500w mh 3-3 1/2 feet from seedlings?

I got a 1000w mh dimmed to 50%(500w) above my 1day old seedlings. Is this distance too far? Too close? I know with seedlings a hid lamp is not recommended but it is THE ONLY option I have. Anyone else run their seedlings with a 400w-600w?

Just a noob grower here, but how are the seedlings reacting? If they are stretching more than you'd like can't you lower the light? I don't know if there is an exact height, but I am still learning myself. Good luck with your grow.

View attachment 2895360


try to keep it so they reside minimum 3K Ft candles (25" or so) and when they get bigger in Veg +5K (18")

but use common sense, if you don't have a cool tube and/or have high temperatures you need to keep it at a distance so you don't burn your small seedling or make it dry out too fast, a single house hold CFL could probably do the job just as good for the first week or two and at a much lower power consuming