4x8 veg tent. Upgrading veg lights. Important questions. Looking for some Pro advice

I have 4x8 veg tent that I need to dial in. I mostly grow in coco. I keep a couple mothers, but I mostly clone as I go. Root riots, to 1 gallon Advanced Mix #4, to 3 or 5 gallon Botanicare Cocogro.

I'd like to dial in a perpetual for a harvest every 3-4 weeks. I'm done working on the bloom room for now. I'm currently running 2 600s and I'll be adding 2 more at the end of the summer.

I have a separate space for cloning so I need to fill my tent with the best veg lighting that I can.

I see three options
1. T-5s on both sides of the tent, or
2. T-5s on one side, MH on the other, and
3. MH on both sides (this I don't want to do, heat and power reasons)

I want to get as much growth out of a 3-4 week veg, as I can.

What lights would you buy?

As always, thanks in advance for your time.

-Sencha

I use the Badboy quantum t-5's for veg from seed or clone up to 18 inches then I switch to a 600 watt ushio conversion mh for veg from 18 to 36 inch before flower but I like big plants. If you going to finish in 3 to 5 gallon then T-5's will be enough for that size plants figuring on a foot of growth per gallon of medium. I also used hydrofarm designer t-5's in the past but I like the racehorse ballast better I've done a side by side test and I have to keep the designer a couple of inches closer than the badboy's or the fan leaves would reach straight up like they are searching for light also the lower branches were larger and stronger under the quantum's. I have mine on multi level wire shelves for diff size plants and to save space.

But to buy two quantum 16 bulb badboy's is pretty high and they don't come with bulbs that's extra. I'd do either 2 air cooled 600's in blockbuster hoods or one 12 or 16 bulb badboy on one side for smaller plants and a 600 in the other for larger plants. I've got a 4x8 sj that I flower in with two 1000's that only stays 2 degrees warmer than my 5x5 sj veg tent with two 6 bulb badboys a 4 bulb badboy and a 2 ft 8 bulb t-5. I use a 4x4 sj with a grozilla and two dimable 600's for veg or flower all with insulated flexduct and quiet S&P inline fans with lightweight phat carbon filters

Yep, I've heard of those bad boys. You're right, they are awfully expensive. Looking ~$400 with bulbs for the 12 bulb version, which is probably the size I would get. Luckily, I already have a backup 600 watt ballast(dimable) and hood. I'll just throw a 400 watt MH bulb in it for now. That will surely get me by until I can afford a bad boy. Unfortunately, I've still got an R.O. filter and 3 in 1 meter to buy too.

Does your 600 ballast work with a 400 watt bulb? Just wondering I got them but my brand only takes the bulb it's rated for but I can dim 75% or 50%, like on my 1000's I use a 1000 watt ushio bulb and my 600's use 600 ushio bulbs.

Tony Sativa said:

Does your 600 ballast work with a 400 watt bulb? Just wondering I got them but my brand only takes the bulb it's rated for but I can dim 75% or 50%, like on my 1000's I use a 1000 watt ushio bulb and my 600's use 600 ushio bulbs.

Click to expand...

if it's digital a 400 watt bulb should work in a 600 watt ballast, however it wont last nearly as long due to the stronger-than-intended-for current that its getting powered with

I have had exceptional results using the Black Star 240 Veg/Clone LED beats the hell out of my T5 VHO but I like it best because it only needs a fan blowing on it from above to keep a 2 X 4 area about 84*. Thought I would toss it in.

I have a spare quantum 600. Trying to figure out if I can put a 400watt MH in it. 75% of 600 is 450 so I don't know yet, still searching.

T5HO will keep the nodes closer. How about a 2 bulb that you can put close to the tops of the seedlings. Then move em over as they brach out. Bulbs last longer too. There are some cheap one's out there with ballasts that must be from China. I had one blow from day one. I like the Beghelli brand a lot more. If Tony's right that they can affect light output, I'd like to know what ballasts to avoid.

I've noticed the price of MH bulbs have gone up significantly. $75 for a 600 watt digilux is just too much.

I use cfls and t8s for seedlings and clones. I have a pretty cool cfl box and a 6 light x 4foot t8 setup (multi kelvin) My 2'x4' t8 fixture was only $140, with bulbs. I'm happy with it, but I think it does better from seed. Clone growth is kinda slow.

I use T5's. They're expensive especially if you need that 12 bulb which I think runs in between 300 to 400 bucks give or take. It might be more. However, if you the money they are so worth the investment for veg. They can be close to your light without burning it and won't be cost you much electricity. They're great...