So I am just finishing off a grow in a 3.5'x3.5'x7' grow tent.

I had 6 plants under a 250w full spectrum metal halide from HID hut with 6 10(maybe 12w) red LED grow lights from growwithleds.com. I had problems getting the light close as I had too many plants and moving it closer would screw the outer plants.

I am hoping to get some feedback on how many plants I should do, and what if any lighting changes I should make:

I am open to consider adding another 250w HID, switching to t5, or switching to a 400 or 600w.

Please let me know what you think would be the best combo # of plants and lighting to get the greatest yield in my grow tent, I have the time this next grow to veg as long as needed etc..

thanks in advance!

Probably measure how many more/less you should grow (that tent seems small!) by your yield. If you yielded less than expected, grow less so your plants can have more room to grow. I think 250W is not enough for 6 plants. I would use at least 400W, and stick to 6 plants.

__________________
i think i'm using weed as a fill-in, cuz mary always lets me hit it.....

dont switch to t5! especially not for flowering. definately go with either the 400watt or 600watt - id recommend 600watt with a switchable ballast so you can get the benefits of both MH and HPS. it might get pretty hot in your grow tent, so definately have a fan blowing out air (and preferably also have one blowing in fresh air on the other side). youll be very pleased with the results

__________________
1000watt hps + organic nutes =

So adding another 250w probably wouldn't be as effective eh?

hidhut.com has a 600w light kit but its only HPS, they have a 400w kit thats switchable tho, do you know another site that might have a 600w switchable at a reasonable price? (i like hid huts prices heh)


I'm thinking a 400w might be a better bet for my budget heh. Or, do you think i could get away with going just straight up metal halide because i have the 6 led lamps to provide red spectrum?

Yeah. I believe you can get a conversion bulb. see this for an explanation of what a conversion bulb is: Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Conversion Bulbs at Home Harvest Garden Supply Most importantly look for a balanced spectrum bulb. I'm using just a metal halide balanced spectrum bulb for flowering, since it provides the necessary red spectrum necessary for flowering.

__________________
i think i'm using weed as a fill-in, cuz mary always lets me hit it.....

phaded420, I use the same size tent.
I bought 1 400watt MH/HPS under 7 plants
and found that the side plants wouldnt grow as well
as the ones in the center and as you know pulling
everyting out of the tent to reposition is alot of work.
For my sec grow I bought another 400watt MH/HPS
and started with 11 and ened up with 7 females.
This number works great I use up every inch of the tent
and with 2 400watt lites all plants have enough light.

I would get 600w digital ballast from htg supply because its only 20 bucks more than 400w

__________________