I am going to build myself a custom box for which I am buying a 600 watt hps/mh digital and dimmable grow light. On the site it state that a 1000 watt light is mean to cover 36-100sq ft. SO my question is, will a 600 watt be suitable for a 4x4x4 box? Should I go with more or less wattage? I only plan on doin 2 plants for my next grow, is this too much space? I could use some help before I build it... I dont wanna go to big but ample enough for space to grow out do some LST next time and try and go BIG lol. Inputs please!
Building a box
- Thread starter Munkers
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The Hemp Goddess
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Munkers said:
LOL--and what site it that? No way will a 1000W even come close to lighting a 100 sq ft space--in fact, it is not even adequate for 36 sq ft.
Here is how it works. You want a minimum of 3000 lumens per sq ft for vegging and 5000 for flowering. A 600W in a 4 x 4 tent will provide minimum lighting. Some run 2 600w or a single 1000w in a space that sized. If you are only planning on running 2 plants, you should probably make the box smaller, but taller. If you believe that you are going to want to run more than 2 plants in the future, keep it 4 x 4. However, 4' is not going to give you nearly enough height--I run into problems vegging in a space 4' tall and I use low profile T5 lights. First off, the light is going to require about a foot of that height. The pot another foot. You are going to need to keep your plants probably at least 8-12" away from the light. That leaves 12-16" for the plant. Not nearly enough, especially when you want to grow monsters. I personally would not consider a flowering space shorter than 6'.
You are also going to need a decent centrifuge type exhaust fan to keep things cool and provide fresh air for your plants, ducting, and a fan speed controller is a good idea.
JustAnotherAntMarching
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THG a 600 is 90-95000 lumens depending on the bulb... 16sq feet x 5000= 80000 lumens... I def agree 4' height is not nearly enough head room... I had struggles in a tent that was 5' tall... I would make the box at least 6 feet tall if possible...
Ok lets switch this up a bit, Im scrapping this idea. I am a bit slow sometimes and just realized sq ft is only LxW and not LxWxH and i realized this smoking some really good grand daddy purp (while I was high, go figure.). So come tax time I am going to just buy 2 400 watts or so and still build my room. Question is, what is and adiquite size room for 2 400 watt HIDs for about 2 plants at a time? Also is this enought wattage IYO for atleast 2 at a time?
JustAnotherAntMarching
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Munkers 2 400w hps will put out about 120,000 lumens which is good for about 24 square feet... Why are you only planning on only 2 plants? If your gonna make a space and buy all that is needed I would fill the space not waste room + energy with only having 2 plants in there...
To answer you question, im trying to be more safe that sorry about it. Im not trying to have anything to big going on. I have kids around so the less the better. Also if I get caught (knock on wood) then its less of a headache and pushed off as individual use and i can fight it much more easly. I might get up to 4 going at once but thats it... Also the wifey is a little pariniod about me doing this at all so... The less the better. Im not trying to get rich or grow enough to supply me forever, just picking up a hobby and some hopefully good bud for the head once in awhile without paying. 
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I agree with JAAM and believe that once you have 2 going, you are going to want to have 4 going. However, I figure down the road if you decide to go bigger, you can use the box you make now for vegging and make a larger flowering box.
Have you considered a tent instead of building a box? They are generally less expensive than building a box, come in a lot of different sizes, have vent holes built in, and can be dismantled and hidden away easily if need be. To keep it smaller, maybe a 2 x 4 or a 3 x 3 tent with a single 400W or a 600W (I like lots of lumens). You will needs fans also. What is your budget?
Have you considered a tent instead of building a box? They are generally less expensive than building a box, come in a lot of different sizes, have vent holes built in, and can be dismantled and hidden away easily if need be. To keep it smaller, maybe a 2 x 4 or a 3 x 3 tent with a single 400W or a 600W (I like lots of lumens). You will needs fans also. What is your budget?
I do have a 3x3 tent that is mylar(which u said wasnt that good.) which I am using right now for my LED. I want to upgrade like you guys suggested to HIDs before my next grow... So I was thinking just make a box and paint it flat white inside. I have a fart fan(exhaust) that is brand new that I can use to control heat and air flow and a regular desk fan which u can see in my first grow thread. I was just thinking come tax time i can build a box and buy a brand new light system with anything else i will need to get going on a steadier pace. My next grow I wont be using the free seeds but the ones I bought which I dont want going to waste... So my next grow will be my barneys vanillia kush (fem), and my lemon kush (fem) seeds. Next time I want to go 100% instead of just using what I have any buying things on the fly to keep up. So I need suggestions on what I should do... Sorry for being such a pain in the ***, guess most noobs are though huh? Lol.
T
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I think most of us here take joy in helping someone learn to grow their own and do not consider it a PITA at all.
I think you should learn to clone.
I think you should learn to clone.
Noted, and I have already researched this and learned but have yet to put it in to affect. I dont have rooting gel or extra cash at the moment to do so and I dont belive I have the lighting either considering I have one LED struggling to provide one plant as it is. So here is why I am here, I am open to suggestions for my topic. If I get two 400 watters what size of area should I create that 800 watts will cover? From there I will add in more as some are coming out/almost ready. Plus I will learn to properly clone and accidentally fill the room atleast once or twice thinking I might have done some wrong.
T
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Munkers said:
Most 1000W HPS bulbs are 140,000 to 150,000 lumens, so that is 28-30 sq ft.
Clones don't need much light. A small CFL will give them enough light to root.
JustAnotherAntMarching
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Id go 5x5' for a 1000 with an air cooled hood... once you get an hps the ufo can def be used to root clones...
Thanks guys! Also that would be PERFECT if I could just use the ufo to root now that I am understanding it better I could make a space for it too. So maybe 1000 would be a little much for a small grow... maybe just a 600? Cover a 3.5x3.5? Also how close could I put my plants to each other?
JustAnotherAntMarching
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I usually pack my tent with 8-12 plants in a 4x4' space.... i have run it with a 600 and a 1000 in the same space... obviously the 1000 out performs the 600 but it is ALOT of light for a 4x4 space.... the price of a 600 and a 1000 are fairly close so trust me go with the bigger light and a 5x5' space...
T
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If you are going with the 3.5 x 3.5 tent, I would advise a 1000W dimmable ballast. A dimmable ballast will allow you to run at 50% or 75% if you find 1000W too much. I run either 2 600W or 1 1000W is a 3 x 6 space and do not feel overlit in the slightest.
Plant count is actually kind of irrelevant. Your space and your light are capable of producing x number of grams, regardless of plant count (within reason, of course). Whether you put four larger plants or 8-12 smaller ones, your yield will generally be about the same.
Plant count is actually kind of irrelevant. Your space and your light are capable of producing x number of grams, regardless of plant count (within reason, of course). Whether you put four larger plants or 8-12 smaller ones, your yield will generally be about the same.
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