Things to Know About Lighting

gwillim2006

gwillim2006

Member
Hi guys, just wondered if anyone could help me out here? I've just finished a 4 plant grow in an 800x800x1600 grow tent with a 250w hps light. I was pleased with the quality of my grow but I only yielded around 15g. I've been told that adding some side lights to my room could help considerably! What side lights should I fit tho? My last grow was Big Buddha Automatic, my new grow is Big Buddha Cheese. They're 5+1/2 weeks old now and just showing signs of flowering ( been on 12/12 for about 10days ). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Don't really want to buy a 400w or 600w ballist if I can make something out of house hold light fittings!!

Cheers guys
 
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learntoreed

Active Member
A friend once told me 100w per plant is sufficient enough..
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try to keep that in mind if you want to maximize your yield. Don't be shy with your lights, as long as you can keep it cool properly you should be able to walk away with a bigger yield.
 
mouthmeetsoap

mouthmeetsoap

Active Member
Wow, these threads are amazing! Thanks guys! Buttt...back to the stealing. I'd definitely suggest that if you are going to be "stealing" lights, steal them from city work zones rather than construction sites as construction owners pay for the lights themselves. The city uses OUR tax money, which we see very little done with nowadays, to buy their lights. We're just taking back what's ours. There are VERY HARSH consequences for getting caught though. I do not condone this. If you have the money, go buy your equipment like the rest of us. Also, I've seen good yields and quality from extremely primitive setups. Don't over-think it. Buy what you can afford, then upgrade what you can when you can after harvest.
 
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PTGROWER678

Member
Hey guys/gals, I'm about to get started on growing some outdoors and I am in a pickle. I have built a greenhouse out in the middle of the woods away from the law,parents and other civilians. The greenhouse is about 100 yards away from any electrical outlet, so running an extension cord that distance isn't ideal and i dont want anyone catching on. from what I have been able to dig up it doesnt look like there is any battery powered light sources. Now i was wondering if anyone had any ideas or words of advice etc. on how the heck i can get some more light to my ladies out in the woods, the sun isn't enough. Please respond back, i would greatly appreciate it.
 
gwillim2006

gwillim2006

Member
PTGROWER678 said:
Hey guys/gals, I'm about to get started on growing some outdoors and I am in a pickle. I have built a greenhouse out in the middle of the woods away from the law,parents and other civilians. The greenhouse is about 100 yards away from any electrical outlet, so running an extension cord that distance isn't ideal and i dont want anyone catching on. from what I have been able to dig up it doesnt look like there is any battery powered light sources. Now i was wondering if anyone had any ideas or words of advice etc. on how the heck i can get some more light to my ladies out in the woods, the sun isn't enough. Please respond back, i would greatly appreciate it.
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The only thing you could do really is use lamping torches, something like a million candle light torch. They will eat batteries though, so you'd need rechargables and somewhere to charge them! Hope that helps?
 
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bertoberto

Member
Can I use a low wattage HPS bulb (150 Watt) with a socket that belongs to a higher wattage HPS bulb or are the sockets universal to wattage being used? Also if i am using a low wattage bulb (150 watt) it safe to plug straight into the wall or do i still have to use a ballast?
 
gwillim2006

gwillim2006

Member
bertoberto said:
Can I use a low wattage HPS bulb (150 Watt) with a socket that belongs to a higher wattage HPS bulb or are the sockets universal to wattage being used? Also if i am using a low wattage bulb (150 watt) it safe to plug straight into the wall or do i still have to use a ballast?
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Don't plug your cfl into the ballast, there's a good chance it'll pop!! cfl's need to go straight into the mains! Not sure about putting a lower wattage hps, I do know you can't put a higher wattage into a lower ballest tho so be careful cos when they pop it's pretty nasty!!

Happy growing:weed:
 
wil2279

wil2279

Well-Known Member
ok guys... i am trying to get an experienced growers advice here. I plan on using T5 bulbs to grow in an area about 3ft X 2ft X 3ft tall. I was planning on using 8 T5 bulbs in this area 4 6500K bulbs and 4 3000K bulbs. is this a good choice or do i not need that many bulbs? would i be better off with 4 bulbs total?
 
