Lighting amount decision

For main question skip to last paragraph... I am moving to Colorado right now (road tripping), the apartment I have leased gives us up to a certain amount of power included then charges the regular rate. So paying for the power isn't really a large concern for me, just the grow. I am not moving for this but hey, whens a better time to start.

I have helped set up my friend's grow room and tents and worked with him on the grow a few times, used air cooled tubes etc and I understand how it works but I am having trouble deciding how much light these plants can handle. It is going to be a 4x8 feet space 7-8 feet tall. I am allowed 3 mature plants legally per person (2 ppl) so I will be doing 6 plants, 4 way topping and lst/scrog setup on a movable screen.

I will have some cfls on the sides for uvb in small doses for fun. ok so Main question!


My issue is should I use 2 600w hps in air cooled tubes, or would they not even be worth it to have that much.. what about, god forbid, a 1000w centered and two 400w or Less hps from the outsides to maximize lighting to those edges. Can the plants handle this if my temps are managed properly?
Will be using top end genetics I can buy right at the store*

I would opt for (2) 600's personally.

thanks, would two 1000w kill the plants? =)

LegalEyesd said:

thanks, would two 1000w kill the plants? =)

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I think (2) 1000's would actually be best *IF* you can control the heat.

Depending on the reflector size you could even consider (3) 600's. I don't feel my 600 can provide the intensity to do a fully packed 4x4 so (2) might not be quite enough.

Okay thank you for the responses this is very helpful.
Is the internal temp of the tubes enough to control heat, or does the light itself after tube affect heat. I can spend basically whatever on this setup and do it how I want in my house because it is legal. If the internal temp is enough, how about setting up my air intake for the light tubes directly from an ac unit?

attached or just next to it, either way I could rig it

You might just have to experiment or wait for some others to chime in. I would be inclined to think that you won't need to waste your AC air on this...just make sure you have a lot of fresh air moving across them.

Here is what I would try based on what I do know and what I have tried:

Are your cool tubes air tight? If they are, run (3) 600's all connected with ducting. Use a 720 CFM fan to bring in outside air into and thru all 3 reflectors and vent outside the tent.
You have now isolated the cooling and can focus on odor control (if needed) and main tent ventilation. I would not try and do all of it combined. Vent the lights separate from the air in the grow space.

I'm running a 4'x8' tent with a single 600 for vegetables. Im exhausting with a 720 CFM and it provides TONS of air movement...so much so that I don't need any fans.
I think running a 720 CFM for your lights and then a 720 CMF exhaust will be perfect. The suction on my tent is crazy so you can probably still blow AC air in and be fine. If not, get like a 1000 CFM exhaust for the tent.

Yep I planned on having both separate air circulations. The tubes are air tight yes. I need to learn about the cfm/cmf stuff because that is what I am really lacking now. Okay I will likely do the 3(600w) lights which should project a nice even area of light.

Thanks for all the help here its really useful in my research right now

Please post pics as you do this and me (and others) will be happy to offer advice as you go! Your room sounds like its gunna be bad ass!

2 1000s with good air cooled reflectors not cool tubes.

wait......apartment? Colorado? nah scratch that, just don't bother.

- Jiji

Yes colorado, apartment, and our landlord is cool with it. He said as long as he can try some =). Nothing is purchased yet but I have a good job so dropping a couple hundred to a grand or so isn't an issue. I want quality. So yeah I am thinking air cooled reflectors if they are air tight, if not then cool tubes with some sort of home made reflection outside of that.
Yeah I am sure to post pictures. I will be there in 2 and a half weeks and starting right away.

Bad ass? Yeah that is my hope. I am also making it with an optical illusion with some mirrors. If I remove the outer covering, there will be a two way 50/50% mirror tint and a mirror as the back wall. So it will look like an infinite grow room.
Made similarly to something like this.. http://images.esellerpro.com/2435/I/202/3/hi_67_66646_infinitylamplr_lrg.jpg

I prefer 2 x 1000 watters for a 4x8 area.

SnapsProvolone said:

I prefer 2 x 1000 watters for a 4x8 area.

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2 x1K or 3x 600 youll have better distribution w 3 - 6's. but less overall density that the 1K's would provide.

I'm pretty happy with my reflector:
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/hoods-reflectors/blockbuster-reflector-6-reflector.html

I've never had a cool tube but Jiji is right...it needs to be a sealed reflector.