1st SOG Grow Help (lighting) Please

[gitarre10000]

Hello ,
I have cut 8 clones and am ready to start a 2x2 Ebb / Flow SOG grow. I use a 2x2 Botanicare flood tray and reservoir and hydroton for the medium. Clones are in 1" rockwool cubes.
My space for the SOG is 3'w x 3'd x 4'h. I usually use 600HPS , but that will heat up to much. What is the next best light and wattage for this space. I have carbon filter exhaust and
hepa filter intake. The reservoir is not in the space , so just the flood tray (7" height) will be at bottom of space which leaves me 3'5" for a light source and plant height.
If anyone has any ideas , or links to a post I missed please let me know.
I was thinking of using a 2x2 4 bulb T5 light , but not sure if that will be bright enough.
Thanks for help in advance.

 

[Travis9226]

Get an air cooled hood, u already have an exhaust fan. The 600 should be fine if the ballast is out of ur room.

 

[Zakola]

T5 lights at 6400k+ are perfect to grow up to medium sized plants. But they need to be real close to the plants to be effective around 1-3 inch when your clones are ready for full light. My plants end up touching the tubes they love it no problems.

 

[gitarre10000]

Hello ,
The air cooled hood still gives off some heat , i can put my hand about 12" comfortably , but not sure if that 12" of unused space might be needed since the total height of grow area is 4'.
will 6400k+ T5 bulbs be as effective as , say a 250w or 400w HPS ?
Thanks

 

[Travis9226]

I have a 1000w hps in a 4x4 tent with an air cooled hood and I can hold the glass all day long. Possibly a larger fan or try turning ur lights on at night, 8o'clock works for me. Things are naturally cooler at night. Ive never used t5s, but I can't imagine they don't have the light penetration of a hps



Remember, its cheaper to move hot air then to cool it.

 

[Slipon]

I must agree, best option is to get a cool tube or even better a cool hood (spreads light out better)

I had to build one for my old 600W HPS light to make it fit





made my temps drop from +30C to 26-28C with a Ambi. temperature out side the grow room on 24C

also made it possible for me to keep the light at 12-15" away instead of 20"

all in all made my grow much more trouble free and better, best thing I ever build

I think you can get em online from around 100-200$ and the tubes for less then 100$

 

[Slipon]

I have a 1000w hps in a 4x4 tent with an air cooled hood and I can hold the glass all day long. Possibly a larger fan or try turning ur lights on at night, 8o'clock works for me. Things are naturally cooler at night. Ive never used t5s, but I can't imagine they don't have the light penetration of a hps

I use T5HO for Veg.



works great for small seedlings/plants untill around week 4-6

dont give out much heat either, I can touch the tubes, even after 18 hrs on tho then it is kind a hot
but yea light penetration is not great




my 600W HPS give out 7x that 1 foot away and between 3-5x that amount "in use"




btw
I run my light at night/evening as it suit me better and I can keep it a bit cooler

also run some left over tubeing from my passive intake to the hall way (can remove it in a sec) to "collect" fresh/cool air/Co2 so I dont just "reuse" the "old" air all night ..

 

[gitarre10000]

Thanks everyone .....!!
I think I might do 250W air cooled HPS. I don't want the plants to get much taller than 1.5 feet.
One the clones have tons of roots , I will put them in the Flood/Drain system in hydroton and give them a week to acclimate , then
start flowering. Does that sound right ?
Thanks

 

[Travis9226]

Thanks everyone .....!!
I think I might do 250W air cooled HPS. I don't want the plants to get much taller than 1.5 feet.
One the clones have tons of roots , I will put them in the Flood/Drain system in hydroton and give them a week to acclimate , then
start flowering. Does that sound right ?
Thanks

That sounds great, and if height is a huge issue there is always super cropping or LST, main lining. Good luck man, hope ever thing works.out well for you

 

[gitarre10000]

I am not familiar with Super Cropping , LST or Main Lining. Do you have any links to articles or videos explaining them?
Thanks

 

[gitarre10000]

Does anyone know if there are lids (with hole) that fit 6" botanicare pots

 

[Travis9226]

If I wasn't on my phone I could help you out a little more. If u go into sub cools old school organics thread there is a great write up on main lining by someone named nugs or nugbuckets, something like that. Super cropping is the act of pinching the stalk or branch and while the stem is still pinched in between your fingers take the top and gently move it in the direction you want it to go. This could be done multiple times up to three weeks into flower. It works by redistributing hormones to lower parts of the plant for new growth from below and slows down top growth. LST or low stress training is very similar but ur soft tying the plant and pulling it in different directions also causing new growth from below. Think short bushy plants. There are multiple videos on YouTube explaining both of those technics. I would have posted links but I'm on my phone and kinda medicated.