Lighting 1000w HPS New Grow Lighting Question

[walleyehunter]

Long time reader, first time poster. I am going to be do my first autoflower grow here and have a couple a questions. My set-up is a 5x5 complete tent with dimmable 1000w HPS (400,600,1000) with a dual spectrum bulb. I am also going to throw a couple of CFL's in there for the grow. Three gallon pots with soil.. 20 to 25 plants total.. 20/4 light cycle.. all auto and all feminized for this first run..
1- Joint Doctor Lowryder 2
2- Joint Doctor Dieselryder
3-Low Life AK-47
4- Low Life Blueberry
5- Blarney's Pineapple Express.

Can I run my 1000w HPS right off the bat? I am worried about stunting them with too much power. Would it be worth it to buy a bunch of extra CFL's to get them going. Or just dim my light to 400w HPS or 600w HPS for the first week or two. What are your thoughts?

Or would this make any sense: Have them all under 400wHPS for Weeks 1 & 2, 600wHPS for Weeks 3 & 4, and then switch to 1000wHPS from that point until harvest. Again, the bulb I will be using will be a dual spectrum with both red and blue and 20/4 timing for the entire duration of the grow.

Thanks!

 

[Nemesis]

Long time reader, first time poster. I am going to be do my first autoflower grow here and have a couple a questions. My set-up is a 5x5 complete tent with dimmable 1000w HPS (400,600,1000) with a dual spectrum bulb. I am also going to throw a couple of CFL's in there for the grow. Three gallon pots with soil.. 20 to 25 plants total.. 20/4 light cycle.. all auto and all feminized for this first run..
1- Joint Doctor Lowryder 2
2- Joint Doctor Dieselryder
3-Low Life AK-47
4- Low Life Blueberry
5- Blarney's Pineapple Express.

Can I run my 1000w HPS right off the bat? I am worried about stunting them with too much power. Would it be worth it to buy a bunch of extra CFL's to get them going. Or just dim my light to 400w HPS or 600w HPS for the first week or two. What are your thoughts?

Or would this make any sense: Have them all under 400wHPS for Weeks 1 & 2, 600wHPS for Weeks 3 & 4, and then switch to 1000wHPS from that point until harvest. Again, the bulb I will be using will be a dual spectrum with both red and blue and 20/4 timing for the entire duration of the grow.

Thanks!

Hi mate and Welome to the AFN Family,
Start em off with the 1000 mate but keep the light high above them.
If it was me id go all the way with a 1000
Mates got two Gavita 1000's and a plasma, that's the way he started em and now theyre doing really well.

 

[GoAuto6]

1000 watts in a 5 x 5 is only 40 watt's per square foot....with good ventilation and air flow, and good temp's , there's no reson you cant start with the big watts.....

 

[rdeaton]

I run 1000 watts in a 4x4 space. You need light at least 36 inches away if you on full power for first several weeks. Maybe up to 4-5 weeks. I used to run 600 and you could get that thing close but when I switched to 1000 I stunted them from 24 inches away. Just to much to close for young plants.

 

[midman4u]

20-25 might get a bit crowded! I have 25 in a 4x10 space and it is tight.All under 1-1000 dimmed to 75% and 2-600 hps

 

[walleyehunter]

Long time reader, first time poster. I am going to be do my first autoflower grow here and have a couple a questions. My set-up is a 5x5 complete tent with dimmable 1000w HPS (400,600,1000) with a dual spectrum bulb. I am also going to throw a couple of CFL's in there for the grow. Three gallon pots with soil.. 20 to 25 plants total.. 20/4 light cycle.. all auto and all feminized for this first run..
1- Joint Doctor Lowryder 2
2- Joint Doctor Dieselryder
3-Low Life AK-47
4- Low Life Blueberry
5- Blarney's Pineapple Express.

Can I run my 1000w HPS right off the bat? I am worried about stunting them with too much power. Would it be worth it to buy a bunch of extra CFL's to get them going. Or just dim my light to 400w HPS or 600w HPS for the first week or two. What are your thoughts?

Or would this make any sense: Have them all under 400wHPS for Weeks 1 & 2, 600wHPS for Weeks 3 & 4, and then switch to 1000wHPS from that point until harvest. Again, the bulb I will be using will be a dual spectrum with both red and blue and 20/4 timing for the entire duration of the grow.

Thanks!

 

[Grim Reefer]

Im a noob but from what i have seen you could start it on a 600wt at about 2.5 ft away from the pots and then gradually go up in wts if you wanted. Just make sure to move the light away from the pot everytime you move up the wats so you dont burn the plants. Good luck with your grow man.

 

[walleyehunter]

I run 1000 watts in a 4x4 space. You need light at least 36 inches away if you on full power for first several weeks. Maybe up to 4-5 weeks. I used to run 600 and you could get that thing close but when I switched to 1000 I stunted them from 24 inches away. Just to much to close for young plants.

Thanks for the help.. so start full power 36" away from the plant for the first 4 to 5 weeks and then how close do you bring the light to the plant after that for the remainder of the grow?

midman4u- what strains are you running.. I figured I might be a little tight I might end up with just 15 or so but I will just play it by year. Im going to have 15 sq ft less than you so I'll definitely have a space restriction..

And yes I will have good ventilation and air flow and have a pretty good set-up for controlling temps so I should be good there..

 

[rdeaton]

At least 36 inches to start with. Where your growing so many may have to be that high anyway just to get coverage. But anyway after few weeks you can start letting them grow closer. Never get closer than 24 inches though and just pay attention even if it not hot to your hand you can still bleach them or stunt them.

 

[Muddy]

Duplicate threads merged.