Magnum XXXL hood w/ Internal Block Covers or similar large spread reflector for 600w

Im running 2x 600w hps under 2x diamond reflectors at the moment, but there isnt enough spread with those relectors, the outside plants barely get anything at all.
So I'm looking to get a larger reflector for more spread. I was looking at the Magnum xxxl hood, but most people say dont run aircooled hoods without aircooling, unfortunatly I cant run aircooling for lights at the moment.
But I saw this - http://www.1-hydroponics.co.uk/grow-lights/block-covers.html
Aparently they have manufactured covers for the magnum reflector if you want to run it without aircooling. Anyone running an aircooled hood without aircooling with or without these covers? Or have a suggestion for a decent large reflector for a 600w that will give decent spread? I have roughly about 40inchx40inch space for each reflector. I have thought of getting a large parabolic reflector, but I heard they dont spread the light well?

you'd probably be ok just remove the glass from the reflector

Shawns said:

you'd probably be ok just remove the glass from the reflector

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so I wouldnt have to worry too much about heat without aircooling with that hood?

Its to big for a 600 and will diffuse the light to much get a medium adjust a wing

karmeron said:

so I wouldnt have to worry too much about heat without aircooling with that hood?

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you should be good cause the glass makes the reflector air tight so thats what keeps the heat in but without the glass it would work just like any other reflector that doesn't have glass Imo and for a 600 just go with the 6" magnum xxxl, I'm building a new room with new lights and hoods and thats the hood I'm buying

thecoolman said:

Its to big for a 600 and will diffuse the light to much get a medium adjust a wing

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but it is designed for a 600w no?? What is the max lenthxwidth of the adjust-a-wing? Whats the spread like on it?

Shawns said:

you should be good cause the glass makes the reflector air tight so thats what keeps the heat in but without the glass it would work just like any other reflector that doesn't have glass Imo and for a 600 just go with the 6" magnum xxxl, I'm building a new room with new lights and hoods and thats the hood I'm buying

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Cool, and then i would have the option later on to go air-cooled and just add the glass back on.

Yeah you could

I use those with 1000w and its perfect for that. It works out to 62 w per sq ft. If use a 600 w for that area your gonna be at 37.5w per sq ft. That's not enough.
My point is throwing the same amount of light to Bigger area won't give you more weight.
I run those hoods without glass or cooling. Work great! Love those!

There's actually quite a big difference in size between the 6" and the 8", witch are you talking about

LesterBurnum said:

I use those with 1000w and its perfect for that. It works out to 62 w per sq ft. If use a 600 w for that area your gonna be at 37.5w per sq ft. That's not enough.
My point is throwing the same amount of light to Bigger area won't give you more weight.
I run those hoods without glass or cooling. Work great! Love those!

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I know its not ideal, but the diamond relectors im using now seem to focus the light on a small area, which also focuses the heat on a small area. Im not necessarily looking for more weight, but more even distribution. At the moment a lot of the plants are varying heights due to the focused light, im looking for a larger reflector to even the light a bit more. I thought the xxxl 6" was designed for 600w aswell?

Shawns said:

There's actually quite a big difference in size between the 6" and the 8", witch are you talking about

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The 6"

I think you'll be fine with running a 600 in the 6" magnum xxxl but thats just my opinion

I have both the 6 and the 8 inch xxls I love em. The footprint from these things is huge! I know you are not planning on cooling em at the moment, but when and if you do try and situate your blower on the output side. The 8 inch leak a little bit if pressurized. No problems with the 6 tho. I, unfortunately have to pressurize mine instead of sucking the air thru due to my building configuration. I had my fan on the output side at first and it sounded like a jet taking off outside. I put it on the intake side and now you cant hear it at all. I fixed the leaky glass on the 8 inch hoods by putting thicker neoprene gaskets on em. Cost 3 dollars for each hood. Problem solved.

joe macclennan said:

I have both the 6 and the 8 inch xxls I love em. The footprint from these things is huge! I know you are not planning on cooling em at the moment, but when and if you do try and situate your blower on the output side. The 8 inch leak a little bit if pressurized. No problems with the 6 tho. I, unfortunately have to pressurize mine instead of sucking the air thru due to my building configuration. I had my fan on the output side at first and it sounded like a jet taking off outside. I put it on the intake side and now you cant hear it at all. I fixed the leaky glass on the 8 inch hoods by putting thicker neoprene gaskets on em. Cost 3 dollars for each hood. Problem solved.

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Thanks for the info, ive heard about them not being airtigt, i wonder why they cant make them airtight properly?

I havent had any leakage problems w/ the 6 inch. The 8 inch are a little larger and the hinges are farther apart I think this contributes to the leakage. This could easily be fixed if they just put a third hinge in the middle and a third thumbscrew on the other side. Or like I did just put thicker neoprene in at the factory. Or preferably both.

Ive been hearing a lot about grostar reflectors also, they are non-aircooled, but aparently some of the best reflectors money can buy, anyone any experience with them?

LesterBurnum said:

I use those with 1000w and its perfect for that. It works out to 62 w per sq ft. If use a 600 w for that area your gonna be at 37.5w per sq ft. That's not enough.
My point is throwing the same amount of light to Bigger area won't give you more weight.
I run those hoods without glass or cooling. Work great! Love those!

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Yes but he is running two 600s and depending on brand of bulb he should have around 5,000 lumens per square foot making 34 watts per sqaure foot just fine. And don't tell me one can't grow big bud under 34 watts per square foot because I did it for a year under those numbers.

Rancho Cucamonga said:

Yes but he is running two 600s and depending on brand of bulb he should have around 5,000 lumens per square foot making 34 watts per sqaure foot just fine. And don't tell me one can't grow big bud under 34 watts per square foot because I did it for a year under those numbers.

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Yeh ive been running it for awhile now and can pull some decent bud out of 34w psf of course 1000w's would be better, but also a lot hotter

So you can pull some weight. Once you see the light so to speak, you'll see a difference. Big difference between pulling something and pulling logs.
So rancho, you're telling me you can put out in a 4x4, with 34w per sq ft. I have yet to read, see or hear or someone pulling 2 lbs per 4x4 area with 34 a per sq ft. Show me.

LesterBurnum said:

So you can pull some weight. Once you see the light so to speak, you'll see a difference. Big difference between pulling something and pulling logs.
So rancho, you're telling me you can put out in a 4x4, with 34w per sq ft. I have yet to read, see or hear or someone pulling 2 lbs per 4x4 area with 34 a per sq ft. Show me.

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Not everyone is going for 2lb per 4x4 area. Of course more watts psf is better, but if I did have more light in there i wouldnt get anything, because temps would be too high, you work with what you can. Im sure everyone would love to have something better than what they have