Noob Starting Out :/

for someone on your budget i would say yes, you will end up spending all your money on a decent LED light that wont even be that great. LED are the lights of the future but as with any other new technology they are expensive at first. In my honest opinion i think you will be better off with a HPS grow or even CFL's (if heat is a issue then go with flouros) only problem with CFL is by the time you buy enough good CFL bulbs your up in the ballpark of a 1/2 way decent HPS light.

if you do decide to go LED i would do major research on them before you go buying something that says its a "Grow light"
i know the dual spectrum LED's are expensive and the single spectrum ones you will have to buy 2 of them (not 100% sure here just going by some of the tid bits of stuff i have read, i really am no expert on LED and someone else may be able to help you out much better than I can on the subject)

check out this thread might help you a bit https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/485819-led-buying-guide-noob-start.html

Cheers dude! I would give you more rep but it wont let me :/

I'll vouch everything matt has said. LEDs just costs to much for your project - you would have to spend the hole budget on just the light and even then it might not be a great one.

If you can build a closet at least 3x3 I would recommend a 600w dimmable ballast. This would cover then entire 3x3 area in full flower but you would also be able to use it on the 400w setting during initial flowering and veg to save you some money. You can get a complete 600w system with digital dimmable ballast and sealed air cooled hood for ~$200. If you choose to go this route you will need some type of ventilation - if you don't need to worry about scent than a simple $20 duct booster fan will work.

I would not advise going with HTG - they have great customer service but sell the same crappy Chinese equipment as everyone else but for alot more money. Here is a cheap 400w:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400w-400-watt-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Set-Premium-Kit-Dimm-Green-House-iPower-/160683199645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item6b1c7931a8

Cheap 600w system: http://www.ebay.com/itm/600w-600-watt-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Set-Premium-Kit-/160643087402?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item6b1bebffdf

Most ebay systems are just as good as the HTGs so look around as there are a ton of them for super cheap - remember to spring for the air cooled sealed hoods.

CFLs are by far your cheapest option. You could make a CFL cab with $50 if you do it correctly. Problem with CFLs is that you are limited to plant size and yield. CFLs can be great but need constant moving around and tight tight enclosures to maximize reflection. I would suggest ~400w of CFLs but not much more. One thing to keep in mind with CFLs is the rate at which you can step up your lighting; 400w of CFLs produces about the same as a 250w HID but actually costs much less to run:

I pulled 5.4oz my first grow with CFLs:
15 day veg:
First 10 days @ 18hrs*23w
Days 10-15 @ 18hrs*46w
Total veg kWh: 8.28 kWh
60 day flower:
Days 1-20 @ 12hrs*230w
Days 21-40 @ 12hrs*296w
Days 41-60 @ 12hrs*388w
Total flower kWh: 219.36
Total kWh: 227.64 Total yield in grams: 151.2 g/kWh: .665 g/w: .39

Now lets look at a 400w HID:

400w*18hrs*15days = 108 kWh veg
400w*12hrs*60days = 288 kWh flower
Total: 396 kWh

Over the course of the same grow the 400w would use 178% more electricity so anything less than 270grams and the HID is doing worse g/kWh - I don't know many people than can pull 9.5+ oz from a 400w with just a 15 day veg...

If you choose to go with CFLs stick with the lower wattage bulbs (23-6. You are better off with more bulbs than fewer larger bulbs as you are able to much more evenly disperse the light. The lower wattage CFLs are also MUCH MUCH cheaper per wattage and more efficient lumen/w as well - I can often find 23w CFLs on sale for $0.25 a bulb

Good stuff dude. I doubt the small amount of light seen through the mylar hurts much.... Keep on posting pics...

Undercover Cop said:

I use mylar, and have noticed that you can actually see through it, like mirrored window Tint. What do you mean opaque backing... just a backing that doesnt allow light to pass? Ive been spray gluing it onto plywood and hardboard, Ive been amazed how bright my box is... are you saying it has to be against something like white pandafilm? clarify that abit, Im making my flowering room right now and dont want to pass up on something I could be doing different.

my nursery I just made ---> View attachment 1892071 View attachment 1892072

Click to expand...

Spray adhesive to plywood is awesome - that totally works as an opaque backing and spray adhesive is the best way to apply it. Any opaque backing should work although technically a white opaque backing would be the most ideal.

sorry for the bad link on the light. dont really know a ton just seen it on another thread and fig i would show it to ya. e bay definatly prob has some good used or new stuff you can get at a fraction of the costs. gl man

matthebrute said:

sorry for the bad link on the light. dont really know a ton just seen it on another thread and fig i would show it to ya. e bay definatly prob has some good used or new stuff you can get at a fraction of the costs. gl man

Click to expand...

I got my 4x48" T5 fixtures on ebay, $100 ea. w 6500k bulbs... the cheapest I could find them anywhere else was for $160, most are $200 for the same unit. I have two, which is 8 total 4ft bulbs on two separate units I can adjust height on individually, both for $200.

Take your time and thoroughly scour the web... craigslist/backpage, ebay, amazon, google shopper etc. and you can find a deal on almost anything.

thanks dude. started looking at stuff but gona wait until i get paid at the end of the month before I start buying

Hey guys!

Alittle update on what I was looking into previously.

A friend donated some plants and a small setup as he was moving house.

Heres the link for the thread
https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/496679-first-grow-help-needed.html