Question about Lighting and how much

Basically I have one of these. I was going to make my own in my roof space but this seems so much easier now.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HYDROPONICS-GROW-TENT-SIZE-1-2m-x-1-2m-x-2m-GROWTENT-/220665283177?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&hash=item3360ad0269#ht_3571wt_911

Size: 1.2m (W) x 1.2m (D) x 2m (H)

I'm going to plant Pot of Gold in there under soil for now.

My question is judging by the size what kind of light should I get for the best outcome?
While adding onto that question how many plants [max] can I grow and still get the best outcome from it.

.

Hey VirtualRain, welcome aboard RUI!

The slow response is from the metric in the picture of your tent on ebay - there really is no way to know how much light a 1.2 x 1.2 meter tent would take because no one knows how many square feet that would be. There's no way to know really.

If if were 4'x4'x8' you would have 16 square feet. The general rule of thumb for a stationary High Intensity Discharge (HID = HPS & MH) light is 50 watts per square foot, so you would need 800 watts. You could squeeze in a 1000 Watt with lots of ventilation to keep from baking your plants; or you could get away with a 600 watt just fine. A light mover (third picture below) would help with a 600 watt but you still have a wide tent. A 600 watt light should cover 3'x4' stationary, 3'x8' with a light mover.

You can build your own cage fairly cheaply, some 2"x4" and Reflextic insulation (97% reflective). There are some pics of my cage and set up in the Grow Lab thread linked below.









.

its just a tad under 16 square feet, so i would go for 600watt hps, as a friend has 1, with a 600, an he only just keeps it cool with a fan in and going out, but there good tents.

VirtualRain said:

Basically I have one of these. I was going to make my own in my roof space but this seems so much easier now.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HYDROPONICS-GROW-TENT-SIZE-1-2m-x-1-2m-x-2m-GROWTENT-/220665283177?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&hash=item3360ad0269#ht_3571wt_911

Size: 1.2m (W) x 1.2m (D) x 2m (H)

I'm going to plant Pot of Gold in there under soil for now.

My question is judging by the size what kind of light should I get for the best outcome?
While adding onto that question how many plants [max] can I grow and still get the best outcome from it.

Click to expand...

According to the description of your tent, it says it can support up to 1000w HPS

Suitable for any setup, supporting up to 1000W Lamps MH and HPS

Click to expand...

bajafox said:

According to the description of your tent, it says it can support up to 1000w HPS

Click to expand...

got a m8 with same tent running a 400w for hes veg and 600w for flower. either wud d for the whole grow he duz 7 ta 8 plants in a tent that size from 1 light. hope this helps gud luk.

Hobbes said:

.
Reflextic insulation
.

Click to expand...

Where about do you buy that and what price is it?

Edit: + At peak height, how high is your light off the ground?

.

Most building stores stock it. I buy it by the 50'x4' roll instead of several 10'x4' to avoid wastage from the ends - say a 7.5' tall grow cage, 2.5' wasted.


...................................$128.00

.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=902354&Ntt=902354&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

.

"At peak height, how high is your light off the ground?"

The top of the cage is 94" and there is the 2"x4" x 8' runner that the Light Rail track is attached to - 8' to the top.

The light reflector is 78" above the ground. 16" from the top of the cage to the bulb for the light rail and reflector, but it could be done in less than 12".

.

I think I have found a area to do this but the height is only 120 - 150cm what kind of light should I use if I can use this space. I might be able to place a extra 30cm

.

150cm - 180cm = 5' - 6'

Flower: You could get away with a 600 watt HPS no problem (4'x3' garden); a 400 watt HPS for a small garden (30"x36"). Get a magnetic ballast not an electric - more reliable, cheaper. Give the electrics a few years, most will be fine but too high of a small percentage fail. Get one as a second ballast when you have a back up if you like, but not as your only ballast. Your venting is important, a vortex fan around 400 cubic feet per minute and an air floor will keep your cola tips cool.

Veg: CFLs. What's in your picture is fine.

If you get an air cool light reflector you can keep your light closer to your plants and cut down on required height, but I wouldn't use an air cooled reflector with a light mover right away, because of the ducting. Use an air cooled hood for stationary; draw air from the ceiling with a light mover. The Sunleaves II leaves the best light footprint of the Air Cooled Reflectors.

You can see the round air vent on the end of my Sunleaves II reflector, I don't use ducting to lessen stress on the light mover motor.



I may buy an Adjust-A-Wing reflector, they adjust for garden width so the height of the light height can stay the same. Lighter than the Sunleaves II, easier on the Light Mover. I don't remember the light footprint but I have the impression that it was much better than the Sunleaves.

.



For bulbs anything will do. Some people buy cheap $29 bulbs and change them every month, others spend $160 on a Hortilux Super HPS (change every 6 months). Go with your budget and trial. It doesn't really mater, you can grow good bud with any intense light in the right spectrum.

.

Thanks for the help, Hobbes.
The reason I was asking it plants grow up to 4 ft lets say. I just dont want to burn the tops of them by letting the light get too close.
+ How much noise does the vortex fan

400 watt would work. 600 watts would be awesome..

.

"How much noise does the vortex fan"

If you suspend the fan with bungy cords to cut down on vibration (extends life too) you won't be able to hear it outside of the room. I don't notice mine when I'm in my room but I've had it for awhile. It's like a white noise machine, very peaceful.

.

Last question I think, other then Reflectix what else can I use. [Cheaper I hope]
Kinda light what he is using https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/221184-balls-out-first-grow-whie.html

.

White paint is great, black/white plastic from hydro stores is relatively inexpensive.

.