4x4 600w HPS- My first grow

Hi there! KingHarvest is the name. I’m a genuine dude with a couple kids, looking to grow myself some of the best buds on earth during this short life we have. This is my first grow. Ive got a 600w HPS light ventilated and running a dehu outside of the tent with Some fans for circ inside. I was quick to do research on any methods and techniques to use and grow on. I had great success with lollipop-ping, general defoliation, trimming and chiropractic cracks from half their lives on. I am now 24 days into flowering. Flowering times from the nursery suggest 10-11wks. Beginning of flowering I did a little top spread of medium just to be sure they’d have enough nutrients to get through. I use Fox Farms Ocean Forest and am working on a super soil and even a tea from a compost pile. I’m happy with my first grow so far. Trying to keep humidity and temps right while using this dinky little hygrometer. There will always be room to grow. Hopefully my fellow growers on here can welcome me and give me any tips you’ve got. Thanks y’all Stay cool Btw my Two girls at this time are a couple phenos of Orangegasm from Iriegenetics in CO. Really some absolutely impressive plants I’ve got here. I will update as we go here.

Looks like it might be a stunner, welcome to RIU!

These wouldn’t load initially! Here are the goods And hey pal nice to meet ya

Look into using an enzyme like Enzymes Komplete in your watering and cleaning using organics and teas. I found that the plant really shows it's effect in clearing up the rootzone and making other nutrients but it needs to be used in a certain way for microbes; read up on it. Good choice of light! I'm using 2x 600 watt digital dimmable ballasts in my custom 4x6. I found that after burning in a lamp for 100 hours you can dim it and get perfect photo flux and all that with less heat getting up close using hoods it's perfect.

I’m glad you touched on that! So you believe I can turn my ballast down a notch to 400? I’m only about 8 in away from the top cola. Can’t put the light up anymore so I think I’ll have to turn it down. I will definitely take a look in komplete! Thanks dude!

I read that after bulb has burned at full for 100 hours it's safe to dim it without spectrum or life loss. If your ballast is digital/electronic it has smart tech. To approximate the value of light a spot is getting I use a cheap 3 in 1 soil tester that has something like photon flux reading. I aim for min. 1000 for veg and 2000 for flower.

Man that is good info! I’m going to have to calculate how long mines been running. I only bought it a couple months ago. I’m going to go ahead and put a flux meter in my eBay cart, thanks PissinNutes!

How do you like/react these comments by the way?

Bottom right on the posts.

PissingNutes said:

I read that after bulb has burned at full for 100 hours it's safe to dim it without spectrum or life loss. If your ballast is digital/electronic it has smart tech. To approximate the value of light a spot is getting I use a cheap 3 in 1 soil tester that has something like photon flux reading. I aim for min. 1000 for veg and 2000 for flower.
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Dimming HPS bulbs will affect spectrum. The bulbs are designed for the mercury and sodium vapors to reach a certain temperature to produce a desired spectrum. If you dim a 1000w ballast to 600w, you should use a 600w bulb, same goes for 400w.

A cheap digital LUX meter is much more accurate and helps with identifying how high you should hang your light and when to replace bulbs. You should shoot for at least 45K lux for flowering.

NukaKola said:

Dimming HPS bulbs will affect spectrum. The bulbs are designed for the mercury and sodium vapors to reach a certain temperature to produce a desired spectrum. If you dim a 1000w ballast to 600w, you should use a 600w bulb, same goes for 400w.

A cheap digital LUX meter is much more accurate and helps with identifying how high you should hang your light and when to replace bulbs. You should shoot for at least 45K lux for flowering.

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No no, you match the bulb with the ballast and the spectrum isn't like LEDs, the plants love it.

PissingNutes said:

No no, you match the bulb with the ballast and the spectrum isn't like LEDs, the plants love it.

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You have it backwards. LED's will put out the intended spectrum regardless of how much you dim them. HID's on the other hand are intended to run the proper wattage bulb. 1000w setting with 1000w bulb, 600w setting with 600w bulb, 400w setting with 400w bulb. That doesn't mean running a 1000w bulb dimmed down to 400w won't "work", it is just not ideal and will not put out the spectrum the bulb was designed for.

NukaKola said:

You have it backwards. LED's will put out the intended spectrum regardless of how much you dim them. HID's on the other hand are intended to run the proper wattage bulb. 1000w setting with 1000w bulb, 600w setting with 600w bulb, 400w setting with 400w bulb. That doesn't mean running a 1000w bulb dimmed down to 400w won't "work", it is just not ideal and will not put out the spectrum the bulb was designed for.

Should I Dim My Ballast? (Learn What Dimming Does To Bulbs)

Dimmable ballasts offer some great advantages, but you need to use them the right way or risk damaging your bulbs and perhaps even your plants. That's why...

growlightinfo.com

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Steve is selling LEDs. Good example of bullshit you find online. I'm doing the equivalent of 3lbs per light I would know that the newer ballasts run at a dimmed setting.

NukaKola said:

You have it backwards. LED's will put out the intended spectrum regardless of how much you dim them. HID's on the other hand are intended to run the proper wattage bulb. 1000w setting with 1000w bulb, 600w setting with 600w bulb, 400w setting with 400w bulb. That doesn't mean running a 1000w bulb dimmed down to 400w won't "work", it is just not ideal and will not put out the spectrum the bulb was designed for.

Should I Dim My Ballast? (Learn What Dimming Does To Bulbs)

Dimmable ballasts offer some great advantages, but you need to use them the right way or risk damaging your bulbs and perhaps even your plants. That's why...

growlightinfo.com

Click to expand...

If you focus on more accurate literature from reputable sources you could increase your yields.

PissingNutes said:

Steve is selling LEDs. Good example of bullshit you find online. I'm doing the equivalent of 3lbs per light I would know that the newer ballasts run at a dimmed setting.

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You're pulling 3LBs per 600w? Keep dreaming.

If you understood how an HID bulb works you would know that it is indeed correct and basic science. The PAR output is lower running a 1000w bulb dimmed to 400w than running a 400w bulb on a 1000w ballast dimmed down to 400w.

I'm not going to clog up OP's thread. Have fun with your 3LB a light and 3-in-1 soil meter.

NukaKola said:

You're pulling 3LBs per 600w? Keep dreaming.

If you understood how an HID bulb works you would know that it is indeed correct and basic science. The PAR output is lower running a 1000w bulb dimmed to 400w than running a 400w bulb on a 1000w ballast dimmed down to 400w.

I'm not going to clog up OP's thread. Have fun with your 3LB a light and 3-in-1 soil meter.

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It's just commentary about HID, not hijacking a thread. I want to be clear about my yields so it doesn't seem like bullshit. Until I can handle the yields I grow the square footage of a few autos that yield 10 ounces converts to 3Lbs per light growing out the full area beyond 4.5 square feet.
Couldn't do it without the right environment and the 3-in-1 stands on guard.

I’m not worried about crowding over this thread lol we’re all friends here y’all! It’s all gravy! After it’s all said and done we can sit down and smoke one.