Seedlings stretching under 400w MH??

All of my seedlings (dna genetics pure afghani) are stretching under a 400w MH with brand new bulb....the light is about 3 ft above the seedlings and they are stretching...it seems too hot to go any further down...are they stretching just because they aren't close enough to the light?

if you had a good fan on the lamp I don't see why you wouldn't be able to bring the light closer. Pics would help

Yes, pics would help very much. I vote for the idea of putting the fan in there. Just make sure you dont point the fan on the seedlings and towards the hps light more.

How old are the seedlings? A 400w really is a lot of light for seedlings. Put them under a fluorescent tube or some CFLs till they grow a few sets of true leafs, then use the MH.

And yeah, 3 ft is a bit high, No aircooled hood? At least a fan on the bulb will help.

yea I would use a florecent for a week or two. you can put them 4 inces away with no heat problems. Or just let them strecth hold them up with a stick or somthing till they gain strength. eventually

BCtrippin said:

How old are the seedlings? A 400w really is a lot of light for seedlings. Put them under a fluorescent tube or some CFLs till they grow a few sets of true leafs, then use the MH.

And yeah, 3 ft is a bit high, No aircooled hood? At least a fan on the bulb will help.

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They're about 2 days old....I guess i will take the glass shield off and put a fan blowing on the bulb and lower the light. Does the glass shield take lumens away? I have a 400w hps also with a glass shield on it, maybe I should take the glass shield off and put a fan on that bulb too?

It probably just bends the light at most, but I don't think it would take lumens unless smudged or dirty. I would take it off though

jameraquanza said:

They're about 2 days old....I guess i will take the glass shield off and put a fan blowing on the bulb and lower the light. Does the glass shield take lumens away? I have a 400w hps also with a glass shield on it, maybe I should take the glass shield off and put a fan on that bulb too?

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If you dont have a fan pulling air from the light then I would remove the glass, its just gonna hold in all that heat.

randallv said:

yea I would use a florecent for a week or two. you can put them 4 inces away with no heat problems. Or just let them strecth hold them up with a stick or somthing till they gain strength. eventually

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Yeah with fluorescent tubes you can put them like 1-2 inches away. Dont let them stretch, no offense, but thats just stupid. Its not good for the plant, once they get over stretched they are kinda screwed.