Is It Worth Upgrading?

Hi all, I have a query that i'd like some experienced opinions on if i may?

Im currently running a small cab grow using cfls......all is well. I have more space available to me than im currently using, and i have also been very fortunate to have been given a 400w hps with reflector and ballast by a good mate of mine in the last couple of days.

Im aware of what will be involved in setting up a new grow room to accomodate the hps including cooling and venting the room and noise / light pollution (security and stealth are obviousely high priorities!)

My current setup is in a cab 3ft X 2ft by 2ft with 127 watts of t5s 6500k with another 4 20w cfls 2700k ready for when i flower.

The new grow room can potentially be 3ft square with upto about 8ft in height (bit less once i've insulated above the room)

My question is this :-

REALISTICALLY what sort of difference would i see in both yield and growth rates if i were to switch to the bigger setup. In essence.....Is it worth it?

Also would it be worth splitting my 8ft height into two cabs one for veg and one for flower....one on top of the other?

Im a reasonably new grower so any help would be greatly appreciated!

heres an example, i got 600 watt of envirolites in a space no bigger than 30 inches high, 18 inches deep and 27 inches wide, yes could def be worth splitting your cab, then clone and you will have good regular crops. you will of course need to get rid of heat, depending on how big you go.maybe 125 watt envirolites would be best? a friend of mine got 200 g dry off 500 watt enviros with 3 plants.dont think any of what i say will help, god im stoned again.

Thanks del, in all honesty....i had no intention of upgrading, i dont really have money to lash out on it at the moment, recession and all!! Its only that i was given the hps free and if its worth upgrading i've done it without any outlay.

should be able to get a g dry per watt of hps, you could maybe use bathroom extractor fans to keep it cool, dont reckon you need to spend a fortune, didnt even see the bit about hps im such a stone brain, sure you will have the hps crowd giving loads of help soon, good luck.

i honestly think you could go with a 250 OR 400W HPS

Thanks guys, and yea i was kinda hoping the "hps crowd" would chime in!!

mount4inmatt said:

127 watts of t5s 6500k with another 4 20w cfls 2700k ready for when i flower. REALISTICALLY what sort of difference would i see in both yield and growth rates if i were to switch to the bigger setup. In essence.....Is it worth it?

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400 watts of hps gives you almost 4 times the light of 200 watts of flourescent. the light was free, the yield will be a lot higher, what;s the question again.

voice from the hps fanatic club

hps is where its at, anything else is a waste

vanauken said:

hps is where its at, anything else is a waste

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that seems very narrow minded

desertrat said:

400 watts of hps gives you almost 4 times the light of 200 watts of flourescent. the light was free, the yield will be a lot higher, what;s the question again.

voice from the hps fanatic club

Click to expand...

Very nicely put i thought.....

use everything you have man, get the most out of your light. an hid over head is going to be alot of good bright light, but your cfl's around the sided? cant possibly hurt your veg, they don't get that hot.

I'm super impressed with CFL's, but when I added the 150w HPS things really took off! More lumens per watt is a very good deal. In a cab your size you will have no option but to use a cooltube with a 400. Mine's the same size as yours and with a 150 in a coolube I'm chilling at 80. Good luck

There is a all around defference Cfls and leds Have little intencity . They thrive under Hps in every area Hps is better .Except on the electric big . Clfs are cool for making your plant grow just Hps on the 12/12 cycle