3x3x8 400 or 600 Watts?

**HelloAll** · 03-02-2013, 03:09 AM

Hey guys,

About to bite the bullet and place a pretty large and comprehensive order at greens.

I'm swaying towards the Secret Jardin DR90. The dimensions are 90x90x180cm.

Would you advise me to get a 400 watt bulb for this area, or 600? I can't really afford any more than a high powered 5 inch Ruck fan which pulls 365cm3 of air. Also will buy a simple Euro Reflector for these reasons 1. Cool tube loses some light. 2. Cool tube or a air cooled hood may overheat my fan as hot air is going directly to fan 3. Euro reflector has an open ended design so I assume are cooler than a closed hood system 4. Can adjust flaps to direct the light more efficiently to the grow area inside the tent.

I don't want to buy another inline fan as I want to keep my order under £600 and I am already at approximately £550. I will buy an oscillating clip on fan as well.

Also bare in mind I will be 'growing' in a 2x2" or 60x60cm area inside the tent, and in this space I will SOG 9 plants in 6.5 litre pots. As the light will be directly under the 2x2 tray and as the 400 watt bulb outputs 56,000 lumens this would provide 14,000 lumens per square foot to the tray if I direct the light well unless I am confusing things.

Could anyone kindly advise me on whether I would easy handle a 600 watt bulb in that area or is it just a waste of electricity? The cost difference between 400 and 600 is negligible.

In both cases I will be buying a dimmable ballast.

To be honest I am leaning towards 400 watt. This is because 1. it seems to me that the 600 watt is overkill 2, the 600 watt ballast can only be dimmed to 360 while the 400 can be dimmed to 250 and therefore I have more ability to save electricity during veg period, and 4. more control over heat during the hot summer days as I could reduce to 250 watts.

But reading these and other forums people swear by 600 and claim it produces far superior yields as well as being able to penetrate the canopy much better.

Please help!

The tent will go into a basement which has a small opening at street level which will allow fresh air into the room. I will vent straight up to the wooden floor boards on top the basement as as there are gaps in the wood and it would help heat the house as well. Any thoughts on this? Could rotting be an issue?

**mr2shim** · 03-02-2013, 10:27 AM

Go with the 600w. I run a 400w in a much smaller area and if I could cool the 600w I'd be growing with it.

**HelloAll** · 03-02-2013, 11:15 AM

Thanks a lot for the reply mr2shim.

What are your grow area dimensions and what temperatures do you usually experience inside the tent? Also what kind of locale do you reside it (hot, temperature, cold?).

You really don't think the temperatures will be too high with the 600 watt bulb then?

Also what is your grow medium, grow style (sog, scrog?) and average yields?

Huge thanks again for your reply.

**nick88** · 03-02-2013, 11:23 AM

With a 2x2 area, the 400w is plenty light. The 600 will cause you more trouble with heat issues than the extra 200w would benefit. More is not always better

**mr2shim** · 03-02-2013, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by HelloAll

Thanks a lot for the reply mr2shim.

What are your grow area dimensions and what temperatures do you usually experience inside the tent? Also what kind of locale do you reside it (hot, temperature, cold?).

You really don't think the temperatures will be too high with the 600 watt bulb then?

Also what is your grow medium, grow style (sog, scrog?) and average yields?

Huge thanks again for your reply.

20"x36"x60"

Usually 64-80

It gets pretty cold here in the winter, bitterly cold actually. Summers are quite warm. Last year we were hitting 90's almost every day.

You can check out my current grow or previous grow for more info. Current is in signature.

G13 Labs Pineapple Express 400w Waterfarm

If you're growing in a 2'x2' 400w is plenty. Your title says 3'x3' for that I'd say 600w

**budbro18** · 03-02-2013, 11:24 AM

Sorry to but in but id agree with mr2shim

I run a 600 watt in a 4x4x6.5 grow tent and i can keep it pretty cool. temps outside are pretty low 20-40 but the tent stays a constant 65-75

In the summer i use a window AC to cool over 1000 watts of lights and other things and i can stay fine with a low electricity bill.

If you do get the 400 though i would recommend a metal coil HPS ballast and a CMH bulb

Best bang for your 400 watts

**neonknight420** · 03-02-2013, 11:50 AM

400W will be perfect.

**knotmyself** · 03-02-2013, 12:34 PM

Have to agree, go with the 400, I just got a 600 and put it my 3x3x8 and Iv got to tell you heat is the issue now. Im having to leave doors open, fans blowing...and still around 90 in there... 600's put off a lot of heat bud. I wish I woulda thought about that before I got it. Good luck!

**budbro18** · 03-02-2013, 12:43 PM

get a 6 inch inline fan and the air wont have time to heat up haha

thats what i use to keep mine cool and it does even with the ambient room temp being about 70