9' long x 2' deep is all I've got. How would you light this space?

gcvt420

Well-Known Member
My main potential grow space is a 9' x 2' closet with 8' ceilings and two bi-fold doors. The 2' depth is a problem as far as lighting goes. How does one light a 2' wide space like this? Cloning will take place elsewhere in the home so I'm looking to do veg and flowering growth in the 9' x 2' space with a light-tight divider of some sort...probably just a plywood divider.

For veg, I can go one of two ways with equipment I already have. One option is four 4' dual-bulb Home Depot "shoplights" which would give me 320 watts. The other option is to use four 3-foot 96 watt power compact bulbs on electronic ballasts that used to be on my fish tank...giving me 384 watts and leaving an extra foot of space for the flowering side. I'm leaning toward using the power compact setup with elec ballasts, which will leave me with a 6' x 2' flowering area with 8' ceilings.

So, in 6' x 2', I'm looking at 400w and 600w setups for flowering. Any recommendations on how to set up a space like this? Would I be better off with two 400w HPS in a long skinny space like this or would one 600w HPS cover the area adequately?

Initial sketch of potential closet setup attached for your critique and suggestions...

 

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gcvt420

Well-Known Member
Update: I have a buddy willing to sell me his old Sunlight Supply 250w MH setup for the Veg side for about $100, so that would change things.

Still looking for some feedback on my overall setup strategy though. Any thoughts?
 
With that length, I would go with a 400 watt HPS in a cooltube with a 6 foot light mover. Maybe even a 600 watt if you can vent it properly (twice the lumens of 400 watt). With the width being 2 feet, I would go with drip buckets. Cram as many as you can in there. Try to keep your ballast outside the room to reduce temps. You might want to consider a strain that doesnt bush out too much, like the Grandaddy Purple.

Hope this helps.
 

gcvt420

Well-Known Member
Thanks Bloo - these are the kind of ideas I'm looking for! I hadn't considered a light mover...but might look into this now. A 600 HPS on a mover might just be the setup - just got some more research to do about this.

Venting shouldn't be a problem. The back wall of the grow closet backs up to a bathroom which has a skylight with an A/C register style vent which leads to the roof (photo attached below). If I can cut a few holes through some drywall and run some 4" or 6" ducts to draw fresh air and exhaust hot air through this skylight vent, I'm confident that I can run a big bulb. Heck, I might even be able to go larger with the ducting and fans and accommodate a 1000w HPS; my average outdoor temp is well below 70° every day of the year...more often in the high 50's or low 60's. But, then again, that's why I'm here asking questions.
 

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Light movers don't get the credit they deserve. One 600 watt on a mover is about equal to three 400 watt lights. It saves you a lot on power bills. Hydrofarm has a fairly inexpensive mover for around $120, but the more expensive Light Rail pauses the light at the ends of the track so the plants grow evenly.
Although I have never tried aeroponics, the Aeroflo2 20 or 30 site units will fit your area. http://homeharvest.com/hydrosysghaeroflo2.htm


Good Luck
 
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