Need help in choosing a light for veg

Hey all...........

Right now I'm using a 1000 watt MH bulb in a 4 x 4 tent for veg. I would like to save some money on my electric and also lower my heat output. Yes, I do have a glass enclosed reflector with great exhaust.
I believe this bulb is a bit on the overkill side for the size of my tent but the damn clones grow fast as hell with it.

I have looked over my options and so far I don't like what I see.

I don't think the 400 MH will be enough but I never used one so I can't be sure. My 1000 grows my clones into small 12" bushes in 2 weeks with one topping but I can't stand the heat it gives off. How fast would the 400 watt MH grow my clones? It's got to be slower right? No experience with this bulb at all.

I looked over the 600 watt MH conversion bulbs but the lumen output is crap and they last 50% of what other bulbs last. Makes me not want to buy one of these. Plus they are expensive as hell.

The 1000 watt MH I have is just too damn much so this is not a further option for me.

I also looked over the 600 watt Super hps bulbs. They have a ton of lumens and seem to have dual spectrum abilities. I wonder if this bulb would be what I'm looking for to veg? It has kick ass stats and lasts very long compared to the 600 watt MH conversion bulb AND it's cheaper!

I can't use T5's cause my tent is just a few inches too small to fit the 4' fixtures. Plus I already have the reflector for the tent so it would be a waste of money and I don't believe they would grow my clones as fast as my 1000 would. I have some experience with these bulbs and while they are good for veg they just don't work as fast.

Any ideas? 600 super hps? 400 mh? 600 conversion? Hopefully someone has a similar situation as I do and knows what's up.

Thanks

my veg room is smaller than yours 3.8ft by 2ft by 7 ft but my 400 mh grows my clones into 12" bushes with a single topping in about two and half weeks.

If you're using the whole 4x4 tent and need growth THAT fast then you're kind of limited. 400 won't be enough, 600 would but that's not really saving much. If you can use less area to veg then a smaller light closer to the plants could cut it, at least until the plants got too big for the small light.

hey what do yall know about the blue and red led lights for growing? are they good or bad and what will they yeild in comparison to using a hps light.
thanks

medgrower49 said:

my veg room is smaller than yours 3.8ft by 2ft by 7 ft but my 400 mh grows my clones into 12" bushes with a single topping in about two and half weeks.

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Thanks for the reply. Do you use all the space? Sounds like you get what you want just just from the 400 watt. Not bad at all.

OregonMeds said:

If you're using the whole 4x4 tent and need growth THAT fast then you're kind of limited. 400 won't be enough, 600 would but that's not really saving much. If you can use less area to veg then a smaller light closer to the plants could cut it, at least until the plants got too big for the small light.

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Thanks for the reply. I only use about 3' x 3' of the space. Seems like medgrower can make it work with his 400 with only a few additional days. IMO the 600 super enhanced might be the way to go. Why would you say "that's really not saving much"? Has to be at least a 40% savings over what I have now

Cost per month with the 1000 is probably around $60 a month. I would save $24 a month...and some heat too.......not too shabby

crazytrain14 said:

hey what do yall know about the blue and red led lights for growing? are they good or bad and what will they yeild in comparison to using a hps light.
thanks

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HEY! Don't steal my thread man!!

Yeah I use all the space. Check out my journal, link in my signature,I just put up a pic of my veg room today.

Hotwired said:

Thanks for the reply. Do you use all the space? Sounds like you get what you want just just from the 400 watt. Not bad at all.



Thanks for the reply. I only use about 3' x 3' of the space. Seems like medgrower can make it work with his 400 with only a few additional days. IMO the 600 super enhanced might be the way to go. Why would you say "that's really not saving much"? Has to be at least a 40% savings over what I have now

Cost per month with the 1000 is probably around $60 a month. I would save $24 a month...and some heat too.......not too shabby

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Oh you must pay a lot more for electric than I do to make it a $24 a month difference. If you can shrink that to 3'x3' you could almost get by on a 400w even.

Most people just need to veg fast enough to be ready when the flowering room opens up, and don't even need to use HID's for veg at all.

I'm curious why do you need such fast veg?

i like to use several large CFLs for veg and save the large watters for flower