Which is better? (2)-400w hps or (1)-600 or 1000?

Hi. I currently have a 400w PL light setup. I was thinking to augment this with a cheapo 400w hps (used, rebuilt, etc. off ebay or inside sun). Certainly the 400w hps systems are affordable. I wonder though - is it better to have (2)-400's or (1)-600? I'm afraid to go with 1,000 as I'd have heat to deal with and wouldn't be able to get the light as close to the plants anyway so it might be counter-productive. My space is about 3.5 or 4x4 feet. Or - hopeing to not have more than 4 plants in waterfarm type containers (kitty litter tubs).

What do you guys think? I sort of feel that one 400 hps is making progress slower here and if I could spend another $100 bucks on an extra 400 - they'd grow faster/fatter. But not sure what route to take. I probably should have gotten the 600w pl light but they were crazy expensive.

As always money rules. If all you can get is the 400 it's going to be good. More is always better but you have to be able to buy it. I have a 4 x 6 but only use 3 x 4 of it with a 1000 HPS. You can spread the 2 400's out a little, almost as good. If you go with insidesun and they have the option to get a hortilux bulb . Get it, it will be 40 bucks more but worth it.

With what you are talking about I would use the 600 watt and lots of mylar.. the pair of 400's may give better light but twice the heat running two bulbs..:smokin:

Hey Bender, I think he wants to put both lights together, augment. Unless he got the 1000. Then I would use the 400 for veg. like Bender says you need the mylar too. Get the good stuff.

oops my bad :o

in a 4x4 area add the second 400 and it should work out great..

I run 1 400 Hps in a 3x4 box and it works very well. probably not as well as LOC NAR1958 and his 1000 watts..:D LOL

I agree, regardless of lighting.

Mylar = Better results.

No prob's here Bender. Only a couple of weeks left and you can see them hanging. Their looking good. I will try for a few more pic's today.

Yes, Right now I only have one 400 HPS (PL Light system). Pricey. I hate to have bought it for nothing only to buy another cheapo 1000w or 600w. And the 600's seem expensive and almost the same price as a 1000w.

So I thought if I got another 400w light, I could run them together during bloom times to get 800w. Then, having 2 separate lights, I can still have the option to use one for veg & one for bloom at the same time. Currently, I have one of those flouro shop lights and a few CFLs if the 'real' light is in use.

Would (2)-400 HPS's give off MORE heat than (1)-800? (hypothetical).

I guess the 2 lights makes sense for me. The only question do I get another 400 or another 600? If I go 400/600 - then I have 1,000. Just not sure if 2 lights of the same wattage are better than one?
LOL - I'm befuddled about this. I would just like to have fat buds like I see in pictures vs. my thinner little guys. Since I'm doing all this work. You know?

EDIT: Yes, everything is mylar'd. Except ceiling.

2 400watters would give off more heat than 1 800w, just because 2 ballasts running(2 400w) vs. just the one(1 800w), as far as the bulbs, i dunno the bulbs run at nearly the same internal temps so the bleed-off heat from 2 400's would be more heat, but not double (suface area of bulbs?) JMO

a 1000 watt bulb will give (bud) size and density that is not possible with a 400watt bulb...

2 - 600 watt bulbs placed properly, used to grow small plants is the best bang for the buck.. you can get a huge yield with impressive buds...

400 watt bulbs can not even be comapred to properly used 1000 watt HPS..

and NOW you KNOWM