Lighting

[Nath]

Hi, I have one 400w sunmaster kit in my grow room at the moment.. currently its over six plants 1ft tall, few days into flower..

 

Im pushing about 200wpsqft at the moment.. and Id like to keep light intensity at around 100wpsqft if I can. Either: I can buy a 400w kit and have 2x 400w's.. or sell my 400w and buy a 600w, or a 1kW. Now, I dont mind paying the bill for the 1kW, but would 2x 400w's do just as good? Or just get a 600w?

 

My grow area is currently 6' x 6'.. but I am only really working with 2' x 1.5' at the moment, but will need to make it bigger soon. I find the 400w is good for 3' x 3' maybe.. but light intensity of the 400w is crap. Im on a budget here, so I want to make the best decision considering budget. I can get another 400w kit for $100, 600w new will cost $220, and 1kW will cost $200. All are HPS and GOOD working 2nd hand, but the 600w is new, 2nd hand ones are $150. When I move out, my new grow area will be 10' x 9' so I wanna keep that in mind too.

[Pickle]

Go with the 600watt, you get a new globe and you will not regret it when you get a bit of space.

 

Don't buy a stingray, they are a great idea but they box your light in and the attached reflector does bugger all because 90% of the light is inside the box.

[Nath]

Ive read that MH has nothing on HPS when it comes to growing, even in veg.. apparently the plants veg way faster wth the HPS. I can get 400w MH kits for like $50, but none in stock at the moment.. and I want more lighting!

 

I could always just buy another 400w hps.. but i feel they arent strong enough. The 600w, for me to sell my kit for cheap, and buy that.. would split out to be an extra $60. For a 1kW it would be like $120 or so..

[Nath]

Ohhh i was gonna get the light new from nutriflo

With the Manta 600 reflector, $220.. cant go wrong.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/nutriflo/light7.gif

 

This is what I currently have: 400w sunmaster globe, JB ballast 430w rated.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/nutriflo/light3.gif

 

But I want to cover at least 4'x4' if I can.. when I actually position the light, im running 100w per sq ft.. ppl say use 50wpsft, but I set my light up to that and it looks Very dim.. perhaps its the globe, do they noticeable die?

[Luke Skywalker]

50w a square foot is an average, that's what you probably need minimum to make for a good crop. More is usually better, of course, you don't want so much lighting you damage the plants or overheat the place too.

 

I'd suggest making as much of the reflection in the room as you can, and go with a 600w hps. The 600w are the most efficient lights, and they're still small enough to keep within a smallish growspace and light it up really, really well.

 

Hope that helps.

[Gazza2001au]

well about 6 months ago i found out that the police helicopter has been based about 10mins from me and is always on the go! so all my gear is going out the door including

150mm inline fan like new

250w hps including 7 brand new bulbs ITEM SOLD

600w hps with luca grow bulb

canadian imported aircooled hood the links to my auctions are below

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...me=STRK:MESE:IT

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...me=STRK:MESE:IT

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...me=STRK:MESE:IT

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...me=STRK:MESE:IT

 

yes all my gear must go i aint happy but what can i do ill be busted and kicked out... its not my place so i would rather the gear go than me

Edited October 10, 2004 by Gazza2001au

[Tom]

Very dim.. perhaps its the globe, do they noticeable die?

Yes, globes are only good for 3 - 4 grows max.

 

But I want to cover at least 4'x4' if I can..

the minimum I would use to cover that area would be 2 x 400w lights, personally I would go for 2 x 600w and use the Son-T globes.

 

[Pickle]

What difference does it make how far the helicopter is away? If you grow inside, unless they have xray vision, they can't see you... Can they?

 

Where did i leave my foil hat! :scratchin

Edited October 10, 2004 by Pickle

[Chev]

They can't see you no, but I think some have special heat seeking technology that can pick up abnormal heat.

And yep, go the 600W's, much more efficient. MH are actually much better for vegging, but a HPS will do the job well too. You can actually buy ballasts that run both MH&HPS, handy for those that do like to use MH for vegging. They're better because they have a blue spectrum that the plants love whilst vegging.

[Gazza2001au]

yes the cop helicopters here in NSW have thermalimaging cameras so im up s... creek i have also been turned off growing because of our low water its making our PH fluctuate (if thats how its spelt) has anyone else in sydney noticed this? foil works but if u cover your grow room with it and u leave one unnoticable gap and the chopper picks it up theres there reason for a search warrant they know your hiding something... they are also going very hash on grows in NSW now also find million dollar crops very close to me does not help!