Seedlings under 500w MH in 5x5

[ltobe18]

Hey guys,

I'm wondering how to care for my seedling with the equipment I already have; 5x5 tent, 1000w HPS/MH dimmable to 500, 750, 1000. I will be growing in fabric pots with coco/perlite mix. After germinating seeds and planting in Jiffy Pellets, how could I set them up in my tent? I assume I would need to dim the MH to 500w (the lowest it can go) and raising it as high as possible. Would this cause stretching? I have read that leaving them under a ~25 CFL light would be best but I'd rather not purchase another light or a humidity dome w/ heating pad that I'd only use for the first part of the grow.

What would I need to do maintain the necessary temp(72-79) and RH(65-80) for the seedlings?
In a tent without a humidifier, how could I keep RH high?

There is a small dome I saw that I thought I could put inside the tent under the MH light...

https://www.amazon.com/EarlyGrow-70727-Propogator-Black-Green/dp/B01BOPYU8C/ref=sxin_1_ac_d_pm?ac_md=2-0-VW5kZXIgJDUw-ac_d_pm&cv_ct_cx=humidity+domes&keywords=humidity+domes&pd_rd_i=B01BOPYU8C&pd_rd_r=3337db72-3192-4d0d-9d5c-096fa4bcef47&pd_rd_w=SVgnx&pd_rd_wg=SmZaS&pf_rd_p=516e6e17-ed95-417b-b7a4-ad2c7b9cbae3&pf_rd_r=732FR1KCN48HGWP3N27X&psc=1&qid=1582415682

Even then how would I keep the humidity high inside the dome? Is this something that will naturally occur with the moisture from watering the plants, with the heat from the light?

 

[Jcooll362]

The following are simple ways you can take to create humidity in your grow room or grow tent
Lower Extraction Fan Setting
Lower the Temperature of Surroundings
Place Water Sources Wherever Possible
Manual Misting
Place Plants on Pebble/Gravel Trays
Reduce the temperature in the grow room
Add a sponge to a tray of water

 

[xtsho]

You don't need a dome for seedlings. In fact if the humidity is too high the seedlings can fall victim to damping off.

 

[ltobe18]

The following are simple ways you can take to create humidity in your grow room or grow tent
Lower Extraction Fan Setting
Lower the Temperature of Surroundings
Place Water Sources Wherever Possible
Manual Misting
Place Plants on Pebble/Gravel Trays
Reduce the temperature in the grow room
Add a sponge to a tray of water

Thanks for the reply.
Is a 500w MH light ok for seedlings?

 

[ltobe18]

You don't need a dome for seedlings. In fact if the humidity is too high the seedlings can fall victim to damping off.

Thanks for the reply.
Do you believe a 500w MH is ok for seedlings?

 

[spek9]

Thanks for the reply.
Do you believe a 500w MH is ok for seedlings?

I put my seedlings and newly rooted clones under my 400W MH without any problems. My lamp is about 24" above them.

 

[xtsho]

Thanks for the reply.
Do you believe a 500w MH is ok for seedlings?

That's much more light than you need. Skip the dome and use that money towards a light more suited for starting seedlings. A 2' 2bulb HO T5 fixture like this or something similar.

Amazon.com : Durolux DL822N T5 HO 2Ft 2 Fluorescent Lamps Grow Lighting System with 5000 Lumens and 6500K Full Spectrum and Low Profile 7" Wide Reflector : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Durolux DL822N T5 HO 2Ft 2 Fluorescent Lamps Grow Lighting System with 5000 Lumens and 6500K Full Spectrum and Low Profile 7" Wide Reflector : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

 

[Jcooll362]

Thanks for the reply.
Is a 500w MH light ok for seedlings?

I use a 600 MH for mine I just keep the lights at a reasonable distance and control temp and rh

 

[DaFreak]

Thanks for the reply.
Do you believe a 500w MH is ok for seedlings?

You mean a 1000 dimmed 50%? It's fine, just keep it higher than you normally would. It's just wasteful as you could get better results with less watts with a smaller light but use what you got.