Cheap lights

[DarkSpark]

I was wondering if there is some kind of light i could use temporarily that runs off a regular light socket as my garage only has a light socket... it wont be permanent but i want too get some seeds sprouting asap... i can split it too have a couple of lights if necessary... they will be sitting in my 6ft fishtank in little pots too begin with and i want something i could mount over one side of it pretty easily... and also, the next thing would be what would be the ideal lights too get for a 3-4 plant cupboard grow ??? and if you could suggest where too look for the propper lights that would be ace too...

[Ozzy420]

To start off with you could go to bunnings and get ya self 2 48w compact fluros to start ya seeds off and keep em going until u are ready with ya robe.

 

Depending on the size of the robe u will be using u could use a 250w to a 400w hid as long as u have good air flow to keep the area cool as the hid puts out a bit of heat...

[DarkSpark]

OMFG you will never believe the stupid thing i did.

 

bought one of the 23ish dollar 48W compact fluoros, cant remember the brand ill get a photo when i go for a smoke next. but yeah, was getting out of the car after work, had it on top of a box of stuff and as i turned around it fell too the ground with a very sad smashing sound... broke two of the thingies that horseshoe out :'(

 

so now i have too go and get two more tomorrow instead of one :'(

 

but on the plus side it gives me a chance too get the area a bit more prepared before getting the seeds in.

[TD.]

Possibly try a 100watt or higher growing fluro from eBay, if you do buy a fluro grow light from ebay let me just say, there alot larger than you would first think, so they require a different socket....but all hope is not lost, the solution is here --->click here

[DarkSpark]

Thanks TD, as far as wiring and stuff goes and socket sizes and bulb sizes i am aware of the differences. I am very technically/computer/mechanically/buildery minded (sorry about the wording) although from my post i probably don't seem intelligent you would be surprised

 

but on topic again... i have just gotten a couple of 48W compact fluoros temporarily for sprouting and will have too put money away this week and next too buy propper lights. Have been browsing and taking in info for a while and yeah, i am probably not going too buy off ebay... there is a shop in an industrial estate near work with pretty reasonable prices on nutes and lights... and the guy is very "easygoing" as far as MJ is concerned, plus he is an old friend of mines uncle whom i know reasonably well.

[calaman]

I think anyone who owns a Hydro shop has to be "easy going" don't they?

 

When i first started growing i was all keen to start and couldnt wait for my HIDs to arrive so I went to Petbarn and got 2 of the spiral fluro thingos (that use an edison fitting) that are used in repile tanks etc. You'd be quite surprised how good they are and cheap. I put 2 of them down the centre of a standard 2' fluro.

To this day I still use em after cloning to get em up abit before i throw em under the HPS. Sure they mayn't be as good as HID but I reckon theyre great and it'll get em growing up and out whereas the fluro will just keep em ticking over

[DarkSpark]

also, the fluoros are white, isnt blue or red spectrum better ? if so the tubes are replaceable arent they ?

[calaman]

It doesnt matter a fuck using fluros man as your just usin em until you get setup properly right? Yeah, theyre partial to different colours for different cycles but it dont matter really with what your talking about. If your just usin the fluro for your clones I wouldnt waste the money on a grow bulb, you dont need it. No doubt someone will most likely contradict me but, personally I dont think you need it. You can use your HPS (when you get it) all the way thru.

[DarkSpark]

Thanks Calaman, i have put a good part of $200 away now for my propper lights, the area i am going too be working with is something along the lines of a two door cupboard. Buying a cheap one off ebay today that will be "converted"

 

i have seen a couple of guys post designs for them on here and will be adapting their designs too suit it. I was thinking 400W HPS possibly but am not too sure... the area i would be looking at is roughly

 

2Mx1Mx75CM

 

HxWxD

 

so yeah... trying too look around for some reasonable lights, finding plenty of perfect cupboards for 5-10$ pickup locally which is sweet.

 

and yeah what lights would be advisable for a reasonably small grow of possibly 4 plants in two pots.

 

edit: just found these on ebay, "nursery closed down"

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Grow-Lights-400watt...A1%7C240%3A1318

 

stacks of nice son-t-aggro setups would look pretty schmicko iin my cupboard. bidding starts at 40$ on the 16 of them buy it now 150$

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/225-LED-GROW-LIGHT-...A1%7C240%3A1318

or would something like this work for vegging, it seems a bit dodgy coming from asia and shit but yeah looks reasonably efficient.

[calaman]

I got no idea bout growin in a cuboard as I got a whole room. The one thing I do know is that your going to have heat issues - regardless of wot u use. Locality may help somewhat but dont rely on it

Im in NQ where we all know its fucking hot! Using a 400W HPS and 400 MH I thought if i had enuf air moving thru the room it'd negate the need for air con however its cooling down now and im still battling 35+ temps, anyway...

I know I lloked into LEDs as a supplemental source awhile ago (used on the sides and asmongst the branches) and the advice i recieved made me look elsewhere.

I buy from Disc Hydroponic on ebay who have damn good prices. Theres also aussieponics(do a google search) who have even better prices but they seem TOO cheap to me - always gota worry bout loosing your money (as my signature shows). I reckon you can get a good 400W setup for around $200. Then again some ppl on here say aussieponics are ok so maybe even cheaper. When i got a spare 100 i was guna try the $50 non ballasted fluro they got listed at the end of their light section (aussiepon that is) to supplement wot i got now.

Theres another thread i been following about digital ballasts that makes me tell you not to buy a growlush digital ballast if you can help it. Looking at your price i'd say your not going digital though. I'll have a look at your links and get back to you later.

I know what its like to be startin man, its all GO GO GO! If you do it right it can be real rewarding. Dont just take my advice though, look around. Different things work for others....