will this work?

I am going to be setting up for a legal medical grow for myself and one other person just after christmas. Aftr much contemplation, I've decided to go with this-
1 - 4x6 (78"X55") Hydrohut tent
2 - Quantum Badboy 648w T5's
1 - S&P TD-150 6" inline fan (max 293 cfm) through can-33
(passive air intake, may use co2 boost buckets)

My questions are: I have heard varying things about the large T5's regarding how much heat they put out. Will that ventilation suffice in a room with a temp of between 70-78 degrees? (winter-summer)
Secondly, how many plants could I expect to put under these lights? (approx 24 sq. ft. canopy coverage from lights) I was planning on vegging from seed for about 6 weeks, and i was thinking along the lines of 15 or so plants in 3 gal buckets. Any thoughts?
I know I will probably get a lot of comments about how you can't grow big buds with T5's and all that, but do to circumstances I would like to avoid HID. Because of the decrease in canopy penetration from T5's, should I use smaller pots and grow more, smaller plants? Anyone?

HI
I see what your trying to do but as a guy who runs 10 lights that are HID I cannot agree. But what I can do is say one or two things that I see are good and bad.
So you are using a hydrohut but going soil-less medium in pots? Or is the hydrohut a flood table? Your 4x6 room is kinda big for 648w of T5 lighting. I do like t5 lighting. I think their great and do grow a very healthy plant but slowly; although, better than t8 and obv. T12s. I think your temps will be just fine since you are running a six inch exhaust in that size of room! You will be fine.. NO worries their!

For the amount of plants, thats kinda tough since you have the room for 15 plants but not under those lights. Maybe I would go 1 gallon pots and place 15 under your lights. OR MAX 2 gallon pots. I use two and three gallon pots and please believe me, I would never run more than 9 plants under a 1000HPS in two gallon pots and in three gallons its MAX 6 plants. Remember I agreed that you have enough room for the 15 plants but not enough light for that many unless you drop your pot size. I would really recommend that.
I can respect the idea of passive air intake, I do that alot in the winter to help with smell. And If I ask you to take anything from what I said, I beg you to save your money and never look at the co2 boost buckets again. Let me just say I know a few people that know a lot. These two people both own their own grow shops. I know a lot of rep on those buckets. Their junk. Put that money to your mortgage payment or something.
Would you recommend looking into a 600HPS digital ballast? They allow you to dim your lights to a 400watt if you want and the bud you can get of the 600HPS is far more exception and yeild with be over 15X better. Hands down. No argument. You have the room. You have some exhaust and I think it would work.

MrRobbyRob said:

I know I will probably get a lot of comments about how you can't grow big buds with T5's and all that, but do to circumstances I would like to avoid HID. Because of the decrease in canopy penetration from T5's, should I use smaller pots and grow more, smaller plants? Anyone?

Click to expand...

what circumstances? you could get them for cheaper, they give out more lumens less heat per watt and yield what a light should yield. before replying to any of your q's i will certainly say that for a med grow for 2 ppl you definitely should get HPS. and dude sip that CO2 bucket method, it just doesnt work

why not get a 400w or 600w hps? if your worried about heat just make sure you get one with a remote ballast and aircooled hood. holy shit, i just went to see how much those t5's would cost and im shocked at how much they cost. almost $400 dollars.......600w hps with air cooled hood and the fan to go with it will run you like 200-250 and youll use less power(although its only 48w more w/the t5's, which isnt really enough to matter to be honest) and probally have a much bigger yeild.

darkd is right, that fixture is pretty expensive. I use T5's and like them, 12 four foot tubes will push your temps and if your room temps are stating at 78 deg. you may have a problem. I wouldn't measure the veg time in weeks but, in inches. You are correct that penetration is the shortcoming of those lights, go to 12/12 early. I also agree with JL, smaller pots, smaller plants, just more of them. Good luck with whatever you decide on.

