How much light for a 2'x4'x60" tent?

[garybob69]

I had been using just a Viparspectra VP2000, but also recently added 2 Mars Hydro 600 watt lights. Too much? Use just the big one? In combination of? I just grow autos, trying to get away from the dispensaries. Thanking ya'll in advance.

[Xena]

The Mars ts600 will veg 2x2 and flower 1.5x1.5 each. No idea what the VP covers.

[garybob69]

Yes, That's true of the Mars Hydro. The VP is supposed to cover a 3'x3'. Is too much light a thing? Waste of money running 2 or 3 of the lights?

[JohnEmad]

I run over 300 real watts of decent LED lighting for my 2x4 tent and get good results. I use a QB style 238 Watt board and add a 100 Watt Cree cob LED when in flower. I have pulled a lb in this space.

[garybob69]

The 3 of these will do a bit better according to my kill-o-watt meter. Perhaps that's the ticket, the Vipar during veg, throw all of them at flower. Thank you.

[gbauto]

You're working with 8 sq ft of canopy.
To get adequate light intensity in that space, a simple metric helps.
HID lighting(HPS, CMH, MH) needs approx. 50 watts/ sq ft
Older tech diodes(blurples) used in economy fixtures need the same 50 watt/ sq ft power density.
Current-tech diodes like those used in QB's can achieve the same photon output at 30 watts/ sq ft.

So, 400 watts of blurples or 240 watts of QB's.

[MeEasy]

Damn gbauto I think that was the best explanation or description of necessary lighting I've seen on the internet. I am going to screenshot this so I can reference it when I'm explaining lights to someone. Good work and thanks I can never get it out right and most of the time I see everyone just say "you need 35-50 watts to flower" never separating the different type lights

[garybob69]

Thanx all. Seems like I can remove one of the 600 watt mars

[MeEasy]

Personally I would leave all three in there. I would center the vp and put the 2 Mars on each side, use just the vp for veg and all three for flower

[garybob69]

That's how I have them set up. I think I'll leave them as they are. I appreciate your input.