3-4 x 315 CMH, OR 1 x Gavita 1000w, or 2 x Gavita 600w, for Veg??? 7 x 7 Area

Which would you use for Veg?

I'm really interested in the 315w CMH, and want the most coverage. Area is 7x7.

I'm using 2 x 1000w Gavitas for Flowering. Ive used 1000w Hortilux HPS for veg, for years, but have ugraded space, and want more light.

I would go with 4, 315 cmh but that's me. I love the 315, great light!

Any idea of what the light footprint is for each 1, and what height they should be above the canopy?

315 footprint is about 3-3.5 says ft. My canopy varies but I have plants 9- 10 " from bulb

So 4 would be great for a 7 x 7. 4 would give 6 x 6 a good blast of light I think??? 1 SQ/Ft more than a 1000w Gavita. They told me a 1000w Gavita is good for about 6 x 5 at 3 feet.

How DEEP will the 315 CMH Penetrate ? I need 24 inches minimum.

I'll veg 40 plants in 3g Smart Pots, and transplant into 10g for flowering.

I have 5 veg spots , 3 are T5
2 where CFL
I decided to try a 315w CMH 4000k
I had 3 x 250w CFL in a 3x3 room (750w)
This CMH is blowing away the CFLs at less then half the watts. It will penetrate 24" no problem, I'm keeping it about 10" above the tops .

4 x 315w CMH with a good reflectors will be a sweet veg setup.

I have another 2x4 veg room running 3x 250w cfl , I'm going to replace them with 2 CMH 315w

This 1 light has cut over 2 weeks off the veg time , and I turned off one group of T5s
So now down to 4 veg spots .

BigHornBuds said:

I have 5 veg spots , 3 are T5
2 where CFL
I decided to try a 315w CMH 4000k
I had 3 x 250w CFL in a 3x3 room (750w)
This CMH is blowing away the CFLs at less then half the watts. It will penetrate 24" no problem, I'm keeping it about 10" above the tops .

Click to expand...

Of course your CMH is blowing away the cfl's since the CMH is using almost twice the wattage and is putting out better light also. Your so called 250W cfl's are really only about 60W each.

Kerovan said:

Of course your CMH is blowing away the cfl's since the CMH is using almost twice the wattage and is putting out better light also. Your so called 250W cfl's are really only about 60W each.

Click to expand...

How do you figure they're only 60w each?
Got anything to backup your claims?

BigHornBuds said:

How do you figure they're only 60w each?
Got anything to backup your claims?

Click to expand...

There are cfl bulbs that Are a true 250 watts and not equivalent watts.. Are those your cfls? or are they 250 watt equivalent bulbs around 60 actual watts?

this is a 65watt cfl bulb 300w equivalent

Wonder if Gary can put that in his peehole.

Ouch hahahaha

I wasn't running equivalent bulbs
I'm running real 250w bulbs that draw that much power .
But figured I'd hear him out ...lol


I was running 6 of these 6400k
Now only 3 ,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/250w-Blue-6400k-2700k-grow/dp/B004M3HY4G

Yeah, I don't like using "Equivalent" Terminology.

IMHO its either x watts, or its not.

Kinda like a ACup is equal to double Ds

jimihendrix1 said:

Any idea of what the light footprint is for each 1, and what height they should be above the canopy?

Click to expand...

As the other dude stated, 3-3.5 square, but that's in flower, in veg you can cover more. 4x those cmh will rock.
Anyway makes more sense to have 4 lights covering a square with even light distribution than it does to have two higher powered lights covering same area with no even light distribution.

i dont see any reason to spend a lot of money on veg lights, get a couple of good adjustable quantum boards and be done with it, low heat, low power draw, and plants love them.
spend the money on flowering lights, thats where it counts.

Ive already got the flowering lights ( 2 1000w Gavitas ) but also have 8 1000w with Hortilux Bulbs, that I'm phasing out for something different. I'm just hoping the CHM will cover a 7 x 7 in Veg, and with as much light as possible. I could use what I already have, and probably get just as good of results, but Id like the try the spectrum of the CMH.

I like strong light on my seedlings from the start. Just like the equator, they would be getting strong light from the beginning. I want them growing as fast as possible when put into flowering, and I find HID works for me.. and I don't have to worry about heat, so heat is a non issue.

Im also still considering 2 x 600w Gavitas.

This is what I got , very happy
http://www.tthydroponic.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=81&product_id=1054

BigHornBuds said:

How do you figure they're only 60w each?
Got anything to backup your claims?

Click to expand...

Sorry, you proved me wrong. It's just that almost every single person that comes to these forums always give the "equivalent" wattage of their bulb/led panels not realizing that there is a difference. I assumed that you were doing the same.