Question on Stacking a 400w CMH and a 600w HPS

[Natagonnaworrie]

So i am jumping into your world people! Needless to say with all that i have seen from you guys i am very excited.

So here is my question. (And i must start of by saying 'IF Heat Allows' since summer is coming and i usually can only run a 400w)
When stacking a 400w CMH and a 600w HPS is there an agreed upon way for which should go on the botom or on the top??

Likely, i will be only able to run one or the other but i def want to try to run both. I have heard that heat is not AS much of a concern in vertical set ups. I am prepared to purchase the 8" SunTube if necessary for heat, cooled by a 6" vortex.

I'm new with vertical so lets just start off with my one question for now. It seems to me that the lesser watt bulb would go on the bottom as the colas and steady growth are at the top. But then again i think that a little light on the top might be getting lost (going over the heads of the plants). So bare bulb or using the Sun Tube what would you do.

I am only in a 4'x4' homebox and my carbon filter is taking up some valuable floor space also. I'm hoping to fit 12, 3 gal pots of soil mix in a circle around the bulb. I wonder if i will need scrog sceen to keep them from growing into the lights in such a confined area. What do you guys think.

Also, keep an eye out for my journal once i get this up and running.

thanks IC. Can't wait to join the Vert movement.

 

[SmokinErb]

Run the 400 below the 600. Preferably a CMH as you'd get MUCH better spectrum.

Why get an 8" cool tube for a 6" fan? Save you some money and get the 6" one, it's plenty big.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

good eye. since i'm new to vert i was checking them out at the hydro store and thats all they had.. i didnt know they had a 6". And its cheaper too... awesome - cuz they want $185 for the 8" one.

I'm going to try to avoid using one at all but if i put the 2 lights in there i am sure i will need it (actually need 'them' i assume i would have to buy two)

quick Q. Will the 6" tube fit a 1000 MH bulb? those are pretty wide and i was thinking of vegging with that.

cool so 400 CMH on the bottom. Word.

Much SmokinErb

 

[mg75]

Or you can alternate between them. One day on top and vice versa.

I have seen 2 400 watt bulbs mounted vertically on those coiled hi-low risers. The bulbs where right next to each other. One day they were the same height... another day, the CMH was on top... some other day the HPS... etc...

The hi-low risers were very helpful when you needed to get the bulbs out-of-the way. Much easier plant watering and maintenance.

I think that when the bulbs were next to each other (inch away), the overlapping of the light/spectrum was unmatched. Not sure if you can do that with higher watt bulbs... worked amazing with 400 watt.

Those CMH bulbs bring out amazing colors in the plants!

(This applies to a bare-bulb setup)

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

thanks for the tip MG. I like the idea but i think it will be too crowded to put it into action. this wioll be my first vert so i will try those risers. I have seen pictures of burns people have got just from bumping into a bare bulb..

thanks!