400 w hps + 200w cfls, or 600 hps?

I want to conserve space as much as possible and don't see getting a 4x4 grow tent

realistic for me. So the question is, should I get a 400 hps and use 200 watts of

supplementary lighting via cfls, or should I spend the extra dough and get a 600 watt

hps?

All opinions greatly appreciated!

well if u want smaller than a 4x4 tent then the 400w hps and 200w cfls would probs be best

600 Watt HPS will put out 95,000 lumens. A 400 watt HPS puts out 50,000 lumens and 200 watts of CFL will put out 12,000 lumens 50,000+12,000 =62,000. A 600 Watt HPS will put out 65% more light than the 400+200 combo will. The difference will be in the harvest, the CFL/HPS grow will net you 1 pound, but the 600 HPS will net you 1.65 pounds. That .65 pounds extra will more than make up for its cost. Electricity cost will be the same.

NoDrama said:

600 Watt HPS will put out 95,000 lumens. A 400 watt HPS puts out 50,000 lumens and 200 watts of CFL will put out 12,000 lumens 50,000+12,000 =62,000. A 600 Watt HPS will put out 65% more light than the 400+200 combo will. The difference will be in the harvest, the CFL/HPS grow will net you 1 pound, but the 600 HPS will net you 1.65 pounds. That .65 pounds extra will more than make up for its cost. Electricity cost will be the same.

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I was shooting low thinking half pound min for a 600 w hps. What would be the minimum veg/number of plants/ size of containers to achieve 1 pound with a 600 hps? Using promix soil mix, iguana juice grow and bloom, and have 1 gal containers and 3 gal containers.

Thanks alot for that post it made my decision for me

That Canadian said:

I was shooting low thinking half pound min for a 600 w hps. What would be the minimum veg/number of plants/ size of containers to achieve 1 pound with a 600 hps? Using promix soil mix, iguana juice grow and bloom, and have 1 gal containers and 3 gal containers.

Thanks alot for that post it made my decision for me

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The yields were just an example, I can't get 1.65 pounds out of a 600 either, so no worries. Pretty easily get 1 pound off a single plant. More plants aren't really going to get you that much more yield. Yield is more a matter of amount of light than anything else.

Wait - so what do you think yield would be then lol? I didn't really understand your last post

I think if you do things right you can get 1/2-3/4 gram of goodness from each watt of light. My estimate would be 300-450 grams total of dried cured product. A pound is 450 grams. You should be able to do this with one plant or four.

I upgraded my 400w ballast and HPS lamp to 600w less than 2 weeks into 12/12. I now have a 400 switchable ballast and hortilux lamp ($250 value) sitting on the shelf, and I couldn't be happier after my first harvest of dense nugs.

rasputin71 said:

I upgraded my 400w ballast and HPS lamp to 600w less than 2 weeks into 12/12. I now have a 400 switchable ballast and hortilux lamp ($250 value) sitting on the shelf, and I couldn't be happier after my first harvest of dense nugs.

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What was setup and total dry weight with the 400 bro?

NoDrama said:

The yields were just an example, I can't get 1.65 pounds out of a 600 either, so no worries. Pretty easily get 1 pound off a single plant. More plants aren't really going to get you that much more yield. Yield is more a matter of amount of light than anything else.

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1 pound off of a single plant indoors? I'd like to see pics of that. Typical is 2 ounces per plant, maybe 4 ounces if you're a really good grower... but not a pound (16 ounces)

That Canadian said:

What was setup and total dry weight with the 400 bro?

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Link is in my sig; my first grow/flower (and no scales yet) so I have nothing to compare it to, and I am just guesstimating my yields. I could tell once I had 6+ plants in flower with a 400w hps that it wasnt enough, so I upgraded. I was barely getting 1k+ lumens to each plant, at 12" above the floor with my cheap tri-meter, so I just upgraded my ballast and lamp. Once I build a bigger flower room I will be glad I have the extra 400w ballast and lamp.