making grow bigger... need advice

[Guest]

I am about to expand my grow and was wanting any input to help out.

I use a 400 hps and I'm wondering if a space 42"x23"x8' is ok. I know the space is a bit long, but that's what I got to work with. Will this space yeild close to 8 oz and up with not using scrog?

Also I'm looking to upgrade my reflector to an air cooled one with side mount duct openings. Anyone got any suggestions what reflector?

 

[JJScorpio]

The size of your grow is perfect at 50 watts per sq ft with a 400. With the height that you have it probably isnt necessary for the air cool setup. The heat has all kinds of room to rise and a big vent and fan will take care of it nicely. Put a couple 8 in intakes at the base and you are good to go. You should be able to stagger 4-5 gallon pails in that area for flowering and can easily get 2 ounces per plant.......

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

The choice of reflector depends on a number of things. If you've made up your mind about an aircooled hood reflector, first figure out how you need to rig the whole extraction/exhaust, then get a reflector that corresponds to your needs. Although with a 400w, aircooled isn't necessarily the best option. A 400w is not extremely hot, it has a limited penetration capacity and should not be too far away from the lowest budsites of the plants (that's why they're great for SCROG or SOG), but a low hanging light will be more efficient with a wide bat-wing or china-hat type reflector, that spread the light better horisontally. Their concepts do not need aircooling, although proper extraction is still necessary.

 

[Guest]

All sounds good, But the height thing is meaningless except to let heat dissapate since a 400watt can only cover 3' , a 600watt can go 4' from my exp. As for 8oz yes you can get 2oz a plant but you will most likely need to Lst & 5gal buckets. Edit......>>>>YEAH what Rosy said

 

[Guest]

Aj

If you're gunna grow trees & not scrog ya might consider hangin some cfl's in there also. How about lst & makin some nice bushes?
Great advice from the others above.

Bh

 

[Guest]

I run my air cooled 400 in a touch under 4 square feet with 5 vertical feet so i dont think you will have any problems putting one in your space. As for yeild I dont think you will have a problem getting that ether. As the BH Said adding some cfl can help with the lower down buds. I have a couple of 125 watt cfls but am only using one at the moment. But if you did lst probably wouldnt need them. good luck with the grow.

 

[Maj.PotHead]

All sounds good, But the height thing is meaningless except to let heat dissapate since a 400watt can only cover 3' , a 600watt can go 4' from my exp. As for 8oz yes you can get 2oz a plant but you will most likely need to Lst & 5gal buckets. Edit......>>>>YEAH what Rosy said

my last grow was in a space 24in W x 30in D x 5ft H to bottom of 400w lighting
i used 180w cfl 40w fluro 24/0 1st wk of true veg then 18/6 until 3wks age, a 400w hps from 3 wk veg 18/6 --- 7 wk then 12/12. i kept 2 girls had them in 22 gal rubbermaid full of holes in bottom for drainage and side's for airation the center was devided with the top ecess was cut to above dirt level mistake couldnt remove it for proper watern. anyho i live in the desert where the summer temps get above 115 i grew last summer we had 21 days above 115 degrees. i ran my lights at night ran all the lighting 400w hps from above and the cfls around the bottems and sides . i started LST on 1 plant showed sex at 2 wks age other was started @ 4 wks age, i also performed a FIM on both at 2 wks and 4 wks age. i about overgrew my erea had to tie branche's outta the light was ok though , my 400w hps isnt air cooled it's an old self inclosed ballast bulb reflector and hood by hi-tek lighting. temps at plants tops 2 hr's after lights on 80-82, my ventilation consisted of a 20 inch box fan on high pointed at angel in a boxed frame out the old fresh air intake for the furnace not the best but worked.my air intake was a 3 inch black pvc 90 elbow pointed down and passive not forced i had a nice little whirlwind in my grow erea, my harvest was just under 12 oz wet and about 8 oz dry n cured and manicured . so it's possible to get 8 oz from your space just have adquite ventilation and circulation http://www.nationalgardenwholesale.com/detail.php?id=04_FANS&prod=609 the 440cfm should be your ticket, place a fan just below the 400w light to help blow that heat created and you'll have the light w/in 2 ft of plants tops idea is to move 3-5 x room air cfm. to help with reflection of the light in your desired grow erea

mylar #1 the best expensive and tricky to hang proper

panda paper

flat white paint great reflect qualitys and not real heat build up spots

cold weather emergancy blanket from any sporting goods store cheap in cost almost like mylar very very reflective

only as a last resort----tin foil dull side facing out and few small fans blown across it

the mylar and emergancy blankets tin foil dul side should be hung wrinkel free wrinkels can hold heat

g/l on your grow

oh yes the harvest was very very old skunk genitics from humboldt i saved seed from 1988-98. allways stored in dark cool and airtight enviroment

FIM procedure is where ya take the very top growth shoot and cut all but 10% make the cut into a bowl shape if possible. this will slow down the top growth and force the lower to cath up, this also keeps a 1 cola top but you'll gain 4-6 easy new side branches

 

[Guest]

hmm.. i got 5 ounces from 400w and 2 c99 girls...first grow btw..

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

I'm really not worried too much about heat 'cause right now I have the 400 in a box 28"x22"x60". Although it does get a bit warm in there. And it's 6-8 inches above the dp strawberry cough and 2 nl#2. And the reflector is a batwing. I guess I'll scratch the idea of an aircooled reflector and go with what I already got.

Also my fan is a 265 dayton. Right now I'm running 4" duct. You guys think I should go to 6"? And how big should the passive intakes be?

Just for the record, I plan on using a 250 hps for veg to save on the power bill since I don't pay it. :smile: