would these lights work

[SeeRockCity]

be prepared for the slowest grow eeeevvvvverrrr....
and don't expect a big yield either....

as long as your expectations are low.... you should be fine...
dont expect a pound of dense shit or anything...

oh, and foil is fine, especially if you're only using CFL (very low heat comparatively)
.... mylar or white reflective is better.
but as long as you keep an eye on your temps...foil is ok.

 

[SeeRockCity]

400W HPS lamp is a good investment no matter how you split it. Fluorescent is fine for vegging, but once you start flowering, you're going to want to get serious. Fluoros just don't produce the buds same as HPS watt per watt and that's what you're growing, buds.

400W may be overkill for those plants in veg, so like i said, just use the fluoros for veg.

Imo, 400W is the best HPS lamp. 2 of them are even better. I haven't tried a 600W yet, but I'd imagine it's the same as 400, but you put it slightly farther away. 400W are just as scalable.

600 is not the same...
600W setups are the BEST that you can buy... because the watt to lumen ratio is the most energy efficient out of all the offered ranges.
I use 400W MH in veg and 600W HPS in flower...
the 600W is WAAAAY stronger!! and more efficient.... big difference.

 

[althor]

I have read that the 600 watt is the most efficient of the HID bulbs.
I cannot validate that at all. I use 400 watts, 400 watt MH for my veg and 400 watt HPS for my flowering.
Both grow boxes are 3x3.

According to the math...
3x3=9 square feet.

You want a minimum of 5k lumen per square foot for flower, so for my area, I need 45k lumens minimum.
The 400watt HPS bulb I use puts out 55k lumens.

In veg you want a minimum of 3k lumens per square foot = 27k lumens.
My MH bulb puts out 38k lumens.

 

[SeeRockCity]

I have read that the 600 watt is the most efficient of the HID bulbs.
I cannot validate that at all. I use 400 watts, 400 watt MH for my veg and 400 watt HPS for my flowering.
Both grow boxes are 3x3.

According to the math...
3x3=9 square feet.

You want a minimum of 5k lumen per square foot for flower, so for my area, I need 45k lumens minimum.
The 400watt HPS bulb I use puts out 55k lumens.

In veg you want a minimum of 3k lumens per square foot = 27k lumens.
My MH bulb puts out 38k lumens.

I've done the math.... you are forgetting to factor in POWER
by more efficient I mean more lux per watt... which means.. you can get the same lux with less power...
the 400W will take more power to produce the same as the 600W
similarly...a 1000W will drain a lot more power to put out the same as the 600...

more to do with electrical engineering than plants....

 

[althor]

and also would it help if I cover the grow space with aluminum foil??? or just keep it how it is (its a flat white)

Flat white paint has a reflectability of 86%. You arent going to get much better than that.
There are two problems with aluminum foil. 1. It is too reflective (so is semi-gloss white paint), it will create hot spots. 2. Aluminum foil is used to hold in heat. Not the best thing in a grow room.

I forgot the exact number for mylar but it is something like 92% reflectability.
I use flat white because I can refresh the coats between each batch. Mylar tends to wrinkle.

 

[althor]

I've done the math.... you are forgetting to factor in POWER
by more efficient I mean more lux per watt... which means.. you can get the same lux with less power...
the 400W will take more power to produce the same as the 600W
similarly...a 1000W will drain a lot more power to put out the same as the 600...

more to do with electrical engineering than plants....

You may notice we were typing at the same time. You can verify it since you are actually using a 600 watt. I believe that to be the case but since I have no actual first-hand experience I cannot verify it.
600 watt is said to be the most efficient and I believe it.

I can say this...
If I ever increase the size of my grow areas (which I hope to happen) I will use multiple 600 watts over 1000 watts.

 

[SeeRockCity]

Flat white paint has a reflectability of 86%. You arent going to get much better than that.
There are two problems with aluminum foil. 1. It is too reflective (so is semi-gloss white paint), it will create hot spots. 2. Aluminum foil is used to hold in heat. Not the best thing in a grow room.

I forgot the exact number for mylar but it is something like 92% reflectability.
I use flat white because I can refresh the coats between each batch. Mylar tends to wrinkle.

yeah, I've seen a lot of people switch from mylar to paint because of ease of cleaning and cost effectiveness.
I still use the mylar... it only starts ripping and fogging about every other grow cycle for me.....
and it's fun to make tree skirts out of!

