need some lighting suggestions.

[Zealious]

Hello.

Looking to get peoples thoughts on improving my light output. Im on a tight budget and thoughts are welcome..












SO right now Im running a 400w MH in a closet . 4x4.
IM using a DIY air cooled hood. my temps go from 69-81 avg of about 78. FYI I love MH for flower.. keeps plants tight and short. only thing lacking is yields.

I believe that its recomended to use 400w in a 4x4 area.. but Should i use more light? My yields seem low.

my main concern about adding light is also adding heat.

Options.

1. 250w hps ballast kit. 50 bucks shipped. I already have a mogul socket and all i need is a power cord and a bulb..

I would add the 250 hps into the air cooled hood I currently have.

Now the 400w mh is about 30k lumens and the 250 hps is about 35k lumens.. so it seems like if im going to run mh and hps this would be the best way to do it. More effecient since both bulbs need the same distance from canopy given the similar lumen output.

This is the cheapest option.. easily under 100 bucks. and temps should stay the same . this route will double my light.

105% more light

1.2. The hydrofarm light mover set to 4 ft. I love the concept of light movers... I mean you get more light to the cannopy and can get ur light closer. Im thinking i would get about

No heat
80% more light with this method (not sure maybe more)

This option would be a little over 100 bucks..

1.3 both options above combined. I like the idea of giving my plants a full spectrum and the effecincy of a light mover

170% more light

150$ - 200


2.1 Im also considering going with a 600w HPS and a super sun 2 No light mover.

300% more light.
Pricey.. and lots of heat.
200-300$
$150-200 IF i keep my current hood.

2.2 400w hps
almost as pricey as option 2.1 but less heat.
100-150$
150% more light

 

[Orygun]

I'd go with a 1000 watt hps personally, but if your having heat problems the 600 hps would be the next best thing. You'll get better penetration with the 600 than with the two bulb combo and your lighting will be more even. If your worried about heat you might want to try to clean up your ducting by try to get rid of as many bends as possible or at least making them less sharp which will make your fan far more efficient.

 

[Lazyman]

Yep the formula is at least 50wpsf, better to have 60+ for better weight/nugs. 4X4 is 16 square feet, which at 60wpsf is 960w. Get a good reflector (the Magnum XXXL is huge and expensive, but throws down 5-15% more light than other well-made hoods. See my sig for details. CHange your bulb every two grows. Your light looks way too high in your pic, even a 1000W bulb can be 18-22 inches from the light. Maybe you just pulled them up for the photographs? If you're using a 400w 6-8" shouldn't be too much heat, but light loses intensity exponentially. Pick up a cheap lumen meter at the hydro shop and shoot for around 5K+ lumens (or FC) at the canopy. If you don't have it, you need to change something to fix it or it will always be disappointing at harvest. Many guys can't afford to grow at all because their yields cost them more than buying weed does.

Oh and switch to HPS for flower, they put out more lumens than an MH, which puts out more heat. Your yields will probably improve a bit just rom that. Your girls look underfed and underlit, but that's just a quick observation. Good luck and let us know if you need any help!

 

[Zealious]

Thanks alot guys..

I keep my light 12" away without excesive burning. even then I get a few hot spots. so i just raised it to about 16" might go 18

I went in just now just for you guys to re measure my room and to check the light spread with my light meter.

dimensions are 4'5"x 3'8" so yea roughly 4x4.. however i only grow in a 3x3 area.. I only do 4-6 plants at a time.

I have a cheap analog hold all multi meter. the light measurment goes from 0 to 2000 and i belive its in k's of foot candles.. right now with current position of light i get a very even 500 reading on the meter with 600 directly under the bulb and 300 out to the far sides. and 250 to the lowest buds. So i believe this to be 5k foot candles? right theres no way its only 500fc .. 1 led bulb puts out that much.

Pics are old the ducting is much better. Which wire tie on the roll is perfect for getting ur ducting just right . highly recomend the stuff.

I know if I go 600 i will not be able to keep my temps down at all. It gets hot where I live.. I do use a ac to cool my room.

Right now im harvesting about 1/4 lb.



I would love to aim for the 600 with a super sun 2. just worried about temps.

so 60k lumens of multi spectrum light is no good? even with a light mover?

a 600w is 90k lumens..

but i can keep the light close if im using a light mover.

maybe i should scrog ?

note under feeding is a problem ive had this go around.. however in those pics I was in late flower getting close to ripe.


here is some pics of the types of buds i get with the set up

 

[Zealious]

checking out flea bay i might be able to do the 600w.

I can do a u wire kit for 110 shiped no bulb and then find a nice super sun2 used total would be about 250

There is a digital 600w ballast for 130 shipped not bad. then use current reflector upgrade later
then this guy

cheapest aircooled digital system. reflector looks descent.

