Bubbleponics, HPS vs CFL i cant decide(its complicated)

mrmz88

Active Member
ok so this is my first grow really. ive tried a soil grow once and am giving it 1 more shot as u can see in the pic but ive decided to settle for bubbleponics. only thing is that i can either spend 300$ on the complete bubbleponics multispectrum kit or about $140 on the same bubbleponics kit but without the CFL lights. this is a problem because the temperature in my closet with the 150watt HPS light on is 80-90degrees with a fan blowing. if i close the closet the temperature can very quickly reach 100 degrees so i have to keep the closet constantly open and thus light constantly shines in my room and its tough sleeping at night.
the temps are usually in low to mid 80s. but with the multispectrum CFL blbs im sure i could drop that temperature down 10 more degrees or at least not have to use a fan and be able to close the closet.

So heat and constant annoying light are issues here but mainly its the heat that im worried about as the HPS gives off alot of it, and a fan with open closet is absolutely necessary and my closet space is relatively small as u can see in the pics. its 4.5' X 4' X 6' .

Also there is the issue of electricity. the bubbleponics multispectrum bulbs are 300watt total and give 15k lumens, the same as my 150watt hps but i know HPS is much better overall.

Im 18, will be senior in highschool this fall, and live with my parents and they dont really care much that im growing weed but with the HPS i have to keep the air conditioner on almost constantly which causes complaining from them about how cold the house is, complaints about how high the electricity bill will get, and also draws more concern and attention to my growing operation. I would think with the CFL multispectrum lights i would not need to run the AC, and possibly even be able to not use a fan and keep the closet closed and maintain at most a 85F temperature. However i am also on a budget with no steady income coming in and only have about 500$ to my name right now. I know if i get the multispectrum bubbleponics thing ill really be paying an extra $150 just for the CFL lights. But considering the issue of stealth, heat i think it would be worth it. But if i stick with the HPS i already have ill save $150, have faster growth and bigger yield but need to keep the closet door always open (except during dark periods ofc) and a fan always running. Also the flowering timer that i can get with the kit works only with their CFL setup and ill have to get a different one if i use my HPS. Also, if i get the CFL setup i could use it along with my HPS at the same time and be able to grow 6 plants instead of just 2 or 3 if i used just one of the lights. But, from what i assume about CFLs, is that since they dont require a ballast i can later buy 3 200watt CFL lights and use those in the reflector instead of the standard ones for 30k lumens or even get a dual spectrum setup and put 2 200watts in for 20k lumens...or does it not work like that?

Since im a first time grower Ill be growing bagseeds or skunk #1 or northern lights. i cant decide cus NL is an indica and they are very easy to grow indoors and quite hardy so id figure itd be easier for me but i hear can get tall. But skunk #1 is a sativa and harder to grow indoors and has a stronger smell which i dont want spreading all over the house. Im mainly concerned about easyness and size. Because of my closet size (i dont mind moving the rest of my clothes somewhere else when the plants get bigger) i want something that is not super tall but not super bushy either.

Please help me as ive been sitting here for a week not able to decide. Should i go with the kit without the CFL lights (start kit) and use my HPS or just pay the extra $150 and go with the CFLs (complete kit)?
http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/product.php?xProd=16&xSec=34 vs. http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/product.php?xProd=121&xSec=2

Also, should i grow NL or skunk #1? whats easier and better for me considering my equipment, space, and living conditions. I already have all nutes and such.
and another point to consider is that all weed is 40$ a gram throughout most of my state, however i dont distribute but i know people who do distrubute that i could sell it to for $20 a gram easily and they can add their own $20....lots of money for college
 

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That is a lot of questions!

ok so this is my first grow really. ive tried a soil grow once and am giving it 1 more shot as u can see in the pic but ive decided to settle for bubbleponics. only thing is that i can either spend 300$ on the complete bubbleponics multispectrum kit or about $140 on the same bubbleponics kit but without the CFL lights. this is a problem because the temperature in my closet with the 150watt HPS light on is 80-90degrees with a fan blowing. if i close the closet the temperature can very quickly reach 100 degrees so i have to keep the closet constantly open and thus light constantly shines in my room and its tough sleeping at night.
the temps are usually in low to mid 80s. but with the multispectrum CFL blbs im sure i could drop that temperature down 10 more degrees or at least not have to use a fan and be able to close the closet.

So heat and constant annoying light are issues here but mainly its the heat that im worried about as the HPS gives off alot of it, and a fan with open closet is absolutely necessary and my closet space is relatively small as u can see in the pics. its 4.5' X 4' X 6' .


Those 3 105s in one reflector put out HEAT that will have to be VENTED. Trust me, I know from experience. I can touch a 65, and 85 watt bulb that has been bruning for weeks, and not be burnt. But that 105 watt bulb will blister your if you touch it, and 3 in one place make SERIOUS HEAT that needs venting.

I suggest you go to Lowes or Home Depot and get the 65 or 68 watt CFLs, and the $11 Reflectors. Theya re much cooler and cheaper.

