1k HPS in 3' w x 6 ' L x 6' H - Ideas?

Hey every one, first I would like to say that i'm a long time smoker, and former OG member. I have found RIU to be a new home I'm so glad I ran across your site. I have spent alot of time perusing your Different forums, sticky's, journal's, how to's , DIY's and have been very entertained.

I'm moving into a new place in the near future, and I've potentially got a decent grow area of about 3' W x 6 ' L x 6' H I was wondering if I used a 1K HPS light.

I'm actually using a spare 2nd full bath for this grow room. It's air conditioned and ventilated. Would i need any extra heat exaust application, I.E. Cool tube or air colled reflector via inline fan? or would the AC and the extra ambient air in the room/house be enough?


also i was considering stacking 4 or so of these side by side

http://www.igrowhydro.com/blog/1052/emilys-garden-by-hydrofarm-is-an-ideal-small-hydroponic-system/

it's a 6 - one gallon site DWC hydrosystem.


Will one 1,000 watt HPS effectively cover an area that is 24 inches wide, and 64 inches long? w/ 24 plants in a sea of green style production line. where 3 plants are going in and 3 coming out? every two weeeks or so?

I'm also open for any other suggestions that might allow me to better maximize use of the space.

Thanks for reading my post and I look forward to any ideas anyone might have.

P.S. I also considered using a simple system of Flooding and Draining 4 rubermaid Trays, that i would set 3 to 6 8" diameter net pots in, and move down the line as the production continues. thoughts?

Buddreams said:

Would i need any extra heat exaust application, I.E. Cool tube or air colled reflector via inline fan? or would the AC and the extra ambient air in the room/house be enough?

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should be OK but the only way to know is to try it

Buddreams said:

Will one 1,000 watt HPS effectively cover an area that is 24 inches wide, and 64 inches long? w/ 24 plants in a sea of green style production line. where 3 plants are going in and 3 coming out

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a light mover will cover the width better & allow the light a little closer

Buddreams said:

P.S. I also considered using a simple system of Flooding and Draining 4 rubermaid Trays, that i would set 3 to 6 8" diameter net pots in, and move down the line as the production continues. thoughts?

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instead of starting on 1 side & moving down the line,start in the middle and as they grow move them to the outside to make best use of the lights

I would say that ya you will have heat issues if you don't vent it somehow. If you're only planning on using one, the stanley blower mod found here: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/69842-home-cheapo-blower.html works very well. Saves about 40-50 dollars and the fan has multiple speeds and has 2 additional outlets on it.

As far as the light footprint it will put out it will easily cover the width (24") but may not stretch the entire 64" the other way. I usually say it puts out a 4x4' square but with certain reflectors the footprint can be converted to be more rectangular and better fitting for your room.

Bottom line if you're thinking of using a 1k watt probably do it because you're gonna kick yourself in the ass after you have a couple successful grows with a 600 or 400w and begin to ponder what could have been with a 1k watt. This usually leads to buying a 1k setup and wasted money on the previous one. Hope this helps!

Thanks for the input guys I will have to consider that light mover Mrmadcow. Probably after I get it setup and see what kind of light distribution my reflector produces. I know what you mean by moving them in to out sounds like a plan to me.

I was wondering if would get any substantial root damage from moving the 8inch net pots from tray to tray? I've never utilized a hydroponic method, since i've only grown outdoors in soil. and my homemade system could save me 200$


budjunky, I was thinking the same thing about the 4 or 600 hps lights, might as well do it right, and i dont want multiple HPS systems in that room


Thanks for the input guys

Buddreams said:

I was wondering if would get any substantial root damage from moving the 8inch net pots from tray to tray? I've never utilized a hydroponic method, since i've only grown outdoors in soil.

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I never used hydro either but from what I read,they cn be moved w/out problems

BudJunky said:

Bottom line if you're thinking of using a 1k watt probably do it because you're gonna kick yourself in the ass after you have a couple successful grows with a 600 or 400w and begin to ponder what could have been with a 1k watt. This usually leads to buying a 1k setup and wasted money on the previous one. Hope this helps!

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not always a waste, having a spare setup is good when your main light goes down 2 weeks b4 harvest.
also 2 600 watt lights would fill his space better.

Ya two points of light is always better, but as he stated he doesn't want a multiple HPS room.

BudJunky said:

Ya two points of light is always better, but as he stated he doesn't want a multiple HPS room.

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Would a light mover on a 1000 watt HPS negate or mimic two 600's (two light points)?

in anycase, I managed to score some used equipment from a craigslist electrician. It's a 1000 watt hps bare bones ballast, capacitor, hps starter and bulb. All for just 25$ So I took a sun systems air cooled reflector and wired it to my 25$ special. I fired it up and ran it a few hours in the garage. It does get warm, too warm for the plants I imagine. I'm going to have to air cool it. I've been looking at 6" 400+ cfm fan at 120+$ a pop. I can't be cutting any holes into the walls or attic to ventilate, so i'm trying to decide what my options are.

any ideas?

I'll have to post some pictures later

I ran into the same situation you're in. My suggestion would be to think about it a little differently. Try making a "grow tent". Doesn't actually have to be a tent but you get the idea. Basically a little room inside the room your using that you make out of wood/panda film/etc. That way you still have like a small room and you can make holes anywhere ya want and if ya fuck it up you can throw it away and make another one.

And to answer your question I personnally think that 2 points of light is better than a lightmover. Reason behind my thinking is that with one light there is always gonna be shadows thrown. With 2 the shadows that are cast by the one light are mostly illimunated by the second light. (Anybody else agree?)

Totally, two bulbs are way better than one specially with higher wattage. 200 more watts is like 200 more grams. almost.. :/