With an HPS or MH lamp, the reflector decides how much of the light actually reaches your crop and how evenly it arrives. That is not a detail: the same lamp in a different hood gives a noticeably different pattern at plant height. An LED fixture has that reflection designed in already, so this group belongs with the bare lamps.
The finish does the work
A hammered reflector has a rough, beaten surface that scatters light and so spreads it more evenly. A mirror reflector bounces harder and delivers more light, but gives a more pronounced hotspot directly under the lamp. Even is almost always what you want, because the edge of your tent decides how much plant you can fit, not the brightest point in the middle.
Connection: terminal block or IEC
Both Fertraso reflectors are ordered with either a terminal block or an IEC connector. With IEC you plug the cable in rather than screwing cores down, which saves loose wiring and makes the whole thing easier to take apart. Choose it deliberately when ordering, because it is an option on the product rather than a separate article.
Reflectors that belong to a tent
The Secret Jardin Daisy Reflector 60 and 80 are made for that brand's own tents and named after the size they fit. If you have one of those tents, that is the simplest route, because you need not measure whether the hood clears the poles.
Count the hood into your height
A reflector adds height above the lamp, and that height comes off what you have for plant. In a low tent a flat hood can be the difference between fitting and not, especially with a hanging system above it as well. So measure from tent roof to canopy and count hood and hanger into it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a reflector with an LED lamp?
No. LED fixtures have their light distribution built in. This group is for the bare HPS and MH lamps.
Hammered or mirror?
Hammered for a more even spread across the whole area, mirror if you want more light on a smaller footprint. For a full tent, hammered is usually the safer choice.
What is the difference between a terminal block and IEC?
Only the way it connects. With a terminal block you screw the cores down; with IEC you plug a cable in. IEC is quicker and easier to undo.
