5x5 tent - 2x600watt or 1000watt

Hey RIU!

I am planning my next project around a 5'x5' Tent and was wondering what the lighting situation should be.
Going more for Yield as i might not be able to grow in the future if I have to move.
Been reading a bit and can't decide which will be more efficient. 2x600 or a single 1000watt(maybe denser floral clusters?)
Thinking
*running lights at night.
Lighting 2-600 watt air cooled - better light coverage or 1000 watt maybe with light mover.
Ideally keeping the lights around 18-36 inches if temps are cooler outside then ill dial in then distance closer to 18"-24" for the 600's & 24"-36" the closest i would think would be fine for a 1000 if the light is cooled enough. not sure yet
Exhaust/Cooling - 450 CFM 6inch inline exhaust & smaller 240 cfm 6" booster fan drawing outside air @ night when temps are colder ~30-40 degrees sometime cooler when it snows.
maybe 10-15 ladies in 3 gal to fill the space not sure how many would utilize the space efficiently

Popping seeds so the more the chances at females would be ideal but not opposed to chucking some pollen if I see something special.

I also know skill/genetics/nutes/environment play a big role just trying to get a general idea, since my Cervantes Bible says 2x600 are better than a single 1000 watt, and a buddy told me the flowers might be less dense with 2 600's. I just thought 2 600's would be better since u can put them closer, thus increasing the light penetration and lumens.

Genetics will probably be more Indica-hybrid based.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Peace & One love!

2x600w is 1200w prolly get better than 1 1000w. It's just logic. Put them side by side to imitate one big light.

logic or not, i would got with 1x 1k

Depends on Ur budget. not a lot of money. Get one reflector. But 5x5 doesn't sound like a lot of space for two reflectors anyways. 200 w is not gonna make or break u. In this case. U should go with 1x1000w. Would save u some money. On an extra ballast n reflector.

I had assumed money was no object. But it seems space might be a concern. Assume = ass outta u and me

Awesome thanks for the input . Thinking the 1000 watt now. Only reason I was saying 2 -600watts is because I already have a 600 watt digi ballast so I thought it would be cheaper to just order another 600watt instead of the 1000. But you guys think the 2-600 watt is not good for the 5x5 space? I thought the light coverage and penetration would increase.

Would it be 1200watt/5'x5'. So 1200 watts divided by 25 sqft = 48watts per sqft? I thought I read somewhere 50watts per sqft is a good rule of thumb. Not sure if the math equation is right. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The amount of watts doesn't mean a whole lot. Comparing the lumen output would be better, but still not ideal.

I don't see how you can get an even and efficient spread with 2x600watt on a 5x5 space. If you had 4x6 instead I'd go for the 2x600, but 1000 watt (possibly with boast feature) just fits nicely for a 5x5 space.

Do then even make light movers for tents haha?

Kahlouah said:

Do then even make light movers for tents haha?

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whats worse than 2 reflectors in a 5x5 tent? 2 reflectors on light movers in a 5x5 tent. lol

Lmao I just thought how it would be HAHAHAHAHAHAA fucking light mover sorry was very medicated. Then a 1000 watt it is. Any bulb recommendations?

with a 5x5 (or 4x4) and a 600 you should go browse the vertical forum. Many users see a significant increase in yield (and temp drop) going from a hood to a barebulb. or even stacking 2 600s or a 400mh+600hps. Something to think about.

As for bulbs, im a fan of either Ushiro Opti Reds for a pricy bulb, or a Ipower Super Hps (amazon) for a cheap light.

I second the Ipower Super Hps. I enjoy those bulbs.

Kahlouah said:

Awesome thanks for the input . Thinking the 1000 watt now. Only reason I was saying 2 -600watts is because I already have a 600 watt digi ballast so I thought it would be cheaper to just order another 600watt instead of the 1000. But you guys think the 2-600 watt is not good for the 5x5 space? I thought the light coverage and penetration would increase.

