1st hydro closet grow questions and advice

[crossfaceturk]

Considering NL hydro grow (Rubbermaid) probably 18 gallon tubs larger if needed, thinking maybe 3 tubs

1) How many plants would be reasonable to try to grow in a 7x3 ft closet with 8 ft ceiling ?

2) One 400w MH-veg/HPS-flower with cfl side lighting or 2 250w MH/HPS ?

3) Looking at Sensigro and bloom and 3 part flora, what's your preference ?


Will start seedlings, future mother(s) and clones in seperate floro area.
I have read every article and detailed thread on just about everything on this site over the past few weeks, wow this site is a neverending wealth of knowledge.

Really just looking for some input on setup I'm considering.......having rapid knowledge overload right now.

[crossfaceturk]

Grow will be DWC

[CovertCarpenter]

... how many tubs can you fit comfortably in your space (and move, while full of water/plants/etc)? Assuming 18ga. Tubs, I would say that you could get five or six plants in each tub (maybe nine on the short side..?), and four plants would have lotsa space. But don't skimp on the air...

400w MH will prolly light a 3'x3' space, but two would be needed for a 7'x3, or perhaps get one of those 1000w dual arc bulbs, and run the 600HPS and 400MH outta one bulb, off'n a single ballast... but yeah, if you used some CFLs on the side to both flesh out the spectrum, and light the corners. If you're going 400 to start, consider getting a 400 or 600w switchable digital ballast that can light both MH and HPS.

Two 600w would be nice overkill, and give ya about 9,000lumens/sq.ft.

Just me :twocents:

[crossfaceturk]

... how many tubs can you fit comfortably in your space (and move, while full of water/plants/etc)? Assuming 18ga. Tubs, I would say that you could get five or six plants in each tub (maybe nine on the short side..?), and four plants would have lotsa space. But don't skimp on the air...

400w MH will prolly light a 3'x3' space, but two would be needed for a 7'x3, or perhaps get one of those 1000w dual arc bulbs, and run the 600HPS and 400MH outta one bulb, off'n a single ballast... but yeah, if you used some CFLs on the side to both flesh out the spectrum, and light the corners. If you're going 400 to start, consider getting a 400 or 600w switchable digital ballast that can light both MH and HPS.

Two 600w would be nice overkill, and give ya about 9,000lumens/sq.ft.

Just me :twocents:


I could reasonably fit 4 tubs in the room, with the room having a longer length than width i was wondering if it would be better to have 2 smaller hid's instead of one large one to distribute light more evenly or would the larger one do the job just as well.

Also trying to not overkill to keep cooling requirements as simple as possible.

Thanks for any input

[tinytoon]

1) 3-4 tubs
2) if you could do 2 250w and the side lighting that would be prime for the choices given but if not on the side lighting then the 2 250w because of the amount of coverage
3) I use 3-part GH flora as my main base and GH suplements from there.

[crossfaceturk]

1) 3-4 tubs
2) if you could do 2 250w and the side lighting that would be prime for the choices given but if not on the side lighting then the 2 250w because of the amount of coverage
3) I use 3-part GH flora as my main base and GH suplements from there.

Thanks for your input.
Actually you were one of the forum members I was hoping would respond.

Let's enter a discussion based on some of the things I have learned and the setup and grow I have proposed based on some of the things I have learned from multiple members and articles on this site.

Hopefully others members will join in and maybe we all can learn something or maybe get an insight maybe we hadn't thought of exploring.

My example is 21 sq feet 7x3

I have read that a minimum of 3000 lumens per sq ft is required to sustain the plants life and at 5000 lumens and above is where they flourish.

I have also read that a minimum of 30 watts per sq ft is a general rule to follow for your room


Now 30 watts per sq ft takes me to 630 watts, 2 250 watt hids will bring me to 500 watts which is reasonable in the ball park

But on the lumens side 5000 lumens per sq/ft =105,000 lumens

With the average 250 watt MH bulb giving 20,500 lumens or a total of 41,000 lumens this only equals 1952 lumens per sq/ft for veg.

With the average 250 watt HPS bilb giving 33,000 lumens or a total of 66,000 lumens this only equals 3143 lumens per sq/ft

Which should I be more concerned with ?

