Light System Recommendations Please and Thanks

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lilbry

Member
Hey Friends,

About to start my first, indoor grow, using a DWC hydroponic system. I have most of the stuff I need, besides a light setup. For my grow space and the amount of plants I am growing, a 400w or 600w seems to be more then enough. I also like the idea of trying to utilize less watts, more efficiently, and have read that you can put 400/600ws closer to plants with less risk of burning the tips. Wondering if I can get some suggestions on systems to maybe purchase? It is my first grow, so I probably do not need the most expensive light. With that said, I am willing to invest in a quality product that will last over time. I browsed Amazon and there were many options, but I was not sure if any of them were reliable. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Hopping to maybe find a light I could use for all the stages, at least with this first grow. Thanks friends.
 
S

spek9

Well-Known Member
What is the temperature/humidity in the grow area? HID lamps (MH, HPS) put off a good deal of heat, and that needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing lights.

Do you have extraction/ventilation covered? Will you use AC for cooling?
 
L

lilbry

Member
spek9 said:
What is the temperature/humidity in the grow area? HID lamps (MH, HPS) put off a good deal of heat, and that needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing lights.

Do you have extraction/ventilation covered? Will you use AC for cooling?
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thanks for the reply. hoping to convert my closet into the growing room; 6ft long, 2ft wide, 9ft tall. starting off with two (auto-flower) plants in a dwc hydroponic system (both plants spaced together in a 2 gallon tote), and will have to germinate from seedlings. my closet is relatively warm and dry (southern california). hoping I will be able to control climate, without the use of a tent or huge ventilation system. was just planning to use fan, ac cooling system, or just crack the closet door during appropriate times. i am not really worried about the smell. what are your thoughts, friend. Is converting a closet of this size sort of possible? i think at the most, I will eventually want to have 4-8 plants, in the long term. once i get there, skill wise. i have been reading the "medical growers bible" and chatting with a friend who is going to help me along the way...both of those things seem to make me think its possible
 
L

lilbry

Member
Airwalker16 said:
What size is your area you plan on using? Open room or are you going to be using a tent?
Click to expand...
thanks for the reply. hoping to convert my closet into the growing room; 6ft long, 2ft wide, 9ft tall. starting off with two (auto-flower) plants in a dwc hydroponic system (both plants spaced together in a 2 gallon tote), and will have to germinate from seedlings. my closet is relatively warm and dry (southern california). hoping I will be able to control climate, without the use of a tent or huge ventilation system. was just planning to use fan, ac cooling system, or just crack the closet door during appropriate times. i am not really worried about the smell. what are your thoughts, friend. Is converting a closet of this size sort of possible? i think at the most, I will eventually want to have 4-8 plants, in the long term. once i get there, skill wise. i have been reading the "medical growers bible" and chatting with a friend who is going to help me along the way...both of those things seem to make me think its possible
 
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Snob

Well-Known Member
you will need to make your environment as stable as possible. seal off the closet completely if you can to make it light proof. adjust your VPD as best you can to be around .75-1 based on the temp/humidity you get. it would really help to put at least a vent for fresh air in and one out with a fan to push air outside, not just into the room the closet is in. you can hang a sensor to turn on the fan and vent off your humidity. this will also pull in fresh co2 from the rest of the house.

what is your budget for lights?
 
L

lilbry

Member
Snob said:
you will need to make your environment as stable as possible. seal off the closet completely if you can to make it light proof. adjust your VPD as best you can to be around .75-1 based on the temp/humidity you get. it would really help to put at least a vent for fresh air in and one out with a fan to push air outside, not just into the room the closet is in. you can hang a sensor to turn on the fan and vent off your humidity. this will also pull in fresh co2 from the rest of the house.

what is your budget for lights?
Click to expand...
thanks for the info. yeah, the more i think about it, the closet might be a challenge. i have space in my room for a tent; was just hoping i could make the closet work, if possible. the closet and closet doors are adjacent to a window, so that vent idea might work. i guess i was hoping to spend $300 or less, maybe. it is my first grow, so I am starting out with just two auto flowering plants. i am hoping to increase the hydro set up, as time goes by; maybe 4-6 plants. if i can not make my closet work, then i would just do a tent in my room; maybe use the closet for veg or drying. i was just thinking, maybe because i am starting out so small, the closet would work.
 
S

Snob

Well-Known Member
tents are cheap, easy to keep clean, already come with vents and are already lightproof. You can most certainly use the closet, but you will destroy it and will likely get better results in the tent.

If you only have $300 total to spend you probably wont be able to get quality lights.

Have you grown Hydro before? why are you choosing to start with hydro over soil?
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Are you willing to do a little DIY project? If so, you might consider a set of (4) of these boards for $99 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQGLJWT

Powered by this driver for max $75 with tax and shipping: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mean-well-usa-inc/HLG-240H-C2100A/1866-2459-ND/7704015

Then with light hangers,wire and connectors, you'd be around $200 all done. This would only be enough to light a 2'x4' space, but that leaves you some room to work in your closet still too.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
lilbry said:
thanks for the reply. hoping to convert my closet into the growing room; 6ft long, 2ft wide, 9ft tall. starting off with two (auto-flower) plants in a dwc hydroponic system (both plants spaced together in a 2 gallon tote), and will have to germinate from seedlings. my closet is relatively warm and dry (southern california). hoping I will be able to control climate, without the use of a tent or huge ventilation system. was just planning to use fan, ac cooling system, or just crack the closet door during appropriate times. i am not really worried about the smell. what are your thoughts, friend. Is converting a closet of this size sort of possible? i think at the most, I will eventually want to have 4-8 plants, in the long term. once i get there, skill wise. i have been reading the "medical growers bible" and chatting with a friend who is going to help me along the way...both of those things seem to make me think its possible
Click to expand...
You better be ready to straight up cut some holes in your ceiling to exhaust heat if you're gonna be in a closed door closet. ESPECIALLY if you're in DWC. You'll almost be forces to run RDWC and using a chiller would be the best advice I could give you.
I'd recommend not sealing the door and leaving the crack underneath to pull in fresh air to save you from having to cut another hole for intake.
These are problems you will run into so be prepared. You'd be so much better off just buying a 4x8 tent and using it outside the closet in an open bedroom.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
But again this is why I really would consider scratching the whole closet idea. Closets can work if you use low wattage led and SOIL. But no way with standalone DWC buckets.
 
Gond00s

Gond00s

Well-Known Member
but that's the reason I have two dehum units and im thinking about getting a quest or maybe even another 70 pint but really thinking the quest if I gotta
 
L

lilbry

Member
Airwalker16 said:
But again this is why I really would consider scratching the whole closet idea. Closets can work if you use low wattage led and SOIL. But no way with standalone DWC buckets.
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I think you are right. The tent sounds like an easier way to avoid problems and maintain climate.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Gond00s said:
also never vent hot humid air into your attic good way to cause very bad damage
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I totally agree. I have insulated duct running from my closet up and out a gable vent in my attic. Since I did that, my humidity stays really low, and don't even need to run a dehumidifier anymore. I light proofed it using a big tarp and Panda Film, lol.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
I totally agree. I have insulated duct running from my closet up and out a gable vent in my attic. Since I did that, my humidity stays really low, and don't even need to run a dehumidifier anymore. I light proofed it using a big tarp and Panda Film, lol.
Click to expand...
Now thats the way to do it. If you can actually access your attic area, pulling an insulated 6" straight to a gable/vent enclosure is perfect.
 
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