Switching to HPS and I need advice.

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
These are the items I'm looking at for my 2x2x5 Sun-Hut Blackout 20 Grow Tent.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5UVZ32/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AMM43JJL4WXDQ
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NYJ6D2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AXC6VLRHTOFD2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EDB99Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Also going to get some ducting and a duct booster to attach to the cool wing.

I cannot afford an inline fan so I was hoping some ducting with a duct booster would be enough to pull some heat away from the cool tube.
 
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damnsmoker

Well-Known Member
Well, you have a 400W ballast with a 250W bulb, so that's the first problem; have you figured out how much light you want for your grow area? For something as small as 2' x 2' and as short as 5', I'd go with CFLs or T5 fluorescents. There'll be less heat generated and your plants will be able to grow closer to the light without getting scorched.
 

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
Well, you have a 400W ballast with a 250W bulb, so that's the first problem; have you figured out how much light you want for your grow area? For something as small as 2' x 2' and as short as 5', I'd go with CFLs or T5 fluorescents. There'll be less heat generated and your plants will be able to grow closer to the light without getting scorched.
I can't seem to find a solid answer on whether or not I can run a 250W bulb off a 400W ballast. Some say yay and others say nay. Found a 400W bulb instead.

II'm upgrading from CFL, I need to maximize the amount of light in my space to ensure a heavy harvest, even for a 2X2 I'm aiming 3-4 OZ. As a heavy smoker I would need something that is going to give me the good nugs and CFL's and T5's aren't going to cut it for me.
 
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damnsmoker

Well-Known Member
3 to 4 oz shouldn't be a problem for that area, the problem you'll find is with the height restriction. Hanging a 400W light will eat up about a foot of your available height. You'll want to keep the plants about a foot away from the light as well or you'll cook the tops. Add a foot or so for the pot and you only have about two feet of height left to grow in. This places some heavy restrictions on which strains you can grow.
 

DesertGrow89

Well-Known Member
Use a vaporizer to stretch your bud, and good luck dealing with cooling a 2x2 space while running 400w. I second the T5s, RM3 uses them and does an excellent job.
I can't seem to find a solid answer on whether or not I can run a 250W bulb off a 400W ballast. Some say yay and others say nay. Found a 400W bulb instead.

II'm upgrading from CFL, I need to maximize the amount of light in my space to ensure a heavy harvest, even for a 2X2 I'm aiming 3-4 OZ. As a heavy smoker I would need something that is going to give me the good nugs and CFL's and T5's aren't going to cut it for me.
 

THE KONASSURE

Well-Known Member
I`d go with 200w of 3000k induction or 150 to 300w of 3000w cob led

but you could use a hps you`ll probably want a 5" or 6" fan out and a 4" or 5" coming in

might just about be able to stand up a cool tube in the middle and put a plant in each corner and get 4 x 100g plants going if you can stop them burning
 

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
3 to 4 oz shouldn't be a problem for that area, the problem you'll find is with the height restriction. Hanging a 400W light will eat up about a foot of your available height. You'll want to keep the plants about a foot away from the light as well or you'll cook the tops. Add a foot or so for the pot and you only have about two feet of height left to grow in. This places some heavy restrictions on which strains you can grow.
Ended up going with a 250W HPS/MH Combo with a reflector hood. I'm just going to have to run my lights at night while I have the AC on. I have two fans in my tent for circulation currently. As far as height goes I was planning on doing a scrog with some lemon kush. I've been told kush plants tend to stay lower and bushier due to their indica dominant nature.

Use a vaporizer to stretch your bud, and good luck dealing with cooling a 2x2 space while running 400w. I second the T5s, RM3 uses them and does an excellent job.
I really need to. I wish I had enough to do blunts all day but I just don't. I have went with a 250W HPS instead for now. I have two fans for now and have been offered help with an inline fan next month, so if my tent is indeed too hot I'll have an inline fan as an option in about another month.
 

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
I`d go with 200w of 3000k induction or 150 to 300w of 3000w cob led

but you could use a hps you`ll probably want a 5" or 6" fan out and a 4" or 5" coming in

might just about be able to stand up a cool tube in the middle and put a plant in each corner and get 4 x 100g plants going if you can stop them burning
I might try the center light idea on my next grow. I chose a 250W HPS/MH Combo with a gull wing reflector. I'm hoping the temps will be similiar to my current 150W of CFL.
 

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
If you are in the market this desktop is the one I have, pretty cheap and it blows any portable vape out of the water. Plenty of power I rarely turn it past halfway and blow vapor clouds:

http://www.vaporbrothers.com/Vaporbrothers-VB1-Vaporizer-Cosmetic-Discount_ProductID_8640-COS

Got the discounted one and didn't even notice the blemishes.
I do have a vape I bought awhile back, never really use it since I can only get reggies in my area. Maybe it will be of some use once I get this growing thing down pat.

http://www.vapir.com/no2 <--- This one.
 

420monster

Well-Known Member
I can't seem to find a solid answer on whether or not I can run a 250W bulb off a 400W ballast. Some say yay and others say nay. Found a 400W bulb instead.

II'm upgrading from CFL, I need to maximize the amount of light in my space to ensure a heavy harvest, even for a 2X2 I'm aiming 3-4 OZ. As a heavy smoker I would need something that is going to give me the good nugs and CFL's and T5's aren't going to cut it for me.
Soild answer definitely not 400w=400w bulb 250=250 mismatch=fire soild anuff?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Rollitup mobile app
 

DesertGrow89

Well-Known Member
I do have a vape I bought awhile back, never really use it since I can only get reggies in my area. Maybe it will be of some use once I get this growing thing down pat.

http://www.vapir.com/no2 <--- This one.
Regardless of whether the weed is shitty or not, it will stretch your dollar.

If you want to get growing down you should do some reading. How far away do you run your 250w hps from the canopy?

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Growers-Insiders-Guide-Frank/dp/0929349008

A used copy of this one can be had for $6

The kindle version of this one is cheap and the chapter on light is very well written:

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Horticulture-Outdoor-Medical-Growers/dp/187882323X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457100646&sr=1-1&keywords=cervantes+growers+bible
 

Cyrus420

Well-Known Member
Regardless of whether the weed is shitty or not, it will stretch your dollar.

If you want to get growing down you should do some reading. How far away do you run your 250w hps from the canopy?

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Growers-Insiders-Guide-Frank/dp/0929349008

A used copy of this one can be had for $6

The kindle version of this one is cheap and the chapter on light is very well written:

http://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Horticulture-Outdoor-Medical-Growers/dp/187882323X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457100646&sr=1-1&keywords=cervantes+growers+bible
I haven't received my HPS/MH combo yet. I don't use the vape with the mid because I hate the taste, hence why I smoke flavored blunts.

My current grow is a single bagseed under a 125W CFL. I'm four weeks and something days into flowering. I keep that light within two to four inches of the canopy of my plant.

Thank you for the links to the growers guide but I think I'll stick with what I can research for free online. I have an idea about what I'm doing, just not anything beyond an amateur yet, you can check my grow journal to see how I'm doing. :)
 

DesertGrow89

Well-Known Member
With a 250w hps 12 inches is a good starting point which puts the canopy at ~ 5000 f.c.



DISTANCE FROM LIGHT........F.C. READING


........................250 Watt..................600 Watt


Within 6" of lamps (way over the 10K f.c. mark)


6".......................10,000.....................10K+


8".......................7,100.......................10K+


12"......................4,800......................8,700


18"......................2,800......................5,600


24"......................2,000......................4,200

Hope you grow some happy plants!
 
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