Do I need a ballast for 100w hps? (+CFLs)

Ok, so Im planning on starting my first grow soon. I completely new to this, but I've been reading up a fair bit, though I still don't know about the lights.
I have autoflowering AK49 seeds, I'm only going to grow 1 or 2 plants, in a cupboard. Also I need to keep a very low electricity bill.

My plan for light was this -

veg: Either 5 x 25w 6400k CFLs, or a dual spectrum 125w 6400/2700k CFL (which should I choose?)

Flowering: a 100w HPS, and 1 or 2 25w CFLs

I have a few questions:

1. Should I use th 5 25w cfls and then switch to hps, or should I just use the 125w dual cfl throughout instead (no hps)?

2. My main question, do I need a ballast for a 100w hps bulb? I can't find any so I'm not sure

3. Could I use a GLR light routine with this lighting? How badly would it effect the yield?

You need a ballast for a 100 watt HPS.

I recommend buying a 400 watt digital setup. You can pick one up on Ebay for like $120. It will come with an open hood, ballast and 1 mh bulb and 1 hps bulb.

The reason i suggest this is because it is dimmable to 200 watts and you can run both mh &hps, so you will be saving quite a bit of money instead of buying all of these different bulbs and sockest and whatnot.

So dim the ballast to 200 watts, veg with mh, then flower with hps. Good to go!

You should be able to get a 600w hps without increasing your electric bill too much... transition to LED light bulbs around your house at the same time to lower the electric usage. THe electronic ballasts can dim to 50% and 75%... (600w/450w/300w)... the 600w would be good for 4x4x7 grow tent. There isn't much cost difference between a good 100w setup and a good 1000w setup...

I would let the space determine your lighting... What are the dimensions? Temps?


You would maybe get 1-2 zips with your 125 watts of CFL or 2 zips with your 100 hps... Why not get 10+ zips with the 600w for about the same price?

the more intense the light the denser and higher quality of the buds... Adding some 5000k cree LED bulbs has helped increase coverage and boost resin production.

BeastGrow said:

You should be able to get a 600w hps without increasing your electric bill too much... transition to LED light bulbs around your house at the same time to lower the electric usage. THe electronic ballasts can dim to 50% and 75%... (600w/450w/300w)... the 600w would be good for 4x4x7 grow tent. There isn't much cost difference between a good 100w setup and a good 1000w setup...

I would let the space determine your lighting... What are the dimensions? Temps?


You would maybe get 1-2 zips with your 125 watts of CFL or 2 zips with your 100 hps... Why not get 10+ zips with the 600w for about the same price?

the more intense the light the denser and higher quality of the buds... Adding some 5000k cree LED bulbs has helped increase coverage and boost resin production.

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Thanks for the info - though surely there is a big difference in running cost from 100w to 600w? Wouldn't it be 6 times as expensive? I'm using my parents electricity so I don't want them to notice a large increase in bill...

Also, when you say "10+ zips" is that still for 2 plants? Or roughly how many?

s00thsayer said:

Thanks for the info - though surely there is a big difference in running cost from 100w to 600w? Wouldn't it be 6 times as expensive? I'm using my parents electricity so I don't want them to notice a large increase in bill...

Also, when you say "10+ zips" is that still for 2 plants? Or roughly how many?

Click to expand...

I just have to ask: Are you planning on setting up an illegal grow in your parents house, using their resources, and jeopardizing not only their home and all of their possesions, but also their freedom?

here: http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLK400GW19-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B004YXDHX6/ref=pd_sbs_lg_1/184-6239264-5135065?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QB4MX1MAC3WD23C8GJB

amgprb said:

I just have to ask: Are you planning on setting up an illegal grow in your parents house, using their resources, and jeopardizing not only their home and all of their possesions, but also their freedom?

Click to expand...

No, there's virtually no chance of getting caught where I live, and even then there's next to no punishment for small grows

I assume you need a ballast, I've never heard of hps which didn't use one