I have a tent which is 120cm x 120cm x 200cm.
I currently have a 400w HPS in there.
I was thinking about getting a coolshade, so i could put the light closer to my plants, but would i still have enough light coverage for the whole tent if its closer to the plants?
Cheers.
rSc

I've found that I have to raise my lights up as my grow progresses.... I would suspect the effective coverage area for a this type of light would be about 3ft by 3ft or 126 cm by 126 cm and should increase some as the fixture is raised... pretty sure that even with a cool shade your gonna wanna stay atleast six inches (15 cm?) away from the plants ....

E2A: my metric conversions may be off....

It's pushing it a little with the 400 in there mate, only by a bit though. I'd say keep a decent reflector rather than get a cooltube, they don't have the best spread of light.

Getting it very close to the plants will cut your spread even more

If temps were the problem and the cooltube was a must then fair play, but i think you'll be worse off with the cool tube.

RSC i just changed from cooltube to growstar and will never go back, figure this I had a 600 HPS and a 250w MH both in cooltubes.

I upgraded to a growstar mini (For 600 HPS), and 400w MH

I left the MH in a cooltube so I expected temps to soar as now the 600 isn't cooled

My temps only went up a little somehow the growstar absorbs the heat, I tured up my fan a setting and its runing amazing I never relised how much light I had wasted cooltubes waste lots.

my mate has the same tent and he was so impressed with mine he went out and got a growstar mini (None MIRO) it works excellent in his tent temps 24 C all the time but he does have good extraction 8 inch out and 6 inch in what size extraction do you have as that could sort out heat probs


eM2

E4

Mate runs 400W MH at the minute

Well, at the moment, i just have a 4" Ruck fan, but planning on getting another, maybe 6" and having 6" as outtake and 4" as intake..
Its just my light being like 3foot away from the plants, i dont get much light going to the lower down buds and leaves. Hence why if i got a cooltube, i could put them closer.
I might concider that growstar idea,thanks.
rSc

Your plants should be about 12"-14" away from your plant canopy and I strongly agree with EM2

and KC33,get good reflectors and good extraction as this is far better than cooltubes.

You can get too close with a cooltube,ending up with a lumen hotspot below the tube and too close to effectively illuminate plants at the periphery of the grow.

i've got a 400w hps, a 125 extraction, 4 passive intakes and a 9" osc fan blowing over the lamp and i keep my lamp no more than 12-14"" from the top of my plants, no light burn as the smaller cola's are in the middle and the tallest ones are to the edge, works ok for me,

size of your gr, and dont quote me on this, but surely a 600w would be better, someone may correct me

yeah, i was thinking about getting a 600w. I only have a 400w because i used to have a drobe and only recently bought the tent.
got a bout £200 to spend on upgrading that is needed.
thinking about either another 400w or just 1 600w and getting a 6" inch fan.
cheers for the advice guys!
rSc

i'd get a 600w and a 125rvk for extract and use the 4" for intake, anyone agree

I agree with Leroy, a 600 would be more productive for ya mate imho.

Oh, and a rvk-125 (with a controller to be fussy )

PEACE

Yeah, i'm similar.
400 HPS, 125 extractor, 2 x passive intakes, clip on fan pointed at the light and an ocs tower fan in the corner mixing it all up. I keep the light 12" ish from the canopy, lights on avg temp 25 C

IMO a 400 is perfect for your space.



e2a: spelling

Right, thanks for all the advice guys, going to get a 600w and a GroStar reflector with a 5" fan.
Thanks again :]
rSc

Don't forget you need a growstar mini the big one will not fit, i would get a 8 inch fan Vary speed that way when the summer comes you will be sorted the 4 inch will do for intake but in the hotter months you might find you need to upgrade that.

Hope you get sorted

EM2