the idea is for a space roughly 3x3. okay heres the idea, have 1 400w(mh) and 1 400w(hps) over 3x3 the mh for the first 6 hours and hps for last 6 hours. and one hour buffer in between when both lights are on. have mh go for 5 hours then hps turns on. one hour later the mh turns off and hps remains on for 5 hours more.not only would it cover the entire canopy at diff parts of the day, it would balance the spectrum and possibly create something similar to sun, morning sunshine mh, then afternoon hps with some transition time. to me, it sounds pretty genius. for some reason 1 600w sounds better in lumens to watt. but i've hear pros do it the way i'm describing, not all, but some pros. vents will not be a problem(aircooled, goodvents)and also would be rotating pots around the garden for more even light. i need some opinions or some input from some experts here. thanks guys, Loghead

30+ views and no answers? c'mon guys!! maybe i'm just outta my mind... bump*

um. not to sound crzy

but just leave them both on.

you honestly want your plants to slow down at various points during the day??

alternating left right bulb isnt gonna cover anymore of the canopy than both on.

more light/more growth.

i could see starting 1 hour before the other bulb to give the plants a little time to start everything.

but as i see it you wasting 12 hours of prime veg time with half the light you could be using

this would be for flowering my friend. like i said it kind of was an idea. and also many people do this to save power. Think of it this way, you can have one 400 over a 3x3 space and have it penetrate deep in the middle, but toward the edges of the space more it will not. or you can have 2 400w one mh on for first 6 hours for uvb lighting(makes product danker) but after awhile the hps light comes on and starts hardening up the buds with mh also running for short while. the 400w on each side would cover about 3/4s of that area efficiently. more or less just evening out the light across the area without wasting too much power for too long. maybe 800w(lights) running but for no longer than 30min to half hour. also changing the positioning of the pots to prevent irregular growth(i know i can't completely prevent this just to kind of keep em at the same level) it is also not like while only one 400w is on, that the area under the other 400w(that has not come on yet) is dark. they are receiving light too. the point is utilize the space fully without having to use to much electricity, overall i THINK(in my crazy mind) it would be efficient. but, then again 3x3 best for 600w. i just wanted to see what some people would say. wow long post. thanks. Loghead

go for it!

I see what you're trying to do, but as stated above just leave them both on. You can't totally "replicate" the sun, but the mixed spectrum of MH and HPS will give your plants TONS of good light from both spectrums...which is just as good as the sun.

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yes maybe so, but the real reason i was really thinking was to just save electricity. 2 400's on all the time would waste more electricity. i just wanted to get some opinions it was just an idea i thought up of quick. thanks for all the input though guys honestly! btw has anyone seen 2 400s one mh one hps together? if anyone has some links that would be awesome. i know 600w is better lumen to watt but will 2 400w produce better product (because of both mh which gives off uvb the plants can use and hps which tightens up the buds) given everything else is correct(optimal temp75, humidity 40-55%, etc...)

Use one 600-watt light and purchase a dual-arc/dual filament bulb where half puts of MH light spectrum and the other half puts off HPS light spectrum and you have them both all the time with one hood and one bulb.

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If you're trying to save electricity then yes, you're good doing what you said.

But it's going to be an extra $20 or $30 a month if you're only running it 12 hours for flower. Isn't worth an extra $100 for more/better buds? 2 400's can cover more than 1 600...and if you're moving plants around then they can get a nice mix of both spectrums. In the end you won't be using that much energy (still less than 1k), and you can grow more plants!

A dual-arc bulb works too. But I'd run both 400's.

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Journal-------------->Blue Cheese, PPP, and Thai Super Skunk...Jerry's Second Grow New Pics 11/22
Go Bengals! WHODEY!!!

Bricktop- yes that would be something i need to look into. very interesting. any links to the bulb?
Jerry Garcia- thanks yes that also would seem like it could run like a medical because of the mixed spectrums they would love it. btw checked out the links in your sig. very nice