 

[SeeRockCity]

You may notice we were typing at the same time. You can verify it since you are actually using a 600 watt. I believe that to be the case but since I have no actual first-hand experience I cannot verify it.
600 watt is said to be the most efficient and I believe it.

I can say this...
If I ever increase the size of my grow areas (which I hope to happen) I will use multiple 600 watts over 1000 watts.

That's my plan too... I cant wait to get 2 more 600W and double my setup...
eventually I plan on using my 400W solely for a mother....

 

[newtogrow5]

how long between seedling/sprout to flower did you wait? and what did you do?

it was a while ago but im sure it was about 2months before I put it in flowering,, probably about 2feet tall. and once I switched it to 12/12 it juss startd gettn droopy and eventually died

 

[newtogrow5]

I have read that the 600 watt is the most efficient of the HID bulbs.
I cannot validate that at all. I use 400 watts, 400 watt MH for my veg and 400 watt HPS for my flowering.
Both grow boxes are 3x3.

According to the math...
3x3=9 square feet.

You want a minimum of 5k lumen per square foot for flower, so for my area, I need 45k lumens minimum.
The 400watt HPS bulb I use puts out 55k lumens.

In veg you want a minimum of 3k lumens per square foot = 27k lumens.
My MH bulb puts out 38k lumens.

for vegg you say you use 400watt MH,,how far away from plant,,,,and for flowering you say you use 400watt HPS,, how far away from plant???

 

[althor]

Really depends on how cool you can keep it. 400watt is going to hit peak lumens around 18" below the light.
In veg you want to raise them higher so you don't drown the babies. As they get stronger and more vigorous you can move the light (or the plants) closer.

 

[herbbilly]

If hps is an option do it, that was not your question though. Unless you plan on quitting weed after growing once it'll be an investment like no other. Replaced first 400 2yrs ago after a 15 yr run. Go dig. switchable dial in ventilation be happy. Temps 6" below light -85f prefer -80 personally top of plant location. Next 12" usable light below that worthless in flower. That's my trial and error sweet spot then I found these charts http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-forum/showthread.php?362-Light-Distance-Chart-s ,note 1000w at useable distance. They are def. better when applied correctly I'm not a retard just new info to me.Everyone that partakes in MJ should feel obligated to pop a seed in the name of freedom even if its under a string of Christmas lights.

 

[bigbaby420]

bro hit up ebay and search for 27oo k 35 watt cfls I got a box of 12 for 25 bucks and I also got 65 watt cfls 4 of them for 30 bucks. look in the photography and studio section

 

[bigbaby420]

get you some y splitters and go apeshit crazy hanging them.. with cfls it is a science to get them where you want them so it will take trial and error.. I say if u aint got a few burn spots then the cfls aint close enough..

 

[herbbilly]

bro hit up ebay and search for 27oo k 35 watt cfls I got a box of 12 for 25 bucks and I also got 65 watt cfls 4 of them for 30 bucks. look in the photography and studio section

35x12+4x65= 680watts for $55 + min 8wyes $40ish fixtures $25?+++?? And less than 400w useable light but paying to run 680

 

[SeeRockCity]

behold, the best $200 you will ever spend!

http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLSETX600DHMAC6-600-Watt-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B005GYRZV2/ref=sr_1_2?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1369219008&sr=8-2&keywords=600W+ipower

 

[newtogrow5]

behold, the best $200 you will ever spend!

http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLSETX600DHMAC6-600-Watt-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B005GYRZV2/ref=sr_1_2?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1369219008&sr=8-2&keywords=600W+ipower

so this sexy mofo will get will be then only light/lights i need to grow? Or would i neesd extra lights also but shit dats a hook up for 200$

 

[Purpsdro420]

That one off amazon will be a purchase you won't regret. You won't need anything else the kit comes with everything you need

 

[SeeRockCity]

so this sexy mofo will get will be then only light/lights i need to grow? Or would i neesd extra lights also but shit dats a hook up for 200$

that kit comes with everything...
lights for both veg and flower

and yes, it is a major 'hook up'
I actually saw the price of these go up by $100 after Colorado legalized...
They're back down to $200 though...for now..
I cant wait to buy another one for my setup.