confused on what lighting

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cj7420

Active Member
Hello all!!

I am confused on what lighting i should get. i have been reading these forums for the last few weeks/ month i have never tried an indoor type grow before. i would mostly throw some seeds in some soil and add a few nut's and add water ect. just screw around outdoors and see what i would get in a few months. I would have my mind set on " im going with CFLs" then 2 hours later " maybe a 250 watt HPS would be what i need in order to gain the best flower output" HAHAHA :wall: my Canadian Connection just laughs at me and says " when you figure it out let me know " great friend!!! hahah no help at all

Due to space i need something thats isnt going to put out TONS of heat. The size i will be working with is a half closet that is 4wide x 2 1/2deep x 5tall (4-6 plants) if everything turns out right i will expand it to 9 feet wide.

i was looking at the 250 watt HPS system http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/customkititems.asp?kc=HLHPS02CLA&eq=#
Also for 30$ more i can get a digital ballast is this worth it? also will i need to change out the bulbs when it comes Flower time or stick with the same one the whole grow.

Vs.

400 watt CFL system. using 2 http://www.sunblaster.ca/cfl200watt.html 200 watt Sunblaster bulbs with reflector( not shown but cost about 80$ each ) for veg then once flower time started i would switch out the two 200 watt bulbs for the 150watt 2700k bulbs plus add a few smaller 2700k bulbs around the sides. due to the fact the CFLs dont have a high lumen output. i would need more penetration

When i look at pricing the HPS system wins hands down. but im more worried about how much heat a 250 watt HPS puts out i see the hood comes with 6" holes to vent the air when you add some flex and a fan. i dont want to have to buy a AC unit for this grow, i would like to stay on the lower side of the power bill.

i found this on the net http://www.shop.cheapgrowlights.com/product.sc?productId=232&categoryId=25 its a starters kit that seems to come with a lot of good stuff for a first time grow.

Any input would be great, i have been pondering this for the last week. i plan on buying around the first of the year.

thanks RIU members +rep for good reply's 0 rep for people who just want a higher post count.
 
stickybob

stickybob

Active Member
250w hps all the way. as long as you have intake/ extraction fan your set to go. had a wardrobe exact same size, ran a 400w in there for 3 years with no issues;) 400w if u dare, honestly, vented right your gonna get a fat yeild. good look and enjoy:) ps done cfl, yeild/bud doesn't compare
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
Here is something to think about bulbs of the same wattage put out the same amount of heat. Real wattage, not the CFL "equivalent" wattage crap. So 200 watts of cfl's or floruescents will put out the same heat as a 200 watt. Fluorescent tubes are good for early veg and that's about it. Also, a HID light puts off TWICE as many lumens per watt as a CFL. CFL's average 60-70 lumens/watt and HID's are around 140. Either way your going to have to vent your space. So I guess what I'm saying is stop being a pussy and just buy the HID lights. CFL's are for newbs.

Yes the digital ballast is worth it. They are more efficient, completely silent, and don't loose power as they age. :)
 
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cj7420

Active Member
legallyflying said:
Here is something to think about bulbs of the same wattage put out the same amount of heat. Real wattage, not the CFL "equivalent" wattage crap. So 200 watts of cfl's or floruescents will put out the same heat as a 200 watt. Fluorescent tubes are good for early veg and that's about it. Also, a HID light puts off TWICE as many lumens per watt as a CFL. CFL's average 60-70 lumens/watt and HID's are around 140. Either way your going to have to vent your space. So I guess what I'm saying is stop being a pussy and just buy the HID lights. CFL's are for newbs.

Yes the digital ballast is worth it. They are more efficient, completely silent, and don't loose power as they age. :)
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what about the bulb, would i need 2 different ones like you do with CFL's? for veg / flower.

stickybob said:
250w hps all the way. as long as you have intake/ extraction fan your set to go. had a wardrobe exact same size, ran a 400w in there for 3 years with no issues;) 400w if u dare, honestly, vented right your gonna get a fat yeild. good look and enjoy:) ps done cfl, yeild/bud doesn't compare
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What kind of fans would you think i should use for intake/ extraction? i have been looking on forums and people say to use them but no one ever says what kind to use or how to get them. or im just retarded and its so simple i just over look it. i do pipe fitting and sheet metal for a living so building some ducting out of KD or alumiflex for something this simple would take me about 10-20mins.
 
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cj7420

Active Member
stickybob said:
love the way that ad says use your own pc cabinet - using a 250w hps:):):)
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lol i wonder what 1980's PC case they are talking about that would fit the reflector. plus i would think there would be burns on the top of the plant in a PC case useing a HPS.
 
kudaross

kudaross

Well-Known Member
As soon as I read "gain the best flower output" you have to go with an HPS. A 250w will work good in that space, even a 400w is possible as long as you get some ventilation in there.

