400w hps from seedling or would 600w be okay too?

[NoviceKing]

i am planting 16 seeds i plan on using 3 600w hps lights and what i would like to know is would they be okay starting with one 600w then once 1-2 weeks in i can turn the other two light on orr start all 3 straight away? Or i can use 1-2 lights and dim them down to 400w or what? Someone please help, i ony have hps’s and need to know what would be best for the germinating stage??? 16 plants... 3 lights, can dim down to 250 or crank up to 600?! If can provide andwer could you also recomend distance from the plant. Thanks!

 

[xtsho]

You only need one light until the plants get bigger. Make sure it's not too close. Start out at 250 and increase wattage as the plants get bigger.

 

[NoviceKing]

You only need one light until the plants get bigger. Make sure it's not too close. Start out at 250 and increase wattage as the plants get bigger.

So one 250 light over 16 plants? Mind i am using 15ltr grow bags and over on grow trays with two on each, will 1 250w light be sufficient wnough or should i use 2? And then carry on that way from 250, to 400 to the go onto 600... how soon before i can put all 3 on at 600watt??

 

[evergreengardener]

So one 250 light over 16 plants? Mind i am using 15ltr grow bags and over on grow trays with two on each, will 1 250w light be sufficient wnough or should i use 2? And then carry on that way from 250, to 400 to the go onto 600... how soon before i can put all 3 on at 600watt??

One 600 hung high will be fine for the seedlings. I would not start them in that big of pot either unless they were autos. You can turn all lights on if they are hung high to start the seeds ( the sun doesnt dim for seedlings) it’s just an unnecessary energy cost and more light than they need. Don’t dim your bulbs even though they stay lit those bulbs were meant to burn at 600 it messes with the light spectrum when you dim them

 

[NoviceKing]

One 600 hung high will be fine for the seedlings. I would not start them in that big of pot either unless they were autos. You can turn all lights on if they are hung high to start the seeds ( the sun doesnt dim for seedlings) it’s just an unnecessary energy cost and more light than they need. Don’t dim your bulbs even though they stay lit those bulbs were meant to burn at 600 it messes with the light spectrum when you dim them

Had no idea that it could mess with the spectrum!! Thanks for that! I only bought them last week and just set them up i have a couple times now turned them down and up for a couple mins when checking to make sure the ballast were working fine,. That wont cause an issue with it? And im already set to go, i have put the seeds in water today and waiting for them to sprout and was going to put straight into the grow bags and turn light on, why shouldnt i start from the bags? I know people say it better to start from small container but also was told that it would be fine to put straight into the grow bag??

 

[NoviceKing]

One 600 hung high will be fine for the seedlings. I would not start them in that big of pot either unless they were autos. You can turn all lights on if they are hung high to start the seeds ( the sun doesnt dim for seedlings) it’s just an unnecessary energy cost and more light than they need. Don’t dim your bulbs even though they stay lit those bulbs were meant to burn at 600 it messes with the light spectrum when you dim them

Also so one 600 w will cover enough area for the bags or is that why you are saying start with smaller containers or seedling pots or trays etc? How far away should i have the light??

 

[evergreengardener]

One 600 would be enough for the seedlings yes they don’t need much light to start, as for the starting in big pots it can be done, but is also very easy to over water a seedling in a big pot. Roots grow in search of water and they do so better in smaller pots

 

[NoviceKing]

One 600 would be enough for the seedlings yes they don’t need much light to start, as for the starting in big pots it can be done, but is also very easy to over water a seedling in a big pot. Roots grow in search of water and they do so better in smaller pots

Thank bro, i was just planing on spraying them nicely with a water dispenser for the first week then jusy giving them a little more gradully increasing it and thanks going to start with one 600... how far before i can turn the other two one?

 

[Kingrow1]

One 600 hung high will be fine for the seedlings. I would not start them in that big of pot either unless they were autos. You can turn all lights on if they are hung high to start the seeds ( the sun doesnt dim for seedlings) it’s just an unnecessary energy cost and more light than they need. Don’t dim your bulbs even though they stay lit those bulbs were meant to burn at 600 it messes with the light spectrum when you dim them

I dim mine no problems, dont think it matters if you shift/mess with hps spectrum.

Off topic

 

[evergreengardener]

I dim mine no problems, dont think it matters if you shift/mess with hps spectrum.

Off topic

Idk if it messes with the spectrum that much to be honest but Imho it burns out bulbs faster

 

[evergreengardener]

Thank bro, i was just planing on spraying them nicely with a water dispenser for the first week then jusy giving them a little more gradully increasing it and thanks going to start with one 600... how far before i can turn the other two one?

You could turn them all on to start but it’s just wasted energy, how big is your grow space?

 

[NoviceKing]

You could turn them all on to start but it’s just wasted energy, how big is your grow space?

The grow space is 2.4m x 2.4m which is 8ft x 8ft roughly.. and yeah thats what i thought pointless waste of ellectric! And when would in need to turn all 3 on thou how far through after a week/10 days?? So what should i do them dim or not? 1 light or more, 250, 400 0r 600?

 

[NoviceKing]

I dim mine no problems, dont think it matters if you shift/mess with hps spectrum.

Off topic

Oh well in that case im not worried about bulbs going out wuick as long as it last a crop or two, i have some spares and can easily buy more, just this first one is very important to me! So how many lights should i use for germination? And what wattage, 250, 400 or 600? How far away too? And when shoudl the other lights come into play if one is enough to start with??

 

[aussie123556]

Oh well in that case im not worried about bulbs going out wuick as long as it last a crop or two, i have some spares and can easily buy more, just this first one is very important to me! So how many lights should i use for germination? And what wattage, 250, 400 or 600? How far away too? And when shoudl the other lights come into play if one is enough to start with??

someone i know used 600w mh for seed and veg not sure about hps ,sprouted at 5 feet away under mh,after a couple of power bills they changed to a 85w cfl for seedlings with great results and on the power bill aswell, the old hand or arm test is a good way to work out your height unless you have a par meter good luck