I'm starting a new setup with a friend and we can't decide on the proper hoods. I curently run a non vented 6000w grow with no problems and would like to stick with non vented hoods. He prefers vented saying that the cost to cool non vented is to great. My argument is that with vented hoods your growing in a 4x4 per light and non vented you can grow a 5x5 footprint and in turn the 5x5 will produce more because of the 9 extra sq feet. What's your opinions? Can you pull 2lb per light vented on a 4x4print?
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Vented hoods vs non vented... Go
- Thread starter castrau5
- Start date
eighty9concentr
Member
I been using vented hoods for years and love them. A lot easier to cool especially out here in cali where it gets 115 some days in the summer. I use to use hydrofarm raptors with 1000w ushio hps bulbs over a 4x4 area and would get 2lb per light. I recently switched to ac/de hoods with ushio de pro plus bulbs which are also vented over a 4x4 area and now my yields are up 15-20%. With the way these ac/de's are designed you can remove the glass and still air cool them because the air is pulled out of a sealed compartment which runs above the bulb (they do this because your not suppose to directly air cool de bulbs for them to run at their full efficiency). I keep the glass on to help hold as much heat in as possible. Imo the glass does not filter out enough light to make them not worth using. Im completely satisfied with the results from both hoods.
eighty9concentr
Member
The raptors ran little cooler so i kept them around 12-18", i had a couple rouge buds on some of my stretchy sativa rooms that got about 6" and they were fine. The de's run little hotter so i keep them in the 18-24" range.
eighty9concentr
Member
With 1 600w light you can definitely get away with out air cooled, doesnt put off nearly as much heat as multiple 1000w do. I do 4 plants per light and veg for 3-4 weeks depending on the strain and get them to around 3-3.5' before i flip them
eighty9concentr
Member
ohhh I'm sorry, i mis read your post and thought 6000 was 600. Yes its definitely doable, just take more ac. I just prefer air cooled because it saves on power costs and you can get them little closer to the plants. I have friends who run gavitas and they say they have to keep them 36" away from the canopy because de's run hotter that standard hps where as i can keep mine at 18-24". With air cooled you can also use like half the size ac which saves in start up cost and power bills. Both methods work well
My current setup I run open hoods 18in ish above plants in a sealed room with no problems.
My problem is, is that I'm doing a new setup and my grow buddy keeps sayings room is inefficient and he doesn't wanna pay a high a/c bill. My current setup runs great and my bill is cheap so I don't understand. I'm worried that if I use vented hoods in my new setup I won't achieve the yield that I'm used to with open reflectors.
My problem is, is that I'm doing a new setup and my grow buddy keeps sayings room is inefficient and he doesn't wanna pay a high a/c bill. My current setup runs great and my bill is cheap so I don't understand. I'm worried that if I use vented hoods in my new setup I won't achieve the yield that I'm used to with open reflectors.
TheCatsMeow
Member
This is probably a good sign that this partnership will have a rocky road at times.
Why partner up if you already have 6k running? Im all for non air cooled hoods maybe not 1k gavitas for 7ft high ceilings but venting is a pain in the ass and running as ac in place of fans is and all the ducting is much more efficient if your size your ac properly
Rocky road at times for sure we're both stubborn. I run a 6k now but hey why not do another 6k and split it, more lights more cash.. I wouldn't run gavitas. I would run the 48" in open hoods and put them all as high as I could get them. I feel the same way about vented hoods. To much going on, ducting here, ducting there, plus more fans equals more noise.
