Lighting help

I'm setting up a grow room in a closet 4.5 ft by 2 ft and 7 ft high. What kind of lighting would be best for this space? What would you do? I'd like to get in as many plants as I can.
TIA!

Hi -

With 9 sq. feet, a 400w HPS will give you almost 50w/sq. foot. That's what I'd use. Mount it on chains or pulleys so you can keep the plants on a stable base and just raise/lower the fixture as needed.

You might want to think about some side lighting at the ends, like a dual compact flourescent fixture each, maybe more, because with a space that's long and narrow, you'll lose some lumens at the far ends.

my closet is roughly that size and im using a 400w hps with 4 42w cfls for side lighting. my temps are 83f lights on, 78f lights off. ill be housing 8 plants in there after this batch finishes

Thanks! You've really given me some ways to look at my set up. But do I have to use HPS lights. How about MH?

I read in a growers catalog:
High Pressure Sodium: Best light source if used in conjunction with natural light. Promotes flowering and buddig. Functions as a secondary light source.

Metal Halide: Best light source if little or no natual light is available. Functions as a primary light source.

So now I'm confused as to which one to get.

get both if you can afford it but if you can only get one get the HPS

klemtownmak said:

get both if you can afford it but if you can only get one get the HPS

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I second that.

Okay, the HPS it is! Thanks again!

Sublime757 said:

my closet is roughly that size and im using a 400w hps with 4 42w cfls for side lighting.

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This is a very important point SIDE LIGHTING if u can have a few cfl´s or fluoro tubes on the sides thats magic....

OmegaVermelho said:

This is a very important point SIDE LIGHTING if u can have a few cfl´s or fluoro tubes on the sides thats magic....

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EXACTLY! i underestimated this for quite sometime and i was very surprised when i introduced these little bastards. i was actually able to save some of my lower branches by doing this. they just look cool too

Alrighty then... I have a choice to make... 24W CFLs or 55W CFLs? Which would be best for my size room? And how many plants do you think I can get in there?

go ahead with the 55watters. im setting up next season for about 8 plants in my closet

I don't have a good way to ventilate my closet, so I was thinking of using flourescents since they are cooler. Also I was wondering about running rows of lights up the sides to make up for the less efficient light source. Any comments?

Mazal said:

I don't have a good way to ventilate my closet, so I was thinking of using flourescents since they are cooler. Also I was wondering about running rows of lights up the sides to make up for the less efficient light source. Any comments?

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sounds like an excellent idea. with my flouros i still need like 2-3 computer fans in a TINY area to keep it around 80 degrees F

i use a bucket as a removable container because the white walls reflect the light so well...im starting to think the only real way to get efficiency per watt is by doing it this way...that is until i can make a good reflector for cfl.