What is better 400w 8in from canopy or 600w 18 in

Kjc99

Kjc99

Member
20150301_195709.jpg 20150309_215837.jpg 20150309_215813.jpg 1426105816833.jpg Hey guys im a new grow I went from cfl's to 400w to now a 600w hps in flower room in the span of a month and I was wondering if this was a good decision.... Seemed like the 400w could be alot closer than the 600w so what is best for my plants? I have thermostat hanging about 18 inches away from my bare bulb wing reflector.... I have included a couple pics... Any input would really help me....
4x4 tent
600w hps bulb
Tempe where thermometer are 80°-84°
Top tent reading is 75-77°
Using 4in extractor fan but need to upgrade soon

Soooo what's better a 400w 8 inches away or 600w 18 inches away?
 
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althor

Well-Known Member
If I remember correctly, 600 watt is the most efficient of the hids.
You are going to get more penetration and more overall coverage from the 600.
I would personally stick with it and get a fan to exhaust the heat.

I cant tell from the picture, is that a air cooled hood? Or is just a reflector?

Hids need an exhaust fan sucking the heat off the light and blowing it out of the tent. That will fix a lot of your issue.
 
Kjc99

Kjc99

Member
althor said:
If I remember correctly, 600 watt is the most efficient of the hids.
You are going to get more penetration and more overall coverage from the 600.
I would personally stick with it and get a fan to exhaust the heat.

I cant tell from the picture, is that a air cooled hood? Or is just a reflector?

Hids need an exhaust fan sucking the heat off the light and blowing it out of the tent. That will fix a lot of your issue.
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I tried to make it air cooled and suck air from the bulb with my exhaust.. I removed that though... So you think 600w is better even though it's twice as far as my 400w was... Also if you can see my white thermometer hanging is that an appropriate spot for it..
Some people say put in shade and others say place at the canopy
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
Yeah it is fine where it is. You basically have the temperature at the tops which is where it will be the warmest since it will also be the brightest.
Yes, I do think you should stick with the 600 even at 18inches. You are getting more penetration from the 600 and a larger (damn cant think of the word) total area of light.
 
Kjc99

Kjc99

Member
althor said:
Yeah it is fine where it is. You basically have the temperature at the tops which is where it will be the warmest since it will also be the brightest.
Yes, I do think you should stick with the 600 even at 18inches. You are getting more penetration from the 600 and a larger (damn cant think of the word) total area of light.
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Thanks for the help... Gotta save up for bigger exhaust fan so I can get it a little closer
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
ounevinsmoke

ounevinsmoke

Well-Known Member
althor said:
Yeah it is fine where it is. You basically have the temperature at the tops which is where it will be the warmest since it will also be the brightest.
Yes, I do think you should stick with the 600 even at 18inches. You are getting more penetration from the 600 and a larger (damn cant think of the word) total area of light.
Click to expand...
spectrum?
 
Kjc99

Kjc99

Member
althor said:
For a temporary cheap solution you can go to Home Depot or Lowes, one stocks them, and get one of the 6 inch inline duct fans.
They cost 30 bucks and pull around 250cfm, which isnt much but enough to pull some heat off and you can get it closer.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Suncourt-Inductor-6-in-In-Line-Duct-Fan-DB206/100067594
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Tried using one of those in November when I first started growing it worked for cfl's but I doubt it was 250 cfm because my 4in inline fan is 159cfm and it sucks way better... But I bet that 6in would work well for just the bulb heat... Thanks
 
Jeeyah

Jeeyah

Well-Known Member
Use the 600 definitely. Forget the 400. Eventually you'll get sick of it and run a 1000 watt. The yield will blow your head off. A 1000 showers every square inch of a 4x4 with light.

I just got into COB LED's myself.
 
ounevinsmoke

ounevinsmoke

Well-Known Member
Kjc99 said:
In flower right now...600w Hps bulb 2000K ... Just seems like it would cancel each other out 400w @ 8in or 600w @18 inches just with extra heat to deal with
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I was replying to the other guy about the spectrum of a 600 watt bulb. Its more complete than the 400watt and the 1000watt and thats why some prefer it when it comes to coverage.

I'm glad your in flower your doing a good job. 600 is the way to go.
 
Kjc99

Kjc99

Member
Jeeyah said:
Use the 600 definitely. Forget the 400. Eventually you'll get sick of it and run a 1000 watt. The yield will blow your head off. A 1000 showers every square inch of a 4x4 with light.

I just got into COB LED's myself.
Click to expand...
Love playing with the Led's @ the hydro store but to damn expensive... No heat issues huh?
 
Jeeyah

Jeeyah

Well-Known Member
They're expensive as fuck. No heat issues at all. I just like how all the light shoots down at the plants super evenly.
 
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