to rail or not to rail

[mr magoo]

this question has probably come up before but i cant find it
i currently run 1 600 hps over a large hydro system [its about 3 foot long] that only ever gets 2 plants in at any one time all i want to know is will a light rail inprove my yeild or should i use 2 400 hps lights instead i will not use 2 600s because of the electric and the heat light rails retail at about 180 quid which is 1.5 oz will i get that extra on my yield?

[stinkyattic]

The footprint of a HPS600 is about 4x4 if you use a decent hood. So that is adequate for your space. Ideally, your walls should be white or mylar, and close enoguh to your system to reflect light BACK into the plants.

With a HPS600, if you had a space about 6-8 feet long, I would suggest the rail. In your case, I would suggest instead training your plants to fill the rest of the 4x4 area for extra yield. 3 feet is not very big, and could be covered by a good quality 400.

[mr magoo]

cheers for the reply but i did not make my question very clear
my room is about 6x7 feet the tank is only three but i veg my plants to fill the room and am getting about 15/18 oz at a time with just 1 600 the i bend and strech and prune my plants to fill this space and some times the tops are really pulled down so in all 2 plants cover atop area of 6 x4ish 6 feet is a long way for one light to cover and keep close to the plant. as the middle of the tank space always produces the best i wanted to put more light at the ends so is it better to move the light up and down [which may be the cost effective way ]or stick 2 400 in

[trancefusion5]

My little op sounds about the same size and watt light. I just turn the plants every few days. You might already do this but i thought id throw it in just incase. I would get the track before the two 400's but ive never used a track so dont take my word on that. I just think if you ever went a little bigger it would be a good investment. But yeah you got me thinking too. What would the pros of the site do??

[stinkyattic]

7 feet long, yes, go for the rail. You will be happy you did.
In fact, 2 x 600 on a ~24" bar on the rail (perpendicular to it for light dist.) would be even better.

[MasterBlaster]

I think a light rail improves any growing set-up. :thumbsup:

[mr magoo]

cheers folks did the deed just and parted 300 quid for the light rail [could not wait] and a few other bits and pieces. Just swithed my new propigating light on with my two paradise seeds new strain of jacky white whitch are about 2" big they are a bit leggy because they were on a window sill but im sure they will thicken out now [just hope they are indeed female] ive decided to take the week off work and get my room ready light rail an all if im not too stoned i will keep you posted and maybe a few pics :jointsmile:

[NaughtyDreadz]

That's my weekend project

I got a 1k.... 6 x 11

[mr magoo]

ok folks for anyone whos interested :thumbsup:
i have fineshed my grow room and did indeed buy a light rail and it is running sweet. im using just one 600 hps over three plants [my last grow was 1 plant that produced a 16oz of weed that was just too strong to smoke till bed time]
this time ive put in 3 jacky whites in two big tanks 2 in 1 i in the other so i am very looking forward to seeing the results i will post some pics l8r:)and keep you updated on the results of wether to rail or not

[killerweed420]

What rail system did you use? I'm thunking of the same thing for my 1000w

[mr magoo]

without looking i unno what rail it is but it is a good un and frigg me the results after just 3 days flower

[mr magoo]

hope this works heres some pics 4 days into flower

[mr magoo]

i can take more pics as i go. this is three plants i only ever wanted two really one in each tank but in hindsite its a good comparison test.there are two in one tank and one in the other theve been vegged for three weeks flower for four days and the light rail is working a treat.the tank with 1 in is a lot better than the one with two in it is a big momma.ive done a few grows now and its very early days i know and yes i know i could loose the lot at any time BUT i reckon my plants ae at least 25% bigger with the light rail.as i said beforei can get 16+oz off one plant ive got three now so i reckon the light rail was a good investment
oh ye and i could do with some advice about cuttings ive taken a few i dont know if the y will live they dont look great.i have a couple of pics some where:hippy:i want to keep one as a mother so that all the cuttings from it will be third generation

[mr magoo]

sorry bout the spelling well:stoned:but i think there may be room for inprovenent:D

[mr magoo]

Mmmm almost 2 weeks into flower with the jacky white and the light rail has certainly made them grow but they are now that big and spead that it takes ages for the light to reach one end to the other as a result there is a lot of stems that are leggy reaching for the light so i went out and brought another 600 hps so theve now got 2 600s phew you can see the meter whizzing round (hope it does not bring me on top) so my findings so far are light rails work very well but i would only recommend them for vegging but then its early days . next time i will probly rearrange my lighting system and run both lights on the rail