Those with 400/600w HPS/MH Setups

So lately I been rethinking my light source, Im a big advocate of CFLs but maybe as some said its just the way of the newb, ive done 3 successful grows but now I think I wanna kick it up a notch

Been looking at getting a nice 400/600w system. Known which one id buy my question really is....

the growspace you guys grow in/size of space and what in (ie closet)?
about how are the temps and how much vent. do you use
the amount of plants youve grown with what results.

Thanks guys

Ive got a 400w system right now.
I have it setup in one of those sliding door closets on one side.
The temps for me top out at around 76, Ive never had it reach over 80.
The only sort of ventilation is in the form of one of those window fans sucking air in from the empty side of the closet, blowing it over my plants and out through a little crack in the other door.

Ive had 6 plants under that light (3 turned out male)
The rest are flowering nicely as we speak.

sweet deal there

i am sea of greening 15 plants @ a 2 week difference in maturity so that I will get a harvest every2 1/2 weeks or so with a 400watt.
they are the best lights for growing in my opinion because a higher wattage hps is harder to spread the floorspace out that the light actually hits. im getting 1/2- 1& 1/2 ounces per plant and i am flowering clones that I take from a mother plant in a veg box.

Nice cause I was gonna be doing a SOG when I get that light

i have a 4' H by 4' W by 1'9" deep closet grow box that i built and i have a 600 W HPS in there... this is my frist grow so i have no idea how its going to end up but as of now its looking GOOD. i planted 2 clones on the 12th of this month and i have been on an 18/6 light cycle....anyway i have my lights turn on at 7 at night and run until 1 the next day. depending on how cool it is outside my temps don't go over 90 degrees....it usually stays around 85 though so yeah thats me

if you have the option between a 400 and a 600... almost always go with the 600... The difference is HUGE....

HEAT issues for both lights are nearly the same...

check this video.... it is all 600's How to grow marijuana - See More Buds - DVD Video trailer

The girth/weight you can get from 600's is comprable to 1000's.... 400's are just not in the same league..

2 - 600s can produce some amazing SHIT!!

iloveyou

I agree - and the price difference between 400 and 600 is minimal. The jump to 1000 is much more extreme.

What's the difference in the electric bill. If I'm growing 4-6 plants tops would it really be worth the extra $ in the price and electricity bill?

I have 2 areas usually goin 3 400 watt light in 1 area and 2 600 watt lights on a light mover in the other. I can do about 32 plants max under each setup in an 8x8 x 10 ft area.The 400 watters are the old magnetic ballasts and get pretty warm up to 85 degrees running 3 of them and the hum is kind of annoying but I do use foam pads to quiet them down. The 2 600 watt lights are digital and are silent and dont even get warm. The light in the room make themp about 78-85 but I have a portable ac unit that kicks on when the temps go higher then I want.Last yield under the 3 400 waters was little over 3 1/2 lbs dry in 5 weeks flower 10 days veg. 600 watter room looks like almost double that will show up.I figured costs before at $20 a month per 400 watt magnetic ballast left on 24 hours a day for 30 days. 600 watt digi on 24 hours a day for 30 days was about$35 a month 1000 watt magnetic ballast light on 24 hours a day was about $68 a month. Biggest heat is 1000 watters they can cook some plants

hi all ive just started growwing,and i bought 2 600 watt hps lights 2 statrt out .lol i thought i was gonna need more at first before i new anything about it .only in veg stage at moment and only running 1 light every 12 hours then the other light u no so they get a break .ballist was getting so hot i run a small fan on um now when they on .seems 2 do the trick 2 .i have 8 plants they 13 inchs tall now gonna flower um with the 2 lights .just cant wait lol
happy growwing all

2 600watts is better than 1000 in my opinion. just for the better light dispersion throughout the grow room. for that matter i would use 2 400watt hps lights before id use a 1000watt.

TheOrangeJuicer said:

i have a 4' H by 4' W by 1'9" deep closet grow box that i built and i have a 600 W HPS in there... this is my frist grow so i have no idea how its going to end up but as of now its looking GOOD. i planted 2 clones on the 12th of this month and i have been on an 18/6 light cycle....anyway i have my lights turn on at 7 at night and run until 1 the next day. depending on how cool it is outside my temps don't go over 90 degrees....it usually stays around 85 though so yeah thats me

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very cool. you should get great results like that. you can put a LOT more plants under there you know? you are paying at least $50 a month for 2 plants when you could have 20 for the same bill........

kochab said:

very cool. you should get great results like that. you can put a LOT more plants under there you know? you are paying at least $50 a month for 2 plants when you could have 20 for the same bill........

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yeah i know i can fit at least 4 in there in 3 gal pots... i didnt stick 4 in this time because i started out with 2 and i thought the heat might be an issue so i didnt want to put anymore in there incase they died or something...one of those 2 died so i went and got 1 more clone to put in and i just didnt get any others... i definatley regret getitng more in there though because they are growing nicely right now. this is my first grow, once i get the results im going to put 4 in next time and that way ill expect at least twice as much yield hah... yeah its pretty damn exciting checking it every day, i notice it grew more than the previous every time its nice.

i use a 1000w mh conversion bulb and it works great... also .. u soil or hydro?