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

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!

In your situation, I would do your first idea. Start with 1 light. 600w would be overkill so dim it. Later, turn up the juice and start turning on the other lights.

As far as distance, from seed you want it way back. Let it get some growth before you start turning up the light. After you turn up and lower the light, use the inside of your wrist. If it's too hot for your wrist, it's too hot for your plants. You want it warm, but not hot.

If you can, start them out with something else, like a couple cfl's or even shop lights (florescent). After they get a few nodes, turn on your dimmed 600. If you can't, then put the 600 about 3-4 feet above the plants and dim it.

Big Perm said:

In your situation, I would do your first idea. Start with 1 light. 600w would be overkill so dim it. Later, turn up the juice and start turning on the other lights.
As far as distance, use the inside of your wrist. If it's too hot for your wrist, it's too hot for your plants. You want it warm, but not hot.

Click to expand...

So should i start with 250w or 400? And when would be good to bring in the other light after 7-10days or?? And yeah the good old stick your hand under it test, just thought it might have been a little more for the germintating stage

Big Perm said:

In your situation, I would do your first idea. Start with 1 light. 600w would be overkill so dim it. Later, turn up the juice and start turning on the other lights.
As far as distance, use the inside of your wrist. If it's too hot for your wrist, it's too hot for your plants. You want it warm, but not hot.
-Edit: Sorry, my last paragraph was meant for flowering. From seed you want it way back. Let it get some growth before you start pumping up the light.

Click to expand...

So what distance would you recommend?

250 to start. At 250 you should be able to do 18 inches safely. After you start getting nodes, start turning up the wattage. When you get up to 600, you should be able to spread the plants out and run all three at 600.

Are you running autos?

Big Perm said:

Are you running autos?

Click to expand...

Sorry bout late reply just come out casino, no not autos! And right so 1 250w about 2 feet away to start once few nodes apear turn up to 400 raise the light a little? Then 600 a few days after, then once has about 4 sets put all 3 on 600 would you say roughly??

Don't get hung up on days. That's why I asked if you were running autos. When they get 2-3 nodes turn it up to 400, raise it if/when you need to. When they get twice that size turn it up to 600, spread them out, and fire up the other 2. That's what I would do in that situation. No clue how many days that will take, absolutely everything is a factor. Strain, temps, rh, nutes, medium, everything.

Big Perm said:

Don't get hung up on days. That's why I asked if you were running autos. When they get 2-3 nodes turn it up to 400, raise it if/when you need to. When they get twice that size turn it up to 600, spread them out, and fire up the other 2. That's what I would do in that situation. No clue how many days that will take, absolutely everything is a factor. Strain, temps, rh, nutes, medium, everything.

Click to expand...

Yeah that is true dont really know why i said days tbh it could depend on anything and thanks for the advice its much appreciated! Think thats what im gona do, hope all goes well this way!

Big Perm said:

Don't get hung up on days. That's why I asked if you were running autos. When they get 2-3 nodes turn it up to 400, raise it if/when you need to. When they get twice that size turn it up to 600, spread them out, and fire up the other 2. That's what I would do in that situation. No clue how many days that will take, absolutely everything is a factor. Strain, temps, rh, nutes, medium, everything.

Click to expand...

Just a bit more info, gona try keep temp around 26c got good ventilation in tent, humidity around the 60 mark give or take few % growing in coco using canna a&b nutes with calmag, and growing gg4, gsc, and ak