More importantly, how many plants can I reasonably expect to grow with this kind of penetration and room/grow before I am just growing more plants than I need to be to get the same yields?

Secondly, is this really enough lighting for this room?
obviously side cfl lighting will help to maximize yield, but I think the reasonable # of plants should still be the same with or without it.

Thanks for any input.........hoping to get a benificial learning grow before moving on to higher dollar crop to benifit, well mainly me!!!!!!!!!

[tinytoon]

Well I'm not an expert on lighting but I can tell you what I have run in to and what I am running.

1) 2x3x6 cabinet. E&F setup, 400w cooltube, MH for veg and HPS for flower. # of plants 2
2) 4x4x7 grow tent. DWC, 400w cooltube, MH for veg and HPS flower. # of plants 4
3) 7.5x11x6.5 grow room :jointsmile:. Ebb and Grow system. 2 600w with only HPS atm. Veg is done under 4 4' floro's running daytime bulbs on 24/7. running 18 buckets atm but will end up with 21 leaving room to move.

I dont worry about growing allot of plants, I just try to get the most out of what I grow. Latewood's Legacy at top of page is a very good read, long but has good info.
Depending on how big you want to grow these things, if it was in my house I would most likely do 3 tubs with 2 plants per tub. 2 250w lamps with side light until can afford to upgrade to twin 400w. Would also suggest lollipoping the plants as this will help concentrate on bud growing and get rid of the scraggly looking shit at the bottom of plant.
Hope this helps, time for work :(

[CovertCarpenter]

Thanks for your input.
Actually you were one of the forum members I was hoping would respond.

Let's enter a discussion based on some of the things I have learned and the setup and grow I have proposed based on some of the things I have learned from multiple members and articles on this site.

Hopefully others members will join in and maybe we all can learn something or maybe get an insight maybe we hadn't thought of exploring.

My example is 21 sq feet 7x3

I have read that a minimum of 3000 lumens per sq ft is required to sustain the plants life and at 5000 lumens and above is where they flourish.

I have also read that a minimum of 30 watts per sq ft is a general rule to follow for your room


Now 30 watts per sq ft takes me to 630 watts, 2 250 watt hids will bring me to 500 watts which is reasonable in the ball park

But on the lumens side 5000 lumens per sq/ft =105,000 lumens

With the average 250 watt MH bulb giving 20,500 lumens or a total of 41,000 lumens this only equals 1952 lumens per sq/ft for veg.

With the average 250 watt HPS bilb giving 33,000 lumens or a total of 66,000 lumens this only equals 3143 lumens per sq/ft

Which should I be more concerned with ?

More importantly, how many plants can I reasonably expect to grow with this kind of penetration and room/grow before I am just growing more plants than I need to be to get the same yields?

Secondly, is this really enough lighting for this room?
obviously side cfl lighting will help to maximize yield, but I think the reasonable # of plants should still be the same with or without it.

Thanks for any input.........hoping to get a benificial learning grow before moving on to higher dollar crop to benifit, well mainly me!!!!!!!!!

By the rule-0-thumb fir what'cha need to fill yer space... if you wanna git killa results, you need 210,000 lumens to fill that space (10K/sq.ft). Only way to do that without breaking tha bank would be two 600w HPS (for 180,000 lumens), or a 1k watt HPS and a 600w HPS (for a total of 240,000 lumens). If you're on a budget, buy the cheapest 1000w non-digital ballast you can, or perhaps a coupla 1000w digital ballasts.

For full-spectrum, try a 1000w HPS and a 1000w MH, which should top out at around 220,000 lumens, and should take you from veg to flower to finish...

JUst my :twocents:

[tinytoon]

That would be a boat load of heat for a closet :(

[MTbudman]

I'm flowering in a closet 12sqft with a 400hps in 18gallon totes. I have one sitting on top of a second tote that drains into the first for a cycle effect. I run two fans off and on durring the light to help with heat. Getting between 82-90 for day and 72-78 night.
I plan on my next grow to be two totes set up for 4 plants. Seems to be working good so far aslong as I watch my temps..

[tinytoon]

with 2 1000w lights you would be drying them before buds formed. A 400w puts out maybe about half the heat of a 1000w.