Experienced growers input please.

So I'm about to harvest my first ever grow was a learning experience and I'm happy that it has been somewhat successful. It was start to finish with a full spectrum 150w hps all in one from hydrofarm. I have bought a tent that is about 3'x3x7'. I would like to split it into a veg chamber and a flower chamber to have hopefully 4-6 begging and the same flowering. My question is what do you think I should do for lights and ventilation for both? I'm not looking to go with 1000w monsters so do you think maybe a 400w hps for the flower chamber with 4" exhaust with carbon filters would be enough and keeping the 150 and some added cfl for vegging? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Also what do you think my electricity footprint might be to have a 400w and a 150 w with the fan and a couple 100w equivalent cfls going?

Hiya Hopefulpatient and welcome to RIU, Think it depends on a few things..price per unit, supplier..Etc..

I burn a 600w Hps and 250w Hps 2 x Fans on 18/6 and small 800w Oil filled Heater(on half setting when lights out-cold in UK@ min) anyways I use about £2 a day for leccy and that's with the Kettle, Tv and so on...

Peace

EDIT: Cost more money but if you go Digital Ballast you can Dial a 600w down to 400w or 250w from what I've read about some of the units out there...Pros and Cons for most setups and the more Wattage = More Heat.

Peace

If you're sticking with hps then ^^

However if you're concerned with electric consumption I'd recommend an LED. Take care

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Rollitup mobile app

I use a 400w for clones only and my electric bill is about $19/mth in Ontario Canada

our rates are 3 tier
12.5 cents/1KW on PEAK
10.9 cents/1KW MID PEAK
7.5 cents/OFF PEAK

Thanks for the electricity input but what do you guys think about the lights? 400w hps for flowering 4-6 plants and 150w for vegging? And I've been looking into led but seem so expensive and not a lot of people with experience using them? If anyone knows of a good affordable led for vegging 4-6 plants please share your experience with me.

Hopefulpatient said:

Thanks for the electricity input but what do you guys think about the lights? 400w hps for flowering 4-6 plants and 150w for vegging? And I've been looking into led but seem so expensive and not a lot of people with experience using them? If anyone knows of a good affordable led for vegging 4-6 plants please share your experience with me.

Click to expand...

Depends on your example of affordable. Mine cost 600

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Rollitup mobile app

this is what I would do
you will need t5's for the clones,
150w hps will be great for veg

Hiya Hopefulpatient, kinda get stuck with what to tell you, a lot peeps have the Watts & Square foot and all that Info worked out..and I kinda always end up with more Ladies under my Lights than want, getting better..but still end up with too many...Mad! check out the Pics of My Ladies...


**The 250w Hps in 4' x 4' x 8' cupboard/closet

And


** The Ladies under the 600w Hps

Now Danny Danko's Get Growing, and Ryan Riley and lest we forget jorge cervantes..these Guys are well worth reading up on or watching the YouTube Clips, or indeed Buying DVD, Books..Etc

Danny says:

Approximate Lighting Requirements

250-watt HID for a 2' x 2' space.
400-watt HID for a 3' x 3' space.
600-watt HID for a 4' x 4' space.
1,000-watt HID for a 5' x 5' space.

Link to Danny's site(Worth a read, pretty informative + he writes for HighTmes mag) >>>>>

http://www.hightimes.com/microsites/beginners/information.inc.php

Also a COOL Video to check out>>>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-dkX6dsEHQ

I hope some others from RIU pop along and can give you some more Help/Answers...They not a bad bunch ere..

Peace

Thanks for the input guys. And for splitting the tent why does everyone put the veg chamber on the top? Is there some beneficial reasons for this? I was thinking of just framing out the bottom 2.5' and making that the veg part on bottom and flowering on top.

usually veg is done to small sizes 12"-18:" tall the lower cabinet is bigger for flowering as the plants still grow so extra height is required for the plants and lights

I have converted an old fridge over before to a veg chamber in the freezer part & a 8 plant bubbler in the bottom using the crisper as the rez and the bottom tray as the lid.

used a hey hole saw to cut out the holes for net baskets and hung my lights and away it went

Wow that is a great idea. I have a tent I was thinking of building a 2 1/2' box and putting some plywood on top and having the veg on bottom and flower on top in the tent. Just wondering if there was any beneficial ideas to flowering on bottom

the 400 and 150 should work great for you. if you have the coin get the digital select a watt ballast, chances are you will want to go bigger in the future.

Veg on bottom makes more sense to me, letting the hot lights be up top with the fan drawing the air out of the tent.
the veg needs air coming in from outside and a passive return connecting the top to the bottom, each section will require a 10" fan to move air, clip on at walmart is fine.
I run a 400 watt HPS with two 4 bulb 95 watt T5 fixtures on either side of the main light.
6" inline 400 CFM fan pulling tent air into light hood and exhausts out a 6" Vent on top of tent.
I also have a 4" inline 160 CFM fan pulling in fresh air at top and bottom and exhausting out.
I have that one drawing thru a carbon filter inside the tent.

I wouldn't say I'm "experienced" but I'm a year into it full time.
good luck!

This is the preferred method primarily for two reasons.

1. Heat rises. You would want your veg/clone chamber to be the warmer/more humid area. Not the flower chamber.
2. Whichever one is on the bottom gets the freshest air. You want this to be your flower area.

If flower was on top it would be warmer, it would be pulling in moist, warm, oxygen enriched air from the veg area...unless you decided to go 2 different exhaust systems. And if you had any pests, disease, or fungus spores in veg the it would affect your flower. if veg was on bottom.

Naturally, your flowering plants will be heaver too and added weight is best placed on lower rather than upper areas...
Really, I cant think of any reason to put the veg on bottom....

thegreensurfer said:

This is the preferred method primarily for two reasons.

1. Heat rises. You would want your veg/clone chamber to be the warmer/more humid area. Not the flower chamber.
2. Whichever one is on the bottom gets the freshest air. You want this to be your flower area.

If flower was on top it would be warmer, it would be pulling in moist, warm, oxygen enriched air from the veg area...unless you decided to go 2 different exhaust systems. And if you had any pests, disease, or fungus spores in veg the it would affect your flower. if veg was on bottom.

Naturally, your flowering plants will be heaver too and added weight is best placed on lower rather than upper areas...
Really, I cant think of any reason to put the veg on bottom....

Click to expand...

Got to agree with the above, I did not account for RH or weight!

Yeah those are very good points. I think I will have to go that route. I have a 7' tent without seperation. Any ideas to separate the tent?