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Get a 1000 and then Throw your 600 up the last month of flower, if the plants can handle it you'll have rock hard buds.

doubletake said:

Get a 1000 and then Throw your 600 up the last month of flower, if the plants can handle it you'll have rock hard buds.

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Indeed brotha! What a great idea! I was thinking the same thing! Anyone recommend a plant number for 3 gallon pots in a 5x5?

d0rk2dafullest said:

Depends on Ur budget. not a lot of money. Get one reflector. But 5x5 doesn't sound like a lot of space for two reflectors anyways. 200 w is not gonna make or break u. In this case. U should go with 1x1000w. Would save u some money. On an extra ballast n reflector.

I had assumed money was no object. But it seems space might be a concern. Assume = ass outta u and me

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Yes money isnt really an issue but the space is the concern, just trying to maximize efficiency with what i got. But yes i was thinking 1000watt and the other 200 watts I would have ran would be now used for a cloner/veg room

1000w in a 5x5 is sweet, no need for a light mover. 2 x 600w aircooled in a small tent is a lot of ducting, weight and wouldn't give any extra yield unless you were a very experienced grower in my opinion.

Kahlouah said:

Indeed brotha! What a great idea! I was thinking the same thing! Anyone recommend a plant number for 3 gallon pots in a 5x5?

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I was in a 4x8 and did 4 in each 4x4 square and it was perfect in 3 gallon pots.
This time around I'm doing 9 (in each 4x4 square) just cause I wanted a shorter veg time.
I'd probley go with 9 and veg them to like a foot or foot and a half cause they'll almost double after stretch end up with 9 solid little 3 foot bushes.

Kahlouah said:

Indeed brotha! What a great idea! I was thinking the same thing! Anyone recommend a plant number for 3 gallon pots in a 5x5?

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Be careful about overcrowding as this can affect yield. I grew 9 plants in 11L (3 gal) pots in a 1M x 1M x 2M tent under a 600W HPS and once they grew to touch each other they went into a stretch, competing for top light and they became tall and lanky with just one main cola and a few smaller side branches with fluffy buds. I grew 5 varieties that time and all of the plants did the same thing.
The yield per plant was much less than expected, and I could have done as well with two or three well trained plants in the same space.
I grew one of those varieties earlier on its own (northern lights) and the plant was full and bushy with 19 good colas. In the crowded tent, the same plants were thin and tall and with just a couple of useful colas. The rest was fluffy bud.

I had a 5x5. I would get a spread a sing extra large, its almost 5 ft and a light mover. Done and done. 1000w of course.

Surfer Joe said:

Be careful about overcrowding as this can affect yield. I grew 9 plants in 11L (3 gal) pots in a 1M x 1M x 2M tent under a 600W HPS and once they grew to touch each other they went into a stretch, competing for top light and they became tall and lanky with just one main cola and a few smaller side branches with fluffy buds. I grew 5 varieties that time and all of the plants did the same thing.
The yield per plant was much less than expected, and I could have done as well with two or three well trained plants in the same space.
I grew one of those varieties earlier on its own (northern lights) and the plant was full and bushy with 19 good colas. In the crowded tent, the same plants were thin and tall and with just a couple of useful colas. The rest was fluffy bud.

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Good point i dont want to work against myself. So you think 9-10 plants would do well under a single 1000watt lamp?



Seriously Guys Thank you soOooO much for the feedback its greatly appreciated!!!!! Thinking a Double Ended Light system with a different style of aircooled hood that does NOT draw cool air over the bulb since the Double ended bulbs need to be ran at a certain temp to reach maximum light output. Anyone have knowledge any personal experience with these double ended systems? Heard the D/E bulbs put out a better PAR rating for your plants, which in turn is better quality light, which in turn helps the plants develop better is what im guessing. Been reading these types of bulbs have helped increase yields up to 50%, obviously it vaires from person to person but anything that helps right?