if the grow space is painted using a matte flat white paint on walls and ceiling just reflect the light back down too; it may have to travel a few feet further before being reflected back at 186,000 fps but then the heat isn't trapped directly under the reflector. Convection (heat rising) by nature travels up. In my case I'm using a 2' deep by 5' wide by 6' high closet. With the plants not a month old yet they sit on the floor with the light fixture and reflector hanging down that means there is 5' of open space above the fixture and plants. I'm using a fan to blow at the light fixture level but am wondering after seeing videos on youtube of folks using CFL's with no reflector and having success. I know the companies that sell grow tent complete packages include a reflector but even there if the top of the tent is a mylar product other than increasing the cost of the package what is the real benefit of the reflector in a sealed grow space?

This also applies to what I saw on CNN the other night where they did an hour show on Medical Marijuana in California. The commercial grow they visited was a grow room built in an industrial building. It used 50-1000 watt MH bulbs per grow room. The grow rooms looked to be 8' high with the light fixtures mounted in the ceiling and the ballast on the other side or top not in the grow room. Great ventilation system installed too but no reflectors! 4 white painted walls with white ceilings and floors! They were looking for 1 pound per light or 50 lbs per room. Lights were 5 x 10 rows with about 5 feet between each fixture and 10' open space around outside perimeter. I'd say the room was 65' x 30' or 1950 sqft built inside a 10,000 rented commercial warehouse. They had 4 grow like grow rooms all inside the bigger space.

FreddieFreeloader Reviewed by FreddieFreeloader on 06-25-2013. Pros and Cons of using a reflector with CFL's Looking for input from more experienced growers on whether it's best to use a reflector or going without a reflector when using CFL's. Yes, a reflector does reflect the light traveling up but it also traps the heat. Then again, if the grow space is painted using a matte flat white paint on walls and ceiling just reflect the light back down too; it may have to travel a few feet further before being reflected back at 186,000 fps but then the heat isn't trapped directly under the reflector. Rating: 5

[stillsmoken2]

To be Honest what you need is hps and mh , but rule of thumb is more light is best don't let heat get above 90 .

[FreddieFreeloader]

To be honest what you need is to answer the question asked not give your opinion on something not even asked!