Small Set Up question....

[Guest Urbanhog]

I was chatting to few gnomes other day, they asked me "what if" ...... so I decided to post the question/s here.

 

Lets say a gnome wanted to have a small set-up/grow box like in a wardrobe, etc... just for 4-6 plants for personal use.......since the gnome doesnt smoke much.

 

The gnome was bit curious because during the veg stage as the gnome didnt like the idea having 430watt for 18 hours during the veggie stage specially if he was planning to grow in a wardrobe, and lives in the tropics, etc ... he asked "what if" used 250W Metal Hinde for 18 hours since it will be assumed cooler than having 430W for 18 hours...

 

When its time to flower, can switch to 12 hours using the 430W Son T Argo?

 

Or is the 250W HM isnt bright enough for the veggie stage? It will produce skinny plants like growing under fluros?

 

Is the 250W Globe's screw (where you attach to the cord to the ballast) the same size as 430W globe's screws?

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Cheers,

 

Urbanhog http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/sp/chefico.gif

[pipeman]

there is no reason why you couldn't veg under 250MH and flower under 430W SonT. However I doubt that the same ballast would run both globes. You'd need to double check with the manufacturer at least.

 

But if the cooling system is good enough to cope with the 430W at flower stage why couldn't it cope with it in veg stage as well?

[Buddy]

If I was a gnome, I would only use the sonT so the plants would finish sooner with the extra lumens and maybe the electricity bill would be about the same as if you grew longer with the 250 MH stage.

 

And yes, the screw in sockets are the same for all HID bulbs, you only need to change the ballast and the three pin plug will fit all ballasts.

[Guest Urbanhog]

The reasons why I asked for the gnome:

 

 

[*] Fellow QLD'ers members here know how hot it gets in Summer.... just asked if 250W might be better for 18 hours rather giving the plants too much heat stress if using 430W for 18 hours specially if growing in a cabient or grow box? 430W produces more heat in 18 hours than using 250W MH in 18 hours?

 

 

[*]If using 250W it will be cooler, might take week or 2 longer, using for "heat-wise" reasons not the time or cost reasons, the gnome is not in hurry. ???

 

 

[*]Then using the 430W in the 12 hour period since the 12 hour light cycle will be on at night/morning, in cooler period of the day? So the growbox wont get too hot? even if you have good fresh air systems? but not using air conditoners or whatever, just plenty of fresh air in the current room tempeture?

 

 

[*]The "Grow Box/Cabient" will be the approx the size of 2 wardrobes joining together or one big wardrobe, not sure.

 

 

[*]Knows have to use different ballasts, just wanted to know about the socket sizes, thanks buddy

 

 

[*]If using 250W MH will they be skinny plants in veg stage?... but will they fatten up when using the 430W in flowering stage?

 

 

[*]Think waste of time? I have no answer, no expert in this feild....asking for "heat-wise" reasons for the gnome

 

Cheers again.

 

Urbanhog http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/sp/chefico.gif

[Tom]

When its time to flower, can switch to 12 hours using the 430W Son T Argo?

If the gnome doesn't already have the 430W Son T Argo globe then just get a 400w HPS, the Son T Argo's only real advantage over the HPS is that it is better during the veg stage.

 

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[Guest Urbanhog]

I know that Tom, thats what I told the gnome

 

But was curious if its possible if using 250W MH just for the germination/seedlings/Veggie stage? Because it will be cooler during the 18 hours cycle.

 

Because he has already got the 430W Son-T-Argo kit.

 

Wanted to know because the lights will be on 18 hours cycle, and tried with 430W Son-T-Argo in the 18 hour cycle and got pretty hot over the QLD's summer, had problem with heat issues, but during the 12 hour cycle, didnt have any problems with heat as they were on the night/morning cycle.

 

250W MH suitable for veggie stage just for few weeks in the young veggie stage if the grower wasn't looking for a massive yeild? Then switch over to 430W in the budding stage? Will the 250W MH make skinny plants or not?

 

Cheers again.

 

Urbanhog http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/sp/chefico.gif

[Tom]

I would be tempted to switch them over to the Son-T for the last couple of weeks veg but you should still get a good return, you may also need to support some of the plants in the later stages of flowering.

 

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[Guest Urbanhog]

Cool, thanks, finally got the answer.... as long the plant's support issue fixed for the late budding stage..

 

ta again for ya time.

 

Urbanhog http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/sp/chefico.gif