Do reflectors really matter?!!!

[homeboyreefer]

Ok so here is my dilemma,

Elos 24" planet light with 1 250 mh light,(reflector is really small) with 4 t5s

or build my own hood to hang with a lumenmax elite 250 watt hqi (big reflector) and 2 or 4 retro tek t5 kits

Now i like the elos cuz it looks nice and no building anything, but i'm felling that the reflectors on these are no better then the ones on the giesemann eco light as they look to be just as small, t5 on these look to have indiv reflectors or maybe one reflector for two lights.

Because this will be a mainly sps tank i am thinking that i will get way better light output with my retrofit hood because its got the elite reflectors, but how much better?? can anyone chime in, if its going to be like only 10 percent better then i would rather have the elos light as it looks sick!! help me please, oh and i'm getting the elos at a good deal so it would be only like 300 dollars more so its no big deal as making the hood and time will even it out.

thanks in advance

 

[PRDubois]

I have one reflector for two T5HO's and it works fine.

 

[jayk198030]

reflectors work and make a difference. how much, i dont know? every reflector is different. i would use them.

 

[dj9264]

alot of the the light is reflected back into the bulb itself, so I'd say between 30-50% based on which and how many reflectors you use.

PS. This is a big reason many like the T-5 over PC.

 

[125G Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14832428#post14832428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dj9264
alot of the the light is reflected back into the bulb itself, so I'd say between 30-50% based on which and how many reflectors you use.

PS. This is a big reason many like the T-5 over PC.

Ah, this is why you need to proper reflector, so it reflects as little as possible back into the lamp.