my grow room is large but needs improving please read

hey i have two 600 watt HPS that are about 6 feet above a number of plants and i also have a 240 watt blue spectrum light on the ground.

From what ive been reading it seems my lights are too far away?

however i need them this high in my opinion because they create a lot of heat and i dont have the means to get extractor fans etc.

The plants seem to be growing fine, any advice?

y dont you have the means to get fans?? they are essential.... you are just wasting electricity with those 600ws if there 6ft away, theyve lost 90% of there lumen potential.

1 thing u could do it get heat sheilds

This thread first got me into RIU.< https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/12129-lighting-chart-close-far.html > At six feet those lights would be really weak. My 400w HID's sit between 6" and 1' from my plants. At the very least you will need an oscillating fan in your room to keep the air circulating. If there is any way possible you need to be able to intake fresh air and exhaust the stale air. If you are not adding fresh air and are worried about heat issues you should look into CO² which thrives in hot environments where fresh air isn't readily available. Can you post pics so we can get a better understanding?

If your lights at 600 watts are more than 3-4 inches away from your plants, your losing a lot of light. Light spreads out. The further away from the plants it is, the less light each plant gets. Sure, they grow fine at 6 feet away. They also grow MUCH finer at 3 inches away instead. To have 3 lights over 1000w total, and not have any ventilation, is poor planning on your part and you will pay for such an inexpensive solution big time by sacrificing your yield.

edit

ok i will lower the lights, i have just ordered a heat shield.

i do have a large fan for ventialtion but its not an extractor fan

researchkitty said:

If your lights at 600 watts are more than 3-4 inches away from your plants, your losing a lot of light. Light spreads out. The further away from the plants it is, the less light each plant gets. Sure, they grow fine at 6 feet away. They also grow MUCH finer at 3 inches away instead. To have 3 lights over 1000w total, and not have any ventilation, is poor planning on your part and you will pay for such an inexpensive solution big time by sacrificing your yield.

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3-4 inchis from the plant with a 600watt HPS???? there be COOKING

I have my 400's 4-6 inches away from the plants but I would give a naked 600 a good 7-9 inches distance. I've found that the buds that survive being 3 inches from the bulb are really light and fluffy and the leaves go white and turn to powder.

I have noticed that trichome production is greater in areas less saturated by light. My popcorn buds are like snow balls compared to my main fat colas, which still glisten but nowhere as much as the bottom buds.

If you cant keep plants within 3-4" if a light bulb, you have some serious cooling issues to deal with first.

researchkitty said:

If you cant keep plants within 3-4" if a light bulb, you have some serious cooling issues to deal with first.

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I see you've taken Lacy's advice on light distance. Not everyone has a grow room as advanced as yours though kitty. Your grow room looks like a laboratory. The ducting alone probably cost more than most peoples entire setup . I love your work so far.

i like uncle ben's idea of movable 3rd and 4th walls so as too keep the reflective surfaces at the plants

Murfy said:

i like uncle ben's idea of movable 3rd and 4th walls so as too keep the reflective surfaces at the plants

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Uncle Ben said:

You need to keep highly reflective panels touching perimeter plants. It will increase light received by the plants 10 fold. Watts mean nothing unless the light is configured efficiently.

My indoor garden consists of large reflecting panels that can be picked up and placed against the plants according to the ever changing garden footprint, even the floor is painted with a brilliant white paint.

As an aside, cabinets with fixed reflective walls don't cut it nor do open sides where 50% of the light is wasted.

It's all about "buying light".

Good luck,
UB

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That made a lot of sense. I'm definitely going to invest in the reflective "corflute" they sell at the hydro shop.
I wish I had uncle Ben showing up in my thread giving tips .