Should I switch to vert?

Hi, I have never heard of vertical growing but after looking at this forum I think that I might give it a go. I have 8 x 400W Ballasts with HPS & MH lamps, 1 X 600 W ballast with HPS & MH lamps and 4 X 400W "self ballasting" MH lamps (around 24000 lumens but I would prefer not to use these because they were my first lights and are now inefficient and I may need the sockets for fans if i am growing vert). My room is 12 x 12 X 8, built from panels from an old butchers freezer and cooled with 3 X 12" fans. Can anyone suggest a layout for me? Should I hang 2 / 3 400w bulbs in the middle of 4 plants or could I run something like this crude diagram below?



Key: o is a 400/600w light.
x is a plant.




......o.....x.....o
........xxxoxxx
........xoxoxox
........xxxoxxx
......o.....x......o


Thanks in advance, Seamus

X X X....X X X
X O X....X O X
X X X....X X X

X X X....X X X
X O X....X O X
X X X....X X X


Here's a basic layout for your room. Each O is 2 x 400w bulbs hanging inline (one on top of the other). The Xs are obviously plants - 6 plants (depending on strain and how many you can get around each light) should be ideal. The gaps in the middle are for you to squeeze between each station so you can do maintenance - you need to leave room to get in and out of your grow and to check on your plants and pots.

This type of setup will maximise light, as each light is surrounded by plants and there will be a lot of overlapping light between stations. This is the type of layout we use for all large room vertical grows.

Find an old Hightimes mag. from the early 80s and you will find a octagon shaped grow device that cost an insane amount of money at the time...it had vert. mounted T12 lights, lots of reflection, and several fans. The thing was only about 3 feet tall.

Thanks for the advice guys, I will post some pictures of my setup when I get everything sorted out (the seedlings are a week old so it will be done in a few days)