2 light scrog - 600 watts or 1000 watts

[Albireo]

Pretty sure the answer is going to be 1000 watts (well 2000 really). I am limited to 2 lights due to plant number restrictions (2 lights per plant). I will be scrogging. This is a medical grow and quality is as important as quantity.

I am leaning towards two 1000 watters in super sun 2 reflectors each covering a 4x4 table. Somehow and someway the issues of running two 600 watters keeps popping up in my head. I have even though of running 3 x 600 with one plant per light. I should be addressing heat with AC, chillers, and ventilation in either setup.

What would you do?

 

[sensiskrap]

will be following along as im curious too.
I am thinking of doing 3 x 600w over 6 plants.
good luck, hope it works out for you.

 

[judas cohen]

2 stacked vertical 400 watt HIDs surrounded by 4 plants with individual vert scrog screens (each 2' wide x 4' tall) is a possible option. No reflector or cool tube necessary. No wasted or reflected light. Start 12/12 with bottom light on and turn on top light when plants grow tall enough. Total of 4 screens is 32 sq ft and every bud on screen will receive buku lumens!

Just place cheap 20" square box fan directly under stacked lights blowing straight up. It will cool lights and scrog screens allowing bare lights to be within ~8" of plants. Attach carbon filter to 4" inline fan (no ducting needed) and exhaust at very top of cab. Use large passive intakes near floor. Fan and filter $121 at htg.

Purchase complete ballast kits (includes mogul lamp holder and complete easy instructions) from high tech garden supply (htgsupply.com). 400 MH is $45 and 400 HPS is $55. (HPS will also run ceramic metal halide bulb.)

400's are much cheaper to buy and use less electricity. Bulbs are cheaper. Easier/cheaper to cool. Vert screens are easier to tend and make much better use of ALL the light. 3 1/2' x 3 1/2' x ~6' cab is big enough. Fits in corner of room. Just a thought....

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Albireo

I've always used 400 and 600 watt HPS bulbs (including CMH) for my medical grow and the primary reason is the large(r) options with regard to specific horticultural bulbs.

YMMV

CC

 

[judas cohen]

I misread your post. 2 lights per plant or 2 plants per light? also noticed you want hydro with chiller, pumps, A/C, etc. How about Hempy buckets with perlite or coir for passive hydro. Nothing else needed if ambient room temps are below 85F. Cab will run at ~ambient room temp with remote ballasts. Use Lucas formula or liquid organic nutes.

I think you will yield about the same as 2 horizontal 600s/horizontal screens with no pumps, timers, chillers and eliminate $1500 dollars in start-up costs with no worries about leaks or constantly checking pH and changing out reservoirs.

I'm not telling you what to do, just suggesting cheaper option from KISS perspective.

Be Happy/Grow Safely!

 

[PharmaCan]

Part of it depends on the strain(s) you plan to grow.Some strains will grow really tall colas and the vegetation gets thick and a 600w just won't penetrate. I've done 600w's and 1,000w's on horizontal scrogs w/ cool tubes and air-cooled hoods. Right now I'm doing some reorganizing and I'm wishing I had all 1,000's. When you dial in that grow you'll be able to get 2+ lbs. per light - assuming you meant 2 plants per light and if you veg them long enough. When you do your scrog, just remember to keep tying those babies down all the way through the stretch.

Anyhoo, that's my opinion. I've tried both lights and by far the 1k's are better for me.

PC

 

[Albireo]

Pharamcan, this is exactly the type of info I am looking for, first hand experience. I am unsure of strains and will probably change it up as I go along. It is tough not to take the 1000's when start up cost are equal for 2 light set-ups. It seems like the only cons are the extra heat and extra electricity costs. Pros are higher yields, denser buds, 2 4x4 screens is still more sqft than 3 3x3 screens, and deeper penetration allowing me to grow stretchier strains and/or tress. Do I have that right?

judas - good advice. Right now I will stick with a horizontal screen (this could change in the future). I have decided to keep an open mind as to the "type" of system I grow in. I will be giving dwc, hempy buckets, e&f, and what ever else a look. After some research I will post a new thread.

 

[judas cohen]

For sure 2 horizontal 1K lamps/screen will waay outproduce 2 vert 400s. Not sure vert 600 or 1ks ideal for grow I described. Would probably work better with higher plant numbers.

No experience with 1ks, but seems to me that PharmCan is spot on. Hard to beat first hand experience. Lookin' forward to your new thread.