Lighting set up. Different kinds of light in the same room.

So I have a 32x32x63in tent. I have a mars hydro ts 600, I also have 6, 60 watt led grow bulbs and 2 unbranded Chinese led grow lights (don’t know the wattage they put out but the plants seem to like them) how should I set all this up? I know the mars isn’t enough for 32x32 so I’m thinking about setting the rest of the lights up around it to helps add some reds but idk how even that will make my lighting, or maybe that’s not a problem. And before someone says research just google supplemental lighting or look on other sites, there’s not much. What do experienced growers think?

Macncheesehaze said:

What do experienced growers think?

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This experienced grower thinks that with nine lamps, there's way too many items and cables everywhere, and that a single 600W HID lamp should be used.

Otherwise, organize your lamps so that they provide good side lighting from the perimeter of the tent.

spek9 said:

This experienced grower thinks that with nine lamps, there's way too many items and cables everywhere, and that a single 600W HID lamp should be used.

Otherwise, organize your lamps so that they provide good side lighting from the perimeter of the tent.

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Literal side lighting? like from the walls?

Macncheesehaze said:

Literal side lighting? like from the walls?

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Yes. Put the main lamp above, and the other lights around the peremiter.

spek9 said:

Yes. Put the main lamp above, and the other lights around the peremiter.

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Ok cool thank you, I’ve also seen some videos of people putting lights underneath, what do you think about that?

Macncheesehaze said:

Ok cool thank you, I’ve also seen some videos of people putting lights underneath, what do you think about that?

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I wouldn't do that. Only my plants belong at the bottom of the tent. Too hard to clean spills up and keep the floor clean, and too much risk of spilling something on live electrical devices with lamps underneath the plants.

Yeah the guy was using led strips I think, but still I see what you mean. Im gonna get it put together. got 2 gg#4s 2 thc snows and a platinum og vegging them up. Hopefully the odd lighting doesn’t stress them.

Macncheesehaze said:

Yeah the guy was using led strips I think, but still I see what you mean. Im gonna get it put together. got 2 gg#4s 2 thc snows and a platinum og vegging them up. Hopefully the odd lighting doesn’t stress them.

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It won't hurt them, but they're pretty crappy lights, so I wouldn't expect any significant benefit, either. Perhaps not even enough benefit to justify the cost of the electricity they burn. I'm in no position to adequately or accurately judge that though, so take that with a grain of salt.

Yeah I’ve seen a lot of people that don’t like the mars hydros, but tbh the thing is bright af and every person I’ve seen use them thinks they’re great so idk. I guess I’ll know over time.

Macncheesehaze said:

Yeah I’ve seen a lot of people that don’t like the mars hydros, but tbh the thing is bright af and every person I’ve seen use them thinks they’re great so idk. I guess I’ll know over time.

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I wasn't speaking about the Mars Hydro lamp. I've never used one, nor seen them in use in person. I don't have any opinion on those lights. I was speaking of the other el-cheapos you mentioned. I have seen those in use, and they are generally crap. Again though, they may be useful for side lighting, or they may not be.

You'd have to do at least two runs, one with and one without them to see if they provide benefit. The number of extra lamps all with their own cables would be too much for me, personally.

spek9 said:

I wasn't speaking about the Mars Hydro lamp. I've never used one, nor seen them in use in person. I don't have any opinion on those lights. I was speaking of the other el-cheapos you mentioned. I have seen those in use, and they are generally crap. Again though, they may be useful for side lighting, or they may not be.

You'd have to do at least two runs, one with and one without them to see if they provide benefit. The number of extra lamps all with their own cables would be too much for me, personally.

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actually I grew these in solo cups on my first grow which started in a chinchilla cage covered in tin foil with one 60 watt bulb. Mind you solo cup and one light. Tiny things but they were pretty fire.

Macncheesehaze said:

every person I’ve seen use them thinks they’re great so idk.

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Not being mean or anything...but the reason they all thought they were good is that they were newbs. Mostly newbs use them. Experienced growers who pay attention to light efficiency and spectrum and all that...they buy better lights.
JD

Edit: Wanted to add a bit about spectrum since I mentioned it. I believe in mixing different types of lights. But I do feel that it should be done with an eye toward balancing the spectrum.

I use a nice 600 true watts Lumipro which covers the spectrum (red and blue...weak on white) So I threw in 2 315 CMH for the white, UV and infrared. Now everything is balanced and plant gets the light it needs. That's how I feel it should be done. Not knocking your side lighting at all...I like that idea.

From all the tests I’ve seen done, it performs as advertise. thats what I was thinking with the side lighting. I know the mars is heavier on white and blue so I’m gonna add in some reds. I was reading about using far red right before and a little after lights out as well

Macncheesehaze said:

Yeah I’ve seen a lot of people that don’t like the mars hydros, but tbh the thing is bright af and every person I’ve seen use them thinks they’re great so idk. I guess I’ll know over time.

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I use Mars 1600 x 4 for 4 years (old technology now) and never had a single problem. I try not to knock them about, clean them about once a month and it just works. Uses half power during veg. You still never get that power/depth of penitration a 1000hps gives but scrog and keep full even canopy and let them rip.

Macncheesehaze said:

Ok cool thank you, I’ve also seen some videos of people putting lights underneath, what do you think about that?

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ummm no ... the simple solution .
White drain tray will reflect.
A cut piece of mylar laying in drain pan under pots.

Or get a better light with better penetration.

Turbogrow said:

I use Mars 1600 x 4 for 4 years (old technology now) and never had a single problem. I try not to knock them about, clean them about once a month and it just works. Uses half power during veg. You still never get that power/depth of penitration a 1000hps gives but scrog and keep full even canopy and let them rip.

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Yeah I got a small tent, I’m gonna ScrOG them. This is my first REAL grow since my first one was all in solo cups. This is my first time topping and training. I’m gonna mainline them I think.wish me luck lol