design a htg growbright 8'x4' xxl tent (1k(s) or 600(s)?)

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fourtwentychat

Well-Known Member
Firstly, is it generally not advisable to hang a pair of lights in these types of tents? Is it easy enough to keep both lights "centered" on their sides (haha OCDish type of question).

Anyway, I'm working through ideas, and I'm not sure, which scenario might work best:

Assuming, the light(s) inside the tent would be air cooled, using 2 separate exhaust fans (one for the light(s) and the other for the filter), which scenario sounds most reasonable?

1) 2 - 1000W lights (is this maybe overkill?)
2) 1 - 1000K light with a light rail (not sure if there would be any design issues, when using a light rail in a tent like this.
3) 2 - 600W lights (maybe the perfect balance, with even light distribution?
4) 1 - 1000W light, but *without* a light rail.

I remember reading several times that the 600 watt hps systems are "more efficient" than the others; would that factor into your choice? I'm assuming that most people here will be choosing either option 1 or 3 (2-1000Ws or 2-600Ws). I've seen what CFLs can do at low wattages, so I'm a little hesitant on anything greater than 600W HPS at the moment, but would love to hear the opinions of some respected rollitup members.
 
headworm

headworm

Member
Throw a 600W HPS with a cooltube in there and add another 600W HPS with cooltube whenever you want to.You can connect it straight onto the existing ducting for the existing light. Nice and efficient.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
I would go with the two 600's. I have also read that the 600w HIDs are more efficient. That will provide approximately 37.5 watts per square foot and that is in the desireable range. 8'x4' is a nice size tent. If you stagger your grows, you could probably harvest every 4 weeks. i'll keep an eye out for your grow, if you share of course. :)
 
Airwave

Airwave

Well-Known Member
fourtwentychat said:
Firstly, is it generally not advisable to hang a pair of lights in these types of tents? Is it easy enough to keep both lights "centered" on their sides (haha OCDish type of question).

Anyway, I'm working through ideas, and I'm not sure, which scenario might work best:

Assuming, the light(s) inside the tent would be air cooled, using 2 separate exhaust fans (one for the light(s) and the other for the filter), which scenario sounds most reasonable?

1) 2 - 1000W lights (is this maybe overkill?)
2) 1 - 1000K light with a light rail (not sure if there would be any design issues, when using a light rail in a tent like this.
3) 2 - 600W lights (maybe the perfect balance, with even light distribution?
4) 1 - 1000W light, but *without* a light rail.

I remember reading several times that the 600 watt hps systems are "more efficient" than the others; would that factor into your choice? I'm assuming that most people here will be choosing either option 1 or 3 (2-1000Ws or 2-600Ws). I've seen what CFLs can do at low wattages, so I'm a little hesitant on anything greater than 600W HPS at the moment, but would love to hear the opinions of some respected rollitup members.
Click to expand...
2x 600w.

If you get air-cooled hoods, try to avoid the Cool Tubes as they aren't much good at covering a 4x4 surface area.
 
F

fourtwentychat

Well-Known Member
Thanks. Plus rep to everyone who posted.

Serapis: I remember that the ideal watts/sq foot ratio is about 50; 37.5 would be just as good in your opinion?

To further complicate matters, I'm (well, my brain) is contemplating breaking the two lights up into two separate (smaller) tents. Since, you guys seem to recommend going the 2-light route, how would this affect your decision (600W vs 1000W) if the system was instead separated into two:

New options:
1) 1 8'x4' tent with 2-600W lights: ~38W/sq ft
2) 2 4.5'x4.5' tents with 2-600W lights (1 in each tent): ~30W/sq ft
3) 2 4.5'x4.5' tents with 2-1000W lights (1 in each tent): ~50W/sq ft

Again (with either 1 or 2 tents), all light(s) would be air cooled (reflector exhaust), with each tent also having a separate filter/fan combo (tent exhaust).

Yup, I'm being a little bit obsessive, but perhaps that is a good thing in this case. Should one *really* expect a noticeable increase with a 1000W setup as opposed to a 600W setup? Enough to realistically offset the extra wattage cost by a significant amount for the year?
 
Delux83

Delux83

Well-Known Member
how about 2 400 Ceramic metal halide bulbs ;) if ur buying new why not get these they are better than hps and mh one bulb u can use the whole grow. im upgrading to them soon myself after reading about them i believe they are the next thing. well besides the plasma bulbs but who's got $2000 for a bulb. CMH have full color spectrum lights and give off UV indoor growing just got better GL
 
F

fourtwentychat

Well-Known Member
Delux83 said:
how about 2 400 Ceramic metal halide bulbs ;) if ur buying new why not get these they are better than hps and mh one bulb u can use the whole grow. im upgrading to them soon myself after reading about them i believe they are the next thing. well besides the plasma bulbs but who's got $2000 for a bulb. CMH have full color spectrum lights and give off UV indoor growing just got better GL
Click to expand...
I hate you for giving me more to research and obsess about. +Rep
 
meetzu

meetzu

Well-Known Member
So.. regardless of the wattage per sq ft you have to consider the shape of the tent overall and the light footprint from the lights. generally a 1kw light is said to have a 4x4 foot footprint for primary lighting so this would be pretty perfect for your tent. It also depends on the height that you plan on growing to and the penetration that you are looking for. If you are giving some space all around in the tent for equipment and space to move around in then 2 600w lights would probably be fine for supplying a 3x6 area.

You can check out this other thread I made if you are semi-OCD about lighting: Here

Currently I run a 7.5x7.5 foot tent with 6 600s because of the space to move around and other equipment considered.

Also, as far as you considering a fan for lights and filter separately; with2 600w they are efficiently cooled in easy cool 6's gasket sealed with a 484 CFM fan pulling through a tallboy Carbon filter (All from HTG) - not advocating them but they are pretty local and I dont like to order large things online. Your situation with that setup may differ depending on your climate though (mine is fairly cool most of the year - almost never 90+ F).
 
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