Also there is the issue of electricity. the bubbleponics multispectrum bulbs are 300watt total and give 15k lumens, the same as my 150watt hps but i know HPS is much better overall.

Im 18, will be senior in highschool this fall, and live with my parents and they dont really care much that im growing weed but with the HPS i have to keep the air conditioner on almost constantly which causes complaining from them about how cold the house is, complaints about how high the electricity bill will get, and also draws more concern and attention to my growing operation. I would think with the CFL multispectrum lights i would not need to run the AC, and possibly even be able to not use a fan and keep the closet closed and maintain at most a 85F temperature. However i am also on a budget with no steady income coming in and only have about 500$ to my name right now. I know if i get the multispectrum bubbleponics thing ill really be paying an extra $150 just for the CFL lights. But considering the issue of stealth, heat i think it would be worth it. But if i stick with the HPS i already have ill save $150, have faster growth and bigger yield but need to keep the closet door always open (except during dark periods ofc) and a fan always running. Also the flowering timer that i can get with the kit works only with their CFL setup and ill have to get a different one if i use my HPS. Also, if i get the CFL setup i could use it along with my HPS at the same time and be able to grow 6 plants instead of just 2 or 3 if i used just one of the lights. But, from what i assume about CFLs, is that since they dont require a ballast i can later buy 3 200watt CFL lights and use those in the reflector instead of the standard ones for 30k lumens or even get a dual spectrum setup and put 2 200watts in for 20k lumens...or does it not work like that?

Since im a first time grower Ill be growing bagseeds or skunk #1 or northern lights. i cant decide cus NL is an indica and they are very easy to grow indoors and quite hardy so id figure itd be easier for me but i hear can get tall. But skunk #1 is a sativa and harder to grow indoors and has a stronger smell which i dont want spreading all over the house. Im mainly concerned about easyness and size. Because of my closet size (i dont mind moving the rest of my clothes somewhere else when the plants get bigger) i want something that is not super tall but not super bushy either.

Please help me as ive been sitting here for a week not able to decide. Should i go with the kit without the CFL lights (start kit) and use my HPS or just pay the extra $150 and go with the CFLs (complete kit)?
http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/product.php?xProd=16&xSec=34 vs. http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/product.php?xProd=121&xSec=2

Also, should i grow NL or skunk #1? whats easier and better for me considering my equipment, space, and living conditions. I already have all nutes and such.
and another point to consider is that all weed is 40$ a gram throughout most of my state, however i dont distribute but i know people who do distrubute that i could sell it to for $20 a gram easily and they can add their own $20....lots of money for college

I grow NL and love it, but it is a STINKER. make sure you do grow INDICA and NOT Sativa.
 
In the new Skunk Magazine there was a question in the "Ask Ed" section that just made my night last night when reading it...
The question was...

Tiny Grow Space

I intend to grow a single cannabis plant in a space 1' x 2'. What light would you recommend? I was think of using four 30-watt compact fluorescent lamps. Will this be enough? Cost isn't an issue but I am deterred from getting a high pressure sodium [light] because of the amount of heat the bulb produces.
Barry, Internet

As you mentioned, you have several lighting systems to choose from, including compact fluorescents and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. Among HPS lamps you have a choice between a single 100-watt lamp which uses a total of about 120-watts and emits about 8,800 lumens(73 lumens per watt) or a 150-watt lamp, which uses about 180 watts and emits almost double that-15,800 lumens (87 lumens per watt).

A 42-watt compact fluorescent (CFL) emits about 2700 lumens(64 lumens per watt). Four CFLs use 168 watts and emit 10,800 lumens. Other size CFLs have a similar efficiency.

However, that is only part of the story. Plants use mostly red and blue light. Yellow and green light is of little use to them, so light that is emitted in these spectrums is wasted energy. Most of the light emitted by HPS lamps is in the yellow spectrum. Only a small amount of the emitted light is is in the orange or red spectrums, which plants use efficiently. Warm white fluorescents (2700 Kelvin) emit a greater portion in the red and orange sectors.
Although fluorescents produce only about 75% of the light per watt that the HPS does, the amount of light usable by the plant is equal or probably higher with the fluorescents. You may wish to experiment to see if adding a single cool white CFL to replace one warm white results in shorter, stouter stems and more vigorous growth. The reasoning is that warm whites don't emit much blue light, which the plants use for photosynthesis and to regulate their growth. The cool white bulb supplies the blue light.

My call for your unit would be to use several (three to five) CFLs with a total input of between 120-160 watts. Although the 150 watt HPS is a bit more efficient that the CFLs in total output, watt for watt the fluorescents provide as much useful light as the HPS lamp. Heat is another consideration. The HPS runs much hotter and emits more heat than the fluoescents.

Make sure to use reflective material around the garden so that any light escaping the garden is reflected back to the plants. Any light that doesn't get to the plant leaves is wasted.
 
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