2x hlg 350r with a 600w hps in the middle

Hi guys

almost finished my first grow with leds, learned a lot since I switched from hps.

was just wondering if anyone who’s done something similar could chime in.
I’ve been running 2 Diablo 350r in a 4x4 and realised it’s total overkill, I’ve had the lights dimmed to 70% all through flower because they were showing signs of light toxicity.

So I’m thinking of getting a bigger tent, I can’t get a 5x5 or 5x10 as space just doesn’t allow, but I could fit a 4x8 my plan would be to run the leds at either end and have a 600w hps in an adjustawing in the middle. I know from running the hps before I can get it about 18inch from canopy, I reckon I could hang leds at the same height although they’re recommended at 15inch to cover a 3x5 area.

Another wild idea is to do a 3 stage perpetual grow with plants spending 3 weeks under each light before being moved along or harvested. So 3 weeks under led then 3 weeks under hps then last 3 weeks back under led. Utilising the heavy red and higher leaf surface temp under the hps for the bulk of the mass building.

anyways these are a couple ideas I would like batted around, see what people think, any problems anyone can for see or have experience with.
It’s worth noting that I’m having to run a heating 24/7 at the moment anyways so the extra heat isn’t much of a concern, I also have plenty of reserve air exchange that can be called upon if I should need it

Id avoid the perpetual idea of switching the plants, dont see what this would add really.
If you put them all in a 4x8 you should have enough light. Depending on the actual tent and ventilation id either go for the hps in the middle, or if there is a bit of temp difference due to the cold air entering from only one side then maybe the hps on the cold side and the 2 leds on the other side.

If you end up (like some) really liking the HID + Led grow it might be an idea to change to CMH for the warmer months: plants under CMH seem to be more resistant to higher temps so that you can run the whole space under same environment. CMH has much less of its spectrum dedicated to IR.

Rocket Soul said:

Id avoid the perpetual idea of switching the plants, dont see what this would add really.
If you put them all in a 4x8 you should have enough light. Depending on the actual tent and ventilation id either go for the hps in the middle, or if there is a bit of temp difference due to the cold air entering from only one side then maybe the hps on the cold side and the 2 leds on the other side.

If you end up (like some) really liking the HID + Led grow it might be an idea to change to CMH for the warmer months: plants under CMH seem to be more resistant to higher temps so that you can run the whole space under same environment. CMH has much less of its spectrum dedicated to IR.

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I know it’s not for everyone but harvesting every 3 weeks is pretty sweet, as is harvesting every month, it’s strain dependent as to what cycle times work the best but it’s deffo convenient if like me you have smaller dedicated veg and drying spaces.

between day 22 and 43 is when a 9 week strain will do the majority of the bulking up, it is my belief that at this point it most benefits from the spectrum of an hps. The increase in leaf temp due to the ir in the hps would actually be beneficial at this point too, allowing the vpd to be higher for leaves under hps than the leaves under the led all while maintaining the same humidity within the grow tent. This for me seems massive.

like I say the perpetual idea is just for batting around, I actually came up with the idea after I thought about mixing the hps and led.

I think whichever way I did it I would have the hps in the Center of the tent, so there would be a nice equal ammount of crossover from the led to the hps. I’d probably even use the super spreader with the adjustawings too .

I could use cmh if I want I have access to it, I like the uv that cmh puts out, so maybe hps and cmh conversion bulbs could be rotated for different phases of flowering.