About indoor light systems...

miketos

miketos

Member
hey guys, I've just started to grow, I've made a lot of research before but I also decided to do something easy for the first time, and actually, planned to do it outdoors, but once the seedlings appeared the weather fucked me up and they're growing so nasty because of the lack of light, they're about 10 days (sprouted) and about 3 inches tall, i'm using bio-bizz soil, (planned to use organic nitrogen for vegetation, if needed, they are autos, snowryder strain, and also going to help the flowering with bio bloom).

Now that I finally realized the sun could come and leave whenever, specially in this country, we started considering the use of artificial light, we still have 2 seeds left to try again in case the old ones die, but I'll try to save them all asap. I find strange the different opinions I've read, and still have some doubts about what kind of light to use, in terms of lumens, watts, spectrum, etc. On the other side I can't afford to have something very expensive, (otherwise I could even grow more), not because of the money but because of environmental conditions (don't want to see the landlord's face if the power bill gets too high, u know what I mean?)

All in all, could you maybe point me on the right direction? I have enough space (to adjust lamp levels), fresh air, steady temperature, I'm also doing good with ph measuring, etc, but I just need to know what kind of bulbs I should use for just 2 or 3 auto strains, they don't grow more than 1 meter tall, don't care that much about the bulb price, but something to save the most energy possible and get a decent yield, is there one to use for veg and flowering time?

I was going to post some pics, but they're so spaghetti that I decided not to...I wont give up and will try to do something better, so next time pictures and thanks in advance!
 
jawbrodt

jawbrodt

Well-Known Member
Another option that's effective, yet really simple to use, is a 'multi-bulb T5 fluoro setup. I'd go with the 8-bulb model if I were you, 'cause they're the perfect length, and width, as three smaller-sized plants will need. :cool: They're pricey, like $250 for the model I mentioned, but will definitely work great.They not as good as an HPS, for flowering, but do an excellent job for a fluoro. CFLs can work great too, if you take the time and effort to set them for max intensity,(= ultra close to the plants) and use enough wattage. The T5 is much easier to setup, easier to adjust heigth, and has alot more intensity than any common CFL, from 42 watt, down. Those 65 watt CFLs are close in intensity(lumens per square foot), and would be another good option. They work excellent when you place one directly over the top each plant, but, they need side lighting to be able to compete with that T5 unit, so keep that into consideration.

Then there's the good ol' HPS,lol......If you had to chose one light, then stick with it through your entire grow, this would be it.(I'm leaving out LEDs, 'cause that's a whole different topic, in itself)(plus, I'm tired too. :lol:) Get one of those "spectrum enhanced" bulbs with the extra blue light added, and you'll be set. MH would be a close 2nd, but won't yield like the HPS, which makes that an easy choice, eh? :wink:

THEN, there's the new Ceramic Metal Halides, which look to be some awesome bulbs. From what I've read, it sounds like they're going to kick some ass, once they get more recognition. I'm definitely going to try 'em out, as soon as I can. With more 'red' than an HPS, and more 'blue' than a MH....I believe it when i hear that they'll beat both, hands down. Look into CMH bulbs, you might find it quite interesting. :cool:

Also, for reference....it cost about $12 a month, to run my 400 watt HPS while it's on 12/12. So, even with your fans and stuff running, your bill shouldn't be much more than $20. Would that bother the landlord? If so...tell him to go fuck himself, the cheap-ass. :razz:

Just some more food for thought. :wink:
 
miketos

miketos

Member
jawbrodt said:
Another option that's effective, yet really simple to use, is a 'multi-bulb T5 fluoro setup. I'd go with the 8-bulb model if I were you, 'cause they're the perfect length, and width, as three smaller-sized plants will need. :cool: They're pricey, like $250 for the model I mentioned, but will definitely work great.They not as good as an HPS, for flowering, but do an excellent job for a fluoro. CFLs can work great too, if you take the time and effort to set them for max intensity,(= ultra close to the plants) and use enough wattage. The T5 is much easier to setup, easier to adjust heigth, and has alot more intensity than any common CFL, from 42 watt, down. Those 65 watt CFLs are close in intensity(lumens per square foot), and would be another good option. They work excellent when you place one directly over the top each plant, but, they need side lighting to be able to compete with that T5 unit, so keep that into consideration.

Then there's the good ol' HPS,lol......If you had to chose one light, then stick with it through your entire grow, this would be it.(I'm leaving out LEDs, 'cause that's a whole different topic, in itself)(plus, I'm tired too. :lol:) Get one of those "spectrum enhanced" bulbs with the extra blue light added, and you'll be set. MH would be a close 2nd, but won't yield like the HPS, which makes that an easy choice, eh? :wink:

THEN, there's the new Ceramic Metal Halides, which look to be some awesome bulbs. From what I've read, it sounds like they're going to kick some ass, once they get more recognition. I'm definitely going to try 'em out, as soon as I can. With more 'red' than an HPS, and more 'blue' than a MH....I believe it when i hear that they'll beat both, hands down. Look into CMH bulbs, you might find it quite interesting. :cool:

Also, for reference....it cost about $12 a month, to run my 400 watt HPS while it's on 12/12. So, even with your fans and stuff running, your bill shouldn't be much more than $20. Would that bother the landlord? If so...tell him to go fuck himself, the cheap-ass. :razz:

Just some more food for thought. :wink:
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Hey man, thank you very much! one of the few who takes his time to answer a n00b. Thanks for the input, I think I'll have to try the miracle of the cfl's, if you ask me for the bill, all I can tell you is the power is quite expensive in this country, so that's why, we already had an increase on the gas bill last winter and he almost got mad!, those fuckers... I hate to live in a place where everybody try to get money out of everything, specially landlords... +rep for u, keep in touch!
 
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