Get an inline fan and run some ducting from the light and have the air pulling out from the closet. You have a tall enough closet to have the plants at a desirable height, while still having the light a foot away from the plants.
 
stickybob

stickybob

Active Member
cj7420 said:
lol i wonder what 1980's PC case they are talking about that would fit the reflector. plus i would think there would be burns on the top of the plant in a PC case useing a HPS.
Click to expand...
burns on your ceiling and either 911 or 999 outside your house more like:)
 
klassifyme

klassifyme

Active Member
legallyflying said:
Here is something to think about bulbs of the same wattage put out the same amount of heat. Real wattage, not the CFL "equivalent" wattage crap. So 200 watts of cfl's or floruescents will put out the same heat as a 200 watt. Fluorescent tubes are good for early veg and that's about it. Also, a HID light puts off TWICE as many lumens per watt as a CFL. CFL's average 60-70 lumens/watt and HID's are around 140. Either way your going to have to vent your space. So I guess what I'm saying is stop being a pussy and just buy the HID lights. CFL's are for newbs.

Yes the digital ballast is worth it. They are more efficient, completely silent, and don't loose power as they age. :)
Click to expand...
from my experience the ballast doesnt diminish, just the bulb ,wich happens faster on digital ballasts, i ll stick to my magnetic ballast. the noise isnt bad, my pumps and sprayers are probably louder, either way i cant hear anything in the next room or outside
 
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cj7420

Active Member
mtndew4lyfe said:
This what i use in a space small than yours and i have no problems
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-HTGSupply-400-watt-High-Pressure-Sodium-Grow-Light.asp
its cheaper than the 250 watt light and u can get the easy cool 6 reflector with it for under 200$

#Edit
http://www.htgsupply.com/Category-Inline-Fans.asp


inline fans
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thanks for the links!! i will be doing more research. anyone know about how many CFM's you would need for a 250 watt? guess i could just test the intake air temp Vs. output
 
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cj7420

Active Member
i wanted to add.... thanks to all of you who are giving me some great input. i have searched this site and never found the answers to all my questions. +rep for all of you
 
dura72

dura72

Well-Known Member
hps all the way. and u can get dual spectrum bulbs that can be used all the way thru ur grow cycle, it is better if u start with metal halide and then move to hps but at this stage i wouldnt bother about it.hers a link to an extractor fan and carbon filter on e bay. i had a 2 plant grow in area the same size as yours and the only probs i had were in the middle of the summer and the only extraction i had was a little 6" fan
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTRACTOR-FAN-and-CARBON-FILTER-4-HYDROPONICS-fit-grow-/380211347160?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item58865cbed8#ht_1479wt_784
 
stickybob

stickybob

Active Member
im using a sunmaster hps at the mo, can also be used for veg due to the slight blue spectrum, tight nodes and one bulb all the way through;)
 
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cj7420

Active Member
dura72 said:
hps all the way. and u can get dual spectrum bulbs that can be used all the way thru ur grow cycle, it is better if u start with metal halide and then move to hps but at this stage i wouldnt bother about it.hers a link to an extractor fan and carbon filter on e bay. i had a 2 plant grow in area the same size as yours and the only probs i had were in the middle of the summer and the only extraction i had was a little 6" fan
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTRACTOR-FAN-and-CARBON-FILTER-4-HYDROPONICS-fit-grow-/380211347160?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item58865cbed8#ht_1479wt_784
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it gets hot in the UK? hahahha it hits over 100F here in the summer and i didnt think about that. thanks for the link. gives me a pretty good idea!! +rep
 
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cj7420

Active Member
another question for all of you. because i plan to dive into this head first. i was thinking i should start with soil first then once i get the hang of this, i may change over to a hydro set up. i feel it would be wise so i dont f*!k things up from the start. " start simple then go hard core "
 
dura72

dura72

Well-Known Member
soil... its more forgiving of mistakes. cheaper set up as well, after you fully grasp the life cycle of the plant then try hydro( i've just started a 'dro set up and the fuckin growth rates are incredible). if u make a mistake in hydro uv only got a very short space of time to fix it or ur plants are fucked.
it only gets warm over here in the middle of summer and by that i mean its relative to the fucking godawful winters we get. its bloody freezing rite now and there's snow all over the bloody place. good for growing indoors though, lot easier to keep the temps stable.
 
C

cj7420

Active Member
dura72 said:
soil... its more forgiving of mistakes. cheaper set up as well, after you fully grasp the life cycle of the plant then try hydro( i've just started a 'dro set up and the fuckin growth rates are incredible). if u make a mistake in hydro uv only got a very short space of time to fix it or ur plants are fucked.
it only gets warm over here in the middle of summer and by that i mean its relative to the fucking godawful winters we get. its bloody freezing rite now and there's snow all over the bloody place. good for growing indoors though, lot easier to keep the temps stable.
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yeah... for the price of seeds and the crap that can happen when sending them to the US i think i will start with soil and work up to a hydro system. I wish it would snow here... then there would be a reason for why California is this cold in the day time/ night hahaha.
 
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