1, My only experience with growing under lights is peppers. Ive grown them under lower wattage HPS and MH, and they both produced well. HPS produced taller plants with washed-out looking leaves. MH seemed to make them grow more compact, and the leaves kept a nicer green color - similar to fluorescent.

2. the more the better, whatever you can afford bulb wise and electricity wise. If you're just trying to overwinter and not actively grow, i would think the 600w might be sufficient. depends on the spread and density of the leaves of your particular plants.

3. dont really have any experience with this, but the fan option sounds better to me. The closer the light to the plants, the better.

Thanks jay.

1000w lumatek ballast.

High quality, can run hps and mh, 600w and 1000w

more money up front, far more flexibility

Yeah I've seen that name pop a lot up in my research. I'll check them out. Thanks.

I use a 1000w dimmable ballast with 600w HPS/MH bulbs on a air-cooled reflector .I also tried mars hydro led lights 400w last winter with good results . the downside of LED I found is less coverage area . have you considered led since it's only 4 plants .

Not really due to the cost.

Is your air cooled reflector hooked up to a fan and if so did you just run the duct work outside. I'm not really wanting to deal with duct work but If just adding a fan to it is all I have to do I'm down for it.

no I haven't put a fan. with the room itself quite cool and an external standing fan circulating air it doesn't heat up that much so never bothered .

Thanks.