Best way to light a 4' x 6' space?

[fahren451]

So ive got a 6' wide closet id like to max out, the light layout is bugging me, hoping the gurus can help me.

Its already a half decent veg/bloom space but theres room to improve, especially for the flower side of things.

What id like to do is jam enough light across the 6' side to put down 50 watts per square foot. However, im struggling to find a way to do it.

My first thought is 3x 2x4 footprint lights, but 2x4s seem to max out around 300 watts for the Mars Hydro TSL 2000 and SP-3000. Are there any 500 watt models? I dont care one hoot about brand.

My second thought is to go for one of the bigger 4x4 lights and add some supplemental bars and whatnot. I currently have an 800 watt alphapar 8 bar light, does fine for a 4x4 space. I could add some more bar fixtures each side of it or something.

It seems my aim of 50 watts/sf is too high, should i settle for 40? Will lowering my wattage nix the idea of CO2? Maybe go for HPS or CMH instead? Move into the forest and shack up with a friendly grizzly? Open to suggestions.

 

[vertnugs]

The Viparspectra xs4000 has kick ass coverage over a 3x5 foot print.500 watts from the wall.2 of these would smash your space.

 

[fahren451]

The Viparspectra xs4000 has kick ass coverage over a 3x5 foot print.500 watts from the wall.2 of these would smash your space.

And even better, i can jam 3 of them in there, oh baby its getting hot in here. Thanks amigo.

 

[vertnugs]

Amazon has a $50 coupon at this moment.I have seen them as much as $80 off through amazon.

 

[HydroKid239]

Check out the sp6500. I ran it in a 32”x60” tent and it was pretty gnarly. Biggest yield for me to date at over 1g per watt. There’s a journal on it in my sig below.

 

[coreywebster]

So are you planning on using sealed room with co2, air con, humidity control?

Just wondering why you want 50w per square foot but don't care about light brand and presumably efficiency?

 

[fahren451]

Check out the sp6500. I ran it in a 32”x60” tent and it was pretty gnarly. Biggest yield for me to date at over 1g per watt. There’s a journal on it in my sig below. View attachment 5177164View attachment 5177167

They're nice i've had my eye on them, a little pricey but still. I do worry about hot spots, im a fan of the bar style lights partially for that reason. But you've got that a lot higher than im putting my bars.

 

[fahren451]

So are you planning on using sealed room with co2, air con, humidity control?

Just wondering why you want 50w per square foot but don't care about light brand and presumably efficiency?

Working up to a sealed room with CO2, air conditioning and humidity ive got covered. I do like being able to vent excess heat and moisture, but with things dialed in that wont be a problem.

50 watts a square foot so that eventually i can make use of that power without upgrading my lighting yet again. I dont really care about brand because i've found the brand matters for very little, except price. Build quality and heat dissipation are usually better in the pricier lights, but not enough to justify paying double. As long as they're putting out a full spectrum at the advertised wattage any no name online brand will do.

 

[coreywebster]

Working up to a sealed room with CO2, air conditioning and humidity ive got covered. I do like being able to vent excess heat and moisture, but with things dialed in that wont be a problem.

50 watts a square foot so that eventually i can make use of that power without upgrading my lighting yet again. I dont really care about brand because i've found the brand matters for very little, except price. Build quality and heat dissipation are usually better in the pricier lights, but not enough to justify paying double. As long as they're putting out a full spectrum at the advertised wattage any no name online brand will do.

I disagree about the brand, too many dodgy companies jumped on the bandwagon, they lied about the specs of the blurples they used to sell and now they lie about the umols/j their fixtures put out.

That said there are plenty of companies selling good lights coming close or equal to top end LEDs for reasonable prices. Obviously there's a point where you find the happy medium.

I see you mentioned co2 earlier so thought I'd check it was sealed, too many people wasting money on co2 systems and still venting it all out the grow space.
This is why I wondered about your wattage per square foot. Because that level is wasted on many newbs. Obviously I don't know your experience, so not casting aspersions.

If your happy with your existing 800w unit then just add another 2x4 unit , should have plenty of light.
Or beast another one into the mix.

 

[fahren451]

I disagree about the brand, too many dodgy companies jumped on the bandwagon, they lied about the specs of the blurples they used to sell and now they lie about the umols/j their fixtures put out.

That said there are plenty of companies selling good lights coming close or equal to top end LEDs for reasonable prices. Obviously there's a point where you find the happy medium.

I see you mentioned co2 earlier so thought I'd check it was sealed, too many people wasting money on co2 systems and still venting it all out the grow space.
This is why I wondered about your wattage per square foot. Because that level is wasted on many newbs. Obviously I don't know your experience, so not casting aspersions.

If your happy with your existing 800w unit then just add another 2x4 unit , should have plenty of light.
Or beast another one into the mix.

You're right, theres no shortage of companies with misleading specs. To be honest, if theyre still selling blurples its a pass from me just for being behind the curve. Im just tired of people shoving HLG down my throat when theres plenty of comparable products.

The room is sealed very well actually, i built it with that eventual goal in mind. Currently i've got a couple tents in there for veg and bloom, and im pulling fresh air in from a lung room and venting mostly for heat.

My experience level is perpetual noob, thanks for laying some knowledge down.

I am happy with my 800w, except for the fact that it runs hot as hell. I wouldn't mind something that's a bit cooler, but when you're pushing that sort of power through there's going to be heat.

 

[Oldreefer]

I veg in a separate area and move at 3 weeks to a bloom area. I suggest several smaller lights so you'll have adjustment for different plants. For years, I've run separate lights and now have several 100-150w lights that I rotate throughout my perpetual grow. Yes light quality is certainly a biggie but the placement, dli/ppfd all are equally important.

 

[fahren451]

I veg in a separate area and move at 3 weeks to a bloom area. I suggest several smaller lights so you'll have adjustment for different plants. For years, I've run separate lights and now have several 100-150w lights that I rotate throughout my perpetual grow. Yes light quality is certainly a biggie but the placement, dli/ppfd all are equally important.

Ive got the same sort of ideas, thats why i was looking for 2x4 fixtures, then id have three of them across the space.

Id do it with 2x2 footprint lights if the wattage was there, fine tune lighting for each plant site.