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

I guess I was hopeing for a different answer. Something like - "yes, two 400 HPS's would be great and act as if you had an 800 on them!". :(

I just don't know if I need to ramp up to a 1000 for 2-4 plants. Then I might need to set up a cooling system, etc. I'll have to ponder this. Thanks guys!

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Originally Posted by 4x5

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

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Actually, my current 400w ballast gives off no heat that I can detect. It feels slightly warm if I rest my hand on it but it's 'comfortable' heat. And I don't need to have the balast in the grow area either.

I wanted to get a 600 but husband talked me out of it. It's frustrating that the prices for the 600's are often more than the 1000. I'd still love to get a cheap 600 but fear the quality of the ballast if I go dirt cheap.

I just hate waiting 3.5-4 months from seed to harvest. Seems everyone with big lights goes 2 months or less. I wonder if I ran a 400 & 600 if I'd have to constantly rotate the lights or plants. Or if the 600 would shine enough for a 3x3 area to avoid that.

hello : )

the key to growing with a 4oo is to get that light as close as possible... if you have a glass cover between your bulb and your plants you cn get the light within 6 inches of your canopy... use as many fans as it takes to blow the heat from the bulb upward and away from your plants...

if you can hang one of the 400 watt bulbs verticaly between 4 plants ... and another 400 watt bulb horizontaly over the same 4 plants you will yield HUGE...

you may even yield 4 - 6 ounces per plant... that is impressive!!

: )

Thanks! My buckets are pretty close together and not sure how a hanging 400 would fare. But I bet I could pull it off. My 400 hps is about 10-12" above the plants. Moreso to try to get 4 plants under the light. I didn't bank on having 4 plants but they all turned out females (Bubblicious).

Maybe I'll try something like that. 600 above and 400 down low. I just have to decide if I should buy another 600 or 400. There's so many cheap 400's on ebay. :) What gets me all confused also is that there are 1000's that are not much more money than the 400's. Can you tell I have a problem with this decision? :)

I noticed you mentioned a worry about heat...bro, they all run hot in little spaces so get the 'bang', but if you buy another 400w...I would recommend a MH. I use both.
lw

At the same time? I have a MH conversion bulb I use for veg then switch it to HPS (430 hortilux). I do think i'll be scouting for a 600 watt system.

Man, that space is perfect a little SCROG, The light will distribute beautifully over all the nugs nearly equally if you do it right.

The Light:
The absolute optimal light for that space would be a 600W HPS and a 400W MH in a dual light hood with cooling.
Now assuming that Money is an issue. I would personally continue with the light you have. If you want 2 lights for the different photoperiods (I would), then i would buy the 600 W MH and use it for flower and use the 400W for Veg.

If you don't know what SCROG is, just do a search and you will see all kinds of howto's.

I would do 2 plants under whatever light config you choose. It won't take much time to fill a 4x4 screen with 2 plants, that is for sure.

What kind of yield do you want your system to produce? I always like to design around how much i am looking to end up with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moreover123

Actually, my current 400w ballast gives off no heat that I can detect. It feels slightly warm if I rest my hand on it but it's 'comfortable' heat. And I don't need to have the balast in the grow area either.

I wanted to get a 600 but husband talked me out of it. It's frustrating that the prices for the 600's are often more than the 1000. I'd still love to get a cheap 600 but fear the quality of the ballast if I go dirt cheap.

I just hate waiting 3.5-4 months from seed to harvest. Seems everyone with big lights goes 2 months or less. I wonder if I ran a 400 & 600 if I'd have to constantly rotate the lights or plants. Or if the 600 would shine enough for a 3x3 area to avoid that.

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Moreover...this last statement is about 2 months or less...is only flowering clones...minimum time from rooting to finish is 8-10 weeks.
from seed...the shortest time you can hope to finish, 12-16 weeks, although the shorter period would effect yield and potency. For full potency from seed you need the full 4 months, or there about.

check this page out:
http://forums.bghydro.com/showthread.php?t=24

and this:
http://forums.bghydro.com/showthread.php?t=25

I don't mean to offend anyone with this offsite info, but I knew right where it was and wanted to provide it quickly for moreover and the rest of the gang here.

Look at the lumens ratings and the watt per SF...I think this will help you alot...600w hps is so expensive due to the fact that is really close to a 1000w in output.

goodluck lw

I'm w/ latewood...1000's top them all in price, life time and BUDS.

Hortilux eye is a BIG factor aswell IMO.

I like using multiple smaller lights for the flexibility of it. I own a 1000HPS that gets used only during the winter when it is cool enough, because it gives off SO much heat. I veg under 250MH plus flouros, and bloom under a 400MH plus a 400HPS. I have to add that I have the densest, most gorgeous bus in winter when I rock the 1000HPS plus 400MH in flower! Keeps my house nice and toasty too.

When using multiple lights, a key to temperature control is keeping your ballasts on the other side of a wall from the grow room, running the wires through a hole.

I wish Inside Sun would start putting longer ballast-to-lamp cords on their systems, with a plug instead opf hardwired!