400 w should i try to upgrade ????

Hello and thanks for looking in,

I have a area of 800 mm x 800 mm square. It has a 400 w HID works fine with what i'm running just 5 plants the hydro set up tank is not that big and sits in the middle of this area.

I'm now looking at a airoponic set up now the one i'm looking at is 800 x 800 mm in size and can hold 16 plants !

So i am using my max space to its full limit now is my 400 w hid going to be enough to do the area of 800 x 800 well enough ?

I brought this cabinet from a manufacturer and i am speaking to find out how easy it would be the change the balest so i can upgrade to a 600 w.

The way the cabinet is designed now seems not very easy to change things which is a real pain !

So if you think the 400 is good enough then great it will save me a lot of headache but if you say i really need a 600 w then i will get it done any advice appreciated.

KB

Ok i have the answer to the question after speaking today to many in the trade and hydroponic industry to which i owe my thanks.

My system is fine and does not need upgrading or improving.

I agree, I was using a 400 watt for 16 plants with just a little more length then you have and it was fine. You would only upgrade to get more yield not because its necessary. VV

There is a major difference in the amount a 600 watt yields vs. a 400 watt. I still currently use a magnetic ballast 400 air cooled, but my digital 600 sunmaster has plants twice as hefty under it.

Yes a 600 w is more than a 400 w so just on that basis it's going to be better.

However my set up has been designed to work within the bounderies of a 400w with my automated temperature control system to activate when too high or too low.

A change to a 600 w in my case would cause my temp control to overwork and maybe not keep the temp in check a result which could be very bad for my crop.

Another interesting fact i was about to pay and change to a 16 plant areoponic system to fit in my 800 x 800 mm, only for the honesty of a hydroponic shop worker i have remained with my current 5 plant system. He informed me no extra yield from 16 plants could be gained that you would not get with a good 5 plant i am currently doing, given same space and light.

Saved me time and money i will now work to improve just the way my plants grow and maybe look to improve the way i feed them if anything.

^^ Thats the correct way to look at it. ^^

Space/Temps have to be considered before upgrading.

We all want bigger lights.