400w vs 600w for grow tent

[Ram Baba]

I have a closet grow tent 36"x20"x62" that fits perfect in half my closet. On a similar site I saw that the example that they gave was with a 400w HPS. However, I was talking to the Hydro Shop owner today and he said I could very well get a 600w and use a 6"vent fan.

I am planning on growing Pure Power Plant (Nirvana)

1) For this grow tent would you recommend 400w HPS&MH or 600w HPS&MH (digital ballast)

2) I have 10 seeds , but want to get the most quality buds, so I am thinking of growing no more then 4 , even though I can fit 6. what are your reccomendations on how many plants?

3) will there be a big difference in electricity bill usage if i use a 400w as opposed to a 600w?


Thank you all, this is my first real grow,
although I did try Jack Herrer x White Widow a few years ago it was a failed attempt.

 

[JMO]

I have a 400w hps in my grow tent that is in my closet. My temps stay between 80 and 85, depending on how much my ac runs...600w would be great if you could keep the temp down enough...the more watts=more lumens=bigger, fatter buds ...the difference in your electric bill will be minnimal from the two..depending on your kilowatt per hour, probably no more than 15 bucks a month...i have seen that size of grow tent on ebay, and if it is the one made with pvc, it will kill your plants. I have the homebox small and its about the same size and i havent had any complaints.

 

[Ram Baba]

yeah, i think i might just go with the 600w and spend some $ on a nice 6" Vent Fan and keep it regulated. I asked the seller about the PVC (apparently sells a bunch of these) and he said it was fine, no complaints like the hydro hut recall. If there is a problem , i will probably just cover every thing with mylar.

 

[GrowTech]

400W is fine, I am running one in my sig, in a DarkRoom 150 tent. Air cooled, with AC unit, etc.etc.etc

 

[BootyKang669]

I have a 600 watt hps in a 4 by 4 by 6 area in house... my plants are doing realy good for 3 weeks so far, im switching them to flower in aweek or so... but the only thing is it gettins soo freaken hot in there... i dont have an eshaust fan just 5 egualr fans blowing around in there and usualy i keep the door open... my temperture usualy is around 83 - 90 nothing major has happen to them yet from the heat so whatever

 

[BCtrippin]

Get a 1000w and an aircooled hood. Just vent the hood so it has intake from either the chamber or outside, and have a little extractor fan SUCKING all the air out of the hood, never blow are into the hood it will just fill up ur room with heat.

 

[brendon420]

600w uses energy close to the amount a 400 watter does.

 

[honkeytown]

here is my 600 setup in a shower....get a fan and hood and flex....you will be fine homie

 

[Ram Baba]

Thanks, I know i could do 1,000w, but i m going to just go with the 600 since i probably wont do more then 6 plants as my 1st grow
+ i really want to keep an eye on electricity and heat.
either 5 or 6 plants as my first grow... i will keep everyone posted with the Pure Power Plant
T - one week

nice setup. where do you take a shower

 

[JMO]

better have some good ventillation with a 600w...im guessing the temps are gonna be hard to control...gool luck and am looking foward to seeing some nice pics...how does that dude take a shower???

 

[honkeytown]

ha ha ha...I shower with the hose in the front yard....ha....jk....four bedroom two bath house...I live alone. so I use the master for my master plan....lol....anyway...yeah I am pulling 150cfm through at least 25 feet of flex and a giant hood....and am still pullin temps in the low 80's high 70's with a box fan blowing through the shower....so if you cant upgarde to a bigger fan right away which is my situation then a smaller one will work...but you have to have an effective route....I am also blowin clod ac through my shit as you can see,,,it was 113 degrees here today so my ac runs almost 24/7 during the summer...=cool light

 

[JMO]

Get a 1000w and an aircooled hood. Just vent the hood so it has intake from either the chamber or outside, and have a little extractor fan SUCKING all the air out of the hood, never blow are into the hood it will just fill up ur room with heat.

in my opinion 1000w is gonna be waaayyy too much overkill for your floor space and everything in general...you are gonna have enough of a hard time with 600w as it is....

 

[JMO]

ha ha ha...I shower with the hose in the front yard....ha....jk....

its a price a man is willing to pay!! if i lived alone, i would probably do the same thing...my wife wouldnt really like taking showers in front of the neighbors...more power to ya bro!!

 

[Ram Baba]

Ok, so I will talk to the hydro store owner again, but if i can do 600 , i will. IMHO , its not too much different in $ usage from the 400w and i'll just upgrade to a 6" fan and keep the tent ventilated.

a shower like that is a cool place. what do you do, keep the bathroom door locked?!

I don't have the privacy to get the venting and stuff, this is a 3x2x5'5 closet grow. I might just do 400w and 2 100w cfl's from hardware store.

 

[honkeytown]

nah my master bedroom and bath is usually open for the central air...unless people come by...btw...I have another shower...lol....I am trying to get to a point where I can seal up the bathroom but I am not there yet....dont have the fans yet....btw a 600 is the most efficient light you can get when it comes to hps and power usage

 

[CitrusOGKUsh420]

go with the 600w..possibly get a dual MH/HPS bulb? just make sure you have proper ventilation cuase the 600w gets hott.

 

[Ram Baba]

I just bought the 600w HPS/Digital Ballast reflector and cord. i still need an MH bulb, hangers, and a 6" vent fan. phew this is getting expensive. already up to $500 with the fox farm soil, grow lights, tent and 10 Pure Power Plant fem seeds.

I'm hoping this investment pays off... !!!!

 

[phillypete]

YOu don't really need the MH bulb, the HPS will do you.

As I was reading the thread I was hoping you would've been smart and got the 400 (you still would have needed the 6" fan to keep it cool) but no, you listened to the lumens. lol

Don't try growing in your space until you get your fan going. You will be fighting temps in an unmanageable way. Get something better than a basic in-line duct fan.

Hopefully your light is air-cooled, if not you need to look into that.

Bigger isn't always better, good luck

PP

 

[GypsyBush]

So you decided on the 600 eh?!?!

Here is my tent, 36x20x54...with a 600 HPS...

Can we see what you did...?
​

Gypsy's 600 watt Home Made Grow Tent

 

[bunstinky]

I have a 400w and im doing fine... but 600w wud be jus the same maybe even better.
About the heat, Well uu could simply set the timer so that the light turns on during the night so the light can provide heat for the plants in very cold nights and give them night periods during the day as the sun will provide heat...Since i didnt have a heater,
I had a problem and the temp was dropping to 46 degrees f...because i was running the lights during the day but now ive switched and there doing fine!
i had to give them a long night period tho to change the light cycle so that they would turn on at the desired time..