Lights

I'm about to start my first actual grow (I've only helped before) and I know most of the things dealing with growing I am just wondering about lighting. I wanted to get this 400w hps/mh system (I don't remember the name) but I was wondering if I absolutely have to go to a hydroponic store or order it offline or can I just go to home depot and buy it

Avoid hydro stores, the mark up is very unjust. Avoid home improvement stores as well, if you DID happen to find what you needed the mark up would still be nuts. Online is the way to go. What are you growing in? Size of room? If youre looking to stealth grow, research LED brands and DIY stuff.

Buy off of Amazon. Easier for returns etc.Cheapest prices without bidding on eBay.

U can get a 400 watt on eBay for less than $100. I rock a cheap ipower when I first started and it did great.

I got my hps/mh off CL. If you are serious about growing go with a hps or mh or a combo unit cfls suck.

UncleReemis said:

Avoid hydro stores, the mark up is very unjust. Avoid home improvement stores as well, if you DID happen to find what you needed the mark up would still be nuts. Online is the way to go. What are you growing in? Size of room? If youre looking to stealth grow, research LED brands and DIY stuff.

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Ok thanks, I'm looking to do stealth which is why this first wave is gonna be a cfl closet grow, dimensions about 1' x 1.5' x 1'

nk14zp said:

I got my hps/mh off CL. If you are serious about growing go with a hps or mh or a combo unit cfls suck.

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CFLs aren't the best but they work, yea I want to get a mph/hps setup, what do you recommend?

I

cassinfo said:

U can get a 400 watt on eBay for less than $100. I rock a cheap ipower when I first started and it did great.

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I heard that the cheaper ones on eBay And amazon were low quality and a lot were false remakes

I am a cfl user right now and yeah they work but when i try the expensive seeds i am really thinking about hps or leds i think you get faster growth with them just my thought process

Trynax said:

CFLs aren't the best but they work, yea I want to get a mph/hps setup, what do you recommend?

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He was talking about getting his equipment off of CRAIG'S LIST........Not cfl growing LOL.

Craig's List is a good place to look for equipment......I saved $300 on a water chiller for cooling my C02 generator....

Tink3rFarms said:

I am a cfl user right now and yeah they work but when i try the expensive seeds i am really thinking about hps or leds i think you get faster growth with them just my thought process

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Oh yeah definitely faster and better growth from the higher lumen output. Hps/mh is what a lot of people use as a perfected method, i don't know much about LEDs except the price can get up there.

You might consider a Galaxy ballast as they can be set to 400,600 and 1000 watts vs. 50, 75 and 100 %.....Could be nice if you ever decide to go to a higher watt grow!

A few more bucks now may save a lot more later!

Trynax said:

Oh yeah definitely faster and better growth from the higher lumen output. Hps/mh is what a lot of people use as a perfected method, i don't know much about LEDs except the price can get up there.

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For now,,,skip LEDs as their changing so fast and are not at the level of HID or CMH (best) yet.

What are you growing in and how big a space?

Trynax said:

Oh yeah definitely faster and better growth from the higher lumen output. Hps/mh is what a lot of people use as a perfected method, i don't know much about LEDs except the price can get up there.

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I am so excited but I really want to feel comfortable with what I am doing before poring money in to mistake after mistake

Dr. Who said:

You might consider a Galaxy ballast as they can be set to 400,600 and 1000 watts vs. 50, 75 and 100 %.....Could be nice if you ever decide to go to a higher watt grow!

A few more bucks now may save a lot more later!

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How much do them run?

Dr. Who said:

For now,,,skip LEDs as their changing so fast and are not at the level of HID or CMH (best) yet.

What are you growing in and how big a space?

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CMH??

Dr. Who said:

You might consider a Galaxy ballast as they can be set to 400,600 and 1000 watts vs. 50, 75 and 100 %.....Could be nice if you ever decide to go to a higher watt grow!

A few more bucks now may save a lot more later![/QQUOTE how much is the ballast??

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how much is the ballast

cfl's in that size box.

All boils down to cash. Good 400 watt MH/HPS system costs about $ 150-175, but then you have the heat issue. Also there is the question of how many plants.. 2 plants you will need to grow a kick ass plant, 400 W (convertible to either HPS/MH) which WILL require venting., is decent, but in a small area I would recommend LED, specifically Pinnacle 360 Watt, dual spectrum ( you can switch between grow (180 watts) or bloom (180 watts) or both at the same time for a total of 360 watts LED, which is killer shit. That fixture on Amazon cost's $ 359, but you will NEVER be dissatisfied. I'm growing 1 plant under it, and it is going toe to toe with 1400 watts of HID. No bullshit. I am a HID guy for a large amount of plants, but for 2, in a closet, definitely the LED fixture I mentioned is the way to go. (1 oz/paid for)
Good luck.

I think i am going to go get 2 6500k cfl for now cause that is what i started with