heat concerns - 400W HPS + cfls

hi guys,

I'm 2 weeks into my first aerogarden grow.
I ordered a 400w HPS online and recently received it. I turned it on and realized i may have gone overboard.

I'm in a small closet and really want to avoid overheating.

I was curious if to reduce heat when I begin flowering and use the HPS, can i use it for the middle 8 of 12 hours of light a day and have 3-4 42w CFL's running the full 12?

it could simulate the 'hotter sun' of the midday in the summer?

would that be so bad to not use the big light for the full 12 hours?

Thanks for your help!

I wouldn't I would fix the heat problem. But im mad noobish.

well how hot does it get with the hps light on? and how big is your growing space?

I haven't run the HPS for a full cycle yet so I cant answer that question with much confidence. I will give that a test though

The growing space is 2'w x 2'l x 5'h and the ceiling is sloped so there is a bit less space up top (heat builds up there)

When i run the 3 aerogarden lights and 2 supplementary CFL's i have it runs at about 26-27C or 80F

When I tested the HPS the day I received it, i turned it on for about 20 minutes and it was getting hot, i didnt have the thermo in there at the time, but I felt it was potentially dangerous

I don't have any intake/outtake for the closet, but i have a fan running inside the closet and open the door for awhile every day... will this be ok to keep the HPS bulb cool and air circulated?

What are you going to do when that thing starts to stink?

bask in it?

I am starting to smell a little odor coming from it so i'll be buying some sort of air filter or looking at all these 'carbon scrubbers' i have been reading about

do you have any recommendation for a small grow like this? I've only got 3 plants in my aerogarden..

I picked up a small can filter for under $50 at my hydro shop. This is the second grow I've used it on. The guy from the hydro shop said you can wash the filter out and reactivate the charcoal for mulitiple uses and so far he's been right...

well i think a 400w hps is a little to much for your closet space...shoulda went to home depot and bought a 42w hps. another thought is to use the hps for flowering only and use cfl's for vegging. however if u have a window directly across from your closet that u can keep open to keep cold air circulating in your room that would help a whole lot.u have to think about your house and when it gets cooler. (mainly at light when ur fam is asleep its prolly around 70 versus in the day time ur house temp is prolly around 80) so if u run the hps on 12/12 make sure its on at night and off during the day

I did the same thing in my 2' deep closet. I plugged my 400w in and it got up to 90 degrees in a matter of a few minutes. Luckily I got a reflector with a 6" vent opening on it so I went and bought an inline fan for $25 and strapped it to the side. I had to vent the hot air outta the room with some 6" flex venting. I also have a bathroom fan blowing cool air into the closet and a rotating fan in closet
I still have to keep my house temps under 70 to maintain a good balance in the grow room.

So yeah its a potential can of worms for us small closet growers. I have flouros and cfls at my mom and 2 of her plants together wont come close to what one of my in going to yeild. So it is waaaaay worth it if you can get your venilation down

Im a little worried about my energy bill in the summer running the AC so much but Ill get over that

thanks guys, I'll work on creating some ventilation before its time to flower

Do you have a vented reflector?

Vi

no unfortunately I don't... I didnt put enough thought into my purchase, agh