230.

 

[Zealious]

anyone ?

 

[HBxNLmaster]

hey buddy i would go with a digital 600 watt light and a new air cooled reflector as far as the heat problem goes it wont be an issue if you spend a few more bucks and buy a good inline fan, i have the sunleaves 6 inch fan and it is great as it uses lower watts and really moves some serious air. if you upgrade your fan you can prob use both the 600 and the 400 you already have and that would be perfect for your closet then you could use all 4x4 and have the dual spectrum with the mh from your 400 and the the hps from your 600. if you can afford the sunleaves fan i know that htgsupply.com has a 6 inch fan i think growbirght brand which is generic but i have one of the 4 inch ones just like it and it works good and the 6 inch fan is only 100 bucks but trust me with this you will not have to worry about heat anymore

this fan is probably overkill for your room but trust me you will love not having to worry about heat and it is big enough so that you can use a carbon filter later on when you get money for one until then you can run it full blast or if its to loud or you don't want to run it full blast you could put it on a fan speed controller and adjust it how you need it but i would just run it full blast as too much air flow is never a problem in my book , a 6 inch fan keeps my two 1ks and a 4x8 room completly cooled i could go bigger but it does work just fine for you it would be perfect

 

[Beanfish]

I would go with a digi for sure. I love my 600w lumateks. Save up for a good air-cooled reflector.

Also, I have a light mover with 2 Yieldmaster 2 reflectors, I can tell you that moving the lights anymore than 18" causes the plants on the ends to suffer. At least in my situation that's the case.

 

[Beanfish]

Also, those expensive light spreaders actually work. It tore me up to dish out $50 for a pair of them, but it was worth it. I wasn't having heat stress problems as much as bleaching\intensity issues. I can run the lights much closer and the plants on the sides get more light.

 

[HBxNLmaster]

Beanfish when you say light spreaders what do you mean and where did you get them do you have a picture of them?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Imagine a trowel immediately under the lamp. The handle attaches to the socket while the blade "blocks" the light. Only the blade is full of tiny holes. This allows sufficient light directly beneath the lamp while eliminating the central hot spot all HIDs have. It helps even out the light to all areas of the grow. Think of it as ScrOG for light.

 

[Beanfish]

Beanfish when you say light spreaders what do you mean and where did you get them do you have a picture of them?

Here ya go. http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=4482

I have no affiliation with this company.

Imagine a trowel immediately under the lamp. The handle attaches to the socket while the blade "blocks" the light. Only the blade is full of tiny holes. This allows sufficient light directly beneath the lamp while eliminating the central hot spot all HIDs have. It helps even out the light to all areas of the grow. Think of it as ScrOG for light.

Right on FB! That pretty much sums up what they are and how they work.

 

[Zealious]

thx a lot guys. Yea im leaning toward the 600w.. I think i will do it in stages... first just get the ballast bulb.. put it in a my current hood... then get a super sun 2. and bigger fan. and yea run the mh with it.

Ive been seriously looking at spreaders lately.. The adjustawing is aparently THE reflector. too bad they dont have a aircooled version yet.

Uh I have heard that SUN systems is very UN canna friendly. which is bogus if you ask me. probly good chunk of their customers... The best is the best tho... you know.

 

[Beanfish]

thx a lot guys. Yea im leaning toward the 600w.. I think i will do it in stages... first just get the ballast bulb.. put it in a my current hood... then get a super sun 2. and bigger fan. and yea run the mh with it.

Sounds like a good plan. There's no way I could have bought all my equipment at once either. Make sure your hood will plug into the new ballast, or get an adapter of course. Hydrofarm-Sun or vise versa.

Ive been seriously looking at spreaders lately.. .

I'm not one to buy into gimmicks, but these things work. I've been running them for a year or so and I'm quite impressed.

Uh I have heard that SUN systems is very UN canna friendly. which is bogus if you ask me. probly good chunk of their customers... The best is the best tho... you know.

You mean unfriendly to MJ or to Canna nutes? Either way, I'm calling shenanigans! Or as my Grandmother used to say, HOGWASH!

 

[Zealious]

Lol bean. thx.

I managed to find a steal on ebay. 600w looms and blooms ballast, 5yr warranty, super sun hps bulb, yieldmaster 2, and 2 6" duct fans.. used for less than 2 months..

total with shipping was only $230

Wanted to thank everyone for pusshing me toward the 600, I think it will be best in the end.. I will have a battle with temps but I think ill be fine in the end..

Oh and it was from the owner of advanced nutes that stated sun systems is unmj friendly.. and they also bully retail stores to sell their products... Could be true.. Im sure the bullying is true but IDK about the MJ.