SkunkFunk420

SkunkFunk420

Member
wil2279 said:
ok guys... i am trying to get an experienced growers advice here. I plan on using T5 bulbs to grow in an area about 3ft X 2ft X 3ft tall. I was planning on using 8 T5 bulbs in this area 4 6500K bulbs and 4 3000K bulbs. is this a good choice or do i not need that many bulbs? would i be better off with 4 bulbs total?
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I'm using a T5 now, it's about the same dimensions you described, I only have 4 bulbs 50/50 red/blue and my plants are doing great, they are as tall as they are wide... Although they're only a few inches they're pretty bushy already. But I guess it would depend on how many plants you want to grow, if you only plan to grow 1-3, you'd be fine with the 4 bulb T5, anymore plants and you'll want more lights and watts. I'm using up an entire small closet and have only 300+ watts of flourescent power and my plants seem happy. Just make sure you have a reflective grow space and good reflectors on any lights that you use, and keep them about 2-3 inches away. I guess to answer your question though, the more light the better... Just watch the heat, my T5 only burned when the plants touch the bulbs. Good luck.
 
wil2279

wil2279

Well-Known Member
SkunkFunk420 said:
I'm using a T5 now, it's about the same dimensions you described, I only have 4 bulbs 50/50 red/blue and my plants are doing great, they are as tall as they are wide... Although they're only a few inches they're pretty bushy already. But I guess it would depend on how many plants you want to grow, if you only plan to grow 1-3, you'd be fine with the 4 bulb T5, anymore plants and you'll want more lights and watts. I'm using up an entire small closet and have only 300+ watts of flourescent power and my plants seem happy. Just make sure you have a reflective grow space and good reflectors on any lights that you use, and keep them about 2-3 inches away. I guess to answer your question though, the more light the better... Just watch the heat, my T5 only burned when the plants touch the bulbs. Good luck.
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Thanks for the info! it is likepulling teeth on here to get people to give advice. most of the guys just want to tal about their grows, which i also understand. I have ordered a sun blaze 2ft X 8 bulb high output grow light that i will be using. I was thinking about growing about 4 plants in this cabinet under this light. I dont' want to grow 4 plants average if i would do better to only grow 2 plnats. it is my 1st grow so i am a little wet behind the ears. i am guessing that you think this is enough light for 3 or 4 plants? I bought 4 eight inch flower pots today. i was looking for 5liter pots but they didn't list volume only size of pot. they look to be between 1 and 2 gallon sized.
 
SkunkFunk420

SkunkFunk420

Member
wil2279 said:
Thanks for the info! it is likepulling teeth on here to get people to give advice. most of the guys just want to tal about their grows, which i also understand. I have ordered a sun blaze 2ft X 8 bulb high output grow light that i will be using. I was thinking about growing about 4 plants in this cabinet under this light. I dont' want to grow 4 plants average if i would do better to only grow 2 plnats. it is my 1st grow so i am a little wet behind the ears. i am guessing that you think this is enough light for 3 or 4 plants? I bought 4 eight inch flower pots today. i was looking for 5liter pots but they didn't list volume only size of pot. they look to be between 1 and 2 gallon sized.
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What size is your ligjt? (What are the dimensions in inches?) I couldn't find a good sized 8 bulb fixture. Those 8 inch pots will be fine for the first month or so. I put mine in the clear solo cups, that way I can see the speed of the root development. I'd suggest doing it like that, it's pretty interesting. And 4 plants in a well lit reflective cabinet are fine. They'll do just great. I'd say the 8 inch pots are good up until the plants are about a foot or so in height. Root's will fill a Solo cup in about 2 weeks time. You should try it.
 
wil2279

wil2279

Well-Known Member
SkunkFunk420 said:
What size is your ligjt? (What are the dimensions in inches?) I couldn't find a good sized 8 bulb fixture. Those 8 inch pots will be fine for the first month or so. I put mine in the clear solo cups, that way I can see the speed of the root development. I'd suggest doing it like that, it's pretty interesting. And 4 plants in a well lit reflective cabinet are fine. They'll do just great. I'd say the 8 inch pots are good up until the plants are about a foot or so in height. Root's will fill a Solo cup in about 2 weeks time. You should try it.
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23 3/4" X 22 1/2" X 2 1/2" are the dimensions of the (sun blaze T5 28 ). http://www.growlightexpress.com/fluorescent-grow-lights-5/sun-blaze-t5-1055.html try this website... it gives you info and a good price! I am growing autos and the seeds i ordered are supposed to finish in about 7 weeks and be about 10 or 12 inches tall so i think the pots i have should be ok to finish in. what do you suggest lining the cabinet with. i had a couple people tell me to just paint it a glossy, reflective white... i saw a really reflective foil tyvek house wrap that i thought about trying...
 
SkunkFunk420

SkunkFunk420

Member
Line it with mylar. I believe that's what it's called. It's better than tin foil, or just white paint. What kind of box are you growing in? Is it like a home made wood one? If it's a crappy materia(like cardboard, lol, I've actually done it)l and crappy color (brown) on the inside then just spray paint it with a couple coats of white paint, I used flat white primer on a cardboard box and it worked great. I also use 5 gallon buckets because they are bigger and cheaper in comparison to the same size pots (like $5 at home depot). But mylars a really good reflective material, I want to get some. Hope this helps.
 
wil2279

wil2279

Well-Known Member
where do you find mylar at? and yes i am building it out of plywood. going to paint and distress it so it just looks like an old cabinet.
 
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