1500 watts Future Grow

I have one grow under my belt using two 400w hps and that was basically it for items I had besides a timer, microscope, and some nutes. So for my next grow I would like to step it up a little.... I plan to purchase a 1000w hps, 4x125w 6500k cfl (which I will put in each corner), 4x4 grow tent, 6" inline fan, carbon filter(will be outside of tent), air duct inline fan, circulating fan, fox farm nutes, bud candy, and some ducting. So that steps up the items now the grow..... I plan on growing 16 plants at once, pruning the bottom since no light will reach there and topping them all so that way the 1500w will focus on the tops where all the colas will be. The tent is also the place I will be drying the buds. (A picture of the setup in my head is below)....The reason I made this thread was to try and find some tips or changes that should be made to my grow..... For example do you think the 16 plants in 4x4 rows is too much or could i get away with it? Any and all input will be aprechiated seeings how the expierence is what im chasing.
Sorry for the small pic...everything is in the tent besides the filter which will be on milk crates. Also the bottom fan will be half in and half out.

carbon filters are more effective on intake than exhaust. I would only put it after the fan if I was cooling two rooms with one fan

So you think it would be better to have fan=filter=light=exhaust? and the only room im worried about cooling is the tent because i will have an a/c on the outside of the tent.

16 plants in a 4x4 is really tight. Don't plan on topping or any of that silliness and start 12/12 early or you will really regret it.

hoag is correct in that you are better off pulling through your filter versus pushing through it. Hang the filter up top in the tent and pull through it, then your light, then out of the tent and preferably out of the room. If you push through it your going to have a dirty light and won't be able to direct your exhaust as well.

postpone the purchase of the CFLs unless that is what you are vegging under. I'm a huge fan of CFLs as well as mixed spectrum but 1kW in a 4x4 is a lot of light and they really won't be necessary. Spend the extra $ on a really nice hood. If you do end up adding supplemental lighting aim for the 23w or 45w CFLs - these produce more lumen/watt and allow you to add more and really target the spots that need it.

By all means shop around but here's a great place for cheap quality light set-ups with free shipping http://www.urbansunshine.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=233_373_376

Buy quality the first time - I would go with the magnum xxxl reflector with the lumatek. regardless you'll need a sealed hood.

Not sure if you have things priced out but here's basically the set-up you are talking about for ~$650. Just swap out the 600w with the 1000kW

600w Digital dimmable ballast and sealed cooled reflector here for $280 (subtract bulb price from the listed price) with free shipping http://www.urbansunshine.com/index.p...ducts_id=18512

Tent here for $95 free shipping http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydroponic-Mylar...item2eb480f6f5

Bulb here for $65 + $10 shipping http://www.ezhydroshop.com/products/...tput-Bulb.html

6" Fan and filter combo $195 + $23 shipping http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-GrowBright-6in-Tall-Boy-Inline-Fan-&-Charcoal-Filter-Combo.asp

immaking3 said:

So you think it would be better to have fan=filter=light=exhaust? and the only room im worried about cooling is the tent because i will have an a/c on the outside of the tent.

Click to expand...

close :

Filter=light=fan=exhaust

Thanks for the input...gastanker I planed on vegging for 2 weeks topping and then another 2 weeks then flower but i always thought that topping helped when space was limited because the light cant penatrate through the canopy, also thanks for the great links and hoagtech thanks for the info on the pull rather than push through the filter the only problem is do you think I will be able to fit it in the tent? also since the space would be tight would it be best if i went with a auto flowering strain?

also I was gunna go with a cool tube light system....would it be better if i got a different reflector?+

immaking3 said:

Thanks for the input...gastanker I planed on vegging for 2 weeks topping and then another 2 weeks then flower but i always thought that topping helped when space was limited because the light cant penatrate through the canopy, also thanks for the great links and hoagtech thanks for the info on the pull rather than push through the filter the only problem is do you think I will be able to fit it in the tent? also since the space would be tight would it be best if i went with a auto flowering strain?

Click to expand...

SOme People hang their carbon bove their light in between the chains or in the top corner of their tent.

immaking3 said:

Thanks for the input...gastanker I planed on vegging for 2 weeks topping and then another 2 weeks then flower but i always thought that topping helped when space was limited because the light cant penatrate through the canopy, also thanks for the great links and hoagtech thanks for the info on the pull rather than push through the filter the only problem is do you think I will be able to fit it in the tent? also since the space would be tight would it be best if i went with a auto flowering strain?

Click to expand...

You want maximum surface area being hit by light. By topping you create a flat canopy which is good when you have a small light with poor penetration. You are going to have many plants what are all quite short and a 1kW light with great penetration so you really want more than just a flat canopy.

Think of each of these bars as a foot ---- your going to only total 16 sq ft with a flat canopy. But with untopped conical plants (sog) you will add a bit more surface area ^^^^

^^^^ compared to ---- is more than twice the the surface area along a single plane. Three dimensionally you add tons more surface area.

well said......