how many lights for my room

MissTHC

Active Member
I have a 12x13 room for flower. I plan on buying lights next week and due to funds I'm starting off with 4 de 1000w HPS. My thinking was that 6 1000w would be ideal for that size room but wanted to ask all of you your opinions first. I have a 3 ton mini split getting installed so temps won't be an issue. I would love to hear from other growers with roughly the same size room how they optimized their space, what grow style they use, and best yields. Currently I am using soil but after my next run I will switch to some form of hydro if I can ever make up my mind about which one to use.
 

MissTHC

Active Member
Guy at the grow store is trying to talk me out of 1000w lights because my ceilings are standard 8' basement ceilings. He says 750's would be better and less intense on the canopy...what does the awesome rollitup community say about that?
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I have 8 foot basement (floor to bottom of floor joists above) and I do cheat a little on some lights pulling them up between the joists a little but I can't do that on all of them. They work and I grow some trees. Would I like higher ceilings, sure but can I work with what I have, yeah.

Have you looked at LED or is that out of the price range? I know they are like 3x the money but they do rock (if you get good ones).
 

MissTHC

Active Member
I have 8 foot basement (floor to bottom of floor joists above) and I do cheat a little on some lights pulling them up between the joists a little but I can't do that on all of them. They work and I grow some trees. Would I like higher ceilings, sure but can I work with what I have, yeah.

Have you looked at LED or is that out of the price range? I know they are like 3x the money but they do rock (if you get good ones).
Led's are definitely of the price range unfortunately. I'm going to scrog too so I was thinking the height issues wouldn't be too bad. I think it's time to go to a different store, my guy makes things very confusing a little too often!
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Led's are definitely of the price range unfortunately. I'm going to scrog too so I was thinking the height issues wouldn't be too bad. I think it's time to go to a different store, my guy makes things very confusing a little too often!
Don't even listen to grow store people. Just tell them what you want and pay for it. Don't ask them for advice. They wouldn't be working at a grow store if they could grow good weed lol.
 

J232

Well-Known Member
Don't even listen to grow store people. Just tell them what you want and pay for it. Don't ask them for advice. They wouldn't be working at a grow store if they could grow good weed lol.
Fuck, my hydro store told me not to run hydro.. they are extra special.
 

MissTHC

Active Member
Don't even listen to grow store people. Just tell them what you want and pay for it. Don't ask them for advice. They wouldn't be working at a grow store if they could grow good weed lol.
He's the owner actually, he and his wife have helped me design my entire grow so far from day one. Awesome people but he is smart and knows a bit too much in my opinion, makes it difficult for me to decide what to do.
 

NukaKola

Well-Known Member
Guy at the grow store is trying to talk me out of 1000w lights because my ceilings are standard 8' basement ceilings. He says 750's would be better and less intense on the canopy...what does the awesome rollitup community say about that?
I do think he has a point. Typically 1kw DE’s are ran with 10’+ ceilings. Not saying it can’t be done but you have to setup your room accordingly. By the time you factor in the height of the light, your pots and distance from canopy you are already losing around 4’ of vertical space and that’s not including if you are running elevated trays.

I would consider running 2 rows of 3 600-750w DE’s, effectively covering an 8x12 with more even distribution. This would give you more vertical space and allow you to have a 2’ walkway down the middle and 1’ on each side to easily tend to the plants.

Of course with the 1kw you have the option to dim but here is some info from Gavita themselves regarding that. They claim a 35% loss in efficiency when dimming a 1kw to 600w.

 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
He's the owner actually, he and his wife have helped me design my entire grow so far from day one. Awesome people but he is smart and knows a bit too much in my opinion, makes it difficult for me to decide what to do.
Well I am sure he knows that you would need more 750's to cover the area thus he sells more fixtures and bulbs...
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
One thing to consider is that you have the option of running a 750 watt bulb in the 1000 watt fixture set at 75%. So changing bulbs and turning a dial can make it either light.
 

MissTHC

Active Member
One thing to consider is that you have the option of running a 750 watt bulb in the 1000 watt fixture set at 75%. So changing bulbs and turning a dial can make it either light.
I mentioned that and he said it changes the light spectrum when you dim a bulb. Idk
 
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