How big of light should I use?

My space is 5ft Height x 5ft Wide x 1.5 deep. Roughly about 20 sq ft is what a website told me when I typed in my measurements. I was going to get an aircooled 1000MH/HPS switchable for this but I was thinking this just might be too powerful and too much light for the space. I have about $300 to spend on the light and with that I can go a little over (indeed I can afford the light). Ongoing however I'm thinking with the extra light it may or maynot payoff for my SOGGin' in this closet .. Maybe I should go with a 600w switchable or would a 400 do this closet in you think? either way I am going to be having an air cooled hood so heat will not be a problem. let me know

or what about 2 400w???

Go with the 2 400's! 1 HPS and 1 Halide Plus the conversion bulb! Or,NOT! Your choice! With the space you have you would fry them!400's are a bit easier to work with! I think in your case 1 400 HPS would get you by,till you could get a larger grow area.

Ga Grown

do u think it would still turn me out plenty of mj if i do one light i think 600w would be better to cover my area i saw this light on ebay with an awesome reflector thats long to cover my narrow space.... that might work better i think im just not too sure ive never worked with a space this narrow yet so its kinda new to me... but i plan on a 30-50 plant SOG here and would like a 1lb turn out every two months. im only going to be letting them get a foot and a half tall at the most

I've got 2 400's, and lemme tell ya! They get HOT! If you don't vent the hood with a powerful exaust fan,it'll be so hot in there! You might be better off using 2- 250HPS.That way you could worry about the venting of the room overhead.Get some cool air from below!I've acctually never used such a small grow area! My grow area is 8ft. long,6ft wide and 57inches high.I have the extra bit of room inbetween the joist's!Another 10 inches of head space! Stays a constant 79-80 tops! when the lights are on.I only have 25 plants in that area! Take your time as to,not be hasty on the choice of light you purchase!Cause DYNOMITE comes in small packages!Lil' might be better,in your case.Then you could buy a kick ass fan as well!265 CFM or a 465CFM.If you choose that 1000 watter? Go with the 465cfm.If you get 2 400's,go with the 465cfm.If it's the 600? Vent the hood directly with a 265cfm.Not blowing on the light! That tends to dispurse more heat in the room! but,pulling across the hood from the tip or end of the bulb.you'll end up with some issues as you get into the grow! ( 9 out of 10) They tend to not be good at all!The issue's!

Ga Grown

Cool tubes are perfect for that...
Here is one that someone made on there own.

My area is about the same as yours (2'd x 4'w x 6'h), and I use one 400 watt light (with a digital ballast to minimize heat), and I also use two sets of four 30-watt CFLs at the far ends of the rectangle to provide additional light to the plants more distant from the 'sweet spot' right beneath the HPS light. Two 400s would probably be better in terms of lumens/plant, but that might also be somewhat of a heat problem too, I dunno. In any case, my lighting seems to kick serious ass for that area, and the heat is manageable, even on these 97 degree days. If I were you, I'd try the same thing: start with a 400 and some sidelighting CFLs and see how your temps are. If they're totally fine, zero probs, then it might be worth trying a second 400. (If you can do it, two 400s would be better than one 600, not just because of the extra lumens, but also because you can get a better spread on your lighting, and because you have lighting redundancy in case a light fails.)

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Originally Posted by jamstigator

My area is about the same as yours (2'd x 4'w x 6'h), and I use one 400 watt light (with a digital ballast to minimize heat), and I also use two sets of four 30-watt CFLs at the far ends of the rectangle to provide additional light to the plants more distant from the 'sweet spot' right beneath the HPS light. Two 400s would probably be better in terms of lumens/plant, but that might also be somewhat of a heat problem too, I dunno. In any case, my lighting seems to kick serious ass for that area, and the heat is manageable, even on these 97 degree days. If I were you, I'd try the same thing: start with a 400 and some sidelighting CFLs and see how your temps are. If they're totally fine, zero probs, then it might be worth trying a second 400. (If you can do it, two 400s would be better than one 600, not just because of the extra lumens, but also because you can get a better spread on your lighting, and because you have lighting redundancy in case a light fails.)

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thank you for your response thats what i was looking for... someone who has a similar closet size..... i was clueless but you have now shed some light my friend!!! i will go pick up a 400w HPS... i already have 2 mh's at 400w... but i want newer models.... if i need the extra 400w after the HPS ill trade or sell them for another mh/hps conversion.... i will be using either cool tubes or air cooled too

JDOG, ANY IDEA WHO BUILT THAT SETUP? I AM REALLY IN NEED OF AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO VENT MY 1OOOW HPS.

I'VE SEEN PLANS, BUT THAT LOOKS WAY SIMPLE.

THNX DOG