light size to tent size

Whats up everyone!

I have a small tent (2x2x5 for some autos) coming in tomorow and I havnt decided on what size hps to run. Iv never grown usuing a tent or hps. Iv only ever done some small cab cfl stuff so nothing impressive but its time to take it up a notch.

The 2 options im thinking are 250w hps or 400w hps. Id like the maximum wattage but im not sure if 400 is too much and idk if 250 is a little on the weak side or if itll be just about right.

Being a smaller tent im worried about heat build up. Could a 400w cool tube work? Winter is also coming up fast so the temps will b constantly on the lower side.

So if anyone has any ideas, experiance or advice let me know! My last grow was over 4yrs ago so im rusty lol.

I have a 2x2x5 tent with a 400w. It does get hot if you don't have any intake/exhaust fan.

However, if you get a powerful enough exhaust fan you can easily run a 400w HPS/MH. Keeping the air circulating is the most important part.

You can also get an air cooled hood which keeps the light cool.

joey.bagadonuts said:

I have a 2x2x5 tent with a 400w. It does get hot if you don't have any intake/exhaust fan.

However, if you get a powerful enough exhaust fan you can easily run a 400w HPS/MH. Keeping the air circulating is the most important part.

You can also get an air cooled hood which keeps the light cool.

Click to expand...

Thaks for tge reply! Sounds good man thats what i needed to hear!

I could not get a 400 watt air cooled HPS hood to fit well in my 2x2.5 tent.
The hood with the with the air vents is way bigger that 2 1/2 feet. An unvented hood would fit but is too hot.

jeepster1993 said:

I could not get a 400 watt air cooled HPS hood to fit well in my 2x2.5 tent.
The hood with the with the air vents is way bigger that 2 1/2 feet. An unvented hood would fit but is too hot.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! Do you by chance know how big your hood was? Iv found one as small as 15"x17" so i was thinking of trying that.

smokiemcbowl said:

Thanks for the reply! Do you by chance know how big your hood was? Iv found one as small as 15"x17" so i was thinking of trying that.

Click to expand...

400W in a 2'x2' will get real hot real quick and without any air cooling options on the hood, your gonna need to move A LOT of air through your tent to keep managable temps.

HydroRed said:

400W in a 2'x2' will get real hot real quick and without any air cooling options on the hood, your gonna need to move A LOT of air through your tent to keep managable temps.

Click to expand...

This^

It would probably be easier and possibly cheaper to get a few cobs.

smokiemcbowl said:

Thanks for the reply! Do you by chance know how big your hood was? Iv found one as small as 15"x17" so i was thinking of trying that.

Click to expand...

If you are going to cool it, you need another 4 to 5 inches at each end for the vent tubes. My 400 watt HPS had 6 inch vents on it.
My hood fit, until I tried to cool it.

You could try one of the commercial COB LED lights available. They put off less heat in general but you cannot air vent what heat the do produce directly like an aircooled HPS hood. Well some LED lights you can but generally that's not the case.

I'm running a ~190w dual COB LED light in a 2x2 and a HPS running at 600w in the 4x4 beside it. Temps are similar with a 4" inline blowing into the 2x2 vented into the 4x4 and finally vented out of the room. Hopefully that puts some perspective on it.

Awesome replys! Im not up so much for the LED set ups (i havnt ever looked into it). So sounds like im gonna pick up the 250w hps and go from there. Sounds like my fears have been comfermed but it isnt impossable. Ill probably get a 400w down the road for shits and giggles and try it out. Thanks guys!!!