400W CMH + 2.75'X2' room?

[deltronZER0]

Hey all,
Im planning my grow, and was planning on runninga 400W CMH with cool tube and having a grow space 2'X2.75'.
I'm planning on running 4 plants in soil and vegging for a while.
howzabootit?
is that too high of a watt/foot?
or will I have a really hard time keeping the grow box cool enough?

 

[jwm]

Sounds good. CMH put off a bit less heat, w/ a good fan you should be fine.

 

[barletta]

If you have a good fan, and decent ambient (outside the cab) temps, you should be fine. If you can, get an air cooled hood. The plants will LOVE the light intensity.

 

[Agent-Smith]

What's the height you are running?

 

[deltronZER0]

I was gonna go with a 5 foot tall box.
and I plan on air cooling the bulb seperately from the cab, I figure, if I'm paying for the watts, I was every last lumen to be as close to the plants as possible.
and do you think a 3/4 lb. harvest could be a realistic goal to shoot for?
also, supercropping? fimming? scrog? which would work better for 4 different strains?
and also, anyone know how tall a 4 gallon container will be if it needs to fit with 3 others in this cab?

 

[deltronZER0]

and for strain, I was thinking about running some Mandala ganesh and 8mh or satori and then some f13 and vanilluna

 

[Agent-Smith]

that harvest is "possible" but who knows, maybe less maybe more. I suggest LST and scrog style to keep them uniform in height to maximize bud production. I don't understand that last question, do containers magically change height when they are around other containers? Measure the container and that is the height...I don't understand what else you could mean.

 

[Murphy]

Yo can see my cab with a 400watt cmh bulb. It runs high 70s-low 80s.

 

[deltronZER0]

i mean that I don't have containers yet, as this is all purely in the "in my imagination" phase.
i ask, because I'm planning on running orgo soil, and 4 gallons seems right, and i want to know how low 4 gallon containers can be while still being able to fit in a 2X2.75 area. ya dig?
I want to maximize my vertical room, without wasting space between pots

 

[barletta]

You could put a tub in the closet. There are also 'wider' containers available. I have some 3 gallon squares that are no taller than the 1 gallon rounds. But they are over 1'L x 1'W. You could prolly run 4 4+ gallon kitty litter bukkits.

1 6" vortex pulling through an air cooled hood should cool the light and cab no problem. Fans are louder than you think, but a 4" is almost as loud as a 6", and the 6" CRANKS. I have heard that 8" fans are quieter.

 

[Agent-Smith]

ok I gotcha now, lol. I used to grow in 5 gallon grow bags and I had them sitting in those plastic milk crates that grocery stores use. they are 13"l x 13"w x 10.5"h so I would guess 4Gs would be around an inch or two smaller all around.

 

[deltronZER0]

@barletta:
I was just planning on running a little 4 incher on the intake side of the cool tube and then maybe a 4 incher to exchange air from the box itself, if that makes sense.
probably fans like this: http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/flat-whisper-fan-100cfm-p-501.html or
http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/flat-whisper-fan-230cfm-p-1373.html
also, do hydro stores sell kitty litter buckets? or will i need to buy and dispose of 16+ gallons of kitty litter
@agentsmith:
Thanks, I'll plan on allocating about a foot for medium/container

 

[deltronZER0]

or something like this filled a little less full too, depending on if i find a good source of kitty litter buckets. (I really like that idea, because they'd potentially have carrying handles or at least a less clumsy way to move them)
http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/giant-pot-p-1736.html
also, is there any advantage or disadvantage to square vs circular pots?
I feel like the corners of square pots could take the roots longer to reach

 

[deltronZER0]

errr, wow, just looked at prices of HPS + ballast Vs. CMH + ballast
WAY cheaper holy cow. I was budgeting 200 for CMH + Ballast and i now see i can get a HPS + ballast and spare bulbs for 100>
would heat start to be more of an issue if I used a hps?

 

[barletta]

You can get a good Mag ballast (s51, runs both hps and CMH, not MH) for 150, and the CMH bulb is 50. It is worth it. I have 1 cmh and a few hps, and the plants like the CMH way more. Plus after over a year, the CMH is still VERY bright, while I've replaced all the hps' 1 time. I'll be buying 3 new CMH's in a few weeks. It is a killer light.

It WON'T run on digi ballasts.

 

[deltronZER0]

perhaps I'll upgrade once my "investments" make some return
haha

 

[deltronZER0]

http://www.1000bulbs.com/400-Watt-High-Pressure-Sodium/34226/
that looks like a magnetic one and is S51 and only 75 bux
any reason that wouldnt fire a CMH?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Here's one for $65 http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/400w-hps-quadtap-ballast-p-708.html

 

[deltronZER0]

must spread rep...
thanks K+

 

[barletta]

Either of those will fire the bulb, but you are going to have to build a housing/mounting, and wire in (buy) a light/power cord, and socket. I have a few Sunleaves pulsar's that are built VERY well, they run cool and quiet. A box fan on low drowns out 3 of em. They were ~160 ea with the light and power cords, and they are plug and play. For me it was worth the warranty and convenience to spend a lil upfront. I'm glad I spent on them, the vortex 6", and the 1 cmh bulb up front.

Here is a ballast for $54, and it is from the co that sells the Phillips CMH's.
http://www.advancedtechlighting.com/so400-71c-211.htm

Here are the bulbs.
http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm

I've read in the CMH thread that that place pre-fires each bulb, to ensure that you get a good one. I bought my 1st bulb from them, and I will be getting ~3 more in a few weeks.

EDIT - Just found this on their page.

We are the Only Company to Pre-burn all lamps!
for 3, 12 hour cycles to ensure the cermets seal is seated properly.
This is 100% Needed as there is a High initial failure rate.
If this is done you are guaranteed a full life from your lamp.