5 400w hps vs 2 x 1000w

First time grow... but have been reading up on growing for a while now. Never got the nerves to start until recently when a warehouse near me got torn down.. i drove pass it and outside was a free sign next to about 100 high bay lights, multitap that can run both mh and hps 400w. I loaded a bunch into the truck, and went home... stared at them for a while. Rewired them after a week or so. Got new hps and mh bulbs to try them out, and then next thing you know i was setting up a 12x12 room. I currently have mothers that include blue dream, green crack and strawberry blue. But my buddy wants to sell me his 2x 1000w ballast and bulbs for only a 100 dollars. ( hes going greenhouse this year)


My question is:
difference in 5 x 400w vs 1000w yield and lumens?
How many can i fit per 400w vs per 1000w?
How many should lights and plants should i be running in a 12x12 room?
(I plan to do light topping and or pinching for my first grow)
(all the plants will be running on hydro)

2x 1kw lights are good for a 4x8 to 5x8 canopy and 4x 400w lights a 5x5 to 6x6 canopy.

No matter which way you go,just supply a minimum of 50w per square foot of canopy.

thanks alot, seeing as they use the same amount of wattage, for my money which would be more worth it for a bigger yield?

That's subjective really.It all comes down to environment,genetics,and growers skill level.

The 400's will allow you a more even light spread over the canopy,but the 1000's will have better canopy penetration.

What is it that you want to do in terms of growing style (sog,scrog,bushes,trees,etc.)?

How about you don't go with 400W or 1000W

and go with 600W

600W > Both 400W and 600W in terms of wattage for wattage and sq footage.
Also not only in that, but also in heat.
You can get by with 600Ws easier in heat than a 1000W.

How about you don't go with 400W or 1000W

and go with 600W

600W > Both 400W and 1000W
Also not only in that, but also in heat.
You can get by with 600Ws easier in heat than a 1000W.

go with a 1000w cool tube w/ super hps and metal halide. and 2 400w hps / metal halide hang lights. vertical hang the cool tube in the middle horizontal hang the 400 w's above the plants for full penetration and yield.