Did I get too big of a light?

BurlingtonBam · Sep 28, 2012

Hey everyone. New to the site. I just got my first grow light, and I'm actually a little worried after reading around the site that I may have gotten one that is too big. I got a 1000W dimmable MH/HPS light. It's got a good hood, and I plan to attach a fan to keep it cooler, so I'm hopeful that heat won't be a big problem. Right now it's just in a close size area, about 3'x3'. I have about 7 or 8 plants in there now, but at some point plan to get a bubbleponics system to go with it. I just haven't had the cash yet. I have the MH bulb going now on the plants. I guess my big question right now is #1. Did I get too big of a light. I guess I figured that bigger is better. lol. Also, should I turn it down half way to save energy? If I have 8 plants and they are all small do I need the full 1000W in that small an area or could I turn it down to half or a quarter even? Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks.

trichome fiend · Sep 28, 2012

....it's dimmable, if it gets too hot just crank it down....and aircool

insan3 · Sep 28, 2012

is good you got a dimable ballast if not you be screwed. run at 50% and it will be fine for a 3x3 area. you will still need to cool it but not as much. but at least when you move to a bigger area you already have your light. Also make sure you keep your light at a good distance.

BurlingtonBam · Sep 28, 2012

insan3 said:
is good you got a dimable ballast if not you be screwed. run at 50% and it will be fine for a 3x3 area. you will still need to cool it but not as much. but at least when you move to a bigger area you already have your light. Also make sure you keep your light at a good distance.

That was pretty much what I figured was if I get the big one now, then I won't have to worry about it later. I'm completely new to this, and this is my first attempt, so I'm trying not to screw things up. lol. I plant to get the bubbleponics setup, just so it's less hassle, and won't have to worry about over/under watering. Any suggestions for that? Is it really as easy as most make it seem to use those systems? Right now I'm just using crappy seeds, but plan to order some at some point. I figured I'd use the crappy seeds that I had first so that if I screw things up it won't hurt as much. lol. Would suck to have plants die AND have it be a good strain. lol. Any/All thoughts are very welcome.

madmad · Sep 28, 2012

1000w in a 3x3 space?? What are the temperatures like?

grownbykane · Sep 28, 2012

if your temps are ok turn that bitch all the way up! there are solar panels out there that can pull 4500 watts of power from 1 square foot. you have 9 square feet in your tent... still think 1000 watts is too much?heat will really be your only limiting factor ( and you will also need a reasonable distance from plants to the lamp).

edit: while i feel heat is the limiting factor here, i doubt your yield will be better than running a 600 in the same space. i do not think 1000 watts in a 3x3 is a "bad" idea, just dont think its a "good" idea either.

kane

BurlingtonBam · Sep 28, 2012

madmad said:
1000w in a 3x3 space?? What are the temperatures like?

It's about 3x3 because it's in the closet right now. The room isn't being used, so the door to the closet is almost always open to the room and if the room starts getting warm I crack the window, but temps have stayed pretty good actually. If I close the door it will get hot in there obviously, but that's also because I haven't got the fan yet so I've just been keeping the door open. The light is a nice one. 1000W with a spot for the fan to connect, just haven't got it yet, but I plan to vent it so heat isn't an issue. Also, there is a good piece of glass under the light so it actually shields a little bit of the heat from going straight down. Normal temps thought range around 70-78 in there though, but it's getting cold here, so I don't think heat will be a big issue. I will make sure it's got a good fan, and that should take care of it shouldn't it? I also plan to move the space a bit too though. It's in a closet that I don't use right now, just haven't built it's real spot yet.

madmad · Sep 28, 2012

Well then, I guess if the temps are ok(and looks like they are) then you're as sweet as a nut with this 1000watter, just make sure you measure the temps at the canopy level too. Good luck with your grow!

Slipon · Sep 28, 2012

a littel overkill I must say .. atlest learn from it .. so you do your research before ordering stuff next time ..

I did about the same .. schould have gone for a 250W/400W .. but found a good offer on a 600W and got greedy ..

had to build a new grow room .. well that was my solution ..

and now with a cool tube on and a 3x5 room evrything is cool .. so to speak .. but this summer was`t fun ..

I would run it at 50% .. atlest in Veg with the MH as they get hottest and Veg plants don't need as much light .. also safe you some power ..

when you switch to HPS you could try to turn it up .. but I bet you need atlest a good 6" vent or more to keep it cool .. and a good way to get rite of the hot air ..

keep a eye on temps .. try to keep it around 78-80F .. atlest under 85F .. over 90F it begin to hurt your grow .. and can stress a plant in flowering with what follows ..

keep a good air circulation in there aswell and get a good table fan to blow air at the cool tube and away from your plants ..

BurlingtonBam · Sep 28, 2012

madmad said:
Well then, I guess if the temps are ok(and looks like they are) then you're as sweet as a nut with this 1000watter, just make sure you measure the temps at the canopy level too. Good luck with your grow!

Thanks! I'm very interested to see how this goes and grows. Canopy level temp is fine right now. There's about 4 ft from plant to light right now, but the plants are only about 6-12 inches right now. I started them with just sunlight at first, so IDK how this batch will really turn out. Just got the light a couple days ago, but I'm excited to see what it does. I'm hoping it will work good though.

My biggest question that I have right now, I've read a ton on this subject, but still have a question. When you grow a plant and it flowers. You pick it, then what happens with the plant next? Do you go back to veg? Would that make them grow to be too tall though? Do you just kill off the plant and get rid of it, or veg for awhile and then flower again? I can't really find anything on what to do after the buds are picked.