Well, I certainly do appreciate the feedback, the T5's put out that much heat? That was primarily my concern, as my girlfriend doesn't really want me to run ducting everywhere, but if I'm going to have to run it anyway, perhaps I will go ahead with the 2x600w setup. Was trying to do something where everything was contained inside one tent, for the sake of not having to listen to her about it. (the hydrohut is my tent of choice, the area I have to work with is 61"x90", she won't give up the extra 6" for me to get a 4x8, which would be considerably less money...) And, yes, I will be growing in coco.

duct for a plant to breathe is necessary. maybe you could go for single 600 for smaller contained grow. if theres a corner with a window you can make a good stealthy vent without ducts... just some thoughts

Hum, I can understand why you want to stick with the tent, I believe me, I have a girl friend too. I know about all those problems and even NOW that I have a shop, she freaks when she finds out that I built a 15x8 just for veg moms for the outdoor. Freaked! And that s finely out side the house. I would by a 600HPS and buy a nice filter designed for two lights and a good vortex 6 inch fan for exhaust. I would start from their. I have a friend who likes t5 they do veg good. But again when you use 500WAtts, its still heat.

Many thanks again, I was actually going to use 2 of the T5 banks, total of 1296w, and I guess that would be quite a bit of heat, even if it was over a large surface area. Darn. Now its back to the drawing board for me... But I've found that researching and planning this stuff has become quite a fun and time-consuming hobby!!!

Yea very time consuming! If you are going to run that much wattage, run one or two HID HPS. If you are going to run 1296W from T5 lighting, you are going to still need to have a vent system with a filter. So since you are going to have a vent system buy one or two HPS And since you already have some T5 lighting, use those to start your next crop, until you harvest and than you can finish your veg off under your HPS and straight into flower!

Best of luck!! Hope it works out for yea and remember, try and let your girlfriend hold you back a bit, i have learned that they usually see things from a different perspective but again their not always right. I had my woman water once and she hated it more than you can imagine. Now she appreciates the work I do. She also understand why I buy AC units and water chiller system, shallow well pumps and pressure tanks and why I picked axed 250 feet six inch down trench for my water supple for the cooling system! So tell her that maybe one duct system is needed and make it a six inch hehehe.

Go with a couple 400W CMH's instead of HPS. Spectrum is better. Good for both veg & flower. For quality they are great. They're a little cooler than HPS too.
Daniels

Good point about heat, but i you want yield stick with HPS and don't go less than a 600HPS. I mean I dont know anyone who has flowered out with a 400 conversion bulb. I guess if you live in Europe its prob normal.
I guess I dont like conversion ballast since I have seen them given away and they are never part of a serious grow. Although, I have seen one fired up. It was a super conversion 1100 watt. Although it was for vegging it did look ok. But again, everyone one has something to say.

Ceramic Metal Halide run on a normal HPS ballast. Whether you you live in Europe and use a 240v, or here and use a 120v it's the same. It isn't a conversion ballast. A 400W CMH is as good as a 600W HPS for quality. Yield may be less, but I thought 2 patients was the use.
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I've actually been very interested in the CMH, and have in fact read the ENTIRE thread at icmag, its the darn mag ballast that makes this a tougher choice...
Yield is obviously of some importance to me, however, quality is key, for that I commend your choice, Danielsgb.
Stiffy, you have what I'd like to have one day!!! Sounds nice!
I guess if it wasn't for the girlfriend, I'd have a jungle with 24 monsters in my bedroom, with little or nowhere to sleep. I guess its nice to have someone to keep me in check.
I am going to take the holiday to think this over, but descision time will come soon, so I'll let you know which way I go!

Great! Best of luck! Again, in all respect. don't buy a 400watt! No matter who tries to sell one as a 600! I got the same speall from a few different grow store owners about digital ballast with their digital bulb. And in fact, they never had one created. They do now, but still the claims are as bad as LED lol. No 400 can act as a 600 and no 600 can compare to a 1000watt.
Good idea about thinking it over. Hope it works out for yea!