Secret Jardin 4x4 grow setup

Sounds a great deal like my setup, except I'm using a 4” fan and filter for exhaust, fans don't cool they only move air.

I would suggest a thermostatic fan controller for exhaust like the c.a.p. vsc-dne.

As far as DWC during the summer it can be difficult to keep res temps down and root rot can result. Some people never have a problem; I am not one of those people.

You might consider trying a dirt grow first with something like fox farms line up, several people claim it produces high quality bud. If you want to do a great deal of reading check out the organic forum.

Co2 is great but very expensive to do correctly, you need a controller, then an a/c or a dehumidifier, best to try a few grows first.

 

A 600w puts out a about a 3x3 footprint, so a 4 bucket setup should work well.

 

In my opinion, does not increase yield, allows higher chamber temps (from 75-78F to 85-88F) and shortens veg grow time..


Oh and about your setup...

600w in a 4x4 only gives you 37.5w per sq ft, personally I like to see at least 800w in a 4x4 (50w per sq), but than you will have to deal with the heat issue too....

 

Well gk79kk, keep in mind that this is ONLY my personal opinion and preference.. But I have been growing for over 15yrs now and within the past 5-6yrs dedicate time as a caregiver to the medical community setting up grows for people which have a need, but not the know how..

I have ALWAYS have suggested (as almost advanced growers do) at least 50w per sq ft for grow chambers (I personally shoot for around 65w per sq. on my grows).. Now me being "old school" (44yrs old), I have always suggested using HID to supply the needed light..

Not saying you cannot grow using less than 50w per sq. of HID, or using the newer CFLs, as it is being done by a lot of people, but I just feel they are not getting the tightest most resinous flowers the strain(s) have to offer..


So, yes you're correct, it does depend on heat, what area you're growing in (cooler mountains or hotter deserts) and where you're going to setup your chamber (within attic or down in a basement)..


But if you look at the Secret Jardin DR150, it is a 59" x 59" x 78.75", if you break that down, it is 4'9" x 4'9", so it has a total of 24.1' sq footprint... It's really almost a 5x5..

I also assume that you're going to be tending to the garden outside of the tent, meaning you're going to use 100% of the tent's footprint for grow area..

So if we take the lamp's wattage (600) and divide that by the footprint (24'), you come up with 25w per sq foot.. If you were to add another 600, so we take 1200(w) divided by 24', we now get 50w per sq ft...


Now just as an example, most SCRoG'ers suggest at least 75w per sq, and up to 100w per.. So with that many watts per sq, they MUST have to deal with riding the chamber of heat as well..

BUT, there are SCRoG grows which use less, such as one of our GrassCity's administrators BudSlinger's 400hps Stealth, which grew a pretty sizable scrog using a 400w..

Now if you compare budslingers buds and yields to say Dan Dare's over at mycotopia, that is SCRoG(ing) a 10' sq tent using 1000w (100w per sq), you can clearly see a HUGE difference in bud size and overall yields (keep in mind they were growing different strains as well)..


If you search around and look at all the different grows being done, it is CLEAR as day and night, the more light you can supply the grow (within reason of course) the better overall bud and yield you will receive..


Now with all that being said, it is really up to you..
But yes, I would suggest using two 600w lamps..
Just remember, you can ALWAYS expand and add another lamp at a later time or another grow if you feel that your footprint can handle the added wattage and or you will not have a problem removing the heat from the chamber...

Right now with just using the 600w lamp in a 24' footprint you should not have any issues with heat. But I also feel adding another 600w lamp and separating the lamp's cooling from the chamber's exhaust, adding a blower just for the lamps, so the heat never enters the chamber, that by adding another 600w lamp to that 24' sq ft tent would be fine..


Also, you did not list any meters for PPM/EC or PH??
Did you forget about them?? Because using the Lucas Formula (which I never really understood) you will surly need them...

Hope that helps ya...

 

Dude I dont know where u get off saying co2 doesn't increase yield ! It's a scientifically proven fact. Get some supplemental gas bro'. This cat is so wrong. Run at 1800 ppm and you'll have fat colas. If u need proof. I can provide that.

 

Have you done a side-by-side study???
Can you please point me to that???

 

I've not done a " side by side study". But I've grown with and without gas. Gas always wins. Always.

 

I would worry more about the Lumens per square foot then the wattage. Lumens is much much much more impoirtant then watts. Besides 600w HPS lights are the most energy efficient out of 400, 600 and 1000 watt lights. Experience should tell you this or just a little simple math. You want 3000-5000+ lumens per square foot. Remember light intencity is measured in lumens NOT wattage. Wattage ONLY gives you the amount of power the light draws. Not how powerful (lumens) the light is.

The answer to this is NO! If your gonna be pulling that many watts you might as well do it right instead of half ass.

400 - 50000 lumens - 125 lumens per watt
600 - 90000 lumens - 150 lumens per watt
1000 - 147000 lumens - 147 lumens per watt

All of the bulbs are around average. Just look at the difference in the 400w lumens and the 600w lumens. 200 watt difference but 40000 lumens. So putting 800 watts or 2x400 you would end up with 100,000 lumens. Going his route doing 2x 600's would bring him into 180000 lumens. 80000 more lumens and only 400 more watts. Where else are you gonna get that 80000 lumens for 400 watts? You dont need 800-1200 watts just to make 4-6 plants grow good. 600 is enough for 4-6 plants in a SCROG. Yes more is better but 600 will do. I ran a 250 in my closet last year with 4 plants under it and i pllled 1.5-2oz per plant without a problem. Light is best measured in lumens if talking about growing. Your 15 years should have told you this.

To suggest 2x400w lights or 800 total watts is bad advice. With 2x400's your getting 100000 lumens using 800 watts (not including the balast) but with a 600 your getting 90000 lumens with 600 watts.

And yes CO2 does increase yield........................ A side by side room with the same lights and the same enviroment the room with CO2 will demolish the room without.

Gk79KK Keep doing what your doing. You have the right idea. Best to ignore the opinions and look more into the science and math.

 

I stand corrected then... (hangs head in shame.. LOL)
But I was not suggesting two 400w (I think you misread that), I was suggesting two 600w (180000 lumens as opposed to 90000 for 24' sq footprint)..

Thanks for the correction about the Co2 Drayton Sawyers and Stony!!
I always just used DIY Co2, most likely why I never really seen any dramatic differences..

 

i'm in.
cut off the dead stuff