Kervork · Sep 28, 2012

If you really want to get fat mondo buds 1000 watts only covers 3x3.

Dude, hate to break it to you but after you harvest your plant you have to kill it. Nature is cruel.

loverboy420 · Sep 28, 2012

BurlingtonBam said:
Thanks! I'm very interested to see how this goes and grows. Canopy level temp is fine right now. There's about 4 ft from plant to light right now, but the plants are only about 6-12 inches right now. I started them with just sunlight at first, so IDK how this batch will really turn out. Just got the light a couple days ago, but I'm excited to see what it does. I'm hoping it will work good though.

My biggest question that I have right now, I've read a ton on this subject, but still have a question. When you grow a plant and it flowers. You pick it, then what happens with the plant next? Do you go back to veg? Would that make them grow to be too tall though? Do you just kill off the plant and get rid of it, or veg for awhile and then flower again? I can't really find anything on what to do after the buds are picked.

when a plant has flowered or budded it has completed its life cycle and will die..i believe..i know that there is nothing to do with a plant after it has budded and u have harvested the bud...

madmad · Sep 28, 2012

BurlingtonBam said:
My biggest question that I have right now, I've read a ton on this subject, but still have a question. When you grow a plant and it flowers. You pick it, then what happens with the plant next? Do you go back to veg? Would that make them grow to be too tall though? Do you just kill off the plant and get rid of it, or veg for awhile and then flower again? I can't really find anything on what to do after the buds are picked.

You're welcome! As for what to do after harvest - I may not be the person to ask as I only grow once a year and just cut the plant, also I only have two copleted grows so far(starting third one tomorrow - woohoo

. I have read that you can re-veg the plant but from what I can remember the person listed several disadvantages of doing so if I remember correctly(I could be wrong though). But then again - if you have a whole room to your disposal than I guess you could just create a separate space where you would keep a mother plant and grow from cuttings/clones off that plant, or even have separate spaces for vegetative and flowering stages and grow perpetually. Guess it all depends what you want to do.

BurlingtonBam · Sep 28, 2012

Kervork said:
If you really want to get fat mondo buds 1000 watts only covers 3x3.

Dude, hate to break it to you but after you harvest your plant you have to kill it. Nature is cruel.

That's what I was thinking, just wasn't sure. I was unsure if they could be reused. A couple questions then, should I purposely leave a male plant in occasionally? Once I get good seeds I mean. Say I have a good strand, won't those seeds I get be that good strand? I won't know the sex of them, but I'd get a bunch of seeds for free. I'm only thinking about doing that once I get the good strands though. AS far as the 1000W for bigger buds, that's also what I heard. I heard it makes the grow faster, while giving a bigger yield. Pretty much the downside is the heat given off, but I'm pretty sure I can keep that in check.

Brother Numsi · Sep 28, 2012

You did fine with that purchase. Heat is the big caution and you understand that. Look at is a purchase for the future...it gives you many options. Good luck and have fun!!

Slipon · Sep 29, 2012

weed is a one year plant .. like the weed on the fields or the corn .. you chop it at the end of the year and start over next .. not like a apple tree .. you cant just keep plucking the fruits ..

about light distance:

View attachment 2353861 View attachment 2353862

huth420 · Sep 29, 2012

Reveg is a good option and hasadvantages as well as downsides. With bag seeds though chop em and order some femenized genetics. Youll shit when you compare your grows to each other later on

aknight3 · Sep 29, 2012

ive used a 600 in a 2 by 4 area and can keep my temperature well below 85 (usually around 77-80F)...i dont think its overkill, more light the better

BurlingtonBam · Sep 29, 2012

huth420 said:
Reveg is a good option and hasadvantages as well as downsides. With bag seeds though chop em and order some femenized genetics. Youll shit when you compare your grows to each other later on

That's definitely what I plan to do. Honestly the only reason I have these going is because I didn't have the $ to get the light earlier, so I got impatient and started these in pots outside. Now I've got the light, and they are moved indoors permanently. I figured bag seeds is good for my very first grow. At least then if I end up killing them all or something goes wrong I didn't waste the money on good seeds. Basically this is my trial run. I'm looking at this first go of it where whatever I get from this will be a nice bonus, and in the event it goes well, and I get a decent yield I'll obviously be happier. I plant to get a hydro system with 6 pots, and use that exclusively with the light and the good seeds. Maybe do a little cross breeding just to get some good seeds. We'll have to see how it goes.

So another quick lighting question, the research I did said that with a hydro system and a good light you can get a bigger yield. From what I have gathered it seems that I don't need the full 1000W, especially during veg. So I've got it on 50%. When I switch over to flowering and the HPS bulb should I got full power to maximize the buds? Anyone have any favorites as far as strains? I want something strong, and delicious. lol. I prefer a good cerebral high, and less of a body high most of the time. I don't want anything that will make me retarded as I have things to do, but something that doesn't make me sluggish and slow. Any suggestions are appreciated. This is only for me, so I'm just looking to grow enough to have it. If I have a good 6 planter hydro system going and the light how much could I expect to get from each plant? I know it depends on strain also, but in general, just wondering how some of the more experienced guys do it.

Brother Numsi · Sep 30, 2012

This is one of those questions that will generate a lot of opinions. Our body chemisties have something to say about how high we get and if we're on other pharm meds our highs may be affected.

That said I'd say Super Lemon Haze or Critical+ for me. Also some of the 70/30 sativa/indica mixes, too....but that's me.
Good luck and enjoy

Did I get too big of a light?

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