Question for all the hps growers

So im in the process of replacing older equipment and needsome advice on reflectors.

As far as heat reduction from experiance what one works better?

8 inch Titan 26 by 29 Inch Air Cooled Reflector Hood

Or something like this?

iPower GLCLTB8XXL Littlesun Hood Reflector, 8-Inch Cool Tube Reflector w/ 26 by 26-Inch Wing, Standard Hydroponics S-Plug w/ Built-in 10-feet Heavy Duty UL Listed Lamp Cord & E39Ceramic Mogul Socket

I have never ran a cooltube before and wonder if they run hotter that the other style. I have a raptor hood now i love but its hard to clean the glass without hinges.

I will be useing a 6in 440cmf inline fan asexaust

I looked them both up to see pictures and from the 2 you listed I would get the cool tube, because in the other one the bulb will warm up the entire reflector radaiating some heat, whereas in the tube, it is a seperate entity from upper reflector parts and through the cool tube will be smoother more direct airflow. Just what I would do.

I would go with the cheapest hood I could find. From my experience the reflective inserts are only good for a year before they break down from heat and radiation from HID's limiting the reflective power of the insert. Even the top of the line German spectral aluminum inserts recommend replacing every year.

Cooltubes allow air through without creating turbulence and thus have a lesser effect on airflow reduction.
But the down side of traditional cooltubes were mainly the reflectors were shit and gave a poor footprint. A bit more light loss on the glass too.
The one you linked is a hybrid of cooltube and full hood so your getting the best of both worlds. Still some light loss on the glass but you cant have everything. But you can get the much closer than an open hood so your probably ahead regardless of the glass in terms of strength of the light.

The other advantage of the cooltube style is less air leaks so if your pulling or pushing air through you don't have to worry about smell been sucked in or heat been pushed out through the seal on the glass as it can on the hood style

Very good points corey man! Agree all the way. What you said is exactly how it is. I have old cool tube and the reflector is shit. I actually need a new reflector also. I like that cool tube design he's lookin at for exactly the reasons you stated, and looking at the picture of it, the way it spreads light wide across with the proper direction of the bulb, just what I need. Basically, you just tipped the iceberg of the desicion making process for me.

Best in show are the acde by solar. Allows the bulbs to heat up to proper operational temp, good foot print, and good at getting rid of btus

All good points so far, i think im buying the cooltube

Me2.
I need maximum airflow flowing past the bulb with no turbulence etc. and I think cooltube is the way to go, but like said in the past it was shit reflector ontop, shit footprint, that reflector is put together right, new age of cooltube design.
Looking for good price now.

Thanks for making this thread apollo!

Thanks for input coreywebster man!

Johnei said:

Me2.

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I used to run 3x old style cooltubes John, back when I bought them these hybrids were no were to be seen and I wished many a time they were because I could only cover a 3x4 space with my own modification, I could cover a 4x4 with the full hood but having 3 full hoods as like the OPs titan link was not practical due to me pulling from filter and pushing through hoods. So I had no choice but to use the cooltubes that were available at that time and lose out on footprint..
These new guys have it easy ey.. lol. all these new improved designs.

haha yeah, for sure man.

I have a 3ft 6" cooltube with double sockets that I don't know what to do with. Oldskool..lol had this plan one day for a vertical grow to place it ontop a big PVC Y fitting for airflow.. plan never happened..

Johnei said:

haha yeah, for sure man.

I have a 3ft 6" cooltube with double sockets that I don't know what to do with. Oldskool..lol had this plan one day for a vertical grow to place it ontop a big PVC Y fitting for airflow.. plan never happened..

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I switched to Cobs and gifted 2 of my cooltubes to a mate for the very purpose of going vert with them. Cooltube used to be a dirty word on here but they are awesome in those situations..
Hey check out the vert thread and have a look at sedans thread, its not cool tubed but it might just spark that interest in vert again. Its an impressive set up.
I would go vert myself but having invested in cobs I'm damn sure I'm going to use them, wouldn't be practical for me..

Cool man I'll check it out. (I offered my new grower bud the 3ft cooltube, no luck. lol tellin him yo man its awesome, can hold 2 600;s in one tube for your tent.. he was like get that shit outta here, I don't use cooltubes.. he's already pro with 1 month grow experience..lol)

boilingoil said:

I would go with the cheapest hood I could find. From my experience the reflective inserts are only good for a year before they break down from heat and radiation from HID's limiting the reflective power of the insert. Even the top of the line German spectral aluminum inserts recommend replacing every year.

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I use sun system blockbusters. They recomend just cleaning with soap and water. I have been using 1 for 3 years and the other for 2 and the new one is still as shiny as the old one.

I think the advice to replace inserts (not available for mine) is for open reflectors?

I still get the yields I expect from both reflectors. And it's a us made blockbuster 3 with the German designed 95% insert.

I'm gonna second the blockbuster hoods, they are the best money can buy for single ended air cooled hoods in my opinion.

Yodaweed said:

I'm gonna second the blockbuster hoods, they are the best money can buy for single ended air cooled hoods in my opinion.

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Only if you are lighting an individual space or small room. They are very direct down lights.

Right tools for the job always applies. If I had a short sea of green I would probably use long wide hoods for spread.

I am super happy with the blockbuster. Built like a tank. Time for new glass now after 3 years. Some uncleanable foggy shot on the glass now.

I veg with blockbuster 8's lol, good shit and if you use double stick tape you can seal it up completely. Don't let plants get too close to this hood and your all good.

SPLFreak808 said:

I veg with blockbuster 8's lol, good shit and if you use double stick tape you can seal it up completely. Don't let plants get too close to this hood and your all good.

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Mine seal well. If I close the glass with the fans on you can hear and feel the seal.

And I agree they are intense reflectors. I have to keep my 600's at 18" above or I get light bleaching some.

MichiganMedGrower said:

Mine seal well. If I close the glass with the fans on you can hear and feel the seal.

And I agree they are intense reflectors. I have to keep my 600's at 18" above or I get light bleaching some.

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I used 3m double stick tape, sandwiched the glass to the frame and i further tested the seal by filling it up with water (sealed room,outside air cooled hoods). It's a bitch to clean now lol but worth it for me.

This is one hood i couldn't take past 15" in flower (i flowered with it back then) or I'll get bleaching on most phenos but i can get a 1000w cool tube up to 15" and no bleaching lol it's weird.

i love my cooltube, i got an ipower six inch, works great I can get my light damn close, under a foot away, maybe eight inches with a 600w light

How about six inches under an open reflector with a 400 watt HPS.