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Aluminum foil in grow room. bad or good?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:08 pm
by Jesus
i've read lots of contradicting information about using aluminum foil as reflective material. has anyone had any good or bad experiences using aluminum foil? some say that it works just fine, whereas others have reported that it creates 'hotspots' and turn the leaves yellow. is reflective material even 100% neccesary?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:10 pm
by Psyclone
White paint is the most reflective. Second best choice would be Mylar. Third is aluminum foil.
If I'm wrong, correct me.
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:44 pm
by Damar
What's the difference between white computer paper taped all around a closet grow, and white paint? Wouldn't the white paper reflect just as well?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:56 pm
by HEAVYhitter
The paint is glossy and therefore reflects the light better.
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:38 am
by Damar
True... For some reason I was getting the impression that glossiness doesn't help reflect, but makes it worse. Thats why mirrors and aluminum foil work worse. I also thought you're supposed to use dull white paint, not glossy, but maybe even 'dull' white paint has that glossiness to it :-/
What if I cover the white computer paper with clear scotch tape!
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:38 am
by flynn
white paper does just as good a job
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:12 pm
by Jesus
I think if you do use white paper. get the kind that you use to print photos with. might be a bit more expensive, but im somewhat sure that it will reflect light more than just regular white paper.
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:09 pm
by Sammy
just paint the walls you lazy stoners
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:08 pm
by Damar
weedguru flynn wrote:white paper does just as good a job
cool, it'll save me some cash
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:15 am
by flynn
Weedguru Sammy wrote:just paint the walls you lazy stoners
believe me if i wasn't in a rental i would
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:30 am
by treebranch926
i used tinfoil and it works great
Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 3:46 am
by newbiecracka
i got the impression that dull white works the best bacause it disperses the light evenly on the plants ... compared to aluminum foil which just reflects and absords light and does not disperse evenly
Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 2:39 pm
by mr green
my mates just strated using foil around the sides,seems good
Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:10 am
by Weedguru Higher
If you are really really rich, mirrors is absolutely the best thing to use.
After that in my opinion alumimun foil shiny side out is the next best. I never bothered with it though it is too time consuming to stick it all up. My rooms weren't small.
I was always lucky and had rooms that were already painted white. If I had windows to cover I got this thick plastic sheet that is black one side white other side. Black obviously facing out, works real good so light doesn't seep through and get the neighbours suspicious
Reflective is not necessary..my walls were dull white and the wickedest plants always grew.
Aluminum Foil is crap for grow rooms
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:57 pm
by Weedguru Gooster
To quote George Van Patten's book "Gardening Indoors," "Aluminum foil is one of the WORST reflective surfaces possible.
He provides a chart of light tests performed with same equipment only difference is the reflective coating on the walls.
Flat White Paint: 85-93% reflected
Aluminum foil: 70-75% reflected
Foil comes in ahead of black paint, but everything else wins. Just paint the room white. 30% more reflective potential than foil.
Spend some $ and get Mylar. It rates 90-95%
Goo