i have dr120 tent in spare room with window slightly open for ventilation but light proofed as in uk. anyway at mo i have 5 plants various strains and 2 250w red cfl in barn reflectors and 2 105w blue cfl hanging down middle to stop stretch and add side lighting. temps around 75 with tent half open and fan blowing 10 mins in every hour currently in flower 2 weeks. my dilemma is i think i need more side lighting as plants are around 2 foot high .anyway thinking of buying 4 more 65w cfl made by greenlamp but temps would go up and have no extraction of hot air hence why leave tent half open. but also thinking on cutting losses on cost paid already for cfls and bits £160 and getting a 600w dual spec hps in parabolic reflector £130. my question is which would be better? which would give less heat? and which more yield. and electricity is also a factor. or i could get 2 250w self ballasting mh bulbs £15 each but was put off those for various reasons. 1 being no one has any experience in them. any help deciding would be much appreciated thanks in advance. peace to all
need some advice on lighting please
- Thread starter djbullet
- Start date
willowpinnerblunt
Active Member
600 would give best yield but massive amounts of heat. CFL will give you not as much yield and density but keep temps down. I never used tents so I really am not the best to answer the question but saw no one else give input so I figured i'd give my 2 cents. good luck.
maybe i was wrong 151 views , 1 post. need advice soon as buying tomorrow. so hope fellow members help out
Closetgardner
Well-Known Member
Mate you can get a 600 kit for 90 with a better reflector than a parabolic. Go to www.3ch.co.uk, check the sale good bargains to be had. And for the other 40 quid you can buy a budget extractor fan too.
WattSaver
Well-Known Member
A 600w would be perfect for a 4' square tent. But you will have to add ventilation to your shopping list. I'm guessing that the change from cfl to hps in temp will be 15+ degrees with out hood venting.
Do you have to worry about smell?? If not then you can work with just one inline fan, if sent is an issue then you'll also need a separate filter and fan.
Do you have to worry about smell?? If not then you can work with just one inline fan, if sent is an issue then you'll also need a separate filter and fan.
thanks for replies, problem being with venting. i can only vent it bk into same room, as peeps would notice tube coming out of window. smell not problem. i have tent open when lights on .so would it be much hotter than current setup?dont forget im in uk and its -1 tonight. my temps are around 78 when lights are on about 59 when off when i go put lights bk on. so would opening tent fully be enough to keep temps down or any other solution? appreciate your comments, just saw his http://www.theinnergarden.co.uk/Maxigrow-Euro-lux-600-compact-grow-light would this be any good as this shop is local to me.
WattSaver
Well-Known Member
You can give that lamp and reflector a try. And see how it goes regulating your temps by keeping the tent door open. You could also set up a fan in the rm outside your tent and blow air into the tent. If the temps go hi out of control then you'll have to get a sealed hood and a fan to move air through the hood. But I think you should be able to pull it off.
i have a fan outside tent blowing in every 10 mins in the hour. would my yield be a lot higher or not much differential to cfls? and whats wrong with parabolic reflector? i thought they be good for light spread in tent would only need 1 100 cm one. thanks wattsaver for advice. the plants are all hybrids 2 bubblegum kush clones from last grow, i white widow chesse, 1 northern light/cronic, and a og black domina kush. will post pics if any one interested. just want to get them sorted into what lighting is best asap as there 2 weeks in now.
WattSaver
Well-Known Member
The parabolic hood is better than most people think as far as light spread, and being an open reflector there is no glass for the light to pass through. There is a reduction in light energy having to pass through a sheet of glass. Due to environmental conditions most growers have to go with a sealed hood and vent it. But if you can regulate the temps in your tent via the fan outside the tent, then the gull wing reflector is a good choice.
As far as comparing cfl to HID it's really not fair.
As far as comparing cfl to HID it's really not fair.
thanks again wattsaver for advice. but got a new problem now. almost convinced to get hid light but problem now being the height from tops of plants i will need , my ladies are stretching alot now coming on 3 foot. tent height is about 6 foot i think. so if i go with hid im afraid that i dont have enough height to put light, from what i have read stretch stops about 3 weeks in, is there anything i can do to stop em stretching more and what height is recommended for 600w hps lets say in parabolic reflector. any advice please anyone thanks in advance . will put pics up soon, but they having there sleep at mo.
was thinking of tieing them down or giving em something else to do . maybe defoliate a little might stop em. any ideas please
WattSaver
Well-Known Member
There are several ways to limit upper stretch. I personally love bondage. I use wires tied from side to side in the tent then bend the plant over & tie to the horz wire, or use hoops if it has been topped already. You can set up a modified scrog screen. If you had a pic it would help with the recommendation.
You can also look into super-cropping, there are a couple of good threads on this site on the subject.
Here's one but there are more; https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/288113-step-step-how-super-crop.html
As far as distance from the bulb, you'll need at least 16" with an open bulb.
You can also look into super-cropping, there are a couple of good threads on this site on the subject.
Here's one but there are more; https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/288113-step-step-how-super-crop.html
As far as distance from the bulb, you'll need at least 16" with an open bulb.
thanks again for helping me out and appreciate the links, think i will have do the tieing down for sure. i might just get away with 16" if i do , will put pics up in morning when im in tent just before lights out time. glad u looking out and helping fellow growers yr the man ive learnt alot on here, but there are a few who give bullshit advice for sure. nice one mate . pics will come hope you like em lol there beautiful ladies. regards dj
pics, even though they dont seem to show height problem
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lots of views i see but not many comments , can all who view please give some comment as really need help . all im asking is will i get away with 600w hps with no cooling on hood as i want to use a parabolic reflector.if i leave tent fully open with fan blowing in to circulate air. i have 690w of cfl in there now and temps are easy to control as in half open tent when lights are on. just your thoughts on it will help me decide.
thanks for all the advice. not! hundreds of views only a 2 people helped me. anyway f.y.i have decided after looking on other forums where people help each other out that im going with a 600w hps dual spec and a parabolic 1m fullsize from what i gather mainly all heat goes above reflector not down towards plants as its winter here they will appreciate the warmth. only problem being still is distance from plants to have said reflector? but if i tie em down i think i will get away with it. what im going to do with my spare red 250w enviros i dont know if anyone in uk wants em let me know . will do a good price for sure. might put up a grow diary as such to show how im getting on if there is any interest. thoughts welcome if any of you have a opinion as it seems most just look and say nowt. when i read a post and have something constructive to add to help anyone out i would as this is suppose to be a sharing community. peace to all happy growing and may we be all